and access to water. The Latin America and Caribbean region has the opportunity to build on and upscale existing efforts from all development actors that have worked for sustainable development and have developed options and tools (UNEP 2016a). Regarding the promotion of the rule of law and insurance of equal access to justice (SDG 16), the region adopted an Agreement on Access to Information, Public participation and Access to Justice in environmental matters which includes specific provisions on rights of environmental defenders (UN 2018b).
Latin America and the Caribbean is a complex region, rich in natural resources, with varied territories and cultures, great economic opportunities, and a dynamic population. However, it still is one of the most socially unequal regions in the world and one of the most dependent on its natural capital (UN Environment/UNU, 2014). Thus, its economies continue to be strongly based on primary products and natural resources, accounting for almost 50 per cent of the region’s exports (e.g. soy, coffee, sugar and meat, oil, coal, copper, and other minerals) (UNEP 2016b). Given the increase in population and the demand for raw materials for consumption and exports, data indicates that current and future growth in the region is likely to be at the expense of environmental services (e.g. water supply, climate regulation, and support for agriculture) and natural resources (e.g. minerals, marine resources, and genetic resources) (United Nations and Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean [ECLAC] 2018). The total land area under protection, between 1980-2015, increased from 8.8 per cent to 23.4 per cent and deforestation fell from 4.45 million hectares per year between 1990-2000 to 2.18 million hectares per year between 2010-2015. However, important ecosystems and ecological processes in the region continue to be affected. Data indicate that although the rate of conversion of natural systems has begun to slow, the overall rate of loss of ecosystems remains high. Forests have shown an overall decrease of 9.4 per cent across the region since 1990; however, this regional aggregate has potentially masked a noteworthy area of success. For example, in the Caribbean, there has been an increase in the extent of forested area by 43 per cent over the 1990 baseline (UNEP 2016b).
The growth model, coupled with limited redistributive policies, is already reflected in marked territorial and population inequalities (affecting indigenous and afro-descendant populations in particular) regarding access and management of natural resources and development benefits which are likely to worsen in the climate change scenarios developed for the region. One expression of this inequality is the socioenvironmental conflicts that have emerged with increasing force in the region (Not an Atlas 2018). Other expression of the unsustainability of
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Reforestation in Costa Rica (World Resources Institute 2016).
the development patterns is the decline in air quality in cities. In most cities where data are available, the concentrations of particulate matter and ozone are above the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. This increases the vulnerability of urban dwellers to respiratory diseases; and more than 100 million people in the region live in areas susceptible to air pollution.
Conclusion
The future of the region’s economies, as well as the ability of countries to fight poverty and reverse inequality, depends heavily on the region’s natural capital and the ability of governments, the private sector, civil society, and communities to effectively manage it. Although there are noteworthy successes in the region’s efforts to manage its natural asset base and to address a number of socio-economic challenges, data indicates that progress is likely taking place at the expense of the environment. Whether driven by the demands of a growing population, fueled by economic factors within or outside of the region, or facilitated by the absence of effective governance structures, it is generally accepted that patterns of production and consumption within the region are currently unsustainable. This trade-off between human progress and environmental health is no longer sustainable and needs to be addressed with urgency if the region is to secure sustainable development and the well-being of its population.
Measuring Progress Report 2019
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