Due in part to climate change, the extreme weather events we’ve experienced across the Americas this past year (which may have once been considered historically atypical) are now becoming a regular occurrence. The impacts have ranged from a mega drought across the U.S. Southwest and Mexico; historic flood conditions in the U.S Southeast; and wildfires along Argentina’s Parana River waterway as well as the recent hurricanes impacting coastal residents from as far north as Canada’s Atlantic Provinces to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.
Q2 – 2023
President’s Column
Features
IOA and CAF join forces to promote cooperation in the Americas
IOA and CAF co-host an “E-Mobility in Public and Private Transport” panel at the Cities Summit of the Americas
Latin American mayors and officials visit San Diego for an E-Mobility and Sustainable Transportation site tour
IOA partners with ICLEI USA and Resilient Cities Catalyst to lead the Department of State’s Cities Forward Initiative
Programs
ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY
The second quarter began with the Madrid Energy Conference, held in collaboration with IPD Latin America on April 18-20 in Spain.
As part of the preparations for the Madrid Energy Conference, we spoke to Panama’s Deputy Secretary of Energy, Rosilena Lindo, for a Curtain Raiser interview as well as Camilo Serrano of Atlas Renewable Energy. Our colleague John Padilla, Managing Director at IPD Latin America, our Madrid Energy Conference co-host, spoke to Jose Vicente Zapata of Holland & Knight.
In April, we hosted David Kovach, Director of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Policy and Diplomacy at the National Security Council at the White House, for a virtual Energy & Sustainability Steering Committee briefing and discussion. It was a timely and insightful conversation given that the IRA’s passage and now ongoing implementation have triggered a wide range of debate and discussion, particularly in terms of what the new landscape signifies for the US’s allies and trading partners.
Spotlight Report: The Key Role of Seafarers in National Economies in a Net-Zero World
Seafarers and the maritime industry, in general, clearly play a vital role in national and global economies. And as the global economy continues to rebound from the Covid pandemic, the industry will grow. By 2050:
- 32,500 new vessels will be needed;
- 875,000 new jobs will be created;
- 5,500 mt of goods will be moved.
Meanwhile, the shipping sector is actively seeking to reduce its environmental footprint. It needs to up those efforts significantly. The sector needs a zero-emissions business model that addresses the “function of travel demand, travel mode, transport technology, GHG intensity of fuels, and energy efficiency.”
Brazil Energy & Sustainability Roundtable
Summary report: Madrid Energy Conference
Webinar recording: Part III: Geothermal – Energy Systems of the Future
ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE (EC2)
Webinar on the ecological footprint of the maritime industry – Recording
Fisheries and Tourism – The Value of Ecosystem Services in Bahía Magdalena, México
IOA’s Gulf of California Marine rogram (GCMP) has been collaborating with artisanal fishermen in Bahía Magdalena since 2012 and has compiled data to produce a comprehensive report on the importance of fishing and ecotourism activities for the economy of the region. Over the past 10-year period, we have monitored over 7,500 fishing trips and collected data on 85 target species. With an estimated 701,439 tons of seafood produced, these species generated about $38,919,777 pesos during that time (or about $2,278,662 USD). The assessment also found that for some fishermen and their families, tourism has become a complement to their income. For example, blue-water snorkeling with marlin alone generates an estimated $7,312,500 pesos (about $428,129 USD) each season, while whale-watching activities can bring in an estimated one million pesos to a permit holder each season. The full report will be available soon.
North America’s largest marine reserve does not harm industrial fishing
On May 31st, Science Advances released a groundbreaking study showcasing the vital role of fully protected marine areas, known as MPAs, in safeguarding biodiversity while ensuring the fishing industry and food security remain unaffected. The study presented scientific evidence based on the evaluation of Mexico’s Revillagigedo National Park’s impact on the industrial fishing sector. A collaborative effort between American and Mexican scientists, the research team found that five years after the park’s establishment, the fishing sector has not encountered economic losses.
Q&A with Catalina López-Sagástegui, co-author of study and Director of the Gulf of California Marine Program
PUBLIC PROGRAMS
U.S. Ambassador to the OAS Francisco Mora highlights challenges and opportunities for the U.S. as the Inter-American System
Upcoming Events
Argentina Energy Roundtable
August 22, 2023 | Buenos Aires
XXXII La Jolla Energy Conference
October 11-12 | La Jolla, California
Announcements
NEW NON-RESIDENT FELLOW | China-Latin America Relations
Thiago de Aragão CEO Arko International
TEAM MEMBER PROMOTION
Francesca Carrillo-Díaz New Director of Facilities Management & Assistant Director, Public Programs
IOA In The News
President Marcos Jr uses Shipping Summit to reiterate his directive to prepare seafarers for a decarbonised future
International Chamber of Shipping: June 30, 2023
BNDES e governo analisam subsídios para transição energética
Canal Energia: June 28, 2023
How Can Honduras Strengthen its Electricity System?
Latin America Advisor: June 23, 2023
Energy matters – What the tech!
ANZMEX: June 19, 2023
Contaminación de mares, otro factor que acelera el cambio climático; especialistas exigen reglas más duras para embarcaciones
Animal Político: June 15, 2023
Un día por los mares del mundo
El Universal: June 8, 2023
How Well Is Brazil Handling an Influx of Venezuelans?
Latin America Advisor: June 1, 2023
IOA, CAF Team for Green Future
San Diego Business Journal: May-June edition
Peces más grandes y mejor pesca en Revillagigedo: lo que ha dejado la mayor área marina protegida de México
El País: May 31, 2023
Large ocean sanctuaries do not impact regional fishing industries
Earth: May 31, 2023
Ven trampa del gobierno para cumplir meta de energía limpia
El Economista: May 25, 2023
Empresas con visión más allá de las utilidades
El Universal: May 11, 2023
What Will a New Chief Executive Bring to Ecopetrol?
Latin American Advisor: April 26, 2023
Llegan alcaldes de Latinoamérica a analizar movilidad en frontera San Diego-Tijuana
Telemundo : April 25, 2023
Ciudades verdes: ¿Es posible la utopía sostenible?
El Universal : April 25, 2023
Insight: Jeremy Martin – Latin America’s important role in the Global Energy Market
Latin Counsel : April 5, 2023
