GEO-6 Assessment for Latin America and the Caribbean

GEO-6 Regional Assessment for Latin America and the Caribbean

policies and actions that already exist in the region. Yet, what is now required is a shift in thinking to focus on those critical policy entry points and transformative actions that would attend to the most pressing driving forces and environmental pressures in an urgent and integrated way.

1.2 Regional Priorities

While there has been important progress across the LAC region in achieving several of the targets set out under the Millennium Development Goals, the tripartite relationship between sustained economic growth, social inequity and environmental degradation that has characterized the region over the last few decades, remains at the centre of regional development discourse (UNEP 2010a). LAC countries have begun capitalising on the opportunity provided by the Sustainable Development Goals to realign and strengthen their efforts to move towards more sustainable development pathways. The SDGs offer a new framework for the effective mainstreaming of environmental considerations into the economic and social dimensions of development. In the context of the 2030 Agenda, Governments of the region have individually and collectively identified a range of environmental issues that require urgent attention; and there is general congruence, as reflected in strategic development frameworks across the region, on the issues that should receive highest priority (UNEP 2016).

The regional priorities presented below build upon the priority issues identified by regional government representatives and stakeholders at the GEO REIN Conference held in Panama City in May 2015: a) Impacts from climate change and natural hazards, b) Biodiversity and ecosystem services, c) Natural resources and tourism, d) Economic development and Sustainable Consumption and Production, e) Health and environment, f) Land use, land degradation and land planning, g) Environmental governance, h) Environmental information, and i) Communication and public awareness. They also reflect the regional priorities identified through several regional platforms - the Small Island Developing States

(SAMOA Pathway); the Caribbean Community, CARICOM (2015-2019 Strategic Plan); OAS (2015-2030 Inter-American Program on Sustainable Development); CCAD (2015-2020 Regional Environmental Framework Strategy); Andean Community (2012-2016 Andean Environmental Agenda); Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (Amazonian Strategic Cooperation Agenda); Forum of Ministers of Environment of LAC, and MERCOSUR Working Group Nr. 6 on Environment. Last, but not least, they take into account the various aspects of the environmental dimension of the SDGs. The priorities have been grouped in six main focal areas which respond to the main topics covered throughout this assessment: climate change, water resource management, sustainable management of natural resources, environment and health, sustainable consumption and production, and good governance.

1.2.1 Climate change

Climate change remains high on the agenda of every government in LAC because of the impacts that are expected on national economies of the region and the well-being of communities (Figure 1.2.1). Some of the effects of climate change in LAC will include water stress due to reductions in water availability; loss of low-lying areas on account of sea level rise; increased risk of environmental disasters (hurricanes and storms, flooding and droughts); changes in agricultural productivity, loss of biodiversity, and increased incidence of vector- borne diseases.

Effective climate-change policies will depend on the level of transboundary cooperation between countries and the deployment of economic incentive instruments. The current divergence of policies among countries and the lack of regional coordination can hinder efforts, where the impact of the innovations of one country may be diminished by policies of other nations. Policy priorities for the region might consider including cooperation in designing climate- change policies. The other critical intervention point is the need for more effective implementation of policies at the national and sub-national levels.

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