AGP Executive Report

El Niño Preparedness in Uruguay: INUMET says El Niño is firmly established and will intensify into a “very strong” event, with heavy rain expected in late 2026 and early autumn 2027; the government is coordinating with mayors across all 19 departments, planning emergency funds and infrastructure, and warning that up to 25,000 people could be displaced, with about 5,000 facing possible evacuation in the most exposed river basins and low-lying areas. Regional Climate Impacts: NOAA warns the 2026 El Niño could be historic, raising the odds of droughts, extreme rains, and major shifts in climate patterns; in Argentina, officials flag higher rainfall risk in the northeast and Litoral and flooding threats for the Paraná–Paraguay–Uruguay river system. Clean Shipping Push: Buquebus unveiled the fully electric ferry “China Zorrilla,” built by Incat, designed to run between Argentina and Uruguay on the Río de la Plata with major cuts in emissions and noise. Plastic Pollution Fallout: A new study highlights Latin America as a hotspot after China’s plastic-waste import ban, pointing to Paraguay among the hardest-hit places and warning about health risks from inadequate waste handling. Marine Wildlife Focus: World Dolphin Day spotlights dolphin declines tied to bycatch in fisheries along southern Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, calling for stronger protections.

El Niño Preparedness in Uruguay: INUMET says El Niño is firmly established and could intensify into a “very strong” event, bringing heavy rain from late 2026 into early autumn 2027; the government’s nationwide plan targets flood risk, with scenarios warning up to 25,000 people may need displacement support, including about 5,000 possible evacuations, coordinated with mayors across all 19 departments. Plastic-Waste Fallout for the Region: A new study highlights “waste colonialism” after China’s plastic-waste import ban, flagging Latin America hotspots and warning that several countries lack capacity to manage imports—an issue that matters for Uruguay’s wider waste and pollution pressures. Marine Wildlife Spotlight: World Dolphin Day coverage points to bycatch threats in gillnet fisheries affecting dolphins along coasts including Uruguay, while a separate Ocean Film Festival item spotlights marine rescue work in Uruguay. Biodiversity in Focus: Paraguay’s jaguar-with-cub sighting near the Tebicuary River underscores the need for biological corridors—relevant for regional habitat connectivity. Diplomacy with a Climate Angle: Uruguay’s Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin meets India’s leadership on BRICS sidelines, including Uruguay’s ratification of the International Solar Alliance.

El Niño Preparedness in Uruguay: Uruguay’s meteorology institute says El Niño is firmly established and will intensify into a “very strong” event, bringing heavy rain from late 2026 into early autumn 2027; the government is launching a nationwide prevention plan with scenarios warning up to 25,000 people could be displaced, and President Yamandú Orsi is coordinating emergency funds and infrastructure work with mayors across all 19 departments. Biodiversity & Wildlife: A jaguar with its cub was spotted near the Tebicuary River in Paraguay, reinforcing the need to protect biological corridors—an important reminder for the wider region’s conservation efforts. Marine Life Alert: World Dolphin Day highlights that dolphin populations are under pressure, including bycatch risks in gillnet fisheries along coasts of southern Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. Regional Climate Research: EU and CELAC are strengthening research and innovation cooperation, with a new focus area covering climate change, environmental sustainability, and energy transition. Diplomacy with a Solar Angle: Uruguay’s foreign minister met with India’s leadership on BRICS sidelines, including Uruguay’s ratification instrument for the International Solar Alliance.

El Niño Preparedness: Uruguay launched a nationwide strategy after INUMET confirmed El Niño is firmly established and expected to intensify into a very strong event, bringing intense rainfall from late 2026 into early autumn 2027; planning scenarios warn up to 25,000 people could be displaced, with President Yamandú Orsi coordinating emergency funds with mayors across all 19 departments. Climate Impacts: A separate report notes El Niño’s north-south effects across South America, with Uruguay among areas likely to see more rainfall than usual, raising risks for extreme heat, wildfires, and food security. Wildlife & Corridors: Paraguay’s jaguar sighting near the Tebicuary River (with a cub) underscores the need to protect biological corridors—relevant for Uruguay’s shared regional biodiversity goals. Marine Conservation: World Dolphin Day spotlights threats to dolphins, including bycatch in gillnet fisheries along the coasts of southern Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. Research Cooperation: EU-CELAC talks added a new working group focused on climate change, environmental sustainability, and energy transition, aiming to turn research into practical action. Trade & Deforestation Watch: A Reuters investigation links UK retailers’ charcoal to Paraguay deforestation in the Gran Chaco, a reminder of how regional land-use pressures can spill into Uruguay’s import and policy debates. BRICS Diplomacy (context): Uruguay’s foreign minister met India’s Jaishankar on BRICS sidelines, including Uruguay’s ratification to the International Solar Alliance—energy cooperation that could matter for climate resilience.

