Saint Lucia`s voice being heard at 19th Ministers of the Environment Forum. Castries, Saint Lucia, March 12, 2014 - Saint Lucia`s Minister for Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology Sen. Hon. Dr James Fletcher is representing the island at critical discussions during the 19th Ministers of the Environment Forum currenty underway in Los Cabos, Mexico. The high level meeting has a packed agenda focusing on several pertinent issues including assessment, strengthening and governance of the Forum of Ministers of Environment, Environmental Training Network and the proposed Regional Action Plan on Air Pollution in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Caribbean’s peculiar challenges regarding environmental management and conservation will also be keenly discussed. Intergovernmental consultations carried out regularly in the last two decades by the highest environmental authorities in Latin America and the Caribbean led to the establishment of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment of the region. The sixteen meetings held to date have consolidated the Forum as the most representative and important political gathering on environmental policies and responses with broad consensus at the regional level. A partnership among the participating Governments has been developed and helped to narrow the gap between regional and global environmental agendas. Together with the international institutions that joined the Forum (UNEP, UNDP, ECLAC, IDB and the World Bank) as part of its Inter-Agency Technical Committee (ITC), the Forum has been able to channel international cooperation activities into environmental areas in the region. These international institutions assist both in identifying financial sources for projects and studies and in coordinating rapid and flexible responses to national and regional environmental needs. The Forum has also been successful in improving the participation of Latin American and Caribbean countries in international conferences and multilateral environmental agreements. An example of the significant degree of development achieved is the Latin American and Caribbean Initiative for Sustainable Development (ILAC), the principal output of the regional process that was carried out in preparation for the Summit on Sustainable Development and formed part of the Forum’s 2001-2002 work programme. Minister Fletcher is being accompanied by Sustainable Development and Environment Officer Ms Caroline Eugene. Saint Lucia`s participation at such forums is important to ensure the country`s position on these critical matters receive due attention. The 19th Ministers of the Environment Forum takes place from March 12 – 14, 2014. The first two days are designed for a high level segment for technical officers to prepare various proposals to take to the Ministers on the last two days for their discussion and endorsement.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 15:45:56 +0000
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