Skip to main content

Main Navigation

Inception Country

Guatemala has taken a critical step to promote inclusive green economy through development of an Environmental Fiscal Strategy.

Guatemala is the largest economy in Central America, though economic growth within the last decade has not translated into a significant reduction in poverty or inequality. The country’s national income depends largely on the agricultural sector, the export of a few commodities and remittances from Guatemalans overseas. It is also vulnerable to climate change and extreme weather conditions and faces persistent challenges around the loss of natural resources, deforestation, increased soil and water pollution, and growing waste levels. These natural environmental challenges also carry significant socio-economic consequences, compounding vulnerability and exclusion.  

In recent years, Guatemala has taken steps to promote the greening of its economy through the development of its Environmental Fiscal Strategy. The Strategy presents a set of fiscal instruments to improve pricing of harmful economic activities, thus supporting national climate change and sustainability objectives.  

The COVID-19 pandemic further delayed PAGE work in Guatemala, as the country experienced an extensive lockdown. Within this context, the Ministry of Economy is leading the National Plan for Economic Recovery of Guatemala, focused on job creation and strategic investments. 

PAGE engaged in the development of the Social and Economic Response Plan (SERP) for Guatemala, developed by the UN Resident Coordinator, and assisted with the inclusion of green recovery measures into the Plan. This document will provide guidance for policy actions by the government.

PAGE work in Guatemala aims to contribute towards the achievement of several SDGs, including SDGs 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 13 (Climate Action), 15 (Life on Land) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

  • 2018

    Guatemala joins PAGE

    Mission to Guatemala conducted to set the objectives of PAGE work

    Ministry of Public Finance restructured

  • 2019

    General elections held, with the President to assume office in January 2020

    Terms of reference for a national inventory of IGE related policies/initiatives and national coordinator developed

    Workplan and budget for Guatemala’s inception phase developed

    Discussions regarding South-South exchange with Uruguay following Green Economy Academy

  • 2020

    National Coordinator onboarded

  • National foundations for PAGE

    While the official launch of the PAGE programme in Guatemala was delayed due to governmental shifts and the COVID-19 pandemic […]

  • Capacity-building to reach long-term goals 

    In assessing work planning for the future of PAGE in Guatemala, foundational capacity-building will play a prominent role. Targeting […]

Share Guatemala's Progress
Scroll to top