Climate Change in Latin America - European Commission

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According to the EPI, Costa Rica (5) and Colombia (9) are included amongst the 10 countries with the highest indices of environmental performance, and Ecuador (22), Chile (29), Panama (32), Brazil (35), Uruguay (36), Argentina (38), Cuba (41), Venezuelan (45) and Mexico (47) are amongst the top 50 countries. Table 8 shows the main indices that make up the EPI, along with the performance of sectors related to Climate Change: the climate, environmental health, effects of the air on the environment, the water environment, forests, the productivity of natural resources and agriculture. The data that can be extrapolated from the EPI requires further analysis, taking into account the fact that very little correlation has been found (geographical and economic) between groups of countries. Discrepancies have been found in the Climate Index regarding per capita GHG emissions, with higher values for countries like Bolivia and Uruguay and lower values for Panama, Ecuador and Nicaragua. On the other hand, the data show the vulnerability of biodiversity and aquatic ecosystems. The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) is an instrument designed to improve the transparency of international environmental policies 25 . The CCPI refers to 3 countries in Latin America: Brazil, Mexico and Argentina. These three countries rank amongst those countries with a good level of performance, occupying positions 8, 14 and 18 respectively. However, none of these countries have been recognised as "very good": they are still not making sufficient efforts and the index excludes emissions that come from deforestation and land use. 25 The Index evaluates and compares the performance of climate protection measures in 57 countries, which are jointly responsible for 90% of global CO 2 emissions related to the energy sector. Its goal is to increase political and social pressure on any countries that, until now, have not taken actions to protect the climate and that have still not taken notice of the importance of this matter. The Climate Change Performance Index, 2009, GermanWatch, CAN-Europe. 40
2.3. Identifying Needs 2.3.1. Institutional In general it is the countries that historically suffer air pollution problems in their major cities that have included the issue of Climate Change in their national agendas. This is related to a country's total GHG production (elevated in terms of percentage in comparison to the international situation and/or per capita). Venezuela is an exception to this tendency and has the highest per capita emission rate in South or Central America and yet with an intersectorial policy that lacks clarity. Costa Rica is another exception. Although its per capita rates are not high, the decision was made to invest in an environmental policy that promotes tourism and ensures the sustainability of its natural resources in the medium and long term. In other countries Climate Change policies are not included in the national agenda. These countries have found it hard to meet the obligations imposed by the UNFCCC, particularly for the creation of a national strategy that requires, like national communications, a coordinated effort made by numerous institutions and a solid political commitment that goes beyond the support provided by international bodies. Coordination amongst different institutions is accomplished when the Designated Authority has more power and resources, as shown in the table and in the country descriptions. The additional information that was analysed permitted an evaluation of which relationships exist with the authorities charged with the implementation of the activities, local and federal governments. Activities and experiences related to communication and awareness of Climate Change amongst different social and productive groups, as well as facilitation of adaptation activities, are very limited. Since 2004, the role of the authorities, supported by international bodies, has centered on the promotion of mitigation measures related to CDM projects and the rules necessary to gain access to the carbon market. In many cases, when these activities have worked, they have created problems with programmes relating to the study of Climate Change, evaluation of the most vulnerable sectors, identification of mitigation measures and awareness programmes targeted at civil society. In this respect, more substantial activities have been undertaken, focused on the aspect of environmental education which permit mitigation of Climate Change: creating responsible citizenship, facilitating clean production, etc. Cooperation agencies targeted their efforts at the same institutions, promoting the concentration of the knowledge-base in a single entity, susceptible to changes and restructuring, as has occurred and is occurring in many national environmental authorities. "How could the current situation be improved", virtually all the institutions underlined the need for additional human and economic resources. Argentina and Colombia stressed the need to improve monitoring systems for climatological data. However, both countries have recently received technical and economic support to improve techniques for data collection and analysis. Chile and Bolivia took a different standpoint, emphasising the need to increase political commitment to the implementation of activities aimed at fighting Climate Change. These two positions stem from two different situations: Chile seeks consensus in order to create a Ministry of the Environment and gain approval for an Environmental Plan for its capital. In Bolivia resolving social tensions through the integration of different movements and social minorities into the political, social and economic life of the country is the national priority. Both countries see the coordination of activities as another major obstacle. 41
Page 1 and 2: Climate Change in Latin America
Page 3: Foreword Sustainable Development an
Page 6 and 7: List of acronyms CAAAM ACCLAC ACT C
Page 8 and 9: Introduction Figure 1 Schematic dia
Page 10: In 2008, when Slovenia and France h
Page 13 and 14: 1.1. Impacts of Climate Change Acco
Page 15 and 16: 1.2. Regional Vulnerability Table 1
Page 17 and 18: Vulnerabilities Social Food and Hea
Page 19 and 20: Table 2 Country Argentina Bolivia B
Page 21 and 22: 1.4. Regional Institutional Framewo
Page 23 and 24: Table 3 Regional and sub regional i
Page 25 and 26: 1.4.3. Networks RIOCC - The Ibero-A
Page 28 and 29: Table 4 Table summarizing the legal
Page 30 and 31: 2. Context analysis 30
Page 32 and 33: In general terms, countries with em
Page 34 and 35: 2.2. National Development Agendas i
Page 36 and 37: At the regional level, there has be
Page 38 and 39: Mitigation of Climate Change is a c
Page 42 and 43: 2.3.2. Tools Table 9 Evaluation of
Page 44: Conclusion Uncertainty associated w
Page 47 and 48: Annex 1 Questionnaire on Climate Ch
Page 50 and 51: Annex 2 Country Fiches Argentina In
Page 52 and 53: Climate Change policies The confron
Page 54 and 55: Brazil Adaptation Mechanisms Rules
Page 56 and 57: Energy Law of Energy Efficiency (20
Page 58 and 59: Colombia International commitments
Page 60 and 61: ASOCIC The functions of ASOCIC are
Page 62 and 63: Ecuador National Coordination Very
Page 64 and 65: El Salvador International commitmen
Page 66 and 67: Honduras International Coordination
Page 68 and 69: C4 - Consultative Council on Climat
Page 70 and 71: Studies and publications There are
Page 72 and 73: Panamá International commitments U
Page 74 and 75: Perú International commitments Per
Page 76 and 77: The sectors involved in the 3 prior
Page 78 and 79: Uruguay International Commitments U
Page 80 and 81: Mitigation Mechanisms Transportatio
Page 82 and 83: Annex 3 Information from Member Sta
Page 84: Czech Republic Actions financed by
Page 87 and 88: Specific objective Sector Budget (
Page 89 and 90: Germany Actions financed by Germany
Page 91 and 92:
Programme "Sustainable Management o
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Sustainable Management of Natural F
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DEG Actions since 2002 Sinersa Peru
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B. Federal Ministry of Education an
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The Netherlands Actions financed by
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Guatemala The Netherlands is Guatem
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→ Promotion of participative proj
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The Spanish administration is joint
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• Iberoamerican Water Training Pr
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Specific objective Sector Budget Da
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European Commission, EuropeAid Co-o
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República de Argentina, 2008, 2 da
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Main Visited International Organisa
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Ecuador, Ministerio del Ambiente, D
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Development Cooperation in Latin Am
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Climate Change in Latin America - European Commission

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