Latin America 'Vanguard' of Climate Change Action, Says UN

Latin American is a world-leading region in tackling climate change, according to a U.N. body that applauded the region on Thursday for implementing new strategies and legislation to combat environmental crisis.

“Latin America is the vanguard,” said Mara Angelica Murillo, regional director of the U.N. Program for the Environment, known as Pnuma, calling for increased global action on climate change.

Looking ahead to the Paris climate talks later this year, Murillo pointed to Latin America as a leader in climate change policy and many countries' goals in increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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Speaking to the Latin American Parliament's commission on the environment and tourism on Thursday, Pnuma experts highlighted the role of urgent legislative action in addressing climate change impacts and financing a transition toward more sustainable and resource-efficient economies.

A child participates in reforestation efforts in Haiti. | Photo: UNDP

Despite Latin America and the Caribbean being one of the regions of the world with the cleanest environmental record in terms of contributing to the creation of climate change, it is leading the way in legislative experiments to confront the crisis head on, Pnuma experts said.

The environmental working group of the regional parliament called for an environmental revolution and a new environmental ethic in the face of a global development model that is damaging he planet.

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While global awareness of climate change is increasing, efforts toward mitigating its effects are still lacking, President of the Latin American Parliament Blanca Alcala observed.

According to a recent study, over 90 percent of the population in South America sees climate change as an urgent threat. In the world's wealthiest countries, including the U.S., U.K., and Australia, just over half of the population saw climate change a threat, despite the vast majority of people being aware that it exists.

The comments come months ahead of the global climate summit in Paris later this year, where international agreements on climate action will be signed.

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Environmental organizations and activists have criticized the lack of adequate proposed commitments in the lead-up to the talks, such as phasing out fossil fuels by the end of the century, and have called on governments to agree to take more decisive climate action.

“In the face of the Paris Summit,” said Alcala, “we must identify and strengthen the advances and the steps to follow with a global vision and a comprehensive approach.”