Getting to Net-Zero Emissions: Lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean

Since 2017, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and AFD, in partnership with the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI), have been supporting the Deep Decarbonization Pathways (DDP-LAC) project. The aim of this project is to build the capacities of six Latin American countries (Costa Rica, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina) in planning long-term decarbonization strategies, which contribute to the preparation of climate policies in line with the Paris Agreement.

The first phase of this project is nearing completion and a report on the initial outcomes has just been released: "Getting to Net-Zero Emissions - Lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean".

It stresses the importance of socially acceptable long-term planning to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. To be successful, the ecological and social transition needs to be properly anticipated and requires a paradigm shift. For example, based on the work of the DDP-LAC project, Costa Rica has developed a carbon neutrality plan for 2050, and a similar exercise is taking place in Colombia.