United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean

Transcription

1 United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME PROGRAMME DES NATIONS UNIES POUR L ENVIRONNEMENT Intersessional Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean Panama City, Panama October 2009 Distribution: Limited UNEP/LAC-IGWG(IS).XVII/3.rev2 Friday,30 October 2009 Original: Spanish Progress Report on the Fulfilment of the Decisions of the Sixteenth Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean (March August 2009)

2 CONTENTS I. Introduction... 1 II. Follow-up to the Decisions and Recommendations of the Sixteenth Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean... 3 Decision 1. Assessment and Implementation of the Latin American and Caribbean Initiative for Sustainable Development (ILAC):... 3 Decision Regional Action Plan... 5 Decision 3. Composition and Mandate of the ITC... 5 Decision 4. Operation of the Working Groups... 6 Decision 5. Small Island Developing States... 7 Decision 6. Environmental Indicators.. 14 Decision 7. Atmospheric Pollution Decision 8. Better Fuel for a Better Quality of Life Decision 9. Natural Protected Areas Decision 10. Sustainable Consumption and Production Decision 11. Environmental Education For Sustainable Development Decision 12. Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Distribution of The Benefits Arising from Their Utilization and Participation of the Region in the Negotiation of the International Judicial REgime Decision 13. Strengthening of the Participation of the Main Groups of Agenda Decision 14. Renewable and/or Alternate Energies Decision 15. Recognition and Strengthening of the Participation of Indigenous People Decision 16. Sustainanble Land Management Decision 17. Climate Change Decision 18. Chemical Substances Decision 19. Settlements / Sustainable Housing... 36

3 I. Introduction 1. The decision by the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean to establish the Forum of Ministers of the Environment stemmed from the need for a regional political body to analyse and build consensus on positions relating to the issues contained in the regional and international environmental agendas. The Forum has gained strength through its regular meetings since 1982, and its participation in discussions of the international environmental agenda have been recognized. 2. The Forum of Ministers has translated its deliberations and agreements into specific decisions relating to the environmental priorities of the region and those agreed to internationally. Its main working bodies are the Inter-sessional Committee and the Inter-Agency Technical Committee (ITC). The ITC consists of the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). 3. Since the convening of the Sixteenth Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; 27 January to 1 February 2008), important events have occurred in the international environmental sphere with relevant repercussions on the dialogue and decision-making process in the region, emphasizing among others, the global financial and economic crisis as well as advances in international dialogue on climate change, in response to the dissemination of scientific reports and economic assessments that indicate the gravity of the socio-economic and environmental impacts of the problem. Similarly, note should be made of the continuation of discussions on sustainable ecosystems management and the conservation of biodiversity, themes that continue to be of priority to the international community as a whole, and to the region in particular, and which will be priority topics during 2010, International Year of Biodiversity. These issues deserve the attention of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean, which is the principal body for dialogue and consensus on environmental policies in the region. 4. A general overview of the activities carried out during 2008 and 2009 indicates that UNEP has addressed the national, sub-regional and regional environmental priorities and has strengthened cooperation and coordination links with other Agencies of the United Nations system, several intergovernmental organizations, as well as other national, sub-regional and regional institutions, primarily to promote capacity building and technology support. 5. The Forum of Ministers has been strengthened as a body for political dialogue which discusses and adopts shared criteria on priority issues on the international environmental agenda, including strategic matters arising from the principal multilateral environmental agreements. From a programmatic point of view, the Forum of Ministers has successfully undertaken the implementation of the Latin American and Caribbean Initiative for Sustainable Development (ILAC).

4 6. The operation of the Inter-Agency Technical Committee has encouraged the implementation of the Regional Action Plan (RAP). Various activities responding to the priorities established by the countries of the region have been carried out through joint initiatives and projects of UNEP and other regional and international organizations, although more effective action is still required. 7. The institutional development of the countries of the region has been supported through various activities in the area of environmental legislation and through cooperation projects aimed at expanding capacity to satisfy multilateral environmental conventions. 8. The participation of the main groups of civil society has been given special attention in the activities carried out by UNEP in Latin America and the Caribbean. This strategic orientation is consistent with UNEP s global policy and has strengthened the analysis and search for options to the environmental problems that the region is facing as a whole. 9. The present report, prepared by the Secretariat of the Forum of Ministers, outlines the progress made in carrying out the decisions adopted at the Sixteenth Meeting of the Forum of Ministers, and is presented for consideration by the Inter-sessional Meeting of the Meeting of the Forum of Ministers (Panama, October 2009), as input for the formulation of necessary recommendations and actions, for subsequent consideration and decisionmaking by the Ministerial Segment of the Forum of Ministers at its XVII Meeting (Mexico, February 2010). It should be noted that a large number of expected actions on each of the Forum s decisions was entrusted not only to UNEP, but also to the Working Groups created under decision 2 and the ITC. 10. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), through its Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC), has carried out numerous negotiations with the governments of the region as well as with agencies of the Inter-agency Technical Committee, to follow-up on and support the implementation of the Decisions adopted at the Sixteenth Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment. 11. The Decisions were sent to the relevant bodies, such as the Secretariats of international environmental conventions, agencies of the Inter-agency Technical Committee and within UNEP itself, to coordinate and facilitate the monitoring of these regional agreements. 2

