Global Adaptation Index™ Launch in Latin America

Government officials, students, teachers, business leaders and media participate in the trans-continental telecast hosted by the Tecnologico de Monterrey and the Global Adaptation Institute™

WASHINGTON and MONTERREY, Mexico, Nov. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Tecnologico de Monterrey hosted a presentation on the Global Adaptation Index™ (gain.globalai.org) ("GaIn™") that was telecast to 39 of its campuses throughout Mexico and Latin America. In addition, many other institutions in Latin America joined, representing civil society, academica and the public and private sectors from Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, El Salvador, Colombia and Panama.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110506/DC97131LOGO )

GaIn is a response to the various challenges of sustainable development including population growth, economic expansion and the effects of climate change. It was developed as a navigation tool to help prioritize and measure progress in adapting to these challenges.

"The Global Adaptation Institute is promoting investment in projects that address adaptation to not only climate change impacts, but also the problems associated with migration, urbanization and economic development. This is a very timely initiative and I am happy to see that the Institute is incorporating ideas from the private and public sectors, academia and civil society," states Dra. Maria de Lourdes Dieck Assad, Rector, Graduate Schools of Business and Government ITESM – Tecnologico de Monterrey. Dieck Assad is a member of the Institute's Council of Scientific Advisors.

GaIn's compilation of 15 years of data finds that Mexico has improved its GaIn rank 16 places since 1995. During this time, Mexico's vulnerability has declined while its readiness to absorb investments and apply them effectively toward increasing resiliency to climate change and other global forces has increased. Mexico faces the most significant adaptation challenges in food and water as well as strengthening institutions to combat corruption and increasing political stability.

Peru and Brazil are among the other Latin American nations that have significantly improved their GaIn rank while Chile and Uruguay currently rank the highest in the region, positions 20 and 22, respectively, in the overal GaIn Ranking.  For many of these countries, increasing education levels and maintaining stable political institutions as well as providing greater clean water access are keys to their success. Relatively high levels of vulnerability coupled with declining or stagnating levels of readiness contribute to the declining positions of Bolivia and Paraguay.

Dr. Juan Jose Daboub, Founding CEO, Global Adaptation Institute, emphasized that "massive investments in adaptation will be needed throughout the coming decades, but current allocations from governments and international institutions point to a large investment gap. With the proper business environment, such a gap can be filled by the private sector. This is why we are ‘measuring what matters' for those people and communities vulnerable to global changes and the investors and innovators that will help solve these challenges."

Dr. Bruno Sanchez-Andrade Nuno, Director of Science and Technology, Global Adaptation Institute, showcased the power of GaIn to help direct government, civil society and the private sector toward effective investments in adaptation. Nuno pointed out that "in order to bring the private sector to the table, to develop innovative adaptation solutions, we must measure not only the vulnerabilities of a country, but also whether an enabling environment for business exists."

The Global Adaptation Institute will continue to engage leading institutions and thought leaders around the world this year as part of its launch of GaIn.

The Global Adaptation Institute™ is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization guided by a vision of building resilience against climate change and other global forces as a key component to sustainable development.

Please visit us at: www.globalai.org