27 August 2018: Latin American and Caribbean Climate Week 2018 (LACCW2018) aimed to support implementation of countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and climate action to deliver on the SDGs. Focusing on the theme, ‘Climate Action for Sustainable Development: Driving Change in Latin America and the Caribbean,’ the Week showcased actions in the region to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and build climate resilience.

LACCW2018 brought together a range of stakeholders from the public and private sectors to address climate-friendly development, transportation innovations, waste-to-energy policy, circular economy, carbon pricing and low-emission infrastructure, among other issues. The event convened from 20-23 August 2018, in Montevideo, Uruguay.

During a high-level segment, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa said regional Climate Weeks provide the opportunity to hear about challenges faced and efforts to overcome them. She referred to “inclusive multilateralism,” which brings all voices to the table and results in more climate change solutions. Brazil’s Minister of Environment Edson Duarte said his country has initiated the Talanoa Brazil Dialogue, which is strengthening trust among national actors. The high-level segment highlighted, inter alia: visions for NDC enhancement and implementation; challenges and opportunities for cities in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC); the role of transport for sustainable development and climate action; and climate finance.

The Nairobi Framework Partnership was founded by Kofi Annan to enhance interlinkages between governments, the private sector and developing countries.

The Latin America Carbon Forum, the Week’s main event, focused on market-based approaches, economic instruments and climate-aligned finance to drive investment in climate action. Other events included: a LAC Climate Finance Dialogue; a Low Emission Development Strategy (LEDS) workshop; a regional technical meeting on mitigation and adaptation; a technical session on interlinkages between markets and the SDGs; and a LAC Talanoa Dialogue, which, inter alia, explored strategies for accelerating global climate action, including by realigning finance flows in LAC.

LACCW2018 also showcased individual countries’ efforts, including Costa Rica’s progress towards carbon neutrality, Chile’s carbon tax and Mexico’s passage of the General Law on Climate Change, geared towards regulatory integration. [UNFCCC Press Release at Conclusion of LACCW2018] [UNFCCC Press Release Prior to LACCW2018] [NFP Website for LACCW2018] [LACCW2018 Programme] [Climate Technology Centre & Network News Story]

During a roundtable themed, ‘Climate-compatible Development: Linking the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,’ the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Regional Coordination Unit for LAC (LAC RCU) highlighted: SDG target 15.3 as UNCCD’s implementation tool, which focuses on achieving land degradation neutrality (LDN) by 2030; linkages between LDN indicators (land cover, productivity and carbon stocks) and the objectives of the UNFCCC; and the role that NDCs can play in achieving LDN. Participants discussed the importance of establishing partnerships and joint actions by LAC countries for implementing both treaties, and proposed a joint regional meeting of focal points representing both Conventions to determine future actions and a coordinated agenda. [UNCCD News Story]

The regional Technical Expert Meeting on Adaptation (TEM-A) addressed the link between sectoral adaptation plans and achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the SDGs, gaps in and needs for adaptation planning, inclusion of indigenous peoples and vulnerable communities in adaptation planning, scaling up adaptation efforts, and regional coordination in adaptation monitoring and climate information services. [UNDP Story on LACCW2018] [UNDP Webpage on LACCW2018]

The tenth edition of LACCW was organized by members of the Nairobi Framework Partnership (NFP), which was founded by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 2006 to enhance interlinkages between governments, the private sector and developing countries. [UNFCCC Press Release on Kofi Annan’s Legacy at LACCW]

LACCW2018 follows Africa Climate Week (ACW2018) hosted in Nairobi, Kenya, in April, and Asia-Pacific Climate Week, which took place in July in Singapore.