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Date:
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OPCC
Topic:
Climate change

The document, signed by parliamentarians from various Latin American and Caribbean countries, underscores the importance of strong legislation for a just and responsible transition. It advocates three principles: environmental non-regression, evidence-based practices, and a transition prioritizing social participation and productive inclusion.

The Parliamentary Observatory on Climate Change and Just Transition (OPCC) played a prominent role at the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), held in Azerbaijan from November 11 to 22, 2024. During the event, 39 parliamentarians from Latin America and the Caribbean reaffirmed, through a Joint Declaration (see the full document here), the region’s commitment to promoting green and inclusive productive development aligned with priorities already set for COP30, which will take place in Brazil in 2025.

The document includes proposals to develop the region's productive, technological, and innovative capacities. It recognizes that LAC countries possess vast natural resources and technical expertise to generate sustainable, low-carbon solutions. These efforts also have the potential to foster a more productive, inclusive, and sustainable future for the region.

Building this development model requires a robust legislative framework to encourage investments in strategic sectors. Such investments, targeting areas like renewable energy, bioeconomy, sustainable agriculture, resilient infrastructure, biodiversity protection, science and technology, and innovation, are essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, generating jobs, increasing income, and improving competitiveness by expanding national production of sustainable solutions.

To promote high-level dialogues between lawmakers and the international community on the regional climate agenda and to disseminate the Statement and its global call to action, the OPCC organized two side events at COP29, bringing together parliamentarians, technical experts, and representatives of civil society organizations.

On November 12, in partnership with Brazil’s Federal Senate, the OPCC hosted the event “Turning Potentialities into Reality: The Importance of the Legislative Branch in Driving Decarbonization and Technological Advancement in the Productive Sector in Latin America and the Caribbean”. The debate highlighted proposals that integrate sustainability, competitiveness, and social inclusion, with a special focus on the Brazilian context. During discussions on sustainable supply chains, decarbonization, and technological advancements in the region, Congressman Nilto Tatto, a member of Brazil’s House of Representatives Environment Committee and co-chair of the OPCC, emphasized the role of the parliament in creating and implementing innovative legislation. He called for laws that promote technological advancements, sustainable production, and decarbonized supply chains while generating quality jobs and advancing a fair and sustainable development model.

Fernanda Cimbra Santiago, Special Advisor to Brazil’s Minister of Finance, addressed the challenges and opportunities of green and inclusive productive development, spotlighting Brazil’s recently launched Ecological Transformation Plan (PTE). This initiative aims to boost productivity through technological innovation and sustainable infrastructure, leveraging Brazil’s natural wealth, such as its biodiversity and renewable energy sources. Santiago also highlighted the Ecological Transformation Pact, which unites Brazil’s three branches of government in concrete actions to combat the climate crisis.

Adauto Modesto Junior, Deputy Executive Secretary of Brazil’s Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services, underscored the importance of public procurement as a tool for promoting sustainable development. He noted how government purchasing power can be a crucial lever to strengthening domestic productive sectors aligned with decarbonization and social inclusion goals.

Moderated by Camila Gramkow, Acting Director of ECLAC’s Office in Brazil, the event stood out as a milestone in enhancing the visibility of climate governance practices and fostering opportunities for regional integration.

On November 13, the OPCC hosted “Anticipating the Future: How Legislators Can Act to Seize the Opportunities of Emerging Trends in Green and Inclusive Productive Development” at the Legislators’ Pavilion organized by GLOBE. This event featured two panels with parliamentarians, government officials, and civil society representatives from LAC, discussing anticipatory approaches in legislative agendas and how to prepare the region for future opportunities in green and inclusive productive development.

The first panel, featuring Brazilian congressmen Nilto Tatto and Amon Mandel alongside Guatemala’s Vice Minister of Economy, Valeria Prado, examined challenges and opportunities for sustainable development in LAC. Congressman Tatto stressed the value of interparliamentary exchanges to advance a green and inclusive productive model. Citing extreme climate events like the flooding in Rio Grande do Sul and droughts in the Amazon, he highlighted the need for proactive and anticipatory governance to implement adaptation measures and protect vulnerable communities. Vice Minister Prado emphasized the urgency of anticipatory approaches in agricultural policies for greater adaptability in Guatemala. She advocated for expanding mitigation and adaptation policies, requiring increased climate financing for capacity building and investments in precision agriculture in vulnerable nations. She also raised concerns about external pressures tied to certification requirements, which increase export management costs without adequate financial support, posing additional challenges for agriculture and local economies. Congressman Amon Mandel contributed to the discussion by stressing the importance of effective legislation enforcement, referencing a wildfire prevention project in the Amazon that resulted in an interstate committee to improve national governance, resource allocation, and concrete adaptation measures.

The second panel explored how legislators can prepare to manage major climate transformations in the future. Civil society representatives, such as Beatriz Pagy from Clima de Eleição in Brazil and Bruno Sirote from Argentina’s Youth for Climate, highlighted the critical role of civil society in expanding the climate debate and emphasized the importance of South-South cooperation and investments in innovation. Beatriz Pagy addressed challenges like growing climate denialism, while Sirote argued for an integrated exploration of sustainable development opportunities across LAC. Alejandro Aleman from Climate Action Network Latin America discussed the region’s difficulty meeting Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and advocated for stronger internal legislative pressure to reduce dependence on international financial support.

During the session, the OPCC's Joint Declaration for COP29 was presented, highlighting the urgency of a strong political commitment to address the climate crisis. Additionally, new data from the Legislative Tracker, a key tool for evaluating legislative strategies and strengthening climate ambition in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), was presented. 

During COP29, the OPCC also supported meetings and gatherings of legislators from around the world, aimed at promoting dialogues on issues to be addressed at COP30 in Brazil, while strengthening the role of legislators in international climate negotiations.

About the OPCC 

Since its establishment at COP26 in 2021 in Glasgow, the OPCC has solidified its role as a key actor in global climate change forums. With active participation and concrete proposals, the Observatory strengthens interparliamentary cooperation and fosters dialogue based on legislative data systematically organized by the Legislative Monitor. These initiatives help identify best legislative practices and shape actions that promote a just transition to low-carbon, sustainable economies in the region and worldwide.

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