5 II. Follow-up on the Decisions and Recommendations of the Sixteenth Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean DECISION 1 ASSESSMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN INITIATIVE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (ILAC): 12. At the Sixteenth Meeting of the Forum of Ministers, a comprehensive report was presented on the execution of ILAC five years after its implementation, outlining the process since its adoption as part of the Implementation Plan of the World Summit on the Environment and Sustainable Development (Johannesburg 2002) and underscoring the steps taken towards its implementation at the national, sub-regional and regional levels, through the decisions of the Forum of Ministers and the actions undertaken by the countries to advance in the fulfilment of the objectives, goals and purposes of the Initiative, in accordance with the 25 main goals and 5 thematic areas. 13. In an effort to continue the implementation of ILAC, the Meeting of the Forum indicated that the priority action areas of the Initiative in which the Latin American and Caribbean Countries would focus their efforts during the period would be as follows: ILAC AREA Climate Change (1) Biological Diversity Water Resources Management PRIORITIES Recognise the link between the topic with all the ILAC areas / (including renewable energies and energy efficiency Increase in forest areas Genetic resources fair and equitable benefit sharing arising from their use Watershed Management Coastal-marine management and its resources (1) Added during the Fourteenth Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean (Panama 2003).

6 Vulnerability, human settlements and sustainable cities Social topics, including health inequality and poverty Economic issues, including competitiveness, trade and production and consumption patterns (energy) Institutional aspects Vulnerability and risk management Solid waste Health and the environment (pollution and chemical substances) Sustainable consumption and production Assessment and indicators Environmental education 14. The Ministers reaffirmed the strengthening of the South-South cooperation between the Latin American and Caribbean countries, as a tool for knowledge transfer, sharing of best practices and techniques as well as other resources among the countries of the region, aimed at the implementation of ILAC. 15. To this end, UNEP has facilitated the implementation of regional and subregional proposals to strengthen the implementation of the Bali Strategic Plan for technology support and capacity building (Bali Strategic Plan) as well as South-South cooperation. The following are some examples of these activities: Environmental policies and legislation: South-South cooperative actions such as the implementation of synergies between multilateral environmental agreements in four countries of the four sub-regions of the region were promoted; the Training Programme for Judges for the Protection of Biodiversity was strengthened, as well as the Latin American Environmental Law and Policies Programme, in which the countries exchange information and lessons learnt. Sustainable consumption and production: Several national, sub-regional and regional workshops were conducted, in order to support the implementation of sustainable consumption and production programmes, and of sustainable public procurement, where the countries share information on national policies. Information can be found on the website of the sustainable consumption and production network of the region ( Protection of the urban environment, including clean fuel, air quality, waste management, control of industrial pollution and the use of technology in the industry: With the creation of the Regional Authorities Network responsible for Air Pollution, a South-South cooperation area among the countries has been established and will be a source of information, exchange of experiences and recommendations. Promotion of environmental education, awareness and participation of civil society: Training and knowledge exchange was achieved through the 4

7 provision of support for participation in specialized university courses in the region. 16. Activities were also conducted in other areas such as environmental indicators; climate change, including energy; conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem management, including forests and environmental services; combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought, the management of arid and semi-arid zones; integrated coastal area management, including the protection of the marine and coastal environment as well as the sustainable use of land and marine resources and wildlife; coordination of positions on global environmental problems and in fora; and disaster management. 17. As a result of the assessment carried out by the Ministers in relation to the lessons learnt and the challenges faced in the implementation of the RAP, the Ministers decided to conduct a conceptual review of its structure and modes of execution during the inter-sessional period, with a view to evaluating the feasibility of joint programmes with agencies of the Inter-agency Technical Committee (ITC). This review would be prepared by the Government of Argentina, based on the elements presented during the meeting, and analyzed at this inter-sessional meeting (Panama City, Panama, October 2009). DECISION REGIONAL ACTION PLAN 18. The Sixteenth Forum of Ministers decided to develop a new matrix for the preparation of the Regional Action Plan and requested UNEP, as Secretariat to the Forum, to propose a RAP for the biennium, aimed at the implementation of the ILAC and focused on the set of actions agreed by the Forum of Ministers pursuant to Decision 1 of the Sixteenth Meeting, incorporating the comments made during the Preparatory Meeting of Experts. 19. As agreed, UNEP prepared the proposal, circulated it to the countries of the region for comments, after which the Secretariat distributed the final version for approval. The agreed final version was later sent out to the respective countries (Annex I of this document). DECISION 3 COMPOSITION AND MANDATE OF THE ITC 20. In order to fulfil the decision as well as continue support for the efforts undertaken by the countries of the region, the Inter-agency Technical Committee met in October The meeting agreed that the support provided by each agency would be within the framework of the mandate of their respective work programme. 21. The agencies, on the other hand, agreed to support the preparation of a report on the progress of the region in achieving Goal No. 7 of the Millennium Development Goals (ensure environmental sustainability), which will be presented in November 2009.

