Latin America and the Caribbean

Climate change is an important topic in the relations between the EU and countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

Climate change regularly features on the agenda of summits and political dialogues at regional, sub-regional and bilateral levels.

Climate action is also promoted in bilateral trade agreements – e.g. with Colombia and Peru and association agreement with Central America. These aim at facilitating trade and foreign investment in environmental technologies, such as renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Policy dialogue – regional

Climate change is part of

• biennial summits between the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the EU-CELAC action plan
• regional dialogues on climate finance, which aim at combining domestic and international sources of financing, integrating climate objectives and financing into national planning, and enhancing access to international climate finance
• high-level political dialogues between the European Union External Action Service (EEAS) and partner countries in the LAC region
• the EU's climate diplomacy efforts aimed at encouraging quick ratification of the Paris Agreement and further specification and implementation of the national contributions

Technical cooperation – regional

The EU supports climate action in Latin America and the Caribbean through the

• regional flagship programme EUROCLIMA (€11.5 million 2010-2013 and 2014-2016) and its successor programmes (€40 million approved for 2016-19, up to further €120 million by 2020) and similar regional programmes in the Caribbean
• sub-regional programme for Central America (€35 million for climate change and disaster management) and provisions on climate change cooperation in the EU-Central America association agreement
• technical cooperation investment programmes under the Latin America Investment Facility (LAIF) and the Caribbean Investment Facility (CIF)

Examples of country cooperation

Mexico and the EU work together on

• low-emission development strategies through the UNDP's Low Emission Capacity Building Programme
• carbon market instruments through the World Bank's Partnership for Market Readiness
• forest management, agriculture and water management through the Latin America Investment Facility (LAIF)
• high-level dialogues on climate change, discussing progress in international negotiations, domestic policies and technical cooperation

Brazil and the EU work together on

• addressing deforestation and forest degradation, climate change vulnerability and adaptation
• carbon market instruments through the World Bank Partnership for Market Readiness
• projects (studies, workshops, study visits) supported by the EU-Brazil Sector Dialogues Support Facility
• scientific research and other issues addressed by the EU-Brazil ad hoc working group on investment and competitiveness
• annual high-level dialogues on climate change, discussing progress in international negotiations, domestic policies and technical cooperation

In addition, a low-carbon business action programme between the EU, Mexico and Brazil under the Partnership Instrument (2014-2020)

• fosters cooperation between EU, and Mexican and Brazilian businesses
• provides technical assistance for the elaboration of joint business proposals that can be financially profitable.