The Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean

Last updated

The Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean is a body that meets under the United Nations Environment Programme to discuss environmental issues and priorities within the region. [1] [2]

Contents

It is the most important and high-level space for political dialogue and collaboration on environmental issues in the region, and one of the oldest in the world. It was created in 1982, and has been made up of the 33 countries of the region since its inception. The main objective of the Forum is to provide a space for governments to establish priorities for environmental action, and to collaborate in the implementation of programs, projects and approaches to address those priorities in the region.It also serves as the regional coordinating body for the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). The main meetings are held every two years, while in the interim period various sessions are held with members of the Forum's Board of Directors or High Level Officials.

This year, its 23rd edition will be held in Panama from October 24-26. The agenda will include keynotes, expert panels, interactive sessions and networking opportunities, all of which can be followed on the Forum's YouTube channel. Peculiarly, this year it will be held in parallel with the Latin American and Caribbean Climate Week, organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), of which UNEP is part of its Secretariat.

Organization and participation

The Forum was formed in 1982 and is part of the United Nations Environment Programme in the Regional Office of Latin America and the Caribbean, with meetings every two years. [3] [4] All thirty-three countries within the region are invited to be a part of the Forum, as are other interested parties including NGOs. [5] The official languages of the Forum are Spanish and English. [6]

The Conference of Ministers is preceded by a conference of High-Level Experts who meet ahead of the ministers in order to provide the technical information necessary for the ministers to make decisions. [7] The forum is responsible for meeting to strategize action on themes related to sustainable development and the environment within Latin America and the Caribbean. [5]

Meetings and objectives

DateLocationGoalsMain outcomes
1982Mexico City, Mexico
1983Buenos Aires, Argentina
1984Lima, Peru
1985Cancún, Mexico
1987Montevideo, Uruguay
March 27–31, 1989Brasilia, Brazil
October 17–23, 1990Puerto España, Trinidad and Tobago
March 12–15, 1993Santiago, Chile
September 21–26, 1995Havana, Cuba
October 31 – November 2, 1996Buenos Aires, Argentina
March 10–13, 1998Lima, Peru
  • Identify regional funding sources
  • Establish common regional positions for larger UNEP conventions
  • Create a regional agenda [9]
March 2–7, 2000Bridgetown, Barbados
  • Address regional issues of climate change, deforestation, and urban growth
  • Discuss effective simultaneous implementation of several multilateral environmental agreements [10]
October 21–23, 2001Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Create a Regional Action Plan for 2002–2005
  • Address regional issues of deforestation and vulnerability of urban environments
  • Discuss regional environmental priorities within an international context [11]
November 20–25, 2003Panama City, Panama
  • Develop implementation strategy for the Latin American and Caribbean Initiative for Sustainable Development (ILAC) [12]
October 31 – November 4, 2005Caracas, Venezuela
  • Consider and determine priority actions based on the first two years of implementation for ILAC [13]
January 2008Santo Domingo, The Dominican Republic
  • Evaluate progress after five years of ILAC and identify future focus and implementation
  • Discuss regional issues of climate change, integrated management of ecosystems, and environmental mainstreaming [14]
April 26–30, 2010Panama City, Panama
January 31 – February 3, 2012Quito, Ecuador
  • Carry out an assessment of the forum and its effectiveness
  • Prepare for the Rio+20 Conference
  • Address the financial and economic structure of sustainable development initiatives [15]
  • Adoption of the Quito declaration, which among other things: commits to formulating a regional environmental agenda; forwards key messages to Rio+20; and sets out common positions on climate issues, technology transfer and commodity prices, among others
  • Adoption of ten decisions prepared and recommended by a Preparatory Meeting of High-Level Experts regarding: governance; sustainable consumption and production (SCP); environmental indicators; the Regional Financial Strategy (EFIR); air pollution; chemicals, and hazardous and other wastes; landlocked countries; small island developing States (SIDS); environmental education; and the Central American and Caribbean countries [16]
March 11–13, 2014Los Cabos, Mexico
  • Foster cooperation on climate change, biodiversity, sustainable development, and reduction/management of chemical and solid waste [2] [17]
March 28–31, 2016Cartagena, Colombia
  • Adoption of the Cartagena Declaration, which among other things: calls for the update of the Latin American and the Caribbean Initiative for Sustainable Development (ILAC, champions the enforcement of concepts such as Sustainable consumption and production and Environmental education, and declares the establishment of a Regional Platform on Climate Change and a Regional Plan of Action on Atmospheric Pollution [20]
October 9–12, 2018Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Pollution mitigation and prevention
  • Decarbonization of the economy
  • Limitation of natural resource extraction and usage
  • Discussion of implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goals
February 1–2, 2021Online, organized by the government of Barbados*
  • Integration of environmental issues to be placed at the heart of the region’s COVID-19 recovery strategies
  • Opportunities for green recovery
  • Conservation and sustainable use of natural resources
  • Signment of the Bridgetown Declaration [21]
  • Agreement upon eight decisions [22] to be presented at the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly. [23]
24 - 26 October 2023Panama City, Panama [24]
  • The agenda will include keynotes, expert panels, interactive sessions and networking opportunities, all of which can be followed through the Forum's YouTube channel;
  • This year, it will be held in parallel with the Latin American and Caribbean Climate Week, organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), of which UNEP is part of its Secretariat.
To be celebrated

