The Amazon Basin is becoming a hot spot for oil and gas exploration. New developments are mostly found in the Amazon Headwaters, extending in an arc from Venezuela through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, western Brazil, and Bolivia. These discoveries bring great promise for economic development. Yet they also pose grave threats to indigenous forest dwellers and to the incomparable … [Read more...] about The benefits of drilling inland as if it were offshore
Infographic: World Oceans Day
Low carbon development opportunities with China
By Guy Edwards. As Latin American and Caribbean countries increasingly court Asia and especially China as a major trade and investment partner, there is remarkable potential to explore opportunities on environmentally sustainable activities which are crucial to global efforts to confront climate change. However, to date, the rapidly expanding trade ties between the region and … [Read more...] about Low carbon development opportunities with China
Harnessing the power of microfinance to bring financing to those most vulnerable
Low-income communities in Latin America and the Caribbean do not have broad access to clean energy and energy efficient technologies; they are also disproportionately affected by the effects of climate change. Small farmers in areas experiencing more frequent droughts, business owners looking to increase their competitiveness with energy-efficient products, and low-income … [Read more...] about Harnessing the power of microfinance to bring financing to those most vulnerable
Democratizing energy in Latin America and the Caribbean one step at a time
*By Alice Driver Before 2006, Roberto Ossandón, a farmer who lives in Chacay Alto in the rural mountains of northern Chile, depended on candles for lighting and caught up on news during rare trips to the nearest town. Thanks to an off-grid solar PV project financed by the IDB and other organizations, that year 3,100 rural houses and schools in the region, including Ossandón’s, … [Read more...] about Democratizing energy in Latin America and the Caribbean one step at a time