Strictly embargoed until
20:30 GMT / 14:30 in Cancun, 6 December
2010
Cancun (Mexico), 6 December 2010 - The climate
change challenges facing Latin America and
the Caribbean have been laid out in graphic
detail in a new publication by the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Using
charts, graphs and maps, Vital Climate Change
Graphics for Latin America and the
Caribbean depicts the major signs of climate
change in the region, its physical impacts
(such as environmental damage and a rise
in diseases), as well as calculating current
levels of greenhouse gas emissions and possibilities
for mitigation.
Among dozens of climate
facts and figures, the report shows that
the number of people in Latin America and
the Caribbean affected by extreme temperatures,
forest fires, droughts, storms and floods
grew from 5 million in the 1970s to more
than 40 million from 2000 to 2009. Overall,
adverse weather conditions have cost the
region more than US$40 billion in the last
ten years. For Mexico the estimated annual
cost of dealing with the effects of climate
change will be 6.22% of current GDP net
present value by 2100 . Such costs will
intensify budget constraints across Latin
America and the Caribbean and may complicate
attempts to reduce poverty and to meet the
Millennium Development Goals.
The report, which was
produced in collaboration with the Sustainable
Development and Human Settlements Division
of the Economic Commission for Latin America
and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and UNEP's Polar
Research Centre GRID-Arendal, also forecasts
future climate scenarios for the region.
Graphics show that by 2050, rises in the
temperature of ocean surfaces will result
in more frequent bleaching of coral reefs,
with a negative impact on tourism and fishing.
Climate change has effects
on health, not only through heat waves and
waterborne diseases, but also as a result
of the expansion of geographical areas conducive
to the transmission of vector-borne diseases.
The report shows that in 1970, only a small
number of countries in Latin America and
the Caribbean were home to mosquitoes that
transmit yellow fever, dengue fever and
malaria, but that by 2002, the vast majority
of the region was affected by these tropical
diseases.
Although the contribution
of Latin America and the Caribbean to greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions represents only 8% of
global emissions (excluding those related
to land use change), the expected changes
in climate during the present century are
certain to have a significant impact on
the region.
Drawing on historical
analysis of variables such as temperature,
precipitation and sea levels, Vital Climate
Change Graphics for Latin America and the
Caribbean outlines for decision makers,
academics and the general public the effects
and causes of these climate change phenomenon.
The report shows that countries in the region
will require major resources and assistance
to reduce their vulnerability and enhance
their resilience to the harmful impacts
of climate change.
At the same time, the
report highlights the growing need for regional
coordination and sharing of best practices
in defining sustainable policies, technologies
and investment options to reduce GHG emissions,
through expanding the sources of clean and
renewable energy, increasing energy efficiency
and adopting energy-saving measures.
With regard to the region's
forest resources, the graphics show the
need for rapid advances in reducing emissions
resulting from deforestation and forest
degradation, in order to reverse the prevailing
negative trends and deal successfully with
a key challenge to the region's prosperity
by working to counteract the effects of
climate change.
In the three main areas
of the report - manifestations of climate
change, effects of climate change and GHG
emissions and mitigation measures - many
countries in the region have already initiated
concrete policies, investment strategies
and solutions to deal with the challenge.
These success stories and best practices
must now be expanded and incorporated at
the national and regional levels, in order
to foster growth, job creation and sustainable
development strategies to help combat poverty.
Key messages
Any solution to climate
change, as a global problem, must be based
on the participation of all countries, with
recognition of common and differentiated,
responsibilities. Latin America and the
Caribbean (LAC) region will have to gradually
make the transition to a sustainable development
strategy that pursues a low-carbon path
and promotes equity and social inclusion.
Latin America and the
Caribbean as a whole emitted fewer tons
of CO2 per capita than the world average.
However, when considering total emissions
and including land-use change, LAC rates
poorly compared to other regions with regard
to emissions of CO2 equivalent per US$1
million of GDP. The region emits 1,152 tonnes
of CO2 equivalent for every US$1 million
of GDP compared to 481 tonnes of CO2 equivalent
per US$ 1 million emitted by the OECD countries.
The effects of climate
change in the region are already significant
(albeit with differences from one country
to another), particularly in terms of the
agricultural sector, the health of the population,
the availability of water, tourism, urban
infrastructure, and biodiversity and ecosystems.
Latin America and the
Caribbean has seen a recent increase in
extreme climatic events, and with it a rise
in the number of people affected. The estimated
cost of damage from these extreme climate
events in the last ten years exceeds US$40
billion.
For Central America,
estimates of the economic costs of climate
change, accumulated up to 2100 , are equivalent
to approximately 54% of the 2008 subregional
GDP under scenario A2, and 32% of its 2008
GDP under scenario B2.
At present, LAC has
1003 projects in various stages, within
the framework of the Clean Development Mechanism
(CDM). The countries in the region with
the greatest number of CDM projects are
Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Colombia. The
largest number of CDM projects (87% of the
total) are in the areas of renewable energies
and methane reduction.
Between 2000 and 2007,
the region received, from Official Development
Assistance (ODA), approximately US$1.4 billion
(in current dollars) to combat climate change.
The importance of forests
with regard to climate change lies in its
great potential for mitigation. Panama,
Bolivia and Paraguay are part of the UN-REDD
programme that helps developing countries
formulate and implement national REDD+ strategies.
In addition, a number of countries in the
region are carrying out conservation and
forest management initiatives.
Climate projections
under the different emissions scenarios
indicate that forms of production, distribution
and consumption must be profoundly altered,
in order to move towards economies with
lower levels of CO2 emissions and greater
social inclusion.
Notes to Editors
The full report - Vital
Climate Change Graphics for Latin America
and the Caribbean - can be downloaded from:
http://www.grida.no/publications/vg/lac2
About UNEP
The United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), as an inter-governmental
organization that is a world leader on environmental
issues, is the recognized authority for
knowledge on the current status of, and
trends in, the global environment. The mission
of UNEP is to provide leadership and foster
collaboration in caring for the environment,
while inspiring, informing and empowering
nations and peoples to improve their quality
of life without compromising future generations
(www.unep.org).
About ECLAC
The Sustainable Development
and Human Settlements Division of the Economic
Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
(ECLAC), together with the other divisions
of ECLAC, is active in assessing progress
on public policies, instruments and institutions
dedicated to promoting the simultaneous
growth of economic, environmental and social
capital in the countries of Latin America
and the Caribbean and in particular performs
analysis on the economics of climate change
(www.cepal.org).
About UNEP/GRID-Arendal
UNEP/GRID-Arendal is
a collaborative centre of the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) located in
southern Norway. The mission of UNEP/GRID-Arendal,
which was founded in 1989, is to provide
environmental data, communication services
and training for handling information and
conducting evaluations. Working with partners
in various countries and regions, the objective
of UNEP/GRID-Arendal is to facilitate free
access to, and exchange of, information
to support decision-making and to ensure
a sustainable future (www.grida.no).
