Climate and disaster resilience

The changing climate and increasing exposure to disaster risks challenge Latin America and especially the Caribbean. Even though the region is responsible for a relatively low share of global greenhouse gas emissions, 12 percent, according to the World Resources Institute, it will be one of the most severely affected by temperature spikes. In Latin America, between 2005 and 2012, disasters caused the death of more than 240,000 people, affected another 57 million and resulted in losses equal to US$85 billion US dollars. Latin America and Caribbean is also the most urbanized developing region globally.

Our goals

UNDP works with governments, the private sector and civil society in the region to integrate issues of climate change, disaster risk and energy at national and local levels. Building resilience—or the ability to absorb external shocks without major social, economic and environmental setbacks—is a key pillar of our work, while ensuring that development remains risk-informed and sustainable.