Declaration: Global Framework on Climate Services

The African Union Commission (AUC), African regional economic communities and Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) have declared their support for the Global Framework on Climate Services (GFCS), a UN initiative spearheaded by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) which aims to strengthen and expand the provision of climate services.

The Addis Ababa Declaration of Support for the Global Framework on Climate (GFCS) recognizes that the GFCS will, among other things:
- enable better management of the risks of climate variability and change;
- help African institutions gain better access to knowledge and technologies for climate monitoring, prediction and projection; and
- facilitate synergies and harmonization between existing and upcoming climate-related projects in Africa.

OAS: Regional Instrument on Rio Principle 10?

A public dialogue organized by the Organization of American States (OAS) on governance and public participation in sustainable development decision-making included extensive discussion of a proposal to seek a commitment at UNCSD (Rio+20) for a regional instrument to implement of the Rio Declaration's Principle 10. Members of a panel agreed that, apart from a few examples such as Mexican laws on access to information and public participation, most Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries have neither fully implemented Principle 10 nor the OAS' own 1999 Inter-American Strategy for the Promotion of Public Participation in Decision-Making for Sustainable Development (ISP).

Women and Rio+20

Groupings of Latin American and Caribbean, African, Arab and French Women have published statements on UNCSD (Rio+20) expressing, among other things, concern with the concept of “green economy,” and underlining that its use could result in economic actors dominating and determining sustainable development policies.

Latin American and Caribbean
African
Arab
French

Latin America and Caribbean Inputs to Rio+20

The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Regional Preparatory Meeting for UNCSD (Rio+20) convened from 7-9 September in Santiago (Chile) and assessed progress since the 1992 Earth Summit, discussed the proposed themes for Rio+20 and adopted a set of conclusions that will be submitted to the Rio+20 Preparatory Committee as inputs for the draft negotiating document for the Conference.

ACP Ministers Consider Agreement with EU

As fisheries remain one of the key contentious issues for Pacific states to reach an agreement on an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union; ministers from the bloc of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States met last week in Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) to finalize positions, including market access offers, and arrangements in preparation for the next round of negotiations in November 2011. As the meeting concluded, eight Pacific ACP states had finalized their offers.

The EU has been negotiating EPAs with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States since September 2002. So far, only negotiations with the Caribbean region have reached a comprehensive agreement.

PIFS Press Release

UNESCO/ICSU Workshop for Latin America and the Caribbean

This Science and Technology Workshop was convened from 2-5 August to give scientists and engineers from the region the opportunity to prepare joint positions and inputs for the regional preparatory processes to UNCSD (Rio+20) and to discuss views with policy makers and other key actors. Topics included:  priority issues for Rio+20; the link between science, education and policy and how to strengthen this link in order to ensure early detection of emerging crises and quick response actions; the needs of science and technology in the region, in order to contribute best to sustainable development in the region and to international endeavours of sustainability science; and how science and engineering can contribute to a green economy.
The outcome of the workshop will be presented at the Latin America and the Caribbean Intergovernmental Regional Preparatory Meeting for Rio+20, which will take place from 7-9 September 2011, in Santiago (Chile).

CARICOM: UNFCCC and UNCSD (Rio+20)

During the 32nd Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, participants discussed priority issues for the Community, including human and social development issues such as climate change, sustainable development, health, external trade and security issues.

On climate change, it was agreed to establish a team of experts to draft a regional plan of action to guide regional negotiators who will participate in UNFCCC/COP-17. They further requested that the postponed 3rd Joint Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development and the Council for Trade and Economic Development take place as soon as possible, in order to facilitate work on the regional plan of action, as well as on the Implementation Plan for the Regional Climate Change Strategic Framework.

On sustainable development, participants recognized the importance of the upcoming UNCSD (Rio+20) and urged the Community to continue its preparations and consolidate a CARICOM position within the framework of the SIDS platform.