World Dolphin Day (Uruguay coast bycatch): IUCN says several dolphin populations are critically endangered, with Lahille’s bottlenose dolphin threatened by bycatch in gillnet fisheries along the coasts of southern Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina—highlighting the need for stronger protections and safer fishing practices. El Niño and Uruguay’s weather risk: A new analysis of South American winter conditions links the strengthening El Niño to a north-south divide, with wetter conditions affecting Uruguay and the wider Southern Cone, while broader forecasts warn of shifting rainfall and higher risks of heat, wildfires, and livelihood impacts. EU-CELAC research push (climate/environment): The EU and CELAC met to set new research priorities, including a working group focused on climate change, environmental sustainability, and the energy transition—aiming to turn cooperation into practical actions. Uruguay-India ties via BRICS: Uruguay’s foreign minister Mario Lubetkin met with India’s leadership on BRICS sidelines, with both sides pointing to a roadmap for trade, connectivity, culture, and Uruguay’s ratification to the International Solar Alliance. Charcoal supply chain scrutiny (regional deforestation): A Reuters investigation tied UK retailers’ barbecue charcoal to Paraguay’s Gran Chaco deforestation, underlining how environmental damage in the region can reach consumers far beyond Uruguay.

El Niño & climate risk for Latin America: The World Meteorological Organization warns El Niño is strengthening and could bring above-normal temperatures across much of the Americas, with drought risk in parts of Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America, and heavier rain in parts of the Pacific coast and the Southern Cone—raising odds of heat, wildfires, food insecurity and flooding. Uruguay forestry & water impacts: A 20-year paired-watershed study in northern Uruguay finds that converting pasture to managed pine (and similar forestry) sharply reduces water yield—down 35% over 17 years after planting—adding fuel to debates about water availability as eucalyptus and pine expand. Charcoal links to deforestation (regional pressure): A Global Witness investigation says UK retailers sell barbecue charcoal traced to Paraguay’s Gran Chaco, tied to farmland clearing—spotlighting how supply-chain scrutiny is increasingly reaching Uruguay’s Mercosur neighbors. Shipping emissions talks: After closed-door IMO negotiations in London, observers say a more ambitious deal to cut shipping’s emissions is gaining traction, with governments showing “genuine willingness” to move forward. BRICS summit backdrop: Leaders are converging in New Delhi for BRICS 2026, with the theme explicitly including resilience and sustainability—while climate and disaster resilience remain on the agenda.

Water & Land Use in Uruguay: A 20-year paired-watershed study in northern Uruguay finds that converting grasslands to managed eucalyptus/pine forests sharply reduces water yield—down about 35% after planting, with the gap growing over time. Plastic Pollution: A new regional study warns that “plastic pollution hotspots” across Latin America are driving a public health crisis as imported hard-to-recycle plastics overwhelm weak waste systems and leak into the environment. Biodiversity & Forest Impacts: Uruguay’s forestry expansion is again in the spotlight for how it reshapes ecosystems and water flows, raising questions about balancing timber income with environmental costs. Climate Policy at the UN: Uruguay helped push through a contentious SDG ministerial declaration at the UN High-level Political Forum, highlighting how climate and development consensus is fraying. Clean Water Rights (Global): A US court ruling says there’s no constitutional right to clean drinking water, a reminder of how environmental health protections can vary sharply by country.