8 DECISION 4 OPERATION OF THE WORKING GROUPS 22. The Forum of Ministers decided to establish six working groups which are open to all the countries of the region, subject to the fulfilment of paragraph 4 of this decision: a) Environmental Indicators; b) Risk Management; c) Access to Genetic Resources; d) Climate Change; e) Management of Coastal-Marine Areas and their Resources; and f) Environmental Education for Sustainable Management. 23. After making the pertinent consultations with the countries, several convocations, communication and exchanges with the coordinating countries, the Working Groups that continue to function are: Access to Genetic Resources, Climate Change, Environmental Education for Sustainable Development and Environmental Indicators. Working Group Access to genetic resources and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their use Climate Change Members Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela UNEP Panama, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, St. Lucia, Suriname, Venezuela, ECLAC, IADB, World Bank, UNDP Environmental Education Brazil, Antigua and Barbuda, Colombia, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Surinam, Uruguay, Venezuela, UNEP 6

9 Environmental Indicators Costa Rica, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Lucia, Venezuela ECLAC, UNEP Risk Management Nicaragua, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela Management of Coastal- Marine Areas and their Resources Dominican Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru 24. Following up on the agreements established by the decision of the Forum of Ministers, UNEP, in its capacity as Secretariat of the Forum, made several consultations to obtain information on the designation of focal points within the countries for the various Working Groups. Similarly, and in light of the convening of the Seventeenth Meeting of the Forum, country coordinators of the different Working Groups will be asked to send to the Secretariat, information on the activities carried out during the inter-sessional period. Based on information received, the Secretariat will compile the reports submitted by the Working Group Coordinators. 25. As Secretariat to the Forum, UNEP supported the countries in organizing and convening meetings for these groups. The work carried out in each of these groups is outlined in greater detail in the respective decisions on each topic. DECISION 5 SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES 26. The Secretariat continues to work with the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the implementation of the SIDS Programme, designed in accordance with Decision 4 of the Forum of Ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean held October 2003, and during subsequent meetings of the Forum (2005 in Caracas, Venezuela and 2008 in the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic). The SIDS Caribbean Programme consists of six main components, namely: a) A well-established and well-defined regional coordination and cooperation mechanism for the execution of the Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA) for the Sustainable Development of SIDS. b) A financial mechanism in the form of a Regional Sustainability Fund. c) A technical programme that is focused on topics related to the environmental pillar of sustainable development and consisting of various partnership initiatives, namely: the Partnership Initiative on Sustainable Land Management;

10 the Partnership Initiative on the Management of Coastal Aquifers; the Partnership Initiative on Sustainable Management of Non-Timber Forest Products generating opportunities for the participation of the private sector and the creation of alternative sources of income for indigenous peoples and local communities; a Programme for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity of the Small Island Developing States of the Caribbean; and a South-South Cooperation Programme in the field of Trade and Environment. d) A South-South horizontal cooperation programme, starting with activities in the Latin American countries and the Caribbean SIDS. These activities include technologies relating to renewable energy, land degradation, water resources, with special emphasis on the management of coastal resources, bio-security, trade and environment, climate change, disaster management and integrated management of the Caribbean Sea. e) a Civil Society Support Programme with five principal elements: (i) Development of a Regional Programme, based on the environmental community and public awareness in support of the implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action, and (ii) a project entitled Your change for a better environment. f) A special focus component highlighting specific initiatives in a number of selected countries. These special focus initiatives are based on agreements that have made between the Executive Director who acts on behalf of UNEP and the respective Ministers of the Environment on behalf of the participating country. 27. The necessary background work in relation to (a) and (b) has been completed and the Secretariat is awaiting the direction of the Member states on the implementation of actions for its continuation. With regard to the activities mentioned in (c), these are being carried out at different levels, but limitations are experienced resulting from a lack of resources. The most developed activity in this group is the Partnership Initiative on Sustainable Land Management (PISLM). As recognized in Decision 5 of the Forum of Ministers, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago offered support to the PISLM through the Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development (CNIRD) and has committed to giving its continued support. During the period under review, a series of significant goals were achieved in regard to the PISLM, among which the following are noteworthy: During the 25th Extraordinary Meeting of the Commission for Trade and Economic Development Council (COTED) held April 2008, the CARICOM Ministers of Environment endorsed the PISLM as the framework for the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation, components of the Barbados Programme of Action, and extended the mandate of PISLM to include issues relating to rural development and poverty alleviation. A Five Year Rolling Business Plan for the PISLM for Caribbean SIDS was prepared and adopted by the PISLM Task Force. The Business Plan 8

