The Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean was established in 1982 and is the oldest and most relevant cooperation body for environmental authorities in the region. The Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) hosts the Secretary of this forum.
In January 2022, the Forum celebrated its 40th anniversary, in liaison with the commemorations of the 50th anniversary of the UN Environment Programme. A Special Session in occasion of this anniversary took place on 27-28 January 2022, under the Presidency of the Minister of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica, Mrs. Andrea Meza.
The Forum serves as a platform for the Member States and other stakeholders to contribute regional perspectives to the resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) that was held from 28 February to 2 March 2022, as well as the Special Session of UNEA that marked the 50th anniversary of UNEP on 3-4 March 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Relevant resources, documents and details to the Forum’s related meetings will be published in this webpage.
For details on the meetings and to coordinate the participation of your country, please contact the Forum Secretariat at unep-rolac-forumofministers@un.org.
Bridgetown Declaration, February 2021. [español] [english]
Decisions of the XXII Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean. [español] [english]
Final Report of the XXII Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean. [español] [english]
Background note on regional meetings towards UNEA 5.2 [español] [english]
Report of the First Meeting of High Level Officers of the Forum of Ministers 29-30 September 2021 [español] [english]
Report of the Regional Consultative Meeting for Major Groups in Latin America and the Caribbean, October 18-19 2021. [español] [english]
Report of the Regional Ministerial Consultation, 21 October 2021. [español] [english]
Documents
Civil Society Regional Consultative Meeting
October 18-19, 2021.
- Meeting Report. [español] [english]
- Regional Report of the UNEP Major Group for Children and Youth: Systematization of the First Regional Consultation for Latin America and the Caribbean - The road to UNEA, UNEP@50 and Stockholm+50: what young people expect from governments. [español]
The International Consultation for Major Groups and Stakeholders (MGS) took place on 7-9 September 2021 as part of the MGS’ preparations for UNEP@50 and Stockholm+50, and to advance the development of MGS’ core messages, positions and strategies around specific initiatives such as resolutions, declarations and decisions tabled for UNEA-5.2.
Within this context, UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office hosted on 18-19 October 2022 the Regional Consultative Meeting for Latin American and Caribbean Major Groups, conducted by Lorena Terrazas, Regional Facilitator for UNEP Civil Society. It informed civil society actors on the preparations for UNEP's 50th anniversary (UNEP@50) and the 40th anniversary of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the Stockholm+50 conference. This international meeting, hosted by Sweden on 2-3 June 2022, will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, from which UNEP and contemporary environmental governance emerged.
These consultations were built upon the outcomes of the regional consultations that were held on 29 January 2021, in preparation for the XXII Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of LAC and UN Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.1). Civil society actors, including youth, children, private sector and environmental organizations participated in the meeting and initiated the preparation of a unified statement that will contribute to the discussions of the fifth session of the UNEA5.2.
The Regional Consultation was preceded by a self-organized First Regional Consultation for the Youth of Latin America and the Caribbean, organized by the UNEP-MGCY coordination group for Latin America and the Caribbean. The event named "The road to UNEA, UNEP@50 and Stockholm+50: what young people expect from governments, was held on 15-16 October 2021. A report in Spanish were prepared and can be found in this webpage.
Contacts:
Regional Civil Society Facilitators: Lorena Terrazas (lorena.terrazas@gmail.com) and Joseph Severe (unascadhaiti@gmail.com).