Latin America and the Caribbean: environmental priorities in a region of contrasts

1. Latin America and the Caribbean:environmental priorities in a region of contrasts XIX Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean 11-14 March 2014, Los Cabos, Mexico

2. Latin American and CaribbeanInitiativeforSustainableDevelopment (ILAC) • Adopted in 2002 by the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin American and the Caribbean (in the margins of Earth Summit) • Framework of 7 priority areas, specific activities, guiding goals and indicators • Implemented by activities of governments through the Regional Action Plan (RAP) a biennial-cycle matrix • Inter-Agency Technical Committee offers technical and operational guidance and facilitates mobilization of funding—currently UNEP (Secretariat of Forum), IDB, UNDP, World Bank, ECLAC

3. ILAC areas and RAP priorities at a glance

4. Why look at subregional organizations? • Ensure ILAC priorities resonate in diverse subregions • Build on and scale up work based on subregional priorities and strategy documents • Support regional synergies and cooperation between subregions • Take into account that many actors participate at the regional and subregional level (Forums of Environment Ministers)

5. Subregional and regional entities

6. LatinAmerica and theCaribbean (regional) • Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (CELAC) • All 33 countries in region • Incorporates Montego Bay Action Plan • Specialized ministerial meetings on a number of themes • ALBA Group • EightcountriesfromLatinAmerica and Caribbean • JointDeclaration of 2004 (12 principles and priorities) • Jointstatementsonenvironment and climatechangeissues • CommitteeforNatureProtection • Grannationalprojects • Development Banks • Latin American Development Bank (CAF)—EnvironmentalStrategy • Inter-American Development Bank—SustainabilityReport and annuallending target onclimatechange, renewableenergy and environmentalsustainability • Organization of American States (OAS) • 35 States of Americas, 67 otherobservers • Declaration and Plan of ActiononSustainableDevelopment of Americas • Inter-American Meetings of Ministers and High-levelAuthoritiesonSustainableDevelopment • Ibero-American Forum of Ministers of Environment

7. Central America • Meso-American Strategy for Environmental Sustainability (EMSA) • Basedon a process of consensusamongMinisters in theregion • Council of Ministers and TechnicalCommitteesonprioritythemes • Strategy and Plan of Action 2013-2016 focusedonthreepriorityareas—biodiversity and forests; climatechange; sustainablecompetitiveness • Central American Commission for Environment and Development (CCAD) • Organ of the Central American IntegrationSystem (SICA) • Environmental Plan of the Central American Region (PARCA) • PARCA III 2010-2014 focusesonenvironmentalgovernance, strengthening of institutions, management of natural heritage and priorityecosystems, climatechange • Regional StrategyforClimateChange • Manyotherthematicprotocols and strategies

8. Caribbean • Association of Caribbean States (ACS) • 25 member States in wider Caribbean region • Priorities include sustainable tourism, disaster risk reduction, preservation and conservation of the Caribbean Sea—Caribbean Sea Commission • Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) • Nine small island members and associate members in eastern Caribbean • St George´s Declaration of Principles for Environmental Sustainability in the OECS (21 principles)—framework for monitoring and regional indicators • Caribbean Community (CARICOM) • Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas—move to Single Market and Economy—various environmental protection provisions • Port of Spain Accord (1989) • CARICOM Environment and Natural Resources Policy Framework under development • Cartagena Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment in the Wider Caribbean Region • Ratified by 25 UN Members in Wider Caribbean • Three thematic protocols—oil spills; specially protected areas and wildlife; pollution from land-based sources

9. South America • Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization • Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Surinam, Venezuela • Amazon Strategic Cooperation Agenda (8 priority topics, including “Conservation, protection and sustainable use of renewable natural resources”) • Andean Community • Currently Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru • Andean Council of Ministers of Environmental and Sustainable Development Affairs • Andean Environmental Agenda 2012-2016 (priorities on biodiversity, climate change, water resources) • Gran Chaco Americano • SubregionalProgramme of Action includes Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay • Focus includes socio-economic development and preventing land degradation • Mercosur • Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela • Environmental protection covered in the Asunción Treaty • Framework Agreement on the Environment of Mercosur (14 priority actions) • A number of other protocols, agreements, policies • Meetings of Environment Ministers and Working Group on Environment • Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) • 12 South American countries • 2012 UNASUR Conference on Natural Resources and Integrated Development of the Region

10. Priorities in nearlyeverysubregion Climate change Biodiversity, natural resources, ecosystems, protected areas Water resource management

11. Priorities in manysubregions (overhalfstudied) Education and awareness Energy efficiency & renewable energy Science, technology, innovation Governance and institutions

12. Otherselected subregional priorities • Air pollution • Chemicals and wastes • Desertification and drought • Fisheries • Food security • Forests • Health and disease • Indigenous peoples • Land use planning • Marine and coastal management • Natural disasters • Noise • Poverty eradication • Social policies • Sustainable cities • Sustainable tourism

13. Lessonslearned • There are many subregional and regional strategies on sustainable development and environment in Latin America and the Caribbean • Developed by institutions with a diversity of focus—regional integration, foreign relations, trade, sustainable development, technical cooperation • Some strategies are quite focused on a few issues of transboundary concern, whereas others cover a broad range of issues • Many involve periodic meetings of environment ministers • Secretariat and financial resources are key in translating strategies to implementation

14. Nextsteps and possiblediscussionquestions • Are the ILAC priorities still relevant? • Which are the highest priority “emerging issues”, including those reflected in the priorities and strategies of different subregional and regional bodies? • Which of these emerging issues are best “scaled up” and reflected in a regional strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean? • How can we strengthen the regional partnership to support more effective implementation regional and subregional strategies?

15. Thankyou!