The Community of Practice on Private Sector Engagement in Climate Policy Processes convened regional experts for an online discussion.
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San José. May 19, 2020. As part of the activities of the Community of Practice on Private Sector Involvement in Climate Policy Processes in Latin America, jointly facilitated by the EUROCLIMA+ Program through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), within the framework of the action line of articulation with the private sector, the LEDS LAC Regional Platform and the Latin American Center for Competitiveness and Sustainable Development of INCAE Business School, an online discussion on COVID-19 and resilient low-emission development was held on May 8, emphasizing the opportunities for the convergence of agendas from the perspective of the Private Sector.
The exchange session began with a presentation by Virginia Vilariño, Energy and Climate Manager of the Argentine Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEADS), who provided the framework for the discussion based on a presentation of the context. In this regard, the presenter indicated that global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are estimated to be reduced between 4 and 11% this year, as a result of the decrease in economic activity. However, if there is no structural change and we return to the "business as usual"This decrease would be short term and have little impact on GHG concentrations that have been accumulating in the atmosphere for decades.
Along with the above, the presenter commented that the pandemic has shown how exposed our way of life and our productive systems are to major disruptions, the connection between the various global crises, and the key role of collaborative action at the global level. She also pointed out that, although the general measures in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic are not a model for climate action, the role of digital services for the continuity of economic and social life, the need for new work models, and the possibility of achieving changes in habits and behaviors, among other points, have become clear.
Finally, he indicated that the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis presents opportunities and threats to enhance the resilience of societies, economies and businesses, and that seizing them depends on all actors: governments, businesses, financial institutions and citizens. Decisions and choices made for economic recovery will have major implications for long-term emissions trajectories, and it must be ensured that the recovery is green and inclusive, that co-benefits for climate and ecosystems are maximized, and that it does not lock us into carbon-intensive trajectories.
The presentation was followed by a panel discussion with the participation of Paola Herrera, Executive Director of the Corporación Ambiental Empresarial (CAEM) of Colombia; Elizabeth Venegas, Director of the Alianza Empresarial para el Desarrollo (AED) of Costa Rica; Carlos Descourvieres, Sustainability Manager of the Asociación de Empresas de Alimentos de Chile (Chilealimentos); Lawrence Pratt, Professor and Director of the René Morales Carazo Chair of Entrepreneurship at INCAE Business School; and Virginia Vilariño. The panel was moderated by Ana María Majano, Coordinator of the Community of Practice on behalf of the LEDS LAC Regional Platform.
In this space, the panelists commented on the opportunities to converge the pandemic response and recovery agenda with the climate agenda, and the efforts being made by their respective organizations to promote the development of business and governmental strategies with this vision. The invited experts agreed that the response to the emergency generated by COVID-19 and the recovery processes provide an opportunity to take transformative actions to put the economies of Latin American countries on a low-carbon development path that is more resilient to all types of threats.
The panel of experts also discussed the challenges to take advantage of the opportunities identified. These included the need for a long-term vision in both governments and companies; ensuring that post-pandemic investment strategies favor green investments; ensuring that the financing that will be made available for recovery is oriented towards sustainable investments; and maintaining and strengthening the spaces for public-private dialogue that have been opened in some countries during the crisis, in order to continue the dialogue and collaboration on sustainability issues.
The discussion was well attended by people from Latin America and other regions, who were invited through the networks of the organizing partners and member organizations of the Community of Practice. The recording of the session and the presentations are available here. link.
About the Community of Practice:
The Community of Practice on Private Sector Involvement in Climate Policy Processes in Latin America is an initiative of the EUROCLIMA+ Program, through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), within the framework of the action line of articulation with the private sector, the Latin American Center for Competitiveness and Sustainable Development (CLACDS) of INCAE Business School and the LEDS LAC Regional Platform. Its objective is to contribute to the development and consolidation of mechanisms to articulate the participation of the private sector in the formulation and implementation of climate policies with a particular focus on the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). To this end, it promotes the exchange of experiences and best practices, joint learning and collaboration to address common challenges, among country teams of the EUROCLIMA+ Program, made up of representatives of government institutions and private sector organizations that are carrying out initiatives related to this topic.
About EUROCLIMA+
EUROCLIMA+ is a program funded by the European Union to promote environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient development in 18 Latin American countries, particularly for the benefit of the most vulnerable populations. The Program is implemented under the synergistic work of seven agencies: Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), French Development Agency (AFD), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Expertise France (EF), Fundación Internacional y para Iberoamérica de Administración y Políticas Públicas (FIIAPP), and UN Environment.
About LEDS LAC
LEDS LAC is a platform for collaboration and action, driven by Latin American and Caribbean countries, to support the implementation of LEDS and NDCs, increase the ambition of emission reduction and adaptation targets, and define medium and long-term strategies, with a vision of a resilient and low-emission region.
LEDS LAC is the regional platform for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Low Emissions and Climate Resilient Development Strategies Global Partnership (LEDS GP). Launched in 2012, LEDS LAC operates under the general principles of LEDS GP, has an independent Steering Committee formed by representatives of international organizations, governmental institutions and NGOs from the region, and a Secretariat operated by Libélula - Climate Change Management and Communication, from Peru.
About CLACDS
The CLACDS is the main think tank and applied research center of INCAE Business School. Its mission is to promote sustainable development in the region through applied research, capacity building, dialogue, participatory strategy design and the transfer of best practices. CLACDS uses a four-pronged methodology that links competitiveness, social progress, environmental performance and governance. The recent impact of CLACDS is seen in regional economic integration, the incorporation of environmental and social attributes into business, and evidence-based decision making.