11 charts the way forward and considers various ongoing projects in the Region, future projects and budgetary implications. The PISLM continued the establishment of links with similar programmes at the global level. In this sense, the cooperation between the PISLM and a similar initiative in China was formalized with the participation of the project coordinator at an international meeting on land degradation organized by the People s Republic of China/GEF in dry land ecosystems in November A document entitled Partnership initiative on land degradation and sustainable land management in Caribbean SIDS was presented at the meeting. 28. The immediate challenge for the initiative is to intensify its involvement on the ground, particularly in rural communities in the Caribbean SIDS, as well as the mobilization of resources to execute the business plan. 29. Some activities, of South-South cooperation in particular, have been carried out in order to implement components (d) and (e); however, the strengthening of their actions and greater mobilisation of resources are required. 30. Also worthy of mention is the Capacity Building related to Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEA) in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Countries. The objective is to enhance the capacity of ACP countries to implement their respective obligations under MEAs and related commitments thereby resulting in sound management of their environment and natural resources towards poverty alleviation and sustainable development focusing on, among others, mitigating the adverse effects of climate change, loss of biodiversity, drought, land degradation, chemicals, hazardous wastes and other threats to the environment. From 8th to10th September 2009, The Caribbean Hub Needs Prioritization Workshop was held in Georgetown, Guyana. The overall aim of the Workshop was to provide the Caribbean ACP States with the opportunity to assess and update the capacity inventory compiled under the Needs Identification and Prioritization component of the project. 31. During the biennium, UNEP completed the integrated global environmental outlooks (GEOs) of the following urban areas of the insular Caribbean: Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic; and Holguin, Santa Clara and Cienfuegos, in Cuba. At national level, the report on the environmental outlook of Cuba (GEO Cuba) was completed. UNEP also expects to complete the reports on environment outlooks in Haiti and the Dominican Republic in December These reports have been prepared with the support of ministers or secretariats of the environment (national) or municipal (urban environmental outlooks), and technical counterparts selected by these bodies. The reports followed the GEO conceptual framework based on the identification of driving forces, pressures, their impact on the state of the environment, and the present responses and future actions that could be undertaken to improve environmental quality in the spheres of the report. 32. The First SEAF (Sustainable Energy Advisory Facility) Workshop for the promotion of Renewable Energy Use in the Caribbean took place in Jamaica from 16 th to 17 th February 2009, with participation of representatives from Cuba, Dominica, Jamaica, and Suriname. The Inter-American Development Bank, the

12 Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) and the University of Delaware in United States representatives also participated at this meeting. As a result of this workshop, two proposals from Jamaica and Suriname were submitted for the consideration of SEAF Secretariat in May In order to facilitate the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in the Caribbean, a process was begun for the preparation of a Regional Project UNEP / GEF to support the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety through the establishment of efficient, transparent, operable and sustainable National Biosafety Frameworks for Caribbean subregion countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. The project will support activities at regional and national level in each of the participating countries. 34. In the framework of the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV) established in UNEP headquarters, various symposiums, and workshops about cleaner fuels have been carried out. Additionally, dissemination of information and training will begin on the topic during the first workshop for the Caribbean to be held in Jamaica at the end of 2009, or possibly at the beginning of In an effort to provide updated, scientifically-based information pertinent to our region and available to decision-makers and relevant sectors, UNEP supported the development of assessment activities related to vulnerability and data collection for the implementation of actions leading to adaptation to climate change, which were incorporated to publications dedicated to two sub-regions with high vulnerability in the region, and among which we can mention: Climate Change in the Caribbean and the Challenges of Adaptation, 2008 which was prepared by the Secretariat of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), and CATHALAC. This report was launched during the 14 th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Poznan, Poland in December Also on the subject of evaluations, a project is underway in the region for the integration of climate change and ecosystem factors in risk assessment and associated planning processes. This project is located initially in the Caribbean, specifically in Jamaica, as a case study with the possibility of replication in the region. 37. Regarding the subject of sustainable consumption and production at subregional level, relevant entities of the Caribbean gathered in September 2008, to review the Subregional Action Plan, where a communication was drafted for the Ministers. In this framework, UNEP developed and initiated the Information Network on SCP for Latin America and the Caribbean, available in Spanish, English and Portuguese for the entire region. A series of trainings to train technical focal points of the countries have been carried out to allow for the appropriate use of this tool. The Network was officially launched at the Fifth Meeting of the Council of Government Experts in SCP. The network s site is 10

