El Informe Especial del IPCC sobre Cambio Climático y la Tierra ¿Qué significa para América Latina?

This guide, produced by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) and partners, translates the findings of the 2019 IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land specifically for policymakers in Latin America. It examines the reciprocal relationship between land and climate, the risks of desertification and land degradation in the region, and the socio-economic barriers—particularly gender inequality—that hinder sustainable land management. The document advocates for integrated governance and coordinated action across food systems to achieve climate mitigation and adaptation while ensuring food security.

• Climate change and land conditions exist in a reciprocal relationship where each influences the other. Climate change alters soil cover, biodiversity, and nutrient cycles, while land-use changes—such as deforestation or reforestation—affect regional climates. In South America, 'moisture recycling' occurs when forests release water vapor that leads to rainfall downwind, meaning deforestation can potentially reduce rainfall in those areas.
• Arid zones in Latin America are increasingly vulnerable to desertification, which is defined as land degradation in arid areas. In northeast Brazil, 94% of drylands are susceptible to desertification, with up to 50% already degraded due to prolonged droughts and deforestation for agriculture. Desertification costs between 8% and 14% of the gross agricultural product in many Central and South American countries.
• Land degradation and climate change act as 'threat multipliers' for the most vulnerable populations, particularly those depending on natural resources for subsistence. The World Bank projects a 6% reduction in the average yields of 11 major global crops in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2046–2055 compared to 1996 – 2005. In specific locations like Colomi, Bolivia, climate change is already forcing farmers to alter sowing times and soil management strategies.
• Sustainable land management (SLM) can provide significant economic returns and combat degradation. A study of 363 SLM projects showed that 97% had a positive or very positive cost-benefit ratio in the long term. Effective measures include improving soil carbon content, using cover crops, and implementing agroforestry. Costa Rica's Payments for Environmental Services (PSA) program is highlighted as a successful national model that has protected over one million hectares of forest.
• Gender inequality and insecure property rights are major obstacles to sustainable land management. Women often face limited access to credit, agricultural advisory services, and land ownership, which hinders their ability to act as agents of sustainable change. In the Cumbaza river micro-basin in Peru, for example, land titles for irrigated rice plots are held mostly by men, while women's roles are limited to salaried labor.
• Integrated governance across sectors and scales is necessary to maximize the benefits of land and water management. This includes combining policies such as crop insurance, sustainable land management, and community co-management for water planning. The document emphasizes that sustainable development often fails when social issues like inequality, discrimination, and social exclusion are ignored.
• The global food system contributes 25% to 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions. To reduce this pressure on land, a combination of supply-side efficiency (production, transport, processing) and demand-side interventions (dietary changes and reducing food waste) is required. Sustainable intensification of agriculture is necessary to increase production without exhausting soils or ecosystems.
• There are physical limits to how much the land can contribute to climate mitigation. Over-reliance on land-based solutions, such as large-scale bioenergy crops or afforestation, can increase competition for land and threaten food security and biodiversity. Therefore, reducing emissions in other sectors is vital to alleviate the pressure on land.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (2019). El Informe Especial del IPCC sobre Cambio Climático y la Tierra ¿Qué significa para América Latina? https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/WEB-IPCC-Land_Latin-America_Spanish_24March2020.pdf

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. El Informe Especial del IPCC sobre Cambio Climático y la Tierra ¿Qué significa para América Latina? 2019. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/WEB-IPCC-Land_Latin-America_Spanish_24March2020.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=El Informe Especial del IPCC sobre Cambio Climático y la Tierra ¿Qué significa para América Latina? |date=2019 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/WEB-IPCC-Land_Latin-America_Spanish_24March2020.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetwork2019informe, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{El Informe Especial del IPCC sobre Cambio Climático y la Tierra ¿Qué significa para América Latina?}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2019}, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/WEB-IPCC-Land_Latin-America_Spanish_24March2020.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }