Side events | IKI Workshop 2025

NDCs 3.0: Strengthening Pathways to Climate Ambition in Central America and the Caribbean

Time: 10:30-12:30

This panel will explore the key challenges, progress made and innovative solutions that Central American and Caribbean countries have put in place during the update of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Representatives from Costa Rica, El Salvador and St. Lucia will share their experiences on how to accelerate the implementation of more ambitious climate targets, strengthen multi-sectoral coordination and mobilise the necessary resources for a just and resilient transition to climate change. Together we will reflect on the role and contribution of international cooperation in these processes.  

This session will be conducted primarily in Spanish and will be streamed online.

Organized by: ACCION Clima (GIZ)

Environmental Tax Expenditure: Channeling Public Finances towards Climate Transition and a Green Economy

Time: 13:30-15:30

The tax system in Costa Rica, as in other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, has high levels of tax expenditures, which not only affects tax collection, but also generates important economic, social and environmental impacts. In the context of Costa Rica's international commitments, especially the Paris Agreement, the NDCs and with a view to a deep decarbonisation of the economy by 2050, we will explore how tax expenditures can be a key instrument to move towards a green and sustainable economy.
The key results of the "Study to analyse options for comprehensive tax expenditure reform with negative environmental incidence and impact analysis in the agro-industrial sector", carried out in the framework of the Green Economy Transformation (GET) project, will be presented, and the methodology applied for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of the impact of tax expenditure and how the proposed reforms can strengthen the coherence between fiscal instruments and Costa Rica's environmental and climate policy will be addressed.

This session will be conducted primarily in Spanish and will be streamed online.

Organized by: Green Economy Transformation (GIZ)

Resilient Coasts, Thriving Communities: Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EbA) to Mitigate Land-Sea Use Conflicts in the Caribbean and Central America 

Time: 10:30-12:30

In the Caribbean and Central America, development pressure, ecosystem degradation, and coastal squeeze threaten coastal and marine environments. Conflicts between tourism, fishing, and conservation are also increasing. This session will focus on how Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) offers a solution by conserving ecosystems, supporting sustainable livelihoods, and enhancing climate resilience. This event will highlight regional EbA experiences to identify success factors for future project design. 

This session will be conducted primarily in English and will be streamed online.

Organized by: Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Facility (Caribbean Biodiversity Fund)

NDCs, NAPs and NBSAPs: An opportunity to work together? 

Time: 13:30-15:30

This side-event will present the importance of measures with a focus on ecosystem-based adaptation for the implementation and advancement of national commitments, such as NBSAPs, NAPs, and NDCs. The cases and actions of the PoliLAC and EbALAC projects, which prioritise the generation of results in conservation, sustainable production and well-being of communities and local actors, will be presented.

This session will be conducted primarily in Spanish.

Organized by: EbaLAC and PoliLAC (GIZ)