13 Additionally, a network is also being developed for the Caribbean, in the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute CEHI in St. Lucia. 38. In order to respond to the special needs of some of the insular countries, the Caribbean SIDS Programme has added a component based on a special focus. Under this component, activities in Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba and the Dominican Republic were continued. The activity in Jamaica focuses on the rehabilitation of the coastline which was considerably damaged during the last hurricane season. In the case of Haiti, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, on the basis of the Trinational Policy Agreement made by the governments of these countries, implementation of the Demarcation and Establishment in the Caribbean Biological Corridor (CBC) Project will start: as a framework for the Conservation of Biodiversity, Environmental Rehabilitation and the Development of Livelihood Options in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. 39. In October 2008, UNEP designated an officer to support Haiti, focusing on the Regeneration of Ecosystems Initiative in this country, which deals with the restoration of mountainous ecosystems, and coastal areas in which the main issues are deforestation and unsustainable agricultural practices that result in soil erosion, reduction in soil fertility, land sliding and catastrophic flooding in vulnerable cities. The long-term result (10-20 years) of the Initiative will be the reduction of poverty and vulnerability to disasters, through ecosystem restoration, and the creation of means of subsistence based on the sustainable management of natural resources. The initiative is currently in its preparatory phase ( ), during which a long-term integrated programme is being developed for the restoration of the ecosystems to reduce poverty and disaster risks, and sources of funds are being secured. 40. Activities of the Montreal Protocol Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP). The Caribbean SIDS CAP is a combination of projects and initiatives to achieve this goal and build capacity at the national, regional and collective levels with the aim of assisting the Contracting Parties to fulfil and maintain compliance with the Montreal Protocol. The following activities are included: a. Montreal Protocol Compliance Assistance Programme. The CAP provides continuous support to all Caribbean SIDS on management of compliance of the Protocol and presentation of reports on annual data requirements to the Secretariat to the Multilateral and Ozone Fund. UNEP provided training and capacity building of ozone officers and other key national stakeholders on the management and preparation of the annual reports required by the Secretariat of the Montreal Protocol. The Caribbean SIDS have achieved 100 per cent compliance for data reporting requirements. With regard to the 2008 database, more than 85 per cent of the SIDS have eliminated the use of CFC, in compliance with the mandate of the Montreal Protocol. b. Exchange among Networks. The main objective is to build capacities of the national ozone workers and prepare and implement strategies to deal with the emerging issues such as favourable technologies for the ozone layer, the need for new skills, illegal trade of ODS, alternative technologies to using methylbromide, CFC inhalers and the trade of ODS technologies that

14 contribute to ODS dependence. Since 2008, four meetings of the network were held in which the Caribbean countries participated. c. Development and implementation of national Montreal Protocol policies and legislation. The CAP provided support to the Caribbean SIDS on reviews and development of national legislations and in particular, the establishment of licences to control the trade in ODS. This support is provided through national and regional policy workshops and, where necessary, through special assistance and resources to countries that are at risk of non compliance or those that are fully non compliant. d. Support for Country-specific Policy and Legislative Compliance with the Montreal Protocol. With this goal in mind, support was given to Haiti, Guyana and Barbados. Ten (10) SIDS have established an informal information exchange system for the trafficking of ODS with countries of Asia Pacific for provisional approval of ODS freight before reaching to the respective countries. A training course was also held for the national partners on the implementation of ODS licensing system in Dominica, Belize and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. All the countries received assistance towards maintaining compliance. With regard to the 2007 and 2008, reports on compliance with the Protocol, the Ozone Officers Network of the English-speaking Caribbean were the first to complete all the data required by the Ozone Secretariat. e. Technological support and capacity-building at the national and regional levels. UNEP coordinates the transfer of the best available technology to support the sustainable compliance and transition of ozone-friendly technologies through a combination of national and sub-regional workshops, targeting both the private and public sectors. Special attention is paid to the air-conditioning and refrigeration as this sector is the largest user of ozone depleting substances in the Caribbean SIDS. Additional regional workshops to facilitate the creation of capacities for adaptation to technologies in the longterm were held in Trinidad and Tobago 2008 (8 countries), Grenada 2009 (14 countries). Cuba and the Dominican Republic participated in similar workshops in Argentina and Colombia in 2008 and 2009 respectively. In addition, this policy training was included in all the activities of the national project to phase out the use of ODS. f. Training of customs officials, other government workers and the private sector responsible for the trade in ODS and ODS dependent technologies. To date, customs training has been conducted in all Caribbean SIDS and 7 regional workshops have been held since 2003 to address the functions and responsibilities relating to the trade in ODS and the technologies that use ODS. g. Training and awareness-raising in relation to the monitoring and control of illegal trade in commodities traded by virtue of multilateral environmental agreements. In May 2007, a workshop for the English-speaking Caribbean on the management and control of illegal trade was held in Saint Lucia, with particular reference and focus on commodities controlled under the Montreal Protocol. National ozone and customs officials from each of the 14 CARICOM member-states, including Haiti, as well as representatives from regional 12

