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🇵🇾 Paraguay /Elections & Politics

Latin America’s green potential faces geopolitical tensions and a stronger El Niño

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Experts at the Latin American Green Economy Forum said the region is well positioned to benefit from demand for critical minerals and renewable-energy resources.
  • They called for regional cooperation, access to technology and energy security as geopolitical tensions raise oil prices and accelerate the energy transition.
  • A potentially severe El Niño could bring higher temperatures, drought, fires and disruptions to agriculture, river transport and local economies.

Latin America has abundant biodiversity and natural resources, but turning that wealth into economic strength will require navigating geopolitical pressure and a potentially severe El Niño.

Instability creates an opportunity.

· Patricia EllenThe AYA Earth Partners co-founder described how geopolitical tensions could open space for Latin America in the green economy.

That tension shaped the IV Latin American Green Economy Forum in São Paulo, organized by EFE with international specialists in the environment, bioeconomy and energy transition. Participants said high oil prices, driven by the conflict between the United States and Iran, make the shift toward cleaner energy more urgent.

The region holds some of the world’s largest reserves of critical minerals and rare earths, materials needed for electric-vehicle batteries, wind turbines and other products. Patricia Ellen, co-founder of AYA Earth Partners, said, “Instability creates an opportunity.”

A new culture of regional cooperation, with climate resilience.

· Izabella TeixeiraThe former Brazilian environment minister called for stronger regional coordination.

The competition for those resources also carries diplomatic implications. Luiz Augusto de Castro Neves, a former ambassador and president of the Brazil-China Business Council, said Brazil should maintain relations with countries around the world in its national interest, particularly with China. Former Brazilian Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira called for “a new culture of regional cooperation, with climate resilience” to give Latin American countries access to technology and energy security.

It will be the strongest in 100 years, the drought has already begun.

· Carlos NobreThe scientist warned about the expected severity of El Niño and its effects on the region.

Climate conditions could limit those opportunities. Scientist Carlos Nobre warned that the coming El Niño could be the strongest in 100 years and said drought had already begun. He urged governments to prepare for more frequent fires. Imaflora is teaching rural producers measures such as more resilient plant varieties, while specialist Eduardo Trevisan said low rainfall could reduce farm output and low river levels could prevent products from reaching markets. Despite those risks, participants expressed confidence in a sustainable regional bioeconomy.

The local economy will be affected, either because farmers will produce less due to the lack of rainfall, or because products will not reach markets because of low river levels.

· Eduardo TrevisanThe Imaflora specialist described the economic effects of drought and reduced river flows.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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