{"id":50386734,"date":"2023-12-18T15:57:54","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T15:57:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dialogochino.net\/?post_type=opinion&p=386734"},"modified":"2024-04-23T10:54:03","modified_gmt":"2024-04-23T10:54:03","slug":"386734-opinion-net-zero-could-bring-trillions-in-benefits-to-latin-america-and-caribbean","status":"publish","type":"opinion","link":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/en\/climate\/386734-opinion-net-zero-could-bring-trillions-in-benefits-to-latin-america-and-caribbean\/","title":{"rendered":"Opinion: Net-zero could bring trillions in benefits to Latin America"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The recent COP28 climate summit<\/a> saw a number of contentious moments spark concern among some observers, with perhaps the most surprising coming from the conference president, Sultan Al Jaber of the United Arab Emirates, who commented that a phase-out of fossil fuels would \u201ctake the world back into caves<\/a>\u201d. While his remarks may be controversial, there is still considerable debate over how to reach net-zero emissions while also promoting economic development in poorer countries, left behind by the age of fossil-fuelled growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what if Latin America and the Caribbean \u2013 a region with a higher level of income inequality than any other in the world \u2013 could gain from reaching net-zero? Our new study<\/a> shows that the region could derive a whopping US$2.7 trillion in potential benefits over the next 25 years, even after accounting for the costs of decarbonisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While old carbon-based development patterns may feel familiar for regional leaders, they have not proven to be particularly effective or equitable in Latin America and the Caribbean. These paths have led to poor air and water quality, highly congested cities, damaged landscapes and ecosystems, and societies that serve the interests of a few at the expense of many. There is growing recognition that a better path embraces liveable cities, preserves ecosystems, provides healthier food for all people, and meets climate goals to boot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our study, a collaboration between the 2050 Pathways Platform, RAND Social and Economic Well-Being, Tecnol\u00f3gico de Monterrey and the Inter-American Development Bank, is the first to estimate the economic difference for Latin America and the Caribbean between a traditional development path and one that pursues net-zero emissions throughout the economy. We considered a broad scope of actions, from improving the energy efficiency of industrial plants, to capturing biogas<\/a> from waste and farming, to shifting agricultural patterns towards lower-carbon foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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