Regional Office for L. America & the Caribbean (ROLAC)
Regional Strategy
Over
500 million people live in Latin America
and the Caribbean, in an area that covers
40% of the earth's surface and possesses
unique and globally important biodiversity,
water resources, land and ocean reserves.In
2002, 224 million people representing
almost 45% of the entire population, were
living in poverty and 92.8 million (18.6%)
were in abject poverty? (ECLAC, 2003).
Deforestation, water scarcity and soil
degradation in combination with important
problems afflicting the urban environment
are integral part of this highly vulnerable
scenario.UNEP provides support to the
governments of the region in seeking solutions
for their environmental problems both
nationally and regionally. UNEP serves
as the Secretariat for the Forum of Ministers
of the Environment of LAC, which has been
consolidated into a platform for analysis
and discussion and an effective mechanism
in the promotion of regional co-operation
regarding environmental and sustainable
development issues.
The formulation and adoption of the Latin
American and Caribbean Initiative on Sustainable
Development, included as the regional
priority in the Johannesburg Plan of implementation,
is an important milestone in the work
of the Forum. This Initiative will form
the basis for the focusing of UNEP's work
in the Region.The UNEP strategy in the
region will be carried out through partnerships
with UN and other organisations and will
be based on the following key areas:
i) Promote intergovernmental policy dialogue:
Strengthening of the Forum of Ministers,
regional delivery and follow-up of WSSD
Plan of Implementation, support organisation
of inter-ministerial meetings and promote
the regional contributions to global political
processes such as the Barbados Plan of
Action.
ii) Implement priority global, regional
and national environmental programmes:
Ecosystem services, integration of the
principles of sustainable development
into national policies, urban environmental
management, environmental assessment and
indicators, emerging issues and early
warning.
iii) Promote the involvement of major
civil society groups: Outreach to civil
society organisations, parliamentarians
and judges, undertake environmental training
and education, increase awareness of environmental
issues through inter alia, special environmental
events.
iv) Strengthen targeted sub-regional implementation
activities: Support the delivery of UNEP
programmes based on national and sub-regional
needs and strategic objectives and develop
sub-regional plans of co-operation with
sub-regional bodies in the Andean, Caribbean,
Central American Regions as well as the
Southern Cone.
