The climate change emergency in Latin America and the Caribbean: Are we still waiting for catastrophe or are we taking action?

This book presents the results of more than a decade of work carried out by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on the economics of climate change. It analyzes conclusive global data and the impact of climate change in the region, examining sectors such as agriculture, health, transportation, and energy. In particular, it addresses the effects of climate change in the two most vulnerable subregions, Central America and the Caribbean, and reviews the agreements reached in the region to address the problem of global warming. It presents climate-related progress, climate finance flows, and public policy innovations aimed at advancing toward lower-carbon development that is better adapted to climate change. Responding to the challenge of climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean represents a financial, economic, social, cultural, distributive, and innovative effort, but it also offers an opportunity for the region to move toward more sustainable and inclusive development.