Understanding the Climate Agenda of the Summit of the Americas

What is the Summit of the Americas? 

The ninth Summit of the Americas is taking place this year from June 6th through 10th in Los Angeles, California, gathering the heads of state of 35 member countries that represent the North, Central, and South American continents. The focus is mainly on promoting healthy democracy and free trade among member nations, yet like all multilateral dealings in this decade, conversations on climate and environmental action is always present.  

Source: Summit Americas. Click the image to learn more about the event.

This year, its focus is “Building a Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Future," which implies some element of climate change focus. It is nearly impossible to untangle the health of the environment from international relations today, and this Summit may reveal important international and regional policies that could help to address climate change issues. 

Are climate issues a major part of the Summit? 

The Summit has previously not centered around climate issues directly, and more served to affirm the regions’ commitments to democratic norms and each other, dealing with the environment in more indirect ways. The reality is, however, that a large portion of the delegation resides in the Caribbean, which is one of the regions of the world that stands to be most threatened by climate change. As the meeting only takes place every three to four years, lots of political and social change can occur within that time that draw attention to climate issues.  

This year, there appears to be more urgency related to climate issues compared to the last time that the Summit met in 2018, which could be due to various political, social, and scientific reasons. For example, the US did not attend the previous meeting, limiting the efficacy of the Summit by lacking one of its largest members. With the health and wellbeing of a large portion of its member states at risk, it would be a surprise if there is no mention or action taken related to climate change at the Summit. 

What was agreed to? 

Ahead of the Summit, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken cited previous agreements by countries of the Western Hemisphere as positive signs of further commitment by the region to achieve climate goals.  

One of these goals is the Global Methane Pledge, in which 24 countries in the North, Central, and South American regions signed to reduce methane emissions by 30% before 2030, leading to a massive reduction in emissions. Secretary Blinken noted an expectation to increase climate commitments at this year’s Summit, likely in the form of alternative and renewable energies, as well as green jobs across the continents.  

Panelists at one of the first gatherings of the Summit noted a need to rely on small-scale, local, and community changes. We know from previous environmental policy actions that the conditions in different locations vary widely and can require vastly different actions to help the problem. Leaders such as city mayors are directed by Summit panelists to the C40 Cities Initiative, which is a strategy that allows mayors to meet the specific needs of their communities. 

The United States proposed two major environmental actions. First, Vice President Kamala Harris announced the U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030 (PACC 2030), which targets action in one of the regions most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The policy will more fully commit the US to assisting the Caribbean through the building of climate infrastructure and the development of energy security in each of the Caribbean nations.  

Second, the President announced the Renewable Energy in Latin America and the Caribbean initiative, which seeks to increase renewable energy generation to 70% by 2030. Five additional countries will sign on to the initiative by the conclusion of the Summit, increasing the efficacy of the agreement. 

Finally, commitments have been made to curb deforestation of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru via Amazon Connect.  

Real change, or just for show? 

There has been criticism of the Summit of the Americas and its ability to address climate issues or enact any change. As the host, President Biden chose not to invite leaders from Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, citing that these states do not adhere to democratic norms in their own countries and therefore do not deserve to participate. This appears to miss the point of the multilateral meeting; by excluding certain members, items like climate action can fall short due to a lack of participation from nations that might need to be contributing more. It makes it difficult to put pressure on these states if they are not involved in the conversation whatsoever. As a result, Mexico’s leader Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador did not attend the meeting, citing that the meeting could not representatively take place without all countries present, diminishing the efficacy of the Summit. 

Other criticism of the Summit points to the US going to great lengths simply to paint a picture that the hemisphere is united, offering meetings and concessions to regional partners who have recently questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 US elections, such as Brazil. It will be on the US to establish international cooperation as a necessary part of regional talks to ensure that regional climate goals are met.