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What is Clean Growth? 


Clean growth is a response to the global climate challenge to promote economic growth and opportunities, which have a positive environmental impact – most importantly through greenhouse gas emission reduction to meet net zero targets. 

Clean growth is not a sector, it is a cross-cutting theme, encompassing technologies and solutions across commercial sectors that will allow for lower-carbon and sustainable economic growth. Clean growth is a unique opportunity for the UK to maximise the economic opportunities of the global low carbon transition. Domestically we will achieve this by driving UK clean supply chain and industrial growth by securing foreign investment, growing industries and capability to export globally. Internationally, the UK must develop and open new markets for clean businesses to export their clean solutions.

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Why Latin America & the Caribbean?

Supporting business in Clean Growth areas is a major priority for the UK Government and the opportunities in Clean Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean (LATAC) are growing at a rapid rate. Supporting Clean Growth trade between UK and LATAC is a win-win - it will help the region grow sustainably whilst reducing carbon emissions and benefitting UK low-carbon businesses.

“Let’s make this year the moment when we come together with the courage and the technological ambition to solve man-made climate change and to choose a cleaner and greener future for all our children and grandchildren.”

— Minister Boris Johnson 

 

The Latin America and the Caribbean region is on the frontline of climate change[1]. It has extraordinary biodiversity and is one of the most vulnerable to climate change. The region is a key partner for success at COP26. 

Governments in the region are responding to climate change, looking for options and partners to mitigate and adapt. Over $1 billion of climate finance [2] has been spent on low-carbon sectors in the region since 2010 - on a range of projects to support energy transitions, prevent deforestation, develop new technologies, and improve regulation.

There are huge opportunities for UK businesses as the region builds back better from COVID-19 and attempts to navigate increases in energy demand, population growth, and urbanisation which will be exacerbated by climate change.  Looking forward, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) estimates sustainable transport investment potential in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico could be $2.6 trillion by 2026[3]

Some of the strongest renewable capacity growth in the world in the coming years is expected in LATAC. A recent report by Rystad Energy expects that the region’s 49 gigawatts (GWAC) of renewable capacity will skyrocket to 123 GWAC by 2025[4] and that Uruguay will be a carbon sink by 2030[5]. Auctions have been adopted throughout the region, giving way for some of the lowest prices and largest projects [6] in the world, helping drive global ambition.

 

[1] Protected Planet, UNEP-WCMC (2021), percentage of protected terrestrial and marine areas: [Link]
[2] CDC Investment Works, Investing for clean and inclusive growth, Foreword from our Chief Executive Officer, 2020: [Link]
[3] International Finance Corporation Climate Investment Opportunities in Emerging Markets, Report Highlights: [Link]
[4] Rystad Energy, Press Release, 2020: [Link]
[5] United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Uruguay Intended Nationally Determined Contribution, 2019: [Link]
[6] United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Uruguay Intended Nationally Determined Contribution, 2019: [Link]

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Opportunities for UK companies in LATAC

  • Energy: Oil & Gas (decommissioning, transition), Renewables, Waste to energy.
  • Transport: electric vehicles (for public and private transport networks), electric rail.
  • Infrastructure: major projects that need support to be low-carbon, climate resilient and energy efficient – urban planning opportunities across the region.
  • Waste & Water: opportunities for waste management + recycling, water management.
  • Mining: country teams, notably in Brazil, are engaged in work to support the decarbonisation of this sector, through adoption of renewable energy sources for production and production standards.
  • Agritech and food production: increasingly, LATAC countries are seeking solutions for forest management, bio security, agri-tech solutions that will lead to more food with less input and less emissions. This fits with policy considerations about deforestation and poverty alleviation.
  • Chemicals: chemicals that facilitate countries’ efforts to meet or strengthen their COP-related Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitments, and chemicals that demonstrably have a less negative/positive impact on the environment compared to other products.

From our offices overseas and in the UK, the Department for International Trade (DIT) helps UK-based businesses export and grow in overseas markets and helps overseas companies locate and grow in the UK, providing our services in over 100 markets worldwide.

DIT’s international trade experts help UK companies assess market potential for their product or service; we can help research the market and we can advise companies on the best route to market and on regulations, they need to comply with. We connect companies up with key contacts in their sector and help them identify and warm up potential business partners. Our teams can:

  • Help to find the best markets for a company’s product or service.
  • Provide tailored support and guidance on how to trade in a target market.
  • Research, identify and warm up potential business partners.
  • Support during overseas visits.
  • Support during overseas exhibitions and events.

I want to do business in LATAC

For more advice and support on how to grow your business overseas, please visit: www.great.gov.uk

Export Portal

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