Have you ever seen a building in your hometown that was never finished due to insufficient money? Have you suffered power outages due to hurricanes or flooding? Are there communities in your country fighting against infrastructure developments in their towns? These are only a few examples of the problems that can arise when infrastructure is built disregarding the risks … [Read more...] about What do we mean by sustainable infrastructure?
What is the Value of Nature?
An apple at a supermarket: $0.50. 1,000 gallons of tap water in New York City: $4.95. Annual value of pollination to agriculture: $200 billion. Cost savings from good land management in New York City’s watershed: $8 billion. Total value of benefits from nature: priceless? Robert Costanza, a leading environmental economist, just published the article: “Changes in the Global … [Read more...] about What is the Value of Nature?
Before running, learn to walk: Reducing electricity losses as a first step to ensure energy security
Latin America and the Caribbean is the region that loses the most electricity in its transmission and distribution systems. Only in 2012, the region lost 240 terawatt hours (TWh), which is equivalent to 17% of the total electricity generated. This situation, which has gotten worse in recent decades, is analyzed in the recent report Power Lost. Energy losses are inevitable in … [Read more...] about Before running, learn to walk: Reducing electricity losses as a first step to ensure energy security
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
Current water crisis leaves Latin America thirsty for sustainability
Brazilians are raging. Much like in the movies. Sao Paulo’s unsustainable growth strikes again. But this time traffic congestion is not the problem. What the inhabitants of this mega city are facing is a severe water shortage, in spite of the violent storms that flooded the city in December. Pollution, over pumping and an increase in the number of illegal water tapping all … [Read more...] about Current water crisis leaves Latin America thirsty for sustainability