15 organizations such as the CARICOM Secretariat, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and the Caribbean Customs Laws Enforcement Council also participated in this workshop. The Customs Enforcement Network was established in 2008, and its first meeting was held in 2008 together with the Network of Latin American countries. h. Green Customs Initiatives (GCI) Training. The objective of the Initiative is to strengthen compliance and the enforcement of multilateral environmental agreements through integrated capacity building of customs officials within the framework of the enforcement of these agreements. Workers are trained in various agreements at the same time in order to achieve greater efficiency than if they were trained separately for each agreement. The Green Customs Training Initiative for 2009 will be held in the Customs Training Centre, in November 2009, in the Dominican Republic. This training programme for all small island states will focus on the training of trainers that allows for the nationalization of GCI methodology. i. Support to institutional strengthening and national ODS phase-out action plans. The main objectives of this project are to support increased national capacity, national plans of action for the phasing out of ODS and the implementation and compliance of the Montreal Protocol. The national projects for which UNEP is responsible are: creation of regional workshops and networks; horizontal cooperation; support to training and capacity building; training and technological support of long-term options for refrigerant alternatives; research and development activities, among others. The CAP has undertaken project activities in the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Bahamas, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Surinam. It provides support services for compliance and the work network in Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago. 41. Within the framework of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), so far in this biennium, a series of activities have been carried out. The regional meeting of Latin America and the Caribbean on SAICM was held in Panama City, February 14 th -16 th, 2008 under the patronage of the Governments of Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States of America. The next meeting will be held in March In follow up of this meeting, other meetings of the regional coordination committees were held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 11 th to 13 th June 2008, as well as the SAICM Workshop for the Caribbean region on chemical products and tools for harmful substances, in Bridgetown, Barbados, 10 th to 13 th March The Caribbean Hotel Energy Efficiency Action Programme (CHENACT) supports the Caribbean hotel sector in migrating towards higher energy efficiency and use of renewable energies. This project will also explore the possibilities of obtaining carbon credits for reduced carbon dioxide emissions through the clean development mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Synergies have been created within the CHENACT project and UNEP, so that the participants not only comply with the Kyoto protocol by reducing their carbon dioxide emissions, but also with the

16 Montreal protocol in relation to the phasing out of ozone depleting substances in air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment. 43. UNDP offers advice as well as specialized technical and administrative support to twelve (12) countries in the region which form part of a global project aimed at better and more effective sustainable land management through the development of capacities within government, civil society and other interested groups, and by including these services in established priorities, government planning and the development of environmental strategies and policies. Among the activities that these projects have undertaken during this period are: coordination of workshops training and demonstration of approaches to land rehabilitation, soil conservation, irrigation systems and small-scale agro-forestry for the different stakeholders in the country. DECISION 6 ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS 44. During the last meeting of the Forum of Ministers, the importance of the development and use of environmental indicators was highlighted, taking into account the work and recommendation of the working group and the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). Therefore, a Committee meeting on geo-spatial and land observation systems was held in Panama City, Panama from October ). The work schedule was reviewed, and the structure of the Atlas of Our Changing Environment for Latin America and the Caribbean, one of the main activities of the approved Work Plan for this biennium was agreed to. 45. The Atlas is in its final phase of development as a joint undertaking between UNEP and CATHALAC (Centro de Agua para el Trópico Húmedo para América Latina y el Caribe for its initials in Spanish), with the support of the member states of the TAC. A final version of the Atlas is expected to be ready for printing in December In this context, the following activities were conducted: a) Reactivation of the ILAC discussion forum. b) Workshop on Development of Capacities for Biodiversity Indicators in the Mesoamerican Region: This is a joint cooperation between the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and UNEP, through its Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC). The workshop was part of the activities planned by the WCMC, in fulfilment of the partnership on Biodiveristy Indicators 2010, and contributing to the creation of capacities for producing indicators which facilitate the follow-up of ILAC goals 1.1 to With respect to the Environmental Indicators Working Group (EIWG): The ILAC discussion forum, work was re-activated through the virtual forum ( on 18 May To date, eighteen (18) methodological sheets (3 per week) have been discussed. As a simultaneous discussion tool, virtual tools were used, via sessions in which comments were consolidated and in which country focal points participated. Comments have been received mainly 14

