Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has the least carbon-intensive electricity sector of any region in the world, as hydropower remains the largest source of electricity. But are existing plans consistent with the climate change goals laid out in the Paris Agreement? In this paper, we assess committed CO2 emissions from existing and planned power plants in LAC. Those are the carbon emissions that would result from the operation of fossil-fueled power plants during their typical lifetime. Committed emissions from existing power plants are close to 6.9 Gt of CO2. Building and operating all power plants that are announced, authorized, being procured, or under construction would result in 6.7 Gt of CO2 of additional commitments (for a total of 13.6 Gt of CO2). Committed emissions are above average IPCC assessments of cumulative emissions from power generation in LAC consistent with climate targets. The paper concludes that 10% to 16% of existing fossil-fueled power plants in the region would need to be “stranded” to meet average carbon budgets from IPCC. Our results suggest that international climate change commitments are material even in developing countries with low baseline emissions.
-
on the same region
Vidéopublished in February 2021Institutional documentpublished in November 2020Research documentpublished in November 2020Research documentpublished in November 2020Vidéopublished in April 2020Vidéopublished in February 2020 -
on the same topic
Research documentpublished in February 2021Institutional documentpublished in January 2021Vidéopublished in January 2021Institutional documentpublished in January 2021Institutional documentpublished in November 2020Research documentpublished in November 2020 -
from the same author
Research documentpublished in February 2021Research documentpublished in February 2021Research documentpublished in January 2021Evaluation documentpublished in December 2020Evaluation documentpublished in December 2020Evaluation documentpublished in December 2020 -
from the same collection
Research documentpublished in February 2021Research documentpublished in February 2021Research documentpublished in January 2021Research documentpublished in December 2020Research documentpublished in December 2020Research documentInequality in Public Good Provision and Attitude Towards Taxation: Sub-national Evidence from Africapublished in November 2020