In less than a month, about 10,000 participants, including representatives from country parties, observer countries, international organizations and other interested parties will meet in Cancun for the 13th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 13). Participants will negotiate agreements and commitments to catalyze the … [Read more...] about Making Biodiversity Mainstream: Countdown to the COP 13
How Transportation Affects Nature and Vice Versa
We often ask ourselves, what do ecosystem services have to do with transportation? At the IDB, when we hear that the Environment, Rural Development, Disaster Risk Management Division (RND) has a program to mainstream biodiversity and ecosystem services into productive sector and infrastructure (BIO Program), we might well ask: “Is this another futile initiative?” That’s why I … [Read more...] about How Transportation Affects Nature and Vice Versa
Hottest year ever should spur Latin America on climate change
Four years ahead of schedule, the Paris climate change agreement is expected to enter into force next month. Latin American and Caribbean countries played a major role in the diplomatic push to secure the agreement and are now making progress on ratifying it. As of today, over a dozen countries from the region have also ratified – including its largest emitters, Brazil and … [Read more...] about Hottest year ever should spur Latin America on climate change
Water Is Life: How To Preserve This Valuable Resource
The Argentinean province of San Juan is a land of deserts and mountains, surrounded by the high peaks of the Andes, the birthplace of the rivers that crisscross the region. This arid province, where rainfall is scarce--hardly reaching an annual average of 3.9 inches (or 100 millimeters)--depends upon snowmelt from the Andes for its water supply; this, in turn, depends upon … [Read more...] about Water Is Life: How To Preserve This Valuable Resource
From NDC Invest to a Sustainable Development
Moving towards the path of sustainable development is a great challenge. The Paris Agreement, the UN´s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the delivery of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (iNDCs) by 197 parties to the UN Climate Convention all require a shouldering of responsibility for addressing climate change and improving human welfare. If temperature rise … [Read more...] about From NDC Invest to a Sustainable Development