Resource information
Climate change is a very serious
environmental challenge that affects prospects for
sustainable development. Since the Industrial Revolution,
the mean surface temperature of Earth has increased an
average of one degree Celsius per century mainly due to the
accumulation of greenhouse gases (CHGs) in the atmosphere.
Furthermore, most of this change has occurred in the past 30
to 40 years, and the rate of increase is accelerating. A
change of this magnitude is unprecedented and will result in
significant impacts both at a global scale, and for Latin
America and the Caribbean in particular. This paper includes
the following headings: impacts are unavoidable;
international response; and opportunities to address climate
change and local development.
