Lima 2014 Blog: Keynote – Eduardo Durand López-Hurtado, Ministry of the Environment

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Keynote speaker Eduardo Durand López-Hurtado spoke about Peru's and global environmental problems, and strategies needed to address them.

Speaker:

  • Eduardo Jaime Durand López-Hurtado, General Director of Climate Change, Desertification, and Hydraulic Resources, Ministry of the Environment of Peru

In remarks at AS/COA's Lima conference, the Ministry of the Environment's Eduardo Jaime Durand laid out the scope of Peruvian and international challenges when it comes to climate change, as well as the role of UN climate change talks in mitigating both environmental damage and emissions. Download his presentation.

On a national level, Durand noted that Peru is seeing the effects of global warming through fewer colder nights, more hot days, and shifting rain patterns. "There is a clear rise in temperatures," he said. But he also stressed that the Andean country will see benefits from promotion of lower emissions, such as an improved quality of life.

When it comes to the international context, Durand pointed to two goals: increasing concern around the issue of climage change and achieving global benefits. "'Business as usual' is no longer an option" when it comes to confronting climate change. But he also cautioned that there is a lack of information about environmental issues and said that improvement and innovation on climate change data collection is a must. Arguing for assistance to offset costs for mitigating the effects of climate change, Durand raised the idea of following models such as carbon trading and indicated the cost of mitigation will be between 65 and 100 billion euros ($81 and $124 billion) per year. 


Watch the video: