San José (Costa Rica), 21 December 2021.- 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.
“Today, as environmental crises threaten human health and the progress of the fight against poverty, enhancing this platform of cooperation is more important than ever," added Álvarez.
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.
"This forum is a unique space to define which should be our role in the face of environmental planetary crisis and how we can ensure it remains a key platform for new ideas to come to life. A space that helps us improve joint work at the regional level," said Andrea Meza, Minister of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica and current president of the Forum.
“On this occasion, we seek to promote the exchange of experiences, build on the different results of environmental meetings and processes, and generate synergies in the region," Meza added.
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.
Due to the global situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the special session of the Forum will be held in strict compliance with the sanitary and biosecurity measures contemplated by the Ministry of Health of Costa Rica.
For more information:
Visit the website of the special session of the Forum of Ministers to find logistical details and working documents to be published in the coming weeks.
For details of media coverage and interview requests, please contact:
Elisa Vásquez, UNEP Communications Focal Point in Latin America and the Caribbean: elisa.vasquez@un.org
Karla Alfaro, Director of the Department of Institutional Communication, Ministry of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica: kalfaro@minae.go.cr