17 from those countries that prepared the ILAC report (Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia and Mexico). The Central American countries are not active participants in the working group with the exception of Costa Rica, the country responsible for the Secretariat of the Working Group. According to the schedule, the work of the virtual forum will be extended and two more sessions for consolidating comments will be held. In addition, ECLAC supports the activities aimed at reviewing the methodological sheets, both those that have been agreed by consensus and those that have not. 48. The progress achieved in the six ILAC thematic areas cover twenty-five goals which are represented by fifty indicators; however some of these indicators pose a problem in their definition, which has made it difficult to arrive at a consensus among the countries. There are currently fifteen Methodological Sheets (30%) on which consensus was reached, twenty-three (46%) without consensus, and twelve (24%) are without data. 49. The following is the level of progress by thematic area: i. Biological Diversity: There are four indicators but no consensus. ii. iii. Management of Water Resources: Nine indicators; a consensus was reached on two (22%), no consensus reached on three (33 %) and four contained no data (44 %). Vulnerability, Human Settlement and Sustainable Cities: 14 indicators; consensus was reached on five (36%), no consensus on eight (57%) and one contained no data (7%). iv. Social topics including health, inequality and poverty: 10 indicators; consensus was reached on two (20%), no consensus on five (50%) and three had no data (30 %). v. Economic aspects including trade, consumption and production patterns: Six indicators; consensus was reached on three (50%), none on two (33%) and one contained no data (17%). vi. Institutional aspects: Seven indicators; consensus was reached on three (43%), no consensus on one (14%) and three contained no data (43%). 50. The meeting of the Environmental Indicators Working Group was held in Santo Domingo de Heredia, Costa Rica from August The work sessions focussed on discussing the twenty-three indicators on which no consensus had been reached. By the end of the meeting a consensus was reached on seventeen of the indicators discussed, four were eliminated, two were kept without consensus and seven new indicators were proposed. Therefore, the EIWG will present to the Forum of Ministers, a total of 31 ILAC indicators, with their methodological sheets, on which consensus was reached. One of the indicators is synergetic, in the sense that it allows for the measurement of two goals. Methodological sheets were prepared for five of the twelve indicators for which this was lacking. The seven remaining indicators have difficulties with respect to the availability of viable and necessary statistical data for their construction.

18 51. The following conclusions are worthy of note: The need to review the formulation of certain goals and the pertinence of some indicators with respect to these goals. The absence of a national statistics system in the countries renders the construction of ILAC indicators difficult. The need to prepare an ILAC regional report on the 7 years since its establishment, with as much national data as possible. 52. The convening of a joint ECLAC/UNEP workshop was also planned for Santiago, Chile in September 2009 entitled Construction of Environmental Indicators (ILAC/MDG7) in Latin American countries. 53. The EIWG, together with ECLAC s Statistics Division, is reviewing the relevance of the proposed indicators for measuring goals. Instances in which the proposed indicators do not reflect the goal to be measured have been detected. EIWG expects to formulate a concrete proposal to improve the use of indicators to follow-up on the ILAC initiative. 54. During the biennium, UNEP provided technical support for the preparation of ILAC reports at the national level in Peru (launched May 2008, Panama and Uruguay. It is expected that Panama, Cuba and Uruguay will complete their national reports before the next meeting of the Forum. UNEP and ECLAC prepared project proposals during this biennium, without obtaining the financial support required for their implementation. The projects formulated are aimed at improving national capacities to implement a system of ILAC indicators in Latin America and the Caribbean. 55. With regard to the Integrated Environmental Assessments of the Global Environment Outlook (GEO), UNEP provided technical support to begin the GEO processes at the national level in Panama, Dominican Republic, Chile and Guatemala. Follow-up to the reports which initiated in the previous biennium will continue in Venezuela, Belize and Haiti. 56. The GEO Mercosur, GEO Amazon, GEO Sao Paolo Health reports have been completed at the sub-regional level. A report on the state of the environment on the Titicaca watershed (GEO Titicaca) is being prepared. 57. At regional level, the preparation of the third report on the outlook for the environment in Latin America and the Caribbean (GEO LAC 2009) will continue and is expected to be completed in December Technical support was provided at the national level for the urban environmental outlooks in the cities of Canelones, River, Colonia (Uruguay); Trujillo (Peru); Puerto Montt (Chile) and Quito (Ecuador). Work will continue on the GEO city reports for Georgetown (Guyana) and Córdoba (Argentina). At the same time, the following GEO cities processes were completed during this biennium (January 2008 to August 2009): Cartagena (Colombia), Chiclayo (Peru), Loja and Esmeraldas (Ecuador), Rosario (Argentina), Santa Clara, Cienfuegos, Holguín (Cuba), Guatemala City (Guatemala), El Salvador City (El 16

