The Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean will mark its 40th anniversary with a special session in Costa Rica on January 27 and 28, 2022. The meeting will strengthen regional cooperation in the face of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
The special session, hosted in an hybrid format —virtually and in person— will be a space to discuss the future and the role of this regional political space, in the context of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), which acts as the Forum’s Secretariat from its Regional Office in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Forum of Ministers of the Environment is currently promoting solutions to important regional challenges: the progressive closure of dumpsites, the finance mechanisms for climate action and forests protection, the advancement of circularity, air-quality monitoring, among others.
The forthcoming session will address ways to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the context of post-COVID-19 economic and social recovery and will discuss how to strengthen partnerships and financing of environmental action.
“The Forum of Ministers has contributed to close the gap between regional and global environmental agendas. It has been key in elevating the voice of Latin American and Caribbean nations in global platforms and in translating scientific progress into concrete policies that have strengthened the environmental governance in the last 40 years,” said Jacqueline Álvarez, UNEP Regional Director in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean is the oldest and most relevant cooperation body for environmental authorities in the region. Its first meeting took place in Mexico City in 1982 and since 1985 it has held biennial meetings, each chaired by a country from the region. The Government of Costa Rica holds the current presidency of the body.
The special session will also provide the opportunity to review regional perspectives to contribute to the resumed session of the Fifth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2), which will take place from February 28 to March 2, 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya.