Water & Land Use in Uruguay: A 20-year paired-watershed study in northern Uruguay finds that converting grasslands to managed pine (and similar fast-growing forests) cuts cumulative water yield by about 35% after planting, with the gap widening a few years after trees establish. Biodiversity Protection: Uruguay has suspended duck hunting starting in 2027 to protect biodiversity, a move tied to conservation goals for native wildlife. Forestry Impacts: The same research highlights how large-scale eucalyptus and pine plantations change how water moves across the landscape, raising questions for future land-use planning. Regional Plastic Pollution: A new study flags “plastic pollution hotspots” across Latin America, warning that weak waste systems and hard-to-recycle plastics are driving leaks into the environment with major health risks. Climate/Environment Policy Context: An IPS report says Uruguay helped push through SDG forum changes that removed a COP28 climate reference, showing how climate action can get tangled in global politics.

Uruguay Forestry & Water: A 20-year paired-watershed study in northern Uruguay finds that converting grasslands to managed pine (and similar fast-growing plantations) can sharply reduce streamflow—cumulative water yield fell 35% after planting, with the gap showing up years later. Biodiversity Protection: Uruguay suspended duck hunting from 2027 to protect biodiversity, a move aimed at giving native wildlife populations time to recover. Regional Plastic Pollution: A new study flags “plastic pollution hotspots” across Latin America, warning that imported plastic waste plus weak waste systems are driving leaks into the environment with major health risks. Water Rights Debate: A U.S. court ruling (Fifth Circuit) rejected a constitutional right to clean drinking water, fueling renewed discussion about how environmental health protections are enforced. Wildlife Recovery: Scientific reports confirm puma recolonization in Argentina’s Entre Ríos and Pampas, with dozens of confirmed sightings and tracks showing a young male’s movement across key corridors.

Forestry & Water in Uruguay: A 20-year paired-watershed study in northern Uruguay finds that converting grasslands to managed pine (and similar fast-growing forests) can sharply reduce river water yield—down about 35% after planting, with the gap showing up a few years in. Biodiversity Protection: Uruguay has suspended duck hunting from 2027 to protect biodiversity, signaling a tougher stance on wildlife management. Regional Water Rights Debate: A U.S. court ruling says there’s no constitutional right to clean drinking water in a lead-contamination case—an issue that echoes global fights over environmental justice and public health. Travel Footprints: A regional look at “green footprint” hotels across Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Paraguay highlights lower-emissions operations, better resource use, and more local community ties. Plastic Waste Pressure: A Latin America-wide report flags “plastic pollution hotspots” and warns that imported plastic waste is overwhelming weak waste systems, leaking into ecosystems and harming health.

Plastic Waste & Health: A new study warns that after China’s 2018 plastic-waste ban, Latin America’s waste systems buckled and “plastic pollution hotspots” emerged, with leaked hard-to-recycle plastics posing major health risks. Water & Land Use: In northern Uruguay, a 20-year paired-watershed study found that replacing grasslands with managed eucalyptus and pine plantations cut cumulative water yield by 35% after trees took hold—raising concerns for water availability. Biodiversity & Wildlife: Uruguay’s neighbors see progress too: scientific records confirm puma recolonization in Entre Ríos and the Pampas, with dozens of sightings and tracks linking recovery to habitat corridors. Conservation Policy: Uruguay has suspended duck sport hunting from 2027 to protect biodiversity, signaling tighter wildlife safeguards. Data Centers Pressure (Regional): Investors are eyeing Patagonia for mega data centers, attracted by cool temperatures and energy options—an issue that could spill into Uruguay’s wider debate on sustainability and infrastructure.

Wildlife Protection: Uruguay has definitively suspended sport duck hunting from the 2027 season, banning the remaining three species and citing habitat loss, direct hunting impacts, and insufficient population data for sustainable quotas. Water & Land Use: A 20-year paired-watershed study in northern Uruguay found that converting grasslands to managed eucalyptus and pine plantations sharply reduced water yield—down 35% after planting—raising long-running concerns about forestry’s effect on rivers. Biodiversity Recovery: New technical reports confirm puma recolonization in Argentina’s Entre Ríos and Pampas, with dozens of confirmed sightings and tracks documented via reserves and camera traps, highlighting the role of native forest and water corridors. Climate/Industry Watch: London talks on greener shipping are gaining momentum as governments push for stronger emissions cuts under the IMO framework. Data Center Debate (Region): Investors are increasingly eyeing Argentina’s Patagonia for mega data centers, attracted by cool temperatures and renewables, while critics warn of environmental and community impacts.

