Experts Analyze Latin American and European Union Responses to Climate Change

An overview of the main effects of climate change on Latin American and Caribbean countries, as well as policy recommendations, was delivered today by the Head of ECLAC’s Climate Change Unit, Luis Miguel Galindo, during a side event held in the framework of the 20th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 20), which is taking place in Lima, Peru.

Strong economic dynamism in the region has contributed to reducing poverty and improving social conditions. However, it has also triggered negative impacts—like greenhouse gas emissions, greater vehicular traffic, fossil fuel consumption and deteriorating air quality— that are eroding the foundations of the current development scheme, the official said at the event EUROCLIMA: Joint Regional Responses to Climate Change by the European Union and Latin America.

The adaptation and mitigation measures needed to comply with climate targets require reaching a global climate agreement that is based on moving towards sustainable development, he said.

EUROCLIMA, which began in 2008, is a cooperation programme between the European Union (EU) and Latin America focused on climate change. It receives financing from the EU and one of its components, the socioeconomic one, is implemented by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

Other participants at the event held in the Brussels room of the European pavilion included representatives from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the European Commission’s Joint Research Center (JRC) and the European Commission.

As part of the EUROCLIMA programme, different studies have been carried out on climate change adaptation and mitigation measures in the region’s countries. In addition, the initiative has enabled the creation of spaces for dialogue at a national and regional level on methodologies, successful experiences and public policy alternatives for adaptation and mitigation of this phenomenon.

ECLAC will share two reports with its vision on climate change challenges in the region and will participate in numerous parallel events during the COP20, which will be held in the Peruvian capital until December 12.