Nationally Determined Contributions Across the Americas

Ex ecu�v e Summary Through our analysis, we note the extent of potential limitations. Energy, agricul- ture, and land-use (e.g. deforestation) are the three largest sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in LAC – representing 88% of emissions – and any effort to decarbonize will have to concentrate on these areas. But, as we highlight in this paper, there are notable opportunities to further climate action, many of which can be considered so-called low-hanging fruit. Specifically, efforts targeting renewable energy systems, sustainable fuels and supply chains; agricultural practices; and nature - and ecosystem - based solutions can have important impacts. The region alone holds over a quarter of the world’s forest cover and almost half of the remaining tropical forests, yet the fast overall ecosystem degradation calls for action now. The rate of tree loss in the entire Amazonian basin since the 2000 is of about 8 percent. Likewise, LAC holds over 25% of the global mangrove cover, yet 20% of that has been lost between 2001 and 2018. Without adequate financial incentives, this vital carbon sinks could be lost forever. Overall, our work aims to further shape and inform the climate debate. The regional scorecard is a great tool to emphasize the most critical areas of near-term attention needed from policymakers and government officials. This will be particularly useful in the final countdown to Glasgow and perhaps also to spur an LAC unified message, specifically with regards to increased funding for the region.

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