How to Prioritize Public Investments with a Sustainable Approach?

Prioritizing resilient, low-carbon projects within the public investment cycle is a key decision point in contexts of fiscal constraints and growing needs for sustainable infrastructure. This guide proposes a methodology that incorporates environmental sustainability and resilience criteria into the project selection process, with an emphasis on emissions reduction, climate change adaptation, multi-hazard risk management, and ecosystem conservation. This methodological framework combines quantifiable indicators and multi-criteria decision models aimed at aligning public investments with medium- and long-term resilience goals. It also analyzes international and regional experiences to identify best practices that can serve as a reference for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The approach proposed in the document seeks to optimize the use of public resources and ensure that the selected investments are not only technically and socioeconomically viable but also consistent with each country's climate and sustainability objectives. Finally, practical recommendations are offered to help governments integrate these approaches into their investment prioritization processes.