UNU-MERIT's UNESCO Chair on Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development for Latin America will be holding two panel discussions at the Latin American and Caribbean Open Science Forum (known as the CILAC Forum for short), a hybrid event happening in San Andrés, Colombia on 2-4 December 2024. Both sessions will be in Spanish.
The first panel, titled 'Industrial policy and critical minerals in the green transition: The role of CTI policies', will be held on 2 December, 14:45 - 16:00 GMT-5 (20:45-22:00 CET). Two researchers from the UNESCO Chair team will be speaking - Professor Carlo Pietrobelli and Jorge Valverde - alongside Eduardo Bitran (Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Chile).
The second panel, titled 'Economic Benefits of the Eastern Pacific Thermal Dome', will take place on 3 December at 14:45 - 16:00 GMT-5. This session has been co-organised with the National University of Costa Rica; Prof. Pietrobelli will be speaking alongside Olman Segura (Professor at the International Center for Economic Policy for Sustainable Development (CINPE-UNA) of the National University).
Background of panel 1
Latin America plays a key role in the energy transition since it has large endowments of the critical minerals which are needed for the energy transition. This fact is regarded as an opportunity to develop and deepen supply chains around these critical minerals, such as downward diversification strategies. However, increasing the extraction and processing of critical minerals also generates environmental pressures. This is because the mining industry has large environmental footprints (CO2 emissions, water consumption, etc.). In this context, new technologies that allow to reduce the mineral intensity use and/or the environmental impacts of the mining industry are urgent, and they could also be a source of comparative advantages in the new low-carbon techno-economic paradigm. In particular, Artificial Intelligence could contribute to raise the efficiency of several processes and, hence, reduce the negative externalities of the critical mineral production. In this sense, this panel seeks to shed light on the implications of green and digital technologies on the economic and environmental competitiveness of the mining sector. Moreover, it will put this discussion in the context of the current debate on green industrial policies, and the related policies for Science, Technology and Innovation.
This discussion will be related to the SDG 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
Background of panel 2
In this globally agreed decade of the oceans, we must turn our attention to marine wealth and study it, not only scientifically, but also in relation to economic and social aspects. This is the case of the fisheries of the Pacific of Central America that are related to a very important natural phenomenon.
The Eastern Tropical Pacific Thermal Dome (DTCR-PTO) is an exceptional and highly important ocean-atmospheric phenomenon that can extend from the waters of Costa Rica to Mexico (Fernández-Álamo, 2019, p.239). Characterized by a notable increase in the surface temperature of the sea, this phenomenon generates an area of high biological productivity and rich biodiversity. The DTCR-PTO plays a vital role in promoting economic activities such as commercial fishing and marine tourism, as well as in the conservation of species and local biodiversity, which are benefited by both the countries in the Central American region that face the Dome, as well as other nations around the world.
This is the first detailed analysis of the economic impact of the DTCR-PTO. No other study is known to have related to the economic and social impact, although it is well known scientifically for the significant increase in sea surface temperature in that place, this phenomenon engenders an area of high biological productivity and rich biodiversity. The study focuses on the central role of commercial and sport fishing, as well as whale watching tourism; it examines how these economic activities interact with local economies and the marine biodiversity of the region.
The research uses a descriptive and analytical approach, employing geographic information systems (GIS) to accurately map the dome and an extensive collection of data from academic databases and key international fisheries institutions. This methodology facilitated a critical analysis of trends and patterns within the region, which includes Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and southern Mexico. Unfortunately, there are many limitations to the information; however, we worked with what we were able to obtain and made sufficient progress to present conclusions and recommendations.
The study advocates for underlining the importance of the DTCR-PTO for local economies and the interdependence between economic activities and the ecosystem services it provides. It emphasizes the importance of generating sustainable management strategies and improving governance, to avoid overexploitation and ensure international commitment to long-term sustainability.
Registration
To join one or both of these sessions (either virtually or in person), please register on the CILAC Forum website.
