Analysis

Lisa Viscidi speaking during the event Video

Viscidi: Biden’s climate foreign policy “should start with Latin America”

On February 2, the Embassy of Argentina in the United States and the World Resources Institute hosted an event at which Lisa Viscidi spoke about how the Biden administration could engage with Argentina, and with Latin America and the Caribbean more broadly, on areas such as clean energy, climate change adaptation, and conservation.

Lisa Viscidi

Presentations ˙ ˙ Embassy of Argentina in the United States

una vista de Cusco, Perú / a view of Cuzco, Peru

A More Sustainable Peru Post-Covid-19

Covid-19 has devastated the Peruvian economy. But as the country seeks to rebuild in the virus’s wake, it has a chance to focus on fighting climate change and creating a more sustainable development model. The extractive industries central to Peru’s economy are a source of underutilized revenues that could help seize this opportunity. 

Lisa Viscidi, Nate Graham

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ El Comercio

Lisa Viscidi speaks at an Institute of the Americas webinar on hydrocarbon development in Argentina Video

Political Transition: United States-Argentina Relations, Energy and Climate, and a Discussion of the Incoming Biden Administration

The Institute of the Americas held a virtual roundtable December 3-4, 2020, on barriers and opportunities for hydrocarbon development in Argentina. Lisa Viscidi, director of the Energy, Climate Change & Extractive Industries Program at the Dialogue, was a panelist at the event. She discussed president-elect Biden’s energy plans, US-Argentine relations, and clean technology investment. 

Lisa Viscidi

Presentations ˙ ˙ Institute of the Americas

Pictures of the Amazon rainforest and solar panels with a blue wash

Combating Climate Change with Extractives Revenues

As economies seek to rebuild in the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis, there is an opportunity to accelerate climate change mitigation and adaptation and shape more sustainable economic models. Revenues from the extractive industries can provide crucial resources in this effort, according to a new report by the Inter-American Dialogue.

Lisa Viscidi, Nate Graham

Reports ˙

Event photo featuring the three speakers alongside the moderator, Mariana Aparicio Video

La política energética de AMLO: implicaciones para el comercio, el clima y la economía de México

El Diálogo Interamericano preparó un informe titulado “El impacto de la política eléctrica estado-céntrica en México en el comercio, el clima y la economía”, el cual analiza los principales cambios ocurridos en la política energética de México y sus impactos en la inversión y en el medio ambiente. El informe fue presentado en un webinar el 18 de noviembre organizado por la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México y el Real Instituto Elcano.

María José Rocha

Event Summaries ˙

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador

Are López Obrador’s Latest Policies Detrimental to Mexico’s Power Sector?

An Energy Advisor Q&A featuring experts’ viewpoints on the López Obrador’s changes to the Mexican power sector.

Laura Carlsen, Pedro Niembro, Geoffrey Jones, Natalia Cosio, Larry Pascal, Juan Pomés, Dino Barajas, Fluvio Ruiz Alarcón, Ximena Herrera, Alexandro Padrés, Roxana Muñoz

Energy Advisor ˙

Report Cover for Power Grab: What Mexico's State-Centered Electricity Policy Means for Trade, Climate, and the Economy cover

Power Grab: What Mexico’s State-Centered Electricity Policy Means for Trade, Climate, and the Economy

Over the past two years, the government of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has sought to strip away central aspects of the 2013 energy reform that increased private investment in the power sector and return control of the sector to state utility CFE. These moves will reduce needed investment in the sector and lead to higher electricity costs for Mexican industry and manufacturing, affecting employment, trade, and Mexico’s ability to meet its clean energy targets, according to this new report by the Inter-American Dialogue.

Lisa Viscidi, Nate Graham, Sarah Phillips

Reports ˙ ˙ Download Report

Speakers at the Fourth Annual Latin America Energy Conference Video

Speakers discuss national oil company strategies, the energy transition, and US-Latam energy relations at the Dialogue’s annual energy conference

2020 has been a tumultuous year for Latin America’s energy sector. The global pandemic has led to a sharp decline in oil demand and prices even as clean energy investments accelerate. With presidential elections around the corner in the United States, the future of US energy diplomacy in the region is unclear. Industry executives, government officials, and corporate representatives convened to discuss the challenges and opportunities in today’s energy markets during the virtual Fourth Annual Energy Conference.

María José Rocha

Event Summaries ˙

Mexico Power Sector Policies Brief

Mexican Power Sector Policies: Economic and Trade Impacts

This policy brief examines the regulatory changes in Mexico’s electric power sector made under the López Obrador administration. The brief analyzes the broader implications for Mexico’s economy and its trade and economic relations with its key trading partner, the United States. A full report will be forthcoming in October 2020.

Lisa Viscidi, Nate Graham, Sarah Phillips

Reports ˙ ˙ Download Policy Brief

The coal-fired Bocamina plant in Chile, pictured above, is set to close completely by 2022, 18 years ahead of schedule. // File Photo: Chilean Government

Is Chile On Track to Become Carbon Neutral By 2050?

An Energy Advisor Q&A featuring experts’ takes on the progress of Chile’s transition toward renewable energy.

Andrés Rebolledo, Ricardo Raineri, Rodrigo Andrade, Cecilia Aguillón, María Trinidad Castro

Energy Advisor ˙

International companies and local industry groups have blasted Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s new power sector measures.

Do Mexico’s New Power Sector Rules Favor the State?

What do the new rules in Mexico’s power sector entail, and why have the sparked controversy among energy companies and local industry groups?

Héctor Castro Vizcarra, Jeremy Martin, Víctor Rodríguez, Dino Barajas, Geoffrey Jones, Pedro Niembro, Jose L. Valera, Doris Rodriguez, Carlos Chavez, Carlos Ochoa

Energy Advisor ˙

camila ramos mauricio cardenas jose zapata lisa viscidi pandemic oil price collapse latin america covid-19 Video

Examining Implications of Covid-19 and Low Oil Prices for Latin American Energy

The recent oil price collapse, combined with the economic contraction resulting from measures to fight the global Covid-19 pandemic, will have extensive and largely unforetold impacts for Latin American energy markets and beyond. These implications include cuts to investment and delays to ongoing projects in both oil & gas and renewable energy, fiscal and broader economic constraints, and legal disputes, said panelists during a webinar held on April 1. 

Nate Graham

Event Summaries ˙

Report Cover for Electrified Islands

Electrified Islands: The Road to E-Mobility in the Caribbean

Caribbean islands are in many ways ideal markets for electric vehicles, and several Caribbean jurisdictions have made significant advances in promoting electric mobility. Examining five case studies—Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic—this report identifies the key challenges and recommends actions that Caribbean governments and other stakeholders can take to stimulate EV adoption.

Lisa Viscidi, Nate Graham, Marcelino Madrigal, Malaika Masson, Veronica R. Prado, Juan Cruz Monticelli

Reports ˙ ˙ Download Report

Clean Energy Auctions in Latin America

Long-term power supply auctions are an increasingly popular instrument worldwide for attracting renewable energy investment while cutting prices, increasing energy security, and reducing emissions. Latin America has been at the forefront of using auctions to boost renewable energy capacity. This study analyzes design and outcomes of government-led long-term power auctions with participation from non-conventional renewable sources in six countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, and Jamaica) since 2015.

Lisa Viscidi, Ariel Yépez-García

Reports ˙ ˙ Inter-American Development Bank