Latin America and the Caribbean / Amérique latine et Caraïbes
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Item Future climate change scenarios in Central America at high spatial resolution(PLOS ONE, 2018-04) Imbach, Pablo; Chou, Sin Chan; Lyra, André; Rodrigues, Daniela; Rodriguez, Daniel; Latinovic, Dragan; Siqueira, Gracielle; Silva, Adan; Garofolo, Lucas; Georgiou, SelenaThe objective of this work is to assess the downscaling projections of climate change over Central America at 8-km resolution using the Eta Regional Climate Model, driven by the HadGEM2-ES simulations of RCP4.5 emission scenario. The narrow characteristic of continent supports the use of numerical simulations at very high-horizontal resolution. Prior to assessing climate change, the 30-year baseline period 1961–1990 is evaluated against different sources of observations of precipitation and temperature. The mean seasonal precipitation and temperature distribution show reasonable agreement with observations. Spatial correlation of the Eta, 8-km resolution, simulations against observations show clear advantage over the driver coarse global model simulations. Seasonal cycle of precipitation confirms the added value of the Eta at 8-km over coarser resolution simulations. The Eta simulations show a systematic cold bias in the region. Climate features of the Mid-Summer Drought and the Caribbean Low-Level Jet are well simulated by the Eta model at 8-km resolution. The assessment of the future climate change is based on the 30-year period 2021–2050, under RCP4.5 scenario. Precipitation is generally reduced, in particular during the JJA and SON, the rainy season. Warming is expected over the region, but stronger in the northern portion of the continent. The Mid-Summer Drought may develop in regions that do not occur during the baseline period, and where it occurs the strength may increase in the future scenario. The Caribbean Low-Level Jet shows little change in the future. Extreme temperatures have positive trend within the period 2021–2050, whereas extreme precipitation, measured by R50mm and R90p, shows positive trend in the eastern coast, around Costa Rica, and negative trends in the northern part of the continent. Negative trend in the duration of dry spell, which is an estimate based on evapotranspiration, is projected in most part of the continent. Annual mean water excess has negative trends in most part of the continent, which suggests decreasing water availability in the future scenario.Item Informe final del proyecto - Seguridad hidrica y cambio climatico en la region de América central y el Caribe 15 de julio de 2016(IDRC / Centro del agua del tropico humedo para América latina et el Caribe (CATHALAC), 2016-07) Picado Trana, Freddy; Moran, MiroslavaEl problema fundamental de investigación fue el de reducir la brecha existente entre el conocimiento científico sobre los impactos del cambio climático en los recursos hídricos, y los esfuerzos que desarrollan las instituciones nacionales y locales dedicadas a la gestión del agua. Esta brecha fue visible al analizar los indicadores relacionados con seguridad hídrica al nivel local, lo que motivó el desarrollo de una investigación dirigida a generar conocimiento relevante a esta gestión, incorporando las entidades claves mencionadas desde un inicio, en dos países priorizados. El objetivo general del proyecto fue mejorar la toma de decisión en seguridad hídrica en la región de América Central y el Caribe en el marco del cambio climático.Item Beyond city limits : using a basin perspective to assess urban adaptation to climate change; the case of the city of Santiago in Chile(ICLEI, 2014) Vicuña, S.; Bonelli, S.; Bustos, E.; Uson, T.The main source of water supply for Santiago, Chile is the Maipo River, which is expected to have reduced water availability due to climate change. The paper presents a conceptual model to assess adaptation options available both within and beyond city limits by considering the river basin in which the city is located. When looking at a basin scale, there seems to be a broader set of adaptation options if a city lies closer to the basin outlet than if located nearer the headwaters. Also noteworthy is that Chile´s water system grants private ownership of water.Item Socio-ecological resilience in the context of sea level rise(2014) Pinedo-Vasquez, Miguel; Vogt, NathanThe presentation addresses ways to build adaptive capacities of indigenous communities in the Amazon Estuary, a region governed by tidal floods. It reviews available data that shows fluctuations in land use and sources of income from the 1950’s to 2008, as well as contexts of rural/urban population changes. Advancing the notion of socio-ecological resilience, it advocates for local peoples’ capacity to adapt by maintaining the structural and functional features of social and natural landscapes over time.Item MAPA - Maipo : plan de adaptación; newsletter, no. 2, noviembre 2013(Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 2013-11) Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileItem ECOSALUD : América Latina Día; boletín informativo, v. 1, no. 4, 4 noviembre 2013(2013-11) Santandreu, Alain; Pérez, Elizabeth; Gómez, Héctor; Avila, Olga; Guevara, Milady; Pimentel, Edmundo; Salazar, MargarethItem ECOSALUD : América Latina Día; boletín informativo, v. 1, no. 3, 9 octubre 2013(2013-10) Pérez, Elizabeth; Gómez, Héctor; Avila, Olga; Pimentel, Edmundo; Salazar, MargarethItem ECOSALUD : América Latina Día; boletín informativo, no. 2, 6 septiembre 2013(Ecosalud ETV, 2013-09) Gómez, Héctor; Santandreu, Alain; Pérez, Elizabeth; Avila, Olga; Pimentel, Edmundo; Salazar, MargarethItem ECOSALUD : América Latina Día; boletín informativo, v. 1, no. 1, 6 agosto 2013(EcoSalud ETV, 2013-08) Gómez, Héctor; Santandreu, Alain; Pérez, Elizabeth; Avila, Olga; Pimentel, Edmundo; Salazar, MargarethItem Analysing the cost of adapting to climate change(International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), 2012-05) Fisher, SuzanneHow do you estimate the cost of adaptation to climate change on vulnerable communities, where stakeholders are involved in identifying costs and benefits? Project benefits – and the importance of those benefits – are different depending on which stakeholders you ask. ‘Stakeholders’ is NGO jargon for all the groups impacted by the climate change adaptation projects being studied, such as the national or local government, the local community (including local farmers), and the private sector. A workshop looks at approaches to cost benefit analysis, where classic analysis doesn’t account for non-monetary benefits.Item Stakeholder-focused cost-benefit analysis in the water sector : guidance report(International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), London, GB, 2013-01) Chambwera, Muyeye; Baulcomb, Corinne; Lunduka, Rodney; de Bresser, Laura; Chaudhury, AbrarThese guidelines are intended to show how economic tools can be used for a stakeholder-focused approach to planning and evaluating adaptation to climate change. Using cost-benefit analysis (CBA) as an overall framework, this guidance document presents the basic steps of an approach that enriches traditional economic analysis by focusing on stakeholders in the water sector. The case studies, all located in areas facing the impact of climate change in the water sector, used stakeholder approaches to undertake economic analyses of adapting to climate change. Outcomes will be determined by specific needs, which will vary from one setting to another.Item Stakeholder-focused cost-benefit analysis in the water sector : synthesis report(International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), London, GB, 2013-01) Lunduka, Rodney; Bezabih, Mintewab; Chaudhury, AbrarFive case studies from representative low- and middle-income countries (Bolivia, Morocco, Malawi, Bangladesh, and Nepal) were selected to pilot the approach of stakeholder identification and prioritization of adaptation strategies. All studies generated evidence on cost benefits of adaptation. Non-monetary benefits are highly significant, particularly for local households and the environment. For instance, more than 50 per cent of water saved by switching to drip irrigation in Morocco will increase long-term groundwater levels; while incorporating soil and water conservation technologies into irrigation in Malawi benefits fisheries and birds, less siltation in the lake and better long-term yields reduce the need to hunt birds.Item Multi-stakeholder cost-benefit analysis of climate change adaptation measures and options : the case of urban water provision in the context of melting glaciers in Bolivia(International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), London, GB, 2012-03) Gonzales Iwanciw, Javier; Zalles, Heidi; Cabrera, YesmyDespite high levels of uncertainty and complexity, glacier melting is already taking place. The potential impact on water provision for the cities of La Paz and El Alto are well understood. The two options assessed in this study, using the multi-stakeholder cost-benefit analysis (MCBA) methodology are: the construction of a new dam; and efficiency measures in the La Paz / El Alto water delivery system. Findings show that both have a positive net present value (NPV) in financial, social and environmental terms. A major constraint on the water sector in Bolivia is lack of agreement on a new Water Law.Item Information and Communications Technologies, Water and Climate Change Issues and Research Priorities in Latin America and the Caribbean(2011) Cliche, Gilles Cliche; Saravia, MiguelThe research focuses on affirming ICT applications in key subject areas of vulnerability mapping, water management, early warning systems, and social learning and knowledge sharing. The paper provides an overview and discussion of the context of climate change in LAC, stressing the importance for engagement in climate change adaptation to jointly address poverty reduction and equity development objectives. It is clear that ICTs help science in elucidating the relationship between anthropogenic causes of global warming and water-related impacts, and evidence is increasingly relevant for policy-making decisions and investments in climate change mitigation.Item Research Award for Young Scholars – “Adaptive Water Management: looking to the future”(2011-08) Silveira da Rocha Sampaio, Rômulo; Monjardim Barbosa, Mariana; Iglesias Peralta, AliciaAmong the range of crosscutting issues related to climate change and water, the Research Awards for Young Scholars focused on proposed topics for the International Water Resources Association (IWRA) Conference: Adaptive water management; Water resources and global change; Governance and water law; and Knowledge systems. The four papers published here contribute to the body of knowledge on climate change, driven by researchers from developing countries, and more specifically from Latin