• The first Exhibition on National Adaptation Plans in Latin America (Regional NAP Expo) was held on October 22 and 23 in Panama City.

• Four initiatives from Colombia, Costa Rica and Peru were recognised.
• The EUROCLIMA+ Programme of the European Union organised two sessions on resilient cities.

Panama City, October 24, 2018. The Regional NAP Expo, the first held in Latin America, addressed the latest advances of the region in terms of innovation and adaptation to climate change. More than 120 international guests participated in plenary sessions and dialogues with prominent spokespersons on the areas of cities, agriculture or financing.

“These innovative solutions are proof of Latin America's priority in adapting to climate change. The region is already suffering the impact of this global phenomenon, and it is taking action to guarantee the resilience of the communities, agricultural production or tourism,” said Elena Pita, Programme Officer of UN Environment’s Climate Change Adaptation Programme in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The recent report on global warming of 1.5° C prepared by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) confirmed to the world the need to accelerate climate action. The planet is currently experiencing the consequences of a 1° C rise in global warming, with extreme weather events, rising sea levels and melting of the polar ice caps, conditions that will intensify if urgent measures are not taken. The document, published on October 8 in Korea, points out that achieving this goal will require “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society.”

On Monday, October 22, four environmental leaders from Colombia, Costa Rica and Peru received Adaptation Awards for Latin America 2018, an initiative of UN Environment to highlight the innovative solutions of organisations and citizens in confronting the effects of climate change.

The winners were recognised during the first Exhibition on National Adaptation Plans in Latin America (Regional NAP Expo), which was held October 22 to 23 in Panama City.

During NAP Expo, UN Environment with support from the European Union-funded EUROCLIMA+ Programme, carried out two specific sessions on Resilient Cities, aimed at specialists and government technicians from the 18 participating countries of the region, members of research centres and programmes, international organisations, cooperation agencies, and actors from civil society and the private sector. The objective of these sessions was to present innovative options in designing urban centres that are more integrated with their ecosystems to contribute to the resilience of the population and ecosystem health. This through political dialogue for cooperation that aims to promote experience exchange and best practices.

The Regional NAP Expo was organised by UN Environment through its REGATTA initiative, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Panama’s Ministry of the Environment, with support from the Government of Spain (AECID), the Environment-UNDP Joint Programme for Global Support to National Adaptation Plans (NAP-GSP), the Euroclima+ programme of the European Union, and the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN).

More about the 2018 Adaptation Awards http://napexpo.org/america-latina/premios-de-adaptacion/

Images of the event: https://bit.ly/2PRfB3y

About UN Environment

UN Environment is the leading environmental authority in the world. It provides leadership and encourages joint work in environmental stewardship, inspiring, informing and training nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. UN Environment works with governments, the private sector, civil society and with other United Nations entities and international organisations around the world.  www.unenvironment.org/es

ABOUT EUROCLIMA+ 

EUROCLIMA+ is a programme funded by the European Union to promote environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient development in 18 Latin American countries, particularly for the benefit of the most vulnerable populations. The Programme is implemented under the synergistic work of seven agencies: Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), French Development Agency (AFD), Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC), Expertise France (EF), International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP), German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), and UN Environment.

For more information contact:

María Amparo Lasso, Head of Communication for Latin America and the Caribbean, UN Environment. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

General press contact for the EUROCLIMA+ Programme

Alexandra Cortés. EUROCLIMA+ Programme: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.