Publication: Republic of Guatemala Country Environmental Analysis: Addressing the Environmental Aspects of Trade and Infrastructure Expansion
Date
2006-06-22
ISSN
Published
2006-06-22
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
Since the signing of the Peace Accords
in 1996, Guatemala has made substantial progress in
consolidating peace and democracy. While progress in
socioeconomic development has been uneven, there have been
important gains in education and health coverage, sustained
increases in social sector spending, improved coverage of
basic utility services, and better management of public
finances, among other gains. Unfortunately, progress has
been slower than expected in several important areas,
including economic growth rates. Based on the best regional
and international practices, this report concludes that
mainstreaming environmental considerations into sectoral
policies rather than scaling-up the operations of
environmental agencies is the best way to prepare Guatemalan
institutions for current environmental challenges and those
it will encounter in the future. The report also emphasizes
the need to provide the right incentives to economic agents
(e.g., promoting compliance through achievable requirements
but with credible sanctions to violators, rather than trying
to change behavior by threatening with criminal charges that
are ultimately not enforced), and to engage civil society by
improving information and participation mechanisms.
Citation
“World Bank. 2006. Republic of Guatemala Country Environmental Analysis; República de Guatemala Analisis Ambiental del Pais : Addressing the Environmental Aspects of Trade and Infrastructure Expansion; Abordando los Aspectos Ambientales de la Expansion Comercial y de Infraestructura. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/33927?show=full License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”