Advancing Latin American and Caribbean Leadership: Exploring practical solutions for climate, environment and peace

The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region is at the forefront of many diplomatic and grassroots efforts in environmental and climate action, while also facing an interconnected crises. Environmental degradation is intensifying through climate change-related droughts, hurricanes and floods, damaging infrastructure, disrupting economies, fuelling displacement and deepening social tensions. At the same time, the region faces chronic security challenges. LAC’s homicide rate is the highest in the world—three times the global average. Organised crime— including illegal deforestation, illegal mining and drug trafficking—threatens human lives and the biodiversity of vital ecosystems, including the Cerrado, Pan-Amazon and Maya Forests and the Gran Chaco. These dynamics      fuel the climate crisis, undermine communities’ resilience to climate change impacts, amplify security risks, and obstruct the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

This Practical Note aims to centre LAC perspectives—including policymakers, human rights and environmental defenders, Indigenous leaders, and civil society organisations— within global Climate, Peace and Security (CPS) discussions. It is the result of collective knowledge shared during a workshop organised by adelphi global, the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) and the Igarapé Institute in October 2025 in Berlin, as an official side event of the Berlin Climate and Security Conference (BCSC). Building on outcomes from BCSC-Cali (October 2024) and BCSC-Rio (June 2025), the workshop convened civil society organisations, embassies, government representatives, UN agencies and donors to identify practical solutions for addressing climate, environment and peace challenges in the region.

Key Takeaways:

• Environmental crime undermines institutions: Environmental crime, the world's third most lucrative illegal activity, fuels criminal economies, spreads violence, damages biodiversity and livelihoods, and undermines institutions across LAC.
• Urban consequences of environmental crime: Violence driven by environmental crime fuels internal migration, pushing people into urban settings where they face exploitation, extortion and involvement in illicit economies.
• Climate impacts drive migration: In Central America, hurricanes, droughts and irregular rainfall have devastated agriculture, with extreme precipitation events causing losses equivalent to 6% of El Salvador's GDP between 2009 and 2011.
• Indigenous leadership in environmental protection: Indigenous forests across Amazonian countries absorb approximately 340 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, yet Indigenous Peoples' contributions often remain invisible in policy and finance.
• Increasing regional cooperation: Initiatives such as the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, the Escazú Agreement and the Leticia Pact demonstrate growing momentum for tackling climate, peace and security challenges.

Action Areas:

For governments:

• Increase regional and cross-regional cooperation
• Decolonise the Pan-Amazon region
• Expand the presence of state institutions (e.g. health, education and social protection services)
• Create sustainable livelihood alternatives

For international stakeholders:

• Recognise environmental crimes as serious crimes
• Hold multinational corporations accountable

For donors:

• Make LAC an investment priority
• Move away from projectised funding
• Increase direct funding to Indigenous communities