The Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean
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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]
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
Date | Location | Goals | Main outcomes |
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1982 | Mexico City, Mexico | ||
1983 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||
1984 | Lima, Peru | ||
1985 | Cancún, Mexico | ||
1987 | Montevideo, Uruguay | ||
March 27–31, 1989 | Brasilia, Brazil | ||
October 17–23, 1990 | Puerto España, Trinidad and Tobago | ||
March 12–15, 1993 | Santiago, Chile |
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September 21–26, 1995 | Havana, Cuba | ||
October 31 – November 2, 1996 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||
March 10–13, 1998 | Lima, Peru |
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March 2–7, 2000 | Bridgetown, Barbados |
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October 21–23, 2001 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
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November 20–25, 2003 | Panama City, Panama |
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October 31 – November 4, 2005 | Caracas, Venezuela |
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January 2008 | Santo Domingo, The Dominican Republic |
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April 26–30, 2010 | Panama City, Panama | ||
January 31 – February 3, 2012 | Quito, Ecuador |
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March 11–13, 2014 | Los Cabos, Mexico | ||
March 28–31, 2016 | Cartagena, Colombia |
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October 9–12, 2018 | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
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February 1–2, 2021 | Online, organized by the government of Barbados* |
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24 - 26 October 2023 | Panama City, Panama[24] |
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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).
References
- ^ "XXI Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean". UN Environment. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
- ^ a b "Latin America's Environment Ministers meet to formulate regional climate change strategy". Eye On Latin America. 2014-03-18. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
- ^ Mwangi, Patrick. "About UNEP/ROLAC | UN Environment". United Nations Environment Programme. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
- ^ "Barbados minister new Vice President of UN Environment Assembly | Caribbean360". Caribbean360. 2016-05-31. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
- ^ a b "Final Report of the Fourteenth Meeting" (PDF).
- ^ "Informational Note for Participants". XX Reunión del Foro de Ministros de Medio Ambiente de América Latina y el Caribe. 2016. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
- ^ "Final Report of the Preparatory Meeting of Experts" (PDF).
- ^ "Follow-Up to the VIII Ministerial Meeting on the Environment in Latin America and the Caribbean" (PDF).
- ^ "Final Report on the Eleventh Meeting" (PDF).
- ^ "Final Report, Ministerial Segment, Barbados" (PDF).
- ^ "Informe Final XIII Reunion" (PDF).
- ^ "Final Report, Panama 2003" (PDF).
- ^ "Final Report Fifteenth Meeting" (PDF).
- ^ "Final Report 16th Meeting" (PDF).
- ^ "Final Report 18th Meeting" (PDF).
- ^ "18th Forum of LAC Environment Ministers Adopts Quito Declaration | News | SDG Knowledge Hub | IISD".
- ^ "Final Report 19th Meeting".
- ^ "Latin American Environment Ministers meet to define regional approach to UN Environment Assembly – Climate Action". www.climateaction.org. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
- ^ "Final Report, 20th meeting" (PDF).
- ^ "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.
- ^ "XXII Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean" (PDF). United Nations Environment Programme. 2 February 2021.
- ^ "Latin American, Caribbean ministers commit to build back better and greener". UN Environment. February 2, 2021.
- ^ "Fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly | Environment Assembly". United Nations Environment Programme. 13 December 2023.
- ^ "XXIII Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean".