Nature and the economy: Environmental change, economic adjustment, and policy challenges
The Centre for Economic Transition Expertise (CETEx), alongside partners sustainable macro, Centre for Latin American Monetary Studies (CEMLA) and Sureal, invites submissions for an academic conference on the macroeconomic and financial dimensions of nature degradation in Latin America and the Caribbean. The conference will take place from 2 – 3 October 2025 in Mexico City.
Latin America and the Caribbean, one of the world’s most biodiverse regions, plays a critical role in sustaining ecosystems, livelihoods, and global supply chains. However, pressures from land-use change, natural resource utilisation, and marine degradation are placing growing strain on the region’s natural capital, with far-reaching economic and financial consequences. These dynamics—exacerbated by climate change—threaten macroeconomic stability, deepen social vulnerabilities, and expose the region to both physical and transition risks, particularly as new trade rules such as the EU Deforestation Regulation reshape market access.
We are inviting submissions of abstracts or draft papers that examine these dynamics through a macroeconomic or financial lens. Topics of interest include nature-related physical and transition risks; trade-offs between economic growth and environmental sustainability; debt-for-nature swaps and other fiscal instruments; implications of sustainability regulations such as the EU Deforestation Regulation; and the social and labour market impacts of environmental change. We particularly welcome research that explores trade, exchange rates, asset prices, bank lending, and economic modelling in the context of ecological transition. Papers should aim to advance understanding of how nature risks shape the economic future of the Latin America and the Caribbean region.
In particular, we welcome submissions on topics including, but not limited to: Growth, environment, and the macroeconomy; Environmental change, factor markets, and reallocation; Financial stability and nature-related risks; sustainable finance and policy instruments.
Information and contact
Submissions
Please submit your application by 27 July 2025 via this form, which should include an abstract (max. 200 words) or complete draft that should clearly outline:
- Research question and objectives
- Methodology (including data sources, if applicable)
- Contribution to the literature and relevance to the conference themes
Funding
Limited funding will be available for bursaries supporting early-career researchers.
Post-conference publication
Papers accepted for the conference are invited (there is no obligation) to be submitted to a special issue of the Latin American Journal of Central Banking featuring selected papers from the conference. Authors who wish their paper to be considered for the LAJCB should clearly indicate this in their submission.
Important dates
- Abstracts are due by 27 July 2025.
- If selected, full draft papers must be submitted by 5 September 2025.
- The conferences takes place in person in Mexico City on 2 – 3 October 2025.
Links and Registration
- The full call for papers including a list of relevant topics can be accessed here.
- To register, please use this form.
Organisers
Elena Almeida, Chiara Colesanti Senni, Simon Dikau, Laudine Goumet, Peter Kalström, Alain Naef, Matias Ossandon, Nicole Toftum, and Maria Waaifoort.
For questions, please contact gri.cetex@lse.ac.uk.