PANAMA CITY, Panama, CMC – UN Local weather Change (UNCC) says that Latin America and the Caribbean Local weather Week (LACCW) 2023 galvanizes regional motion for a sustainable future.
UNCC stated LACCW took middle stage on Wednesday because it convened regional stakeholders to showcase local weather motion, encourage heightened ambition, and construct regional momentum in direction of impactful outcomes on the UN Local weather Change Convention (COP28) in Dubai.
Going down in Panama Metropolis from October 23 to 27 and hosted by the federal government of Panama, UNCC stated LACCW brings collectively representatives from native and nationwide governments, Indigenous Peoples, civil society, and the personal sector to debate challenges and alternatives for local weather motion in probably the most various areas on the planet.
“LACCW will contribute to informing the primary world stocktake of the Paris Settlement – a defining second to resume ambition worldwide to maintain world warming beneath 1.5 levels Celsius,” stated UNCC.
“Nations in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) grapple with the rising frequency of utmost climate occasions and the upcoming risk of sea-level rise, underscoring the area’s urgent have to prioritize adaptation, entry to local weather finance, and the operationalization of the loss and injury fund,” it added.
UN Local weather Change Government Secretary Simon Stiell stated local weather motion has by no means been an possibility in LAC, stating: “It’s our future’s compass.”
He stated latest excessive climate occasions function “stark reminders.”
“Having served as a minister for local weather resilience within the area, I’m acutely conscious that local weather change has the potential to exacerbate present inequalities, risking hard-earned progress,” Stiell stated. “Equally, what stands out throughout this area is the immense willingness to speed up the local weather agenda – a robust dedication and alternative to behave decisively and create a sustainable future for the good thing about all.”
UNCC stated the area is not only weak to local weather impacts; “it additionally boasts ample pure sources that may drive progress in direction of net-zero emission economies.”
With almost 60 p.c of electrical energy generated by hydropower and huge potential for wind and photo voltaic power growth, UNCC stated LAC holds “immense potential for sustainable power manufacturing.”
Milciades Concepción, Minister of the Surroundings of Panama, highlighted that this regional assembly represents a milestone in joint efforts to handle the challenges posed by local weather change and to resume dedication to a extra sustainable world.
“Latin America and the Caribbean, a area of unparalleled pure and cultural wealth, additionally faces vital challenges attributable to local weather impacts,” he stated. “Fires, droughts, floods, and excessive temperatures have made it clear that the time for motion is now.”
UNCC stated enhancing local weather motion in LAC is essential to lowering inequalities, enhancing well being, fostering sustainable growth, and addressing the area’s financial, political, social, and environmental crises – “all intricately interconnected.”
“In Latin America and the Caribbean, local weather motion is not non-compulsory. Wildfires and different excessive occasions within the area remind us that half-measures aren’t viable. We have to lead with nature, harness the ability of innovation, and study from Indigenous Peoples to drive a sustainable and resilient future in Latin America and the Caribbean,” stated Elizabeth Mrema, Deputy Government Director of the United Nations Surroundings Program. “The LACCW is a key second to showcase the area’s local weather management and drive vital progress forward of COP28.”
José Cruz-Orio, Regional Hub Supervisor of the United Nations Improvement Program for Latin America and the Caribbean, stated: “Latin America and the Caribbean, as the remainder of the world, faces the difficult impacts of local weather change, affecting socio-economic progress and posing dangers to meals and water safety.
“Nevertheless, this area, with its exceptional biodiversity and clear power profile, is embracing bold Nationally Decided Contributions, paving the way in which for sustainable, low-carbon, and climate-resilient growth,” he added. “I hope the Regional Local weather Week shall be leveraged as a possibility to affix forces and proceed to discover options in direction of a sustainable future on the street to COP28.”
UNCC stated LACCW is poised to be an “efficient platform for collaboration on local weather motion, enabling the area to steer by instance at COP28 with bold, inclusive and results-oriented options.”
LACCW is hosted by the federal government of Panama and arranged by UN Local weather Change in collaboration with world companions the UN Improvement Program, the UN Surroundings Program, and the World Financial institution, and regional companions the Financial Fee for Latin America and the Caribbean, the CAF-Improvement Financial institution of Latin America and the Caribbean, the Inter-American Improvement Financial institution and EuroClima.
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