19 Salvador), Cobija and El Alto (Bolivia), Querétaro and Playa del Carmen (Mexico). 59. ECLAC continues to provide support for the strengthening and consolidation of environmental indicators and geo-spatial information as well as systems for Earth observation, and collaboration in the development of reports such as GEO Mercosur and GEO LAC. 60. Pursuant to the agreement between agencies to generate a progress report on the Millenium Development Goal (MDG) 7, ECLAC assumed responsibility for its coordination, making a preliminary preparation since late 2008 and an effort to incorporate knowledge in coordination and inputs generated by the different agencies involved. Interdivisional collaboration with the interior of ECLAC, was able to include issues, environmental statistics and indicators (ILAC-MDGs) referring to advances in areas such as natural resources (energy and water) and sustainable development. It includes chapters on the socioeconomic context and the new climate change scenario and the treatment of topics such as conservation of Biological Diversity (as target), the Sustainable Management of Water resources (as goal), the vulnerability in human settlements (items disaster) and sustainable cities (as complementary) as well as social issues (such as access goals for drinking water and basic sanitation and slums). 61. ECLAC has implemented courses, seminars and conferences in support of environmental issues like the economy and fiscal policy related to environmental issues, trade (related to the analysis of classifications of goods and services and export profile linked to environmentally sensitive industries) and the generation of statistics and environmental indicators. 62. Additionally, a number of publications have been implemented in the form of methodological guidelines related to strategic environmental assessments, creation of indicators/indexes of sustainable development and reports of studies carried out on the economics of climate change. DECISION 7 ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION 63. Within the framework of this Decision, the Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean agreed to incorporate a regional network of authorities responsible for atmospheric pollution, to carry out technical exchanges and promote capacity building, as well as assess options for reducing air pollution during the period. 64. UNEP, with the support of the Global Atmospheric Pollution Forum, organized the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Network on Air Pollution in Latin America and the Caribbean, which was held in Panama City in March Antigua and Barbuda, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay participated in this seminar, in which government representatives analyzed topics such as: regional and global trends in air pollution, its impact on health, the needs for the Latin America and Caribbean region, the transport sector and air pollution, bio-

20 mass burning, among other topics. This subsequently led to intervention and discussion by representatives of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, which defined a series of priority actions to be put into practice by the Network, with the support of UNEP and the Global Forum. 65. A workshop regarding the implementation of co-benefits as a tool for the reduction of air pollution will be held in October of this year. Following the Intergovernmental Meeting and the planned activities for the current year, a report on the functioning and progress of the network will be presented to the XVII Meeting of the Forum of Ministers for its consideration. DECISION 8 BETTER FUEL FOR A BETTER QUALITY LIFE 66. In this decision, the Ministers of the Environment confirmed the importance of this topic at the last meeting of the Minsters of the Forum. Many countries of the region, such as Colombia, suffer from high levels of air pollution due to pollution emitted by vehicles. 67. The Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV), at UNEP headquarters, is the global initiative for promoting clean fuel and cleaner vehicles in developing countries and those in transition, and provide technical, financial and training support in the development of policies to fulfil the global objectives of clean fuel and vehicles. This partnership brings together more than 110 organizations including governments, the private sector (petroleum and vehicle industries), civil society and international organizations dedicated to cleaner air and reduction of the emissions of greenhouse gases by vehicles. Initiatives are already underway in Chile, Paraguay, Mexico and Colombia, with the support of the PVFC, and symposiums and workshops on cleaner fuel have been conducted. A workshop will be held in December in Chile to develop mechanisms to provide incentives for vehicles with low or zero emission. 68. Additionally, dissemination of information and training will begin on the topic during the first workshop for the Caribbean to be held in Jamaica at the end of 2009, or possibly at the beginning of As with other advances on this topic, the Regional Network of authorities responsible for air pollution was created. This network will contribute to the development and implementation of policies and mechanisms to help solve the problem of pollution in Latin America and the Caribbean. DECISION 9 NATURAL PROTECTED AREAS 70. During the last Ministers meeting, the importance of the work carried out by the Latin American Technical Cooperation Network on National Parks and other Protected Areas and Wildlife as a mechanism for regional cooperation and integration, was recognized. 18