America and the Caribbean.Item Adaptive water management : looking to the future; final technical report re Research Awards for Young Researchers(FGV DIREITO RIO, Rio de Janeiro, BR, 2011) Silveira da Rocha Sampaio, Rômulo; Monjardim Barbosa, Mariana; Iglesias Peralta, AliciaThe World Water Congress (of the International Water Resources Association) was a strategic opportunity to highlight the research results from relevant projects in the field authored by young researchers. The Research Awards for Young Scholars (RAYS) sought innovative work that explores emerging drivers of water resources management, including climate change. This report documents the activities of RAYS, as well as outputs and outcomes of the program, which supported scholars from the Latin America and Caribbean region.Item Inclusión social y económica de los recicladores en la gestión integrada de los residuos sólidos urbanos : anexo 8(SGAB Conseil - Sociedad de Gestión Ambiental Boliviana, Cochabamba, BO, 2011) Paz, Gregory; Steffens, Nicole; Kawakami, KeijiPese a que los recicladores y su trabajo son una realidad en todas las ciudades de Latinoamérica, los sistemas municipales de manejo de los Residuos Sólidos Urbanos no los consideran, por el contrario, los excluyen y concentran todas las actividades en la empresa operadora, privándoles de su única fuente de ingresos, profundizando su marginalidad social y económica y generando frecuentes conflictos socio ambientales. Se planteó incorporar a vecinos y recicladores al sistema municipal; mejorar los servicios ambientales y económicos que realizan los recicladores, integrarlos socialmente, incrementar sus ingresos e incorporarlos a las cadenas productivas de materiales reciclables. Se implementó este sistema en dos barrios (Bella Vista: 285 viviendas y 1140 personas y San Luis: 295 viviendas unifamiliares 1044 personas) durante 15 y 13 semanas, de marzo a agosto/2009. El 77 y 70% de los vecinos aceptó participar en la prueba separando sus residuos en 4 grupos: Biodegradables, Reciclables, No aprovechables ó Basura y Peligrosos y entregándolos a los recicladores 2 veces/semana de residuos Biodegradables y No aprovechables o Basura; 1 vez/sem. los Reciclables y los Peligrosos un vez/mes. Los resultados sociales, operativos y económicos, muestran que los recicladores pueden recoger “puerta a puerta” los residuos reciclables de 30 a 50 viviendas por día. Para esto deberían dedicar 1,93 a 3,21 horas/día a la recolección y de 4,1 a 6,8 hrs/día a la clasificación de los materiales reciclables. Estos trabajos demandan de 5 a 10 hrs/día durante 6 días/semana y les generarían ingresos a precios de mayo 2011, que son altos, de 3.480 a 5.800 Bs/mes en Bella Vista y de 1.939 a 3.232 Bs/mes en San Luis. Es decir, sus ingresos serían de 4,3 a 7,2 y de 2,4 a 4 veces el salario mínimo vital en Bella Vista, establecido en 815 Bs/mes, en Bella Vista y San Luis respectivamente.Item Gestión integrada de pilas y baterías usadas factibilidad ambiental, tecnica y operative(SGAB Conseil - Sociedad de Gestión Ambiental Boliviana, Cochabamba, BO, 2011) Paz, GregoryIsolated and specific awareness and collection actions aren't enough, it is necessary to build integrated and sustainable management systems of this waste as part of the structures of the urban solid waste integrated management from municipal governments. SGAB – Focus Cities Project, with Canada’s IDRC support, based on the studies carried out in May 2010, implemented as a pilot experience the "Dry used regular and cellular phone environmental management plan” in the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia. The proposed plan installed 700 containers for used regular and cellular phone batteries collection in educational units, health establishments, condominiums, residential areas, buildings, commercial and Government institutions, where a trained volunteer took the responsibility for the container as well awareness activities directed to the neighbors and surrounding areas. The collection was conducted on a regular basis every four to five months and when the container was filled. At the same time the awareness and environmental education and training plan concerning this system for the whole population, for teachers as diffusers and operational staff, was implemented through courses, lectures, printed and digital material, participating in environmental fairs, social networks and other environmental, social and scientific events. During 17 months of operation of the “Dry used regular and cellular phone batteries pilot plan of Integrated management” as well as all its components (technical, environmental, socio-cultural, legal policy, economic, financial, etc.) and all its operational phases (collection, collection, transportation and storage) have been evaluated to improve each of them and the system in general. In addition, characterization studies of types, brands, composition and other characteristics on the collected batteries have been carried out simultaneously. Currently the pilot proposal is sufficiently perfected to become part of the municipal integrated solid waste management system of Cochabamba, as well as its concepts and bases to be applied in other Bolivian and Latin-American cities.Item Diagnóstico del manejo de los residuos sólidos generados en el jardín botánico Martín Cárdenas(SGAB Conseil - Sociedad de Gestión Ambiental Boliviana, Cochabamba, BO, 2010) SGAB Conseil - Sociedad de Gestión Ambiental Boliviana