Bolivia's Place In Annex I: A Complex Climate Question

Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in central South America. It is a member of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of American States, and the Union of South American Nations, among others. Bolivia is classified by the World Bank as a lower-middle-income country, with a focus on natural resources such as mining and agriculture. Bolivia is not part of Annex I, which includes developed countries like the US, UK, and Germany.

Bolivia's foreign relations

Bolivia's relationship with Chile has been strained since Bolivia's defeat in the War of the Pacific (1879-1883), which resulted in the loss of the coastal province of Atacama. Diplomatic relations were severed from 1962 to 1975 due to a dispute over water rights and were broken again in 1978 over the Atacama border dispute. Bolivia has since continued to press for a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean, even taking the issue to the International Court of Justice in 2018.

Bolivia has had strong ties with the United States, which has been a long-standing consumer of Bolivian exports and a partner in development projects. However, the election of Evo Morales strained relations between the two countries, particularly due to conflicting policies on coca eradication. Bolivia suspended the operations of the US Drug Enforcement Administration and expelled the US ambassador in 2008, and relations have remained tense.

Bolivia has strong relations with several South American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. It has also pursued closer ties with Cuba and Venezuela, becoming the only South American country that remains a strong ally and defender of Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro. Bolivia's relations with Venezuela cooled temporarily in 2019 when Interim President Jeanine Áñez severed diplomatic ties, but they were reestablished in 2020 by President Luis Arce.

Bolivia has also sought to strengthen its international relations by establishing diplomatic relations with countries outside the Americas, such as China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, and several European nations.

Bolivia's economy

Agriculture is another important sector of the Bolivian economy, with the country producing close to 10 million tons of sugarcane per year and being a major global producer of soybeans, maize, potato, sorghum, banana, rice, and wheat. Bolivia's most lucrative agricultural product is coca, of which the country is the world's third-largest cultivator.

Bolivia has a relatively small manufacturing sector, which accounts for approximately 18% of the country's gross domestic product. Leading manufactured goods include textiles, clothing, non-durable consumer goods, processed soybeans, refined metals, and petroleum.

The services sector in Bolivia is underdeveloped, as weak purchasing power limits demand. The country's banking sector has historically suffered from corruption and weak regulation, but a series of reforms have gradually improved the situation.

To promote economic growth and stability, Bolivia needs to address structural issues, encourage private sector development, and boost resilience to changes in the international environment and adverse climate events.

Bolivia's political history

Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, has a rich and tumultuous political history. The region has been inhabited for thousands of years, with the Tiwanaku people reaching an advanced level of civilisation before being conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Inca, in turn, were conquered by Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro in the early 16th century.

Bolivia's struggle for independence from Spain began in 1809 in the city of Sucre, with the Chuquisaca Revolution. This was followed by the La Paz revolution in 1809, marking a complete split from the Spanish government. After 16 years of war, the Bolivian Republic was established on 6 August 1825, named after Simón Bolívar.

Bolivia's subsequent history has been marked by a series of coups and counter-coups, pitting indigenous workers against the wealthy descendants of European colonialists. The country's politics have also been heavily influenced by its mineral wealth, particularly silver and tin mining. Bolivia lost control of several peripheral territories to neighbouring countries in the 19th and early 20th centuries, including the War of the Pacific (1879) with Chile, resulting in the loss of its Pacific coastal region.

The early to mid-19th century was a period of political and economic instability for Bolivia, with the country ruled by a series of military strongmen or caudillos. This period saw the formation of the Liberal and Conservative parties, which shared power and brought a degree of stability to the country. However, the discovery of silver in the late 19th century led to a period of economic prosperity and political stability.

The 20th century saw a succession of military and civilian governments, with a CIA-supported coup d'état in 1971 led by Hugo Banzer replacing the socialist government with a military dictatorship. Banzer's regime cracked down on left-wing opposition and was marked by widespread torture and murder. He was ousted in 1978 but returned as the democratically elected President from 1997 to 2001.

Bolivia experienced significant economic growth and political stability under the presidency of Evo Morales from 2006 to 2019. However, the country was also accused of democratic backsliding during this period and was described as a competitive authoritarian regime. Morales resigned in 2019 amid allegations of election fraud and widespread protests. Jeanine Áñez declared herself interim president, but she was later arrested in 2021 for her involvement in the coup. Luis Arce was elected as the new President in 2020, and he continues to govern as of July 2024.

Bolivia's geography

Bolivia is a landlocked country in west-central South America. It is bordered by Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay to the southeast, Argentina to the south, Chile to the southwest, and Peru to the west. Bolivia's geography is defined by three distinct regions: the Andean region, the Sub-Andean region, and the Llanos region.

The Andean region, also known as the Cordillera Occidental, spans the southwestern part of the country and accounts for 28% of Bolivia's territory. This area is characterised by dormant volcanoes, volcanic vents, and the country's highest peak, Nevado Sajama, at 6,542 metres (21,463 ft) above sea level. The Andean region is also home to the Altiplano, a highland plateau that extends from southern Peru through Bolivia to northern Argentina. The Altiplano includes Lake Titicaca, the second-largest lake in South America, which Bolivia shares with Peru.

The Sub-Andean region, or the Yungas, forms the central and southern part of Bolivia. It is an intermediate zone between the Altiplano and the eastern lowlands, with an altitude ranging from 1,600 to 9,000 feet (490 to 2,740 metres) above sea level. This region is known for its farming activities and temperate climate, with cities like Cochabamba, Sucre, and Tarija located within its valleys.

The Llanos region, covering 59% of Bolivia's territory, is a vast expanse of flat land and small plateaus in the northeast. This region is predominantly covered by rainforests and is home to a diverse range of wildlife. The Llanos region includes the Amazon Basin, through which flow major tributaries of the Amazon River, such as the Mamoré, Beni, and Madre de Dios rivers. While sparsely populated, this region holds significant potential for agriculture and livestock-raising.

Bolivia's population

Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the 27th largest country in the world, the largest landlocked country in the Southern Hemisphere, and the seventh largest landlocked country on Earth. Bolivia has a population of approximately 12 million people, making it the 79th most populous country in the world. The population density is 11 people per square kilometre, with 70.3% of the population living in urban areas. The median age in Bolivia is 24.9 years.

Bolivia is a multiethnic country, with a population that includes Amerindians, Mestizos, Europeans, Asians, Africans, and other groups. Spanish is the official and most widely spoken language, although 36 indigenous languages also have official status, including Guaraní, Aymara, and Quechua. The population is predominantly Catholic, with smaller Protestant and Evangelical communities.

Bolivia has experienced significant economic growth and political stability in recent years, and is now one of the fastest-growing economies in South America. However, it remains a developing country and the second-poorest in South America. Bolivia's main economic sectors include agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, and the production of textiles, clothing, refined metals, and petroleum.

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