News

Grant Funding for Short-Term Small-Scale Integrated Water Resources and Wastewater Management (IWWM) Projects in the Caribbean The Global Water Partnership- Caribbean (GWP-C) in collaboration with the UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat has re-opened the Call for Concept Notes for the implementatio

New Providence, THE BAHAMAS – From destructive hurricanes, storm surges and flooding to salt intrusion in water resources and other development threats, East Grand Bahama (EGB) has endured its share of challenges over the years. Yet, the willpower of its people to rebound has remained strong.

#RestorationBeginsWithMe  The United Nations (UN) has declared 2021-2030 as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, in a rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems around the world. Led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the UN Decade is building a strong, broad-based global movement to ramp up restoration and put the world on track for a sustainable future.

On World Water Day 2021, the GEF CReW+ wants to highlight the multidimensional values of wastewater. If you want to learn more about the value of wastewater in the Wider Caribbean Region, join the CReW+ Academy. “Wastewater is a byproduct of human activity. Like most byproducts, it can have some sort of a second life.

“As we celebrate World Water Day on 22 March 2021, the Cartagena Convention Secretariat is pleased with the new mandate that Scientific and Technical Experts from the Wider Caribbean Region have recommended for inclusion in the 2021/2022 work programme of the Secretariat.

Applications are now open for the 2nd UNEP-ICRI small grants programme 2021 to support the conservation and restoration of coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass.

The GEF CReW+ Project held its Inception Meeting  The Caribbean Region faces many challenges in the water and sanitation sector. About 70% of the region’s population lacks access to safely managed sanitation services, implying severe environmental and public health risks. 

Collaboration under the United Nations Development Programme/Global Environment Facility (UNDP/GEF) Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem (CLME+) Project  

During the 2019/2020 biennium, the UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat has been fortunate to welcome 8 young, bright minds to its Internship Programme. Hailing from Aruba, China, France, India, Jamaica, Norway and the United Kingdom, these university graduates are connected by their shared interest in environmental science and their desire to make meaningful contributions to sustainable development at all levels.

The United States Coast Guard has conferred on Ms. Carla Bikker the Medal of Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty for her 25 years of dedicated service as Operations Manager, and now newly appointed Director of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO)/ United Nations Environmental Programme's (UNEP) Regional Activity Center (RAC)/Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Information and Training Center (REMPEITC).

The Steering Committee of the UNDP/GEF CLME+ Project “Catalyzing implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems project, Chaired the Government of Panama, convened virtually from 16-18 June 2020.

What do the UNDP/GEF Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+) Project, the Italian-funded Biodiversity for Sustainable Development Project and the Ecosystem-Based Management sub-project in the North-Brazil Shelf all have in common?

The United Nations Environment Programme’s Cartagena Convention Secretariat, as the lead co-executing agency, will be convening the Fourth Regional Project Steering Committee Meeting (RPSC) of the GEF-funded Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystem Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (UNEP GEF IWEco) Project from 1-2 July 2020 through virtual means. The main objectives of the meeting will be to:

Monday, 15 June 2020, marks the 25th Anniversary of RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe.

The Global Environment Facility-funded Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystems Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (GEF IWEco) Project, executed by the Cartagena Convention Secretariat, is thrilled to announce that its "Caribbean Breaking Up With Plastics" video won two major awards in May 2020!     

The health of our oceans and seas is inextricably linked with the health of our planet and all life on earth. Many nationalities, including mine, have a special relationship with the sea. The truth is, the sea has a special relationship with all of us. 

Six months ago, life was what we would have called “normal”; fast-forward to June 2020, in the throes of a global pandemic and recovery efforts- the catchphrases- quarantine, social distancing, masks and stay at home have become the new norm.

The Caribbean Regional Fund for Wastewater Management (GEF CReW+) project will focus on further improving integrated water and wastewater management in the Wider Caribbean.

The theme for World Environment Day, 5 June 2020 is biodiversity — a call to action to combat the accelerating species loss and degradation of the natural world. One million plant and animal species risk extinction, largely due to human activities. Hosted by Colombia, in partnership with Germany, World Environment Day urges us to rethink how our economic systems have evolved and the impact they have on the environment.

Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) has released a Perspectives Paper on “Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic for the Caribbean Water Sector.”

Continue to follow us throughout the month of May to get daily facts about marine mammals in the Wider Caribbean, conservation efforts undertaken in the region through our Marine Biodiversity Protocol (SPAW) and Regional Activity Centre (SPAW-RAC), and how you can play a role in protecting these species.

The availability of a water source is a critical dimension of human security. Clean water is essential for many necessities of life, which include drinking, cooking, sanitation and hygiene.

An unprecedented coalition of over 70 environmental and education experts came together to help parents, students and pupils with a series of lessons called Earth School.  The programme is designed to help them discover and celebrate our connection with nature (https://ed.ted.com/earthschool

UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat participates in the Human Security Joint Programme Community Fair and Launch in Northern Clarendon  

UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat participates in Joint UN Jamaica Programme to build human resilience