UNEP Report Urges LAC to Improve Waste Management
‘Waste Management Outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean’ finds that the region inadequately disposes of 145,000 tons of waste every day.
Organic waste represents approximately 50 percent of all waste produced in the region but is the least managed, contributing to generation of GHGs, including methane.
The report identifies improved organic waste management and movement towards a circular economy as potential opportunities for the region to transition to more sustainable waste management.
9 October 2018: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP, or UN Environment) has released a report that finds one-third of all waste generated in cities in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is not properly disposed of or managed, threatening the health of the region’s population and polluting its air, soil and water. The report observes that open dumpsites generate greenhouse gases (GHG) that can negatively impact the region’s agriculture, biodiversity and tourism.
The report titled, ‘Waste Management Outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean,’ finds that the region inadequately disposes of 145,000 tons of waste every day. Although LAC has improved its waste collection coverage, the uncollected waste affects more than 40 million people, particularly those living in impoverished or rural communities.
The report further highlights challenges posed by LAC’s management of organic waste. This type of waste represents approximately 50 percent of all waste produced in the region but is the least managed. As a result, the region’s unmanaged organic waste contributes to generation of GHGs, including methane, and degrades the quality of other recyclable materials in the garbage.
Waste management is a key step in strengthening climate action and protecting human health.
LAC’s linear economy system, which is based on a “throwaway scheme,” poses another challenge to sustainable waste management. Only ten percent of the region’s waste is recycled, reused or recovered, underscoring its limited progress in transitioning towards a circular economy. By 2050, the report predicts that 671,000 tons of urban waste will be generated daily by 2050.
The report identifies improved organic waste management and movement towards a circular economy as potential opportunities for the region to transition to more sustainable waste management. UNEP also recommends that countries close open dumps to minimize effects on human health and the environment. Additional recommendations focus on developing laws and policies on waste management, promoting public and private investments and raising awareness on sustainable waste management and the circular economy.
Such actions are in line with global commitments under both the SDGs and the Paris Agreement on climate change. SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production) includes targets focused on environmentally sound management of all waste through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse (targets 12.4 and 12.5). Under the Paris Agreement, countries’ nationally determined contributions (NDCs) can include action on waste management as part of efforts to reduce GHG emissions.
UNEP launched the report during the XXI Forum of Ministers of Environment of the region, taking place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 9-12 October. UNEP’s Regional Director for LAC, Leo Heileman, urged LAC countries to “consider waste management a top political priority” and a key step in strengthening climate action and protecting human health. [UNEP Press Release] [Publication: Waste Management Outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean (in Spanish)]
IMF
WESTERN HEMISPHERE REGION
Outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean: An Uneven Recovery
October 2018
Full report
Background papers
Amid escalating trade tensions, tighter financial conditions, and volatile commodity markets, economic recovery in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has both moderated and become more uneven. The recovery has slowed in some of the region’s largest economies (Brazil and Mexico), even coming to a halt in the case of Argentina, as the impact of external headwinds has been amplified by country-specific vulnerabilities. In a similar vein, higher oil prices coupled with increased political uncertainty have dampened the near-term outlook in several economies in Central America. There is still no end in sight to the economic and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. Meanwhile, better terms of trade over the past year and improvements in consumer and business confidence have provided a fillip to growth prospects in some Andean economies, and activity is recovering in the Caribbean, reflecting the uptick in tourism owing to robust US and global growth. Downside risks to economic prospects in LAC have risen and potential for upside surprises has receded. With major currencies registering sharp declines and debt levels remaining at relatively elevated levels in many economies in the region, the scope for near-term countercyclical policy support is generally limited. And with external financing needs being relatively high in some countries and capital flows ebbing, policymakers in the region should be prepared for further capital outflow pressures. In this regard, exchange rate flexibility will remain key, but foreign exchange market intervention could be appropriate under excessive volatility and market dislocation. Beyond the near term, countries should continue to focus on much-needed structural reforms to boost productive capacity and help anchor strong, durable, and inclusive growth over the medium term. Reforms should focus on increasing saving and investment rates, reducing misallocation of resources, making labor markets more flexible and reducing informality, liberalizing trade, improving the business climate, and continued strengthening of anti-corruption frameworks.
IADB
Caribbean Region Quarterly Bulletin: Volume 7, Issue 3: September 2018 – See more
The Caribbean Economics Lab of the Inter-American Development Bank invites you to read our second quarterly bulletin for 2018 titled:
Caribbean Region Quarterly Bulletin: Volume 7, Issue 3: Development Challenges in the Caribbean
While countries in the Caribbean are highly diverse, several common development challenges emerge, including weak fiscal institutions, crime and violence, a sluggish private sector, weak productive development policies, skill-biased emigration, and other structural impediments. Taken together, these factors have resulted in a complex and challenging environment for promoting sustainable growth and development in the Caribbean. The situation is made more difficult by recurrent natural disasters, which are projected to increase in frequency in the future. This edition of the Quarterly Bulletinexplores these constraints to development in our region and suggests policies and reforms going forward.
https://publications.iadb.org/handle/11319/9185
Institutions for Development: What Lies Ahead in the Caribbean?
Inter-American Dialogue
Scheduled for Nov 14, 2018
The Inter-American Dialogue is pleased to partner with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for a discussion on the critical role of institutions in the Caribbean and their impact on sustainable growth and democratic stability. The IDB will be launching their new book, Nurturing Institutions for a Resilient Caribbean, which focuses on building Caribbean institutions that effectively support economic development. It explores the historical development of political and economic institutions with the aim of identifying areas in need of improvement in order to spur development in the region.
Following the presentation will be a discussion focused on what’s next for growth in the Caribbean. Can these institutions be strengthened to make countries more resilient? Will this have an effect on the relationship between the Caribbean and the United States? How will natural disasters and the rule of law impact economic growth and political stability?
Follow this event on Twitter at #CaribbeanInstitutions and @The_Dialogue.
OPENING REMARKS:
THERESE TURNER-JONES
General Manager, Country Department Caribbean Group, Inter-American Development Bank (@thereselmm)
SPEAKER:
MOISÉS J. SCHWARTZ
Regional Economic Advisor, Inter-American Development Bank
COMMENTATORS:
SALLY YEARWOOD
Former Executive Director, Caribbean and Central America Action (@SAY_CCAA)
DANIEL P. ERIKSON
Managing Director, Blue Star Strategies (@danperikson)
MODERATOR:
MICHAEL SHIFTER
President, Inter-American Dialogue (@MichaelShifter)
Category
News & Politics