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The sustainable finance market in Latin America and the Caribbean grew significantly between 2019 and 2021, with total VSS emissions reaching USD 48.6 billion by June 2021. Chile, Brazil, and Mexico dominate the market, accounting for 77% of all VSS emissions. Green bonds remain the largest segment (USD 30.2 billion), while social and sustainability bonds have seen rapid growth, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. Energy is the most funded sector, though transport and land use are significant. The report also highlights the emergence of sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) and the ongoing development of national green taxonomies in countries like Chile, Colombia, and Mexico.

The global GSS+ debt market reached a cumulative volume of USD 2.8 trillion by the end of 2021, with new issuance in 2021 alone surpassing USD 1 trillion. Green bonds remain the largest segment, while sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) showed the fastest year-on-year growth. The report highlights the dominance of developed markets, particularly Europe, and the emerging role of sovereign issuers and taxonomies in standardising the market.

Friends of the Earth International denounces the escalation of systematic violence in Colombia, specifically targeting peasants, indigenous peoples, Afro-descendant communities, and women. The statement highlights the failure of the Ivan Duque administration to protect these groups or uphold the 2016 peace agreements, noting a surge in massacres and targeted killings of local leaders and former FARC-EP members during 2020.

The document condemns the February 24, 2020, murder of Jehry Rivera Rivera, a Naso Bröran leader in Costa Rica who opposed land usurpation and extractive projects like the El Diquis hydroelectric dam. It highlights a pattern of violence, including the 2019 murder of Sergio Rojas Ortiz, and criticizes the Costa Rican government for failing to respond to alerts about armed intrusions or implement Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) precautionary measures for the Térraba and Salitre territories.

The STeP Fellowship Pilot Program is a strategic initiative by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) to bridge the gap between scientific research and policy-making in Latin America and the Caribbean. The program places scientists in host institutions for two years, providing them with professional development in leadership, communication, and science diplomacy. The IAI manages the training and networking, while host institutions provide stipends and define national priority areas. Initial cohorts were launched in Argentina and Mexico in 2020, with the program utilizing a model based on the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships.

Friends of the Earth International denounces the removal of President Evo Morales in Bolivia as a coup d'état driven by right-wing forces and supported by the military and police. The organization expresses concern over human rights violations and the appropriation of the state by Jeanine Áñez, calling for international solidarity to restore democracy and the right to self-determination for the Bolivian people.

The SB-50 negotiations in Bonn were characterized by persistent political deadlocks, particularly regarding the IPCC 1.5ºC report and Article 6 mechanisms. While there was an increase in countries advocating for human rights-based social safeguards in market mechanisms, deep divisions remain. The session also advanced reviews of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage and the Gender Action Plan, while highlighting the importance of procedural rights and the Escazú Agreement for civil society participation.

The green bond market in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is growing, with USD 12.6 billion issued since 2014. Brazil, Chile, and Mexico dominate the market, with Chile leading the region in sovereign green bond issuance. While energy is the most funded sector, LAC shows a higher proportion of funding for land use and industry compared to global trends. The report highlights significant opportunities for growth in sustainable agriculture and the 'blue economy' (ocean-based resources), while noting that public sector entities and financial institutions have substantial untapped potential for future green issuances.

The statement condemns the election of Jair Bolsonaro as a representative of the 'extrême droite fasciste', arguing that his leadership threatens human rights, social victories, and the safety of marginalized groups. It links his rise to neoliberalism and the influence of transnational oil and agro-industrial companies, while warning of increased militarization and the potential for a military invasion of Venezuela.

The report assesses the GCF's adaptation portfolio, finding it generally aligned with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) but lacking in areas like human health. It identifies a critical need for standardized guidelines on 'climate rationale' to distinguish adaptation from general development and recommends a flexible three-tier costing approach (total, incremental, and beyond incremental cost). The study also highlights the under-utilization of diverse accredited entities and the limited role of the private sector in adaptation projects.

Friends of the Earth Europe and Latin America and Caribbean denounce the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) for legitimizing the 2017 Honduran general election results. The organization argues that the EU EOM minimized electoral irregularities and ignored the brutal state repression of peaceful protesters. They contend that President Juan Orlando Hernández's candidacy was unconstitutional and call for the EU EOM's final report to document human rights violations and the role of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) in the alleged fraud.

