Are ESG Goals Having an Impact in Central America?
A Latin America Advisor Q&A featuring experts’ viewpoints on ESG goals in Central America.
Analysis
Video
ESG Investment Trends in Latin America and the Caribbean
On August 26, 2021, the Inter-American Dialogue’s Corporate Program hosted “ESG Investment Trends in Latin America and the Caribbean,” an online event. Three speakers led the discussion: Andrea Bonime-Blanc, CEO of GEC Risk Advisory; María José Cortés, the head of ESG at Atlas Renewable Energy; and Ben Ho, vice president of BlackRock Sustainable Investments. Devry Boughner Vorwerk, the CEO of DevryBV Sustainable Strategies and a former corporate vice president at Cargill and Grubhub, moderated the event.
Sustainable Investment Is Flooding the Market
Companies are increasingly under pressure from the public and regulators to both disclose and improve environment, social, and governance (ESG) metrics. Such regulations in Europe and the United States will nudge investors toward low emissions projects. All this capital has to be put somewhere, and Latin America and other emerging markets are well positioned to become big recipients of these increased climate-focused flows.
Energy and Mining in the Amazon
The Amazon rainforest, one of the world’s most important ecosystems, faces environmental impacts from hydroelectric dams, oil and gas drilling sites, and mining projects. A new database and analysis by the Inter-American Dialogue reveals that state-owned enterprises, as well as small and mid-sized international companies from a handful of countries, operate the largest share of such projects in the Amazon region, meaning these companies have a substantial influence over the implementation of environmental and social safeguards.
What’s the Future of ESG Investing in Latin America?
A Financial Services Advisor Q&A featuring experts’ takes on the future of environmental, social and governance, or ESG, investing in Latin America and the Caribbean.