Political engagement is essential for UNEP to enhance preparedness to environmental disasters and mainstream the environment in response and recovery efforts.
The Regional Environment and Emergency Preparedness Network is bringing together 10 countries of the region - Belize, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Haiti, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago – to raise awareness of the response services UNEP can provide, facilitate capacity building for preparedness and risk reduction, create synergies, exchange best practices and avoid duplications by incorporating countries civil protection and disaster management agencies.
The Network was born out of a recommendation by the inter-sessional meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment in 2018, noting that many governments are unaware of UNEP response services, including crisis waste management, dump fire response, agrochemical spill management and the effects of the environmental dimensions of emergencies on crisis-affected people, pointing towards the need for more partnerships in the region.