The 2017 Global Tracking Framework reports that the world is not on track to meet its 2030 sustainable energy goals. While energy efficiency is closest to the required pace, electrification and clean cooking access are lagging, particularly in Africa. Renewable energy shares are increasing but remain far below the 36% target. The report emphasizes that current policy commitments and technology trends are insufficient, calling for a significant increase in global investment across all three pillars.

The Energy Savings Insurance (ESI) instrument is designed to stimulate energy efficiency investments by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by mitigating the risk that actual energy savings fall below projections. A pilot in Mexico's agro-industry sector targets 10 fast-track projects valued at USD 2.14 million, utilizing a package of surety insurance, credit lines from FIRA, and third-party verification by ANCE. Financial modeling indicates that the ESI package can absorb 60-80% of the impact of underperformance on debt service repayments, significantly reducing risk for both equity investors and loan providers. The report proposes scaling the initiative to 6-14 additional Latin American and Caribbean countries through a regional facility, with further replication planned for China, India, Indonesia, and Africa, aiming for a global potential of USD 10-100 billion in investments by 2030.

The Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance conducted a Phase 2 analysis of seven climate finance instruments based on four criteria: actionability, innovativeness, catalytic potential, and transformative impact. Following this assessment, four instruments—the Agricultural Supply Chain Adaptation Facility, Climate Development & Finance Facility, Energy Savings Insurance, and Long-term Currency Swap—were selected to move into Phase 3 for detailed financial modeling and implementation planning. The report details the goals and analytical findings for all seven instruments, including those focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and agricultural resilience, while highlighting the need for public sector support and donor capital to mitigate risks and catalyze private investment.

The Agricultural Supply Chain Adaptation Facility (ASCAF) is a proposed financing mechanism to help small- and medium-sized farmers in the Latin America and Caribbean region invest in climate-resilient agricultural measures. By using donor-backed first-loss guarantees and technical assistance provided through Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), ASCAF aims to enable agribusiness corporations to extend medium- to long-term loans (5-7 years) to their suppliers. The facility targets 'tight' value chains for high-value crops like coffee, sugarcane, and cocoa to reduce credit risks and capacity gaps. If scaled, the facility could potentially protect or increase the revenues of 63,000 to 420,000 farming households by 2030, with a total market investment potential estimated between USD 2.5 billion and USD 4.4 billion for four sample crops.

The report details a rapid foresight exercise and backcasting analysis conducted with 18 practitioners from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to identify gaps in sustainable development planning. It emphasizes the need to transition from siloed, sector-based planning to integrated, multistakeholder processes that align national visions with subnational implementation. The document outlines a capacity-building agenda for 2014-2015 focusing on vertical and horizontal collaboration, cross-cutting policies for water, energy, and food security, and the shift from expenditure-based reporting to objective-based monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (MER). It also maps existing regional networks, such as REDEPLAN and CLAD, to coordinate knowledge sharing and avoid duplication of efforts.

The document is a statement of solidarity from Friends of the Earth Latin America and the Caribbean (ATALC) regarding the persecution of activists and legislators in Honduras. It highlights the violent repression of peasant, environmental, and feminist movements, specifically citing the attack on deputy Rafael Alegría and police repression within the Honduran Parliament as evidence of a broader assault on human rights and nature.

The report analyzes the social, environmental, and business performance of 1,337 SMMEs in developing countries, with a focus on the 2011 applicant cohort. It identifies a strong trend toward the adoption of new technologies and a shift in organizational identity from strictly non-profit to hybrid or for-profit models. Key barriers include a lack of financial resources, limited access to technical research partners, and a deficiency in local-level environmental monitoring and enforcement. The study also highlights gender disparities, noting that women-led enterprises often face greater challenges in accessing business management skills and markets.

This document is a Questions and Answers (Q&A) briefing regarding an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for CDKN project RSGL-0031, detailing submission requirements, budget, and the technical scope of the project.

The document highlights the LAC region's specific climate finance needs, noting a high proportion of emissions from land-use change and adaptation requirements per person that exceed those of Africa and Asia. It emphasizes the need for public sector catalysis of private investment, particularly in forestry and agribusiness, and cautions that existing official development assistance patterns may leave the region with insufficient adaptation resources.