Costa Rica

A New “Why” for Climate Action

The world needs a new “why” for climate action. Unless the public embraces a vision for climate action that is consistent with their notions of prosperity, politicians will not challenge the status quo inside their governments and political parties. Latin American countries need a new “why” for climate action; and nowhere is this potential for reframing political storytelling on climate action greater than in middle-income developing countries. The public is worried about climate change. But is it asking politicians to commit to bold climate action at home? Not yet.

A New Latin American Climate Negotiating Group: The Greenest Shoots in the Doha Desert

Timmons Roberts and Guy Edwards

Well-worn stories of dinosaurs like the United States and India battling it out in the United Nations climate change negotiations in Doha last week continue to crowd out other, more positive stories that need to be told. Rather than retelling the story of sticking points between the rich countries of the global North and those of the developing South, it’s crucial to see where something new is breaking through. The greenest shoots we saw at COP18 were from a group of developing countries scarcely mentioned in the media’s fascination with conflict and acrimony between the different Parties and blocs.

December 13, 2012 | More on International Climate Negotiations, Key Posts | AILAC, Chile, Colombia, COP18, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Peru | Comment

Interview with René Castro, Minister of Environment, Costa Rica at COP18

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December 7, 2012 | More on International Climate Negotiations | COP18, Costa Rica, Equity | Comment

The Durban Platform: Implications and Scenarios in Latin America (2012)

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This report analyzes submissions made by Latin American countries to the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (AWG-ADP) and compiles the experiences of the first intercessional meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in May, 2012, in Bonn, Germany. It is intends to provide analysis of the compiled data and the possible scenarios for the 2012 climate negotiations.

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October 18, 2012 | More on International Climate Negotiations, Reading List | Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, COP17, COP18, Costa Rica, Dominican Republica, Ecuador, Honduras, Perú | Comment

Nic Marks on The Happy Planet Index (No. 1 Costa Rica)

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January 30, 2012 | More on Sustainability, video, youtube | Costa Rica | Comment

Javier Diaz Carmona, Costa Rican Climate Change Ambassador at the Climate Vulnerable Forum in Dhaka

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November 23, 2011 | More on International Climate Negotiations, video, Vulnerability, youtube | COP17, Costa Rica | Comment

Latin American diplomacy key for success at Durban climate talks

Ricardo Lagos Escobar

Latin America represents a microcosm for the challenges facing the international climate change talks. The diversity of its countries and their economies, the disparities in their annual emissions and vulnerability, their ideological stances, diversity of foreign policies and memberships of various regional and international fora ensures that differing perspectives on climate change are commonplace.

Latin America and the Caribbean prepare for first meeting to design Green Climate Fund

Guy Edwards

Following delays parties to the UNFCCC have now selected the members of the Transitional Committee responsible for designing the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The Transitional Committee will hold its first meeting in Mexico City later this month.

The Squeezed Middle: Why Latin America Matters in Climate Politics

Monica Araya

Latin America matters in international climate politics. Its emerging leadership role at the international climate change talks, on low-carbon pathways and climate finance illustrate how some Latin American countries may shape the negotiations and the region this decade.

‘The Squeezed Middle: Why Latin America Matters in Climate Politics’ (Monica Araya, 2011)

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This is a presentation made by Dr. Monica Araya, E3G Senior Associate and adviser to the Ministry of Environment of Costa Rica on climate finance, at the April 8th Brown University Conference on “Latin America and Climate Change: Regional Perspectives on a Global Problem”.

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April 12, 2011 | More on International Climate Negotiations, Reading List | Brazil, Cartagena-Dialogue, Costa Rica, Mexico, UNFCCC | Comment