Latin America (Audio)

For several Latin American & Caribbean (LAC) countries, notably Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina and Guyana, the production of oil and gas is vital for their fiscal health. This dilemma has only been exacerbated by the economic challenges derived from the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, countries in the region face growing pressure to de-carbonize their economies. To support LAC countries on the path towards net-zero objectives, international financial institutions and multilateral development banks – including the Inter-American Development Bank – are now de-emphasizing funding for fossil fuel-related projects. The Institute of the Americas hosts Jessica Bedoya, Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer for the Inter-American Development Bank to address these issues, including the challenge of balancing energy transition and job growth with the realities of securing badly needed external financing to support economic recoveries. Series: "Climate Crisis" [Public Affairs] [Science] [Show ID: 37481]

In September, the Lopez Obrador administration sent an initiative to Congress aimed at amending the constitution and completely restructuring the electric sector and market. The administration has set forth specific criticisms of the prevailing market structure, particularly with regards to the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE). The Institute of the Americas authored white paper, “Clean Energy Cost-Savings: A Study of Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission (CFE),” provides an assessment of the impacts both in terms of CFE’s financial outlook and emissions profile. The purchase of clean energy through the auctions in order to obtain the corresponding CEL certificates has allowed CFE to avoid variable generation costs at its thermoelectric plants, which would have been far higher than the cost of purchasing the clean energy. Indeed, the amount saved can be estimated based on fossil fuel use avoided and cost of the emissions that would have been generated, as we review in detail. Series: "Hemisphere in Transition" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 37621]

The Institute of the Americas is pleased to present the US-Ecuador Bilateral Relations Post COVID: Build Back Better Together forum to help catalyze expanded private sector engagement, investment and economic development in Ecuador. The forum includes keynote addresses by senior officials from the Lasso Administration with presentations on Ecuador’s trade and economic agenda, as well as US-Ecuador bilateral relations on energy and climate change. Series: "Hemisphere in Transition" [Show ID: 37414]

The Institute of the Americas presents the US-Ecuador Bilateral Relations Post COVID: Build Back Better Together forum to help catalyze expanded private sector engagement, investment and economic development in Ecuador. The forum includes keynote addresses by senior officials from the Lasso Administration with presentations on Ecuador’s trade and economic agenda, as well as US-Ecuador bilateral relations on energy. Series: "Hemisphere in Transition" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 37407]

The Institute of the Americas is pleased to present the US-Ecuador Bilateral Relations Post COVID: Build Back Better Together forum to help catalyze expanded private sector engagement, investment and economic development in Ecuador. The forum includes keynote addresses by senior officials from the Lasso Administration with presentations on Ecuador’s trade and economic agenda, as well as US-Ecuador bilateral relations on energy and climate change. Series: "Hemisphere in Transition" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 37406]

Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador (The Northern Triangle) are experiencing a historic Diaspora to the US southern border. The precipitants of this migration are an unprecedented economic contraction occurring after back-to-back major hurricanes compounded by a pandemic and further complicated by heightened crime, violence and corruption. Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35), Co-Chair of the Congressional Central America Caucus and a native of Guatemala, shares her perspective on the importance of addressing corruption and promoting good governance as key preconditions of future direct foreign assistance by the United States. Then, Congress members Juan Vargas (CA-51) and Scott Peters (CA-52) discuss the Biden Administration’s proposed four-year, $4 billion regional strategy for the Northern Triangle region to address security and economic factors driving migration from Central America to the US. Series: "Hemisphere in Transition" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 37083]

The two-time Governor of New Mexico (2003-2010) and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (1997-1998) and Secretary of Energy (1997- 2000) Bill Richardson shares his perspective on the challenges and opportunities confronting the Biden Administration on a wide range of issues across the Western Hemisphere including national security, migration, trade and investment, energy policy, regional cooperation as well as climate change. He also share his thoughts about the challenges ahead in rebuilding America’s soft power influence in Latin America and the Caribbean amidst the growing influence of China and Russia in the region. Series: "Hemisphere in Transition" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 37036]

Explore economic perspectives for Mexico, the country’s energy sector outlook, work force development and local content with Mexico’s Secretary of Economy Tatiana Clouthier. The conversation is moderated by Richard Kiy, President of the Institute of the Americas (IOA) and Jeffrey Davidow, former US ambassador to Mexico and Member of the IOA’s Hemispheric Advisory Board. Series: "Hemisphere in Transition" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36882]

With the Biden Administration there is the growing prospect of a potential reversal of sanctions and regulations imposed by the Trump Administration that resulted in restricting travel, investment and remittances. At the same time, President Biden faces a challenging political landscape with Cuba as human rights abuses continue to be a serious problem in the country, its intelligence service continues to support Venezuela’s autocratic leader Nicolas Maduro, and unanswered questions about the strange brain trauma injuries experienced by U.S. diplomats and their families in Cuba linger. Additionally, pressure from the American Cuban community against a possible détente between Washington and Havana remains, adding a domestic political dimension. The recent San Isidro Movement led by Cuba’s artistic community provides hope that a new re-set in U.S-Cuba relations could lead to social and political changes on the island that would otherwise not be possible if current sanctions remain. Panelists: Richard Feinberg, UC San Diego; Michael Bustamante, Florida International University; Javier Corrales, Amherst College; Ted Henken, Baruch College, CUNY; William LeoGrande, American University. Moderator: Margaret Crahan, Colombia University. Series: "Hemisphere in Transition" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36855]

The People’s Republic of China has become a major investor, lender and actor across the energy sector in Latin America and the Caribbean. Indeed, loans and investments from China have financed an impressive array of projects in infrastructure, energy and mining. Cecilia Aguillon, Energy Transition Initiative Director and Jeremy M. Martin, Vice President, Energy & Sustainability at the Institute of the Americas present an overview of the Energy & Sustainability program’s report followed by a discussion with Matt Ferchen, Head of Global China Research at Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) and Michael Davidson, Assistant Professor at the School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS) at UCSD. Series: "Hemisphere in Transition" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 36789]