Observatory Linked to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Hosts Two Debates with Latin American and Caribbean Legislators During COP 29 in Azerbaijan
On November 12, parliamentarians will meet at the Brazil Pavilion during COP 29 in Azerbaijan to present a joint declaration featuring recommendations for “Green and Inclusive Productive Development.”
The Parliamentary Observatory on Climate Change and Just Transition (OPCC, in Spanish) brings together legislators with the goal of promoting inter-parliamentary cooperation to strengthen climate change and just transition legislation across Latin America and the Caribbean. By sharing experiences and information, the OPCC seeks to raise climate ambition and drive effective, collaborative regional action.
At COP 29, scheduled for November 11–24 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the OPCC will launch a new joint declaration, signed by its parliamentary members from across the region. This declaration reaffirms a commitment to a just transition that emphasizes productive inclusion, green job creation, and reducing inequality, with a strong focus on transparency, innovation, and technology transfer.
The document outlines three key principles:
1. Environmental Non-Regression: aims to protect biodiversity and safeguard against rollbacks in environmental protections, with a particular emphasis on preserving critical ecosystems such as the Amazon and Gran Chaco.
2. Evidence-Based Practices: promotes academic research and traditional knowledge as the foundational guides for creating and implementing climate policies, frameworks, and laws.
3. Just Transtion: focuses on inclusive economic development, prioritizing the creation of green jobs, reducing inequalities, and enhancing transparency and technological innovation.
This important declaration, which has not yet been released publicly, will be unveiled on November 12 at a side event hosted by the OPCC at the Brazil Pavilion. The event will bring together legislators and experts to discuss the theme “Turning Potential into Reality: The Importance of Legislators in Driving Decarbonization and Technological Advancement in the Productive Sectors of Latin America and the Caribbean.”
This event comes at a strategic moment for Brazil, providing an opportunity to showcase the country’s and region’s best practices in climate governance and effective legal frameworks. This visibility is especially timely as Brazil prepares to host COP 30 in Belém, Pará, in 2025.
On the following day, November 13, the OPCC will host a second debate at the GLOBE Legislators Pavilion focusing on the theme “Anticipating the Future: How Legislators Can Leverage New Trends for Green and Inclusive Productive Development.”
Event Details:
>> November 12, 11:15 AM (Baku time | GMT+4)
Brazil Pavilion (D1) | Office E27 – Blue Zone
Turning Potential into Reality
The importance of legislators in driving decarbonization and technological advancement in the productive sectors of Latin America and the Caribbean
In collaboration with the Brazilian Government, this event will bring together legislators from across Latin America and the Caribbean at the Brazil Pavilion to discuss the critical role of legislators in driving green and inclusive development. The session will also feature the launch of a joint declaration, reaffirming the region’s commitment to climate governance and legal frameworks that promote innovation and sustainability. Legislators and sustainable development experts will explore both the challenges and the opportunities involved in adopting clean technologies, using natural resources efficiently, and enhancing green competitiveness.
>> November 13, 12:00 PM (Baku time | GMT+4)
GLOBE Legislators Pavilion | G22b – Blue Zone
Anticipating the Future
How can legislators harness opportunities from emerging trends in green and inclusive productive development?
In partnership with GLOBE, this session will bring together legislators from Latin America and the Caribbean to discuss proactive approaches in their mandates, focusing on green and inclusive economic growth. The goal is to highlight legislative proposals that support sustainable and equitable development and to foster dialogue on building legislative capacity across the region. This discussion will explore ways legislators can leverage sustainable development trends to advance a fair transition.
About the OPCC
Founded at COP 26 in 2021, the Observatory is supported by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) with backing from the Open Society Foundation (OSF) and works closely with lawmakers throughout the region. It currently includes more than 20 active members from 13 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Guatemala, the British Virgin Islands, Mexico, Montserrat, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.
The OPCC includes as one of its key initiatives the Legislative Monitor, a platform that tracks and visually presents data on parliamentary actions across Latin America and the Caribbean related to climate policy.
The data, collected by the OPCC Secretariat and verified directly with lawmakers and their technical teams, is continually updated on the platform and organized into 24 main topics, covering everything from climate framework laws and social impacts to infrastructure issues like transportation, sanitation, water, and industry. The information is also presented through interactive charts and action dashboards to help lawmakers share experiences and exchange legislative ideas. Additionally, the Monitor provides resources and comparative analyses on legislative developments, aimed at civil society groups, researchers, and the general public.
According to latest data, the 28 countries currently monitored have enacted a total of 2,080 environmental laws, with another 563 bills still in progress. Yet only nine of these countries—Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, and Peru—have comprehensive climate legislation, a tool that experts see as essential for advancing strong, structural policies in response to the crisis.
Learn more at https://opcc.cepal.org
