4 September 2008: The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) seminar entitled “Food and Energy Crisis: Opportunities and Challenges for Latin America and the Caribbean” took place in Santiago, Chile, from 4-5 September 2008.

The event brought together representatives from governments, UN agencies, research institutions and academia, in order to reach a shared diagnosis on the impact in Latin America and the Caribbean of volatile food and oil prices, to help governments redesign policies to better face the crises. During the opening ceremony, ECLAC
Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena explained that the conclusions of the seminar would be forwarded to the UN General Assembly’s next session. Participants underlined the need for technological alternatives to address the
energy crisis and suggested possible solutions to address rising consumption: using energy more efficiently; increasing the use of renewable energy sources; and promoting the rapid development of new technologies for the use of cleaner fossil fuels. [ECLAC Press Release] [Seminar Website]