*The event would normally have happened in 2020, however due to the pandemic the event was held in a virtual format for the first time, co-hosted by the Government of Barbados, which was where the event was supposed to take place in the previous year).


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Environment Programme</span> Agency of the United Nations focused on solving environmental issues

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system. It was established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in June 1972. Its mandate is to provide leadership, deliver science and develop solutions on a wide range of issues, including climate change, the management of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and green economic development. The organization also develops international environmental agreements; publishes and promotes environmental science and helps national governments achieve environmental targets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Meteorological Organization</span> Specialized agency of the United Nations

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for promoting international cooperation on atmospheric science, climatology, hydrology and geophysics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Conference on Trade and Development</span> Permanent intergovernmental body established in 1964

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is an intergovernmental organization within the United Nations Secretariat that promotes the interests of developing countries in world trade. It was established in 1964 by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and reports to that body and the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). UNCTAD is composed of 195 member states and works with nongovernmental organizations worldwide; its permanent secretariat is in Geneva, Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States</span> Intergovernmental organisation

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to economic harmonisation and integration, protection of human and legal rights, and the encouragement of good governance between countries and territories in the Eastern Caribbean. It also performs the role of spreading responsibility and liability in the event of natural disaster.

The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was a body under the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) tasked with overseeing the outcomes of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development/Earth Summit. It was replaced in 2013 by the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, which meets both under the General Assembly every four years and the ECOSOC in other years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues</span> UN coordinating body

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is the UN's central coordinating body for matters relating to the concerns and rights of the world's indigenous peoples. There are more than 370 million indigenous people in some 70 countries worldwide.

Rosa Elena Simeón Negrín was the Minister of Science, Technology and the Environment in Cuba. Her role in government includes raising awareness of environmental issues amongst Cubans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Champions of the Earth</span> Annual United Nations environmental award

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) established Champions of the Earth in 2005 as an annual awards programme to recognize outstanding environmental leaders from the public and private sectors, and from civil society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Barbados</span>

This article deals with the diplomatic affairs, foreign policy and international relations of Barbados.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Community of Latin American and Caribbean States</span> Regional bloc of Latin American and Caribbean states

The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) is a regional bloc of Latin American and Caribbean states proposed on February 23, 2010, at the Rio Group–Caribbean Community Unity Summit, and created on December 3, 2011, in Caracas, Venezuela, with the signature of The Declaration of Caracas. It consists of 33 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean having five official languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asia Pacific Adaptation Network</span>

Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN) is a regional program that works with governments and organizations to share knowledge about adapting to climate change and to support implementation of adaptation measures. APAN was set up in October 2009 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as part of the Global Adaptation Network (GAN). APAN is considered a key mobilizer of adaptation knowledge in Asia and the Pacific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Resources Forum</span> Non-profit organisation

The World Resources Forum (WRF) is a non-profit organisation for sharing knowledge about the economic, political, social and environmental implications of global resource use. WRF promotes resource productivity among researchers, policymakers, business, NGOs and the public. In addition to organizing international and regional conferences, the WRF Secretariat coordinates multistakeholder dialogue projects, amongst others the Sustainable Recycling Initiative (SRI) as well as the H2020 projects Towards a World Forum on Raw Materials (FORAM), and CEWASTE. The WRF contributes to other EC-projects and projects with the German development organisation GiZ, UNEP and UNIDO.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global Green Growth Institute</span> An organisation promoting sustainable development

