South America: Environment

In April, Brazil’s National Nuclear Safety Authority (ANSN) issued Resolution No. 14/2026, establishing requirements for the registration of facilities, the adoption of radiological protection measures...

This alert examines major environmental regulatory developments across Latin America from January to March 2026, including Mexico's new circular economy law, Chile and Costa Rica's marine protected area proposals, and regional initiatives for sustainable finance and plastic waste management.

The country arrives at COP30, taking place from November 10–21 in Belém, with a revised and more ambitious NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution)...

The new investment plan of up to US$8.5 billion in the Panama Canal opens opportunities in ports, energy, and water infrastructure. However, for foreign capital, the true differentiator does not lie in the amount of spending or the magnitude of the works, but in the institutional safeguards that support the project: the constitutional autonomy of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), its special contracting regime, and the Canal’s permanent neutrality constitute the genuine guarantee of confidence in this new expansion cycle.

El nuevo plan de inversión de hasta US$8.500 millones en el Canal de Panamá abre oportunidades en puertos, energía e infraestructura hídrica. Sin embargo, para el capital extranjero el verdadero diferencial no radica en el volumen del desembolso ni en la magnitud de las obras, sino en el blindaje institucional que sostiene el proyecto: la autonomía constitucional de la Autoridad del Canal de Panamá (ACP), su régimen especial de contratación y la neutralidad permanente del Canal constituyen la auténtica garantía de confianza en este nuevo ciclo de expansión.

Brazil's Federal Government has enacted comprehensive regulations for its National Policy for Payment for Environmental Services, establishing operational frameworks for conservation funding and environmental restoration initiatives.

The energy transition in Brazil has gained increasing prominence amid the worsening global climate crisis. In 2024, for the first time, the planet recorded a temperature increase exceeding...

On August 8, 2025, following the long and contentious proceedings of Bill No. 2,159/2021, Law No. 15,190/2025 was enacted with 63 presidential vetoes, establishing...

Los impuestos ecológicos en México, aun cuando buscan responsabilizar a los agen¬tes contaminantes y promover la inversión en tecnologías limpias, su efectividad está en entredicho debido a la falta de transparencia ...

Brazil's Federal Government has enacted comprehensive regulations for its National Policy for Payment for Environmental Services, establishing operational frameworks for conservation funding and environmental restoration initiatives.

In April, Brazil’s National Nuclear Safety Authority (ANSN) issued Resolution No. 14/2026, establishing requirements for the registration of facilities, the adoption of radiological protection measures...

Brazil's Permanent Technical Advisory Committee has published a comprehensive package of resolutions establishing the operational framework for the Brazilian Emissions Trading System (SBCE), including the creation of specialized working groups and a phased sectoral implementation timeline. The resolutions define critical technical infrastructure spanning financial mechanisms, monitoring and verification protocols, and methodology accreditation processes.