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In Latin America and the Caribbean, there's a lot of talk about tackling the climate crisis, but according to a new map from environmental groups, many of these efforts are just smoke and mirrors.

The map, put together by the Latin American and Caribbean Platform for Climate Justice, paints a clear picture of what they call "fake solutions." These include projects that claim to promote green energy or carbon storage in forests, but in reality, they often let big polluters off the hook. Ivonne Yánez from Acción Ecológica in Ecuador points out that these projects often benefit major corporations while doing little to address the root causes of environmental damage.

Liliana Buitrago, a researcher at Venezuela's Observatory of Political Ecology, stresses that the map isn't just a document—it's a tool to educate everyone from researchers to activists about how these so-called solutions fall short. She argues we need alternatives that don't just follow the green economy playbook but truly prioritize people and the planet.

Digging into the details, the map shows that a whopping 70 percent of these solutions are funded by private interests. This disproportionately affects indigenous communities and small farmers, who often bear the brunt of these projects' environmental and social impacts. Many of these initiatives, like carbon offset schemes or big forestry projects, are criticized for allowing companies to buy their way out of reducing their emissions.

From controversial lithium mining in Mexico to contentious hydroelectric dams in Costa Rica, each case on the map reveals the messy reality behind these initiatives. Despite their promises, they can lead to community displacement and ecological damage, rather than real solutions to climate change.

But it's not all doom and gloom on the map. There are bright spots, too, like Ecuador's decision to protect Yasuní National Park from oil drilling and grassroots movements in Colombia fighting against harmful mining practices. These efforts show that real progress happens when we prioritize sustainability and social justice over corporate interests.