what latin american cities are at risk for global warming

New research from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and WRI shows how the Latin American and Caribbean region is uniquely poised to advance NBS to help forge a way out of the economic and climate crises. Because the region’s economies are largely built on natural resources, these changes put the region’s economic growth and community well-being at risk. Latin America and the Caribbean lost more tropical primary forest than any other region on the planet in 2019, and urbanization has exposed an estimated 160 million people in the region to urban flood risk.

It also faces a pressing need for better protection and management, especially in the face of climate change. The region is a biodiversity powerhouse, hosting over 40% of the world’s biodiversity, 12% of its mangrove forests, 10% of its coral reefs and its largest expanse of wetlands. These solutions have immediate relevance for Latin America and Caribbean.

NBS have gained global attention over the past years and became a priority for climate platforms such as the UNFCCC and Global Commission on Adaptation, as well as biodiversity platforms such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, which will set new targets in 2022. Investing in nature-based solutions (NBS) - which strategically protect and restore nature in ways that achieve development outcomes - can help achieve this, as they have various resilience benefits, substantial greenhouse gas potential and tangible economic advantages. While these are important priorities, this shift threatens to derail progress on crucial work such as alleviating poverty, providing sanitation and clean water, and protecting communities against climate change.Ĭontinued progress on this work will require maximizing the impacts of investments and ensuring they support social and environmental goals. Like many places around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced priorities of Latin American countries toward crisis management and recovery.

What latin american cities are at risk for global warming