RT null T1 The Circularity Gap Report: Latin America and the Caribbean A1 United Nations Environment Programme, K1 circular economy K1 raw material K1 export K1 agriculture K1 forestry K1 greenhouse gas emission K1 low carbon economy YR 2023 FD 2023-10 LK https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/44119 UL https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/44119 NO Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) exports around 40% of the raw materials it extracts from nature. The region supplies over 11% of the world's raw materials, despite housing only 8.3% of the world's population. Raw material extraction and export support the region's economy with the region importing just 20% of the raw materials they use. While the region presents a moderate carbon footprint, agriculture and forestry are the greatest contributors to the region’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with figures topping global rates. The Circularity Gap Report Latin America and the Caribbean is the first-of-its-kind analysis in the region. The report sheds light on key opportunities and challenges in the region's material use and environmental impact, illustrating how the region can leverage the circular economy to make the region economies stronger and more resilient, resource-light and low carbon. DS UN Environment Document Repository RD Sep 18, 2026