The entire GDP of Thailand. That is what governments globally spend every year on harmful agriculture subsidies. That is 470 billion dollars per year that incentivize the overuse of fertilizers, water, or expansion of agricultural land into other ecosystems, with associated costs on the environment and the health of farmers and consumers. This recent finding from a joint UN-FAO … [Read more...] about How can we plan for agriculture and land-use policies consistent with net-zero emissions development?
sustainable recovery
Are Latin America’s fossil fuels at risk of becoming stranded assets this decade?
The recent apocalyptic image of the ocean on fire in the Gulf of Mexico following a raptured gas pipeline was reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings. Yet the world’s reliance on fossil fuels and their disastrous impact on global warming and the environment is far from fantasy. The burning of coal, oil and gas is the dominant source of greenhouse gas emissions driving the … [Read more...] about Are Latin America’s fossil fuels at risk of becoming stranded assets this decade?
It’s time for finance ministries to take climate action to the next level
A recent edition of the British magazine, The Economist, said that 2021 will likely be one of the coldest years of the 21st century (even though this has already been the hottest decade in history) as the international community has been unable to reduce emissions, which are driving global warming. To avoid this scenario, we need to limit the increase in the global average … [Read more...] about It’s time for finance ministries to take climate action to the next level
Latin America and the Caribbean has an opportunity to avert climate catastrophe
The consequences of the climate crisis are being experienced around the world. From intense flooding in Turkey and China, scorching heatwaves across the United States, to deadly wildfires in Greece. Extreme weather events have become more intense and more frequent – and it’s only expected to get worse. Earlier this week the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) … [Read more...] about Latin America and the Caribbean has an opportunity to avert climate catastrophe
Carbon neutrality could provide Peru with US$140 billion in net benefits
Peru has been severely hit by the pandemic and faces one of the deepest crises of the last 50 years. In addition to the highest mortality per person in the world, during 2020 the country suffered an economic impact equivalent to more than 20% of GDP (US$ 35.8 billion). Meanwhile, unprecedented heat waves in North America and floods in Europe remind us that another crisis … [Read more...] about Carbon neutrality could provide Peru with US$140 billion in net benefits