CARICOM Press Release 
Meeting Webpage

Ramsar Implementation in Caribbean

The second meeting of the Caribbean Wetlands Initiative discussed the region's implementation of the Ramsar Convention, and resulted in agreement on activities and material to be presented and disseminated during the upcoming Pan-American meeting scheduled to take place in December and Ramsar COP-11 from 19-26 June, 2012 in Bucharest (Romania).

Ramsar Press Release

UNCSD (Rio+20): Subregional Preparation

The Subregional Preparatory Meeting for the Caribbean convened at Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Headquarters in Georgetown (Guyana) to discuss creating a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, the need for a blue economy addressing oceans and related issues, the institutional framework for sustainable development (IFSD), and emerging issues and partnerships.

Participants noted that more work needs to be done and very little time remains before Rio+20. They heard presentations on and discussed a SIDS-focused paper on the “Green Economy in SIDS,” a proposed framework for a paper on IFSD, and a paper on existing coordinating mechanisms in the Caribbean.

In closing, suggestions were made to use the format of regional task force mechanisms to analyze documents and guide national preparations for Rio+20. One participant noted the importance of gathering tools for achieving sustainability and increasing resilience, with others stressing the need for greater engagement in more strategic discussions and greater coordination.

IISD RS Coverage of the Meeting

OAS/41st GA: Environment-related Resolutions

The 41st regular session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States, meeting from 5-7 June, in San Salvador (El Salvador) adopted Resolution 2644* on sustainable development, including welcoming UNCSD (Rio+20) and reiterating the full commitment of all countries in the region to its success. Furthermore, Resolution 2649** addresses climate change, Resolution 223*** reaffirms commitment to negotiations on the Draft American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and Resolution 2691**** supports the work of the Caribbean Sea Commission

See the document: "Declarations and Resolutions Adopted by the General Assembly"

*118-121
**134-137
***223-224
****284-285

LAC: SAICM-3

The 3rd Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) regional meeting on the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) met in Panama City (Panama) on 2-3 June and adopted five resolutions on: financing SAICM implementation; the health sector strategy; lead in paint; nanotechnology and manufactured nanomaterials; and hazardous substances within the lifecycle of electrical and electronic products.

IISD RS LARC coverage of the meeting

International SIDS Conference

The Australian Government and the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)hosted a major  conference in Apia (Samoa) on “Lessons for Future Action – Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in Small Island Developing States”, with over 120 participants from the Pacific, Caribbean and Indian Oceans. 28 Island countries and 14 international and regional organisations were represented.  

More on the conference: http://www.sprep.org/article/news_detail.asp?id=931

The week culminated with a signing of a landmark MOU between SPREP and the 5Cs (Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre) to expand and strengthen joint work between the organisations and the Pacific and Caribbean regions on climate change.

More on on the MOU: http://www.sprep.org/article/news_detail.asp?id=932
 

MEA Project: African, Caribbean and Pacific

The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs) Project has launched a dedicated project website that features links to regional hubs, updates on project activities, information on upcoming events and related publications in the interest of enhancing the capacity of ACP countries to implement MEAs and honor related commitments.[ACP MEAs Website]

CARICOM: 22nd Intersessional

The Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community issued a Communiqué, which includes a section on climate change priorities for the region. The Communiqué

UN Agencies: Preparation of UNCSD Report on Latin America and Caribbean

Representatives of UN agencies met from 8-9 February  under the auspices of the UN Regional Coordination Mechanism for Latin America and the Caribbean, and agreed to work together on preparations for UNCSD (Rio+20). The agencies will produce an inter-agency document to assess progress and challenges in terms of sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean, 20 years after the the Rio Earth Summit. The report will include strategic guidelines to improve production and consumption patterns, with a view to moving towards economies based on sustainable development and the eradication of poverty.
Press Release

UNDP: Biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean

A new UNDP report titled "Latin America and the Caribbean: A Biodiversity Superpower" aims to inform policy-makers and businesses  about the economic risks and opportunities of undertaking productive activities that impact on and are influenced by biodiversity and ecosystem services. It is a tool to assist governments and stakeholders in analyzing the role of ecosystem services in order to incorporate these services into economic planning, policy and investment at the sectoral level.