Photo: Vanessa Figueroa-Wade, Policy Coordinator at MSDCCDRM

by Kristen Ku

BELIZE CITY, Mon. Apr. 24, 2023

Belize is participating in the second Conference of the Parties (COP2) of the Escazu Agreement in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The conference for the agreement, which represents the Right to Accessing Information, Public Participation, and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean, was held on April 19 to 21, and sent to represent Belize was Mrs. Vanessa Figueroa-Wade, policy coordinator for the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change, and Disaster Risk Management (MSDCCDRM).

After ratifying the agreement in Belize earlier this year, MSDCCDRM has recognized the significance that this treaty has not only in Belize but in the region itself, as they explained on their Facebook page last Friday.

“The Escazu Agreement is the first binding treaty on environmental matters of the countries of #LatinAmerica and the #Caribbean. It fundamentally upholds the values of democracy in the region, fosters more inclusive community-oriented actions, and lays the foundation for improved policy and decision-making, while preserving the natural heritage of the region and protecting the rights and health of people, now and in the future,” stated the Ministry’s Facebook post.

So far 15 countries have signed onto the recently drafted Escazu Agreement: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Grenada, Guyana, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Uruguay.

Notably, Belize, Chile, and Grenada were congratulated and awarded for their recent move to become parties to the agreement.

Amongst this group, there were additional guests, including authorities from the region, representatives of international and regional organizations, and other stakeholders. Approximately 600 were present.

Items on the agenda for the conference included the election of seven members of the Committee to Support the Implementation and Compliance of the Treaty. Among the candidates were persons representing the regions of America and Mexico, the English-speaking Caribbean, and South America.

Ultimately, the seven persons selected were “Guillermo Eduardo Acuña (from Chile); Mariana Blengio Valdés (Uruguay); Rita Leonette Joseph-Olivetti (Grenada); Patricia Madrigal Cordero (Costa Rica); Andrés María Napoli (Argentina); Carole Denise Angela Stephens (Jamaica); and Félix Wing Solís (Panama),” according to a press release issued by the United Nations following the conference.

Unfortunately, according to Hon. Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, Belize, though present, did not get the privilege of voting.

“Belize signed on or ratified a little bit within the 90 days which was required for us to have ratified the agreement and to be able to vote in the selection of that committee. So, even though we wanted to put in our contribution in selecting the seven members from ten that were selected, that were put out on the board for nomination, ours was not included because we ratified too late,” shared Minister Habet.

There were additional discussions of the human rights defenders in environmental matters as well as a follow-up on financial arrangements and a report of the Voluntary Fund, to which Mexico and Chile donated a generous contribution.

Speaking towards the closing of the COP2, were a handful of important figures of the countries present, including José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary of ECLAC; Bishnu Tulsie, elected representative of the public from Saint Lucia; and Ambassador Pablo Tetamanti, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Deputy Foreign Minister) of Argentina.

Each speaker highlighted the significance, necessity, and relevance of the history-making move embodied by the Escazu Agreement, and acknowledged the countries who are parties to this agreement.

Finally, as the host, Argentina also presented a lengthy declaration, called the “Buenos Aires Declaration,” which participating countries signed to indicate their commitment to enforce the treaty’s rights, and the promotion of human rights and sustainable development.

The third Conference of Parties (COP3) of the Escazu Agreement is scheduled to take place on April 22-24, 2024 in Santiago, Chile.