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is an intergovernmental international development organization headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Latin American and Caribbean Group</span>

The Group of Latin America and Caribbean Countries, or GRULAC, is one of the five United Nations Regional Groups composed of 33 Member States from Central and South America, as well as some islands in the West Indies. Its members compose 17% of all United Nations members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Action for Climate Empowerment</span>

Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) is a term adopted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It refers to Article 6 of the Convention's original text (1992), focusing on six priority areas: education, training, public awareness, public participation, public access to information, and international cooperation on these issues. The implementation of all six areas has been identified as the pivotal factor for everyone to understand and participate in solving the complex challenges presented by climate change. The importance of ACE is reflected in other international frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals ; the Global Action Programme for Education for Sustainable Development ; the Aarhus Convention (2011); the Escazú Agreement (2018) and the Bali Guidelines (2010).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration</span>

The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration runs from 2021 to 2030. Similar to other nature related international decades, its purpose is to promote the United Nation's environmental goals. Specifically, to facilitate global cooperation for the restoration of degraded and destroyed ecosystems. Along with fostering efforts to combat climate change, safeguard biodiversity, food security, and water supply. While much focus is on promoting restoration activity by national governments, the UN also wishes to promote such efforts from other actors, ranging from the private sector and NGOs to regular individuals.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) established the Global Adaptation Network in 2010 to share and exchange climate change adaptation knowledge across the world. GAN's secretariat is based at UNEP's Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

Emilio Luis Sempris Ceballos is a Panamanian politician and sustainability advocate. He served as Panama's minister of environment from 2017 to 2019. He also served as director general of the Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean (CATHALAC) between 2002 and 2012. In 2021, he was appointed as Distinguished Advisor of the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM).

References

  1. ↑ "XXI Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean". UN Environment. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  2. 1 2 "Latin America's Environment Ministers meet to formulate regional climate change strategy". Eye On Latin America. 2014-03-18. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  3. ↑ Mwangi, Patrick. "About UNEP/ROLAC | UN Environment". United Nations Environment Programme. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
  4. ↑ "Barbados minister new Vice President of UN Environment Assembly | Caribbean360". Caribbean360. 2016-05-31. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  5. 1 2 "Final Report of the Fourteenth Meeting" (PDF).
  6. ↑ "Informational Note for Participants". XX Reunión del Foro de Ministros de Medio Ambiente de América Latina y el Caribe. 2016. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
  7. ↑ "Final Report of the Preparatory Meeting of Experts" (PDF).
  8. ↑ "Follow-Up to the VIII Ministerial Meeting on the Environment in Latin America and the Caribbean" (PDF).
  9. ↑ "Final Report on the Eleventh Meeting" (PDF).
  10. ↑ "Final Report, Ministerial Segment, Barbados" (PDF).
  11. ↑ "Informe Final XIII Reunion" (PDF).
  12. ↑ "Final Report, Panama 2003" (PDF).
  13. ↑ "Final Report Fifteenth Meeting" (PDF).
  14. ↑ "Final Report 16th Meeting" (PDF).
  15. ↑ "Final Report 18th Meeting" (PDF).
  16. ↑ "18th Forum of LAC Environment Ministers Adopts Quito Declaration | News | SDG Knowledge Hub | IISD".
  17. ↑ "Final Report 19th Meeting".
  18. ↑ "Latin American Environment Ministers meet to define regional approach to UN Environment Assembly – Climate Action". www.climateaction.org. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  19. ↑ "Final Report, 20th meeting" (PDF).
  20. ↑ "XX Meeting of the Forum of the Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean ANNEX II Decisions" (PDF). United Nations Environment Programme. 31 March 2016.
  21. ↑ "XXII Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean" (PDF). United Nations Environment Programme. 2 February 2021.
  22. ↑ "Latin American, Caribbean ministers commit to build back better and greener". UN Environment. February 2, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly | Environment Assembly". United Nations Environment Programme.
  24. ↑ https://www.unep.org/events/unep-event/xxiii-meeting-forum-ministers-latin-america-and-caribbean.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.