Afforestation & Water: A 20-year paired-watershed study in northern Uruguay finds that converting grasslands to managed pine plantations (and similar fast-growing forestry) can cut cumulative water yield by about 35% after trees establish, with the gap showing up years later—raising fresh questions about water availability as forestry expands. Wildlife Protection: Uruguay has definitively suspended sport duck hunting starting in the 2027 season, banning three remaining species after technical reviews said there isn’t enough information to set sustainable quotas and that risks include habitat loss and direct hunting impacts. Green Hydrogen & Investment: Uruguay’s late-2025 surge in foreign investment includes a new green hydrogen and e-fuels complex, underscoring how climate-linked projects are starting to reshape capital flows in the country. Biodiversity & Land Use: The forestry story also lands alongside broader biodiversity concerns, as Uruguay’s land-use shift continues to be measured not just for jobs and timber, but for ecosystem services like water.

Wildlife & Hunting Policy: Uruguay has definitively suspended sport duck hunting starting with the 2027 season, banning three remaining species (white-faced whistling duck, yellow-billed pintail, and rosy-billed pochard) after technical findings said there isn’t enough information to guarantee sustainable hunting quotas. Biodiversity & Science: The decree says monitoring will continue and highlights risks including habitat loss, direct hunting impacts, and gaps in population data—framing the move as a biodiversity and ecosystem-balance measure. Trade & Environment: Uruguay also published a clear list of goods it bans or restricts at the border, including items tied to public health and environmental safety concerns (like lead-heavy paint, certain insecticides/herbicides, asbestos, and potassium bromate), with non-automatic import licensing for other sensitive categories. Regional Sustainability in Travel: A regional roundup spotlights “green footprint” hotels across Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Paraguay, pointing to lower emissions, waste and water efficiency, and community-linked hiring and local sourcing.

Wildlife Protection: Uruguay has issued a definitive suspension of sport duck hunting starting in the 2027 season, banning three remaining species (white-faced whistling duck, yellow-billed pintail, rosy-billed pochard) after technical findings said there isn’t enough information to set sustainable quotas and that risks include habitat loss and direct hunting impacts. Biodiversity Policy: The decree also commits to strengthening studies on distribution, movements, population trends, recruitment rates, and ecosystem effects—framing the move as a state responsibility to conserve biodiversity and protect ecosystem balance. Trade & Environment Pressure: Uruguay’s broader import rules also highlight environmental and public-health safeguards, including bans on items like lead-heavy paint, organic chlorine insecticides, asbestos, and certain pesticides/herbicides, with additional non-automatic licensing for sensitive goods. Regional Sustainability in Tourism: A regional roundup notes Uruguay (along with Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay) is pushing “green footprint” hotel practices—renewables, waste and water efficiency, and carbon measurement—shifting sustainability from marketing to daily operations.

Wildlife Recovery in Uruguay: Scientific reports tied to Puma Day confirm the puma is recolonizing Entre Ríos and the Pampas, with dozens of confirmed sightings using camera traps and tracks, plus new detections near Uruguay River wetlands that help map a young male’s movement. Biodiversity Protection: Uruguay has issued a definitive suspension of sport duck hunting starting in the 2027 season, banning three remaining species after technical findings said there isn’t enough population data to set sustainable quotas. Water as a Right: A US court ruling on lead-tainted drinking water spotlights a broader debate, noting that Uruguay enshrines clean water as a constitutional right. Trade Rules and Environment: Uruguay published a clear list of banned or restricted imports tied to public health and environmental safety, including limits on lead-heavy paint and certain insecticides/herbicides, alongside non-automatic licensing for other sensitive goods. Sustainable Tourism: A regional roundup highlights “green footprint” hotel practices across Uruguay and neighbors, focusing on emissions cuts, waste and water efficiency, and community-linked benefits.