UNITED NATIONS, CMC – The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says the region needs to take a step forward to sustainably manage its natural resources and effectively counteract the forces that are leading to environmental degradation.
UNEP notes that the greatest challenge in the region is to guarantee the development of environmental strategies, the creation of bodies specialized in the establishment of institutional and legal frameworks, and the ratification of international conventions.
UNEP, which will soon release a report entitled “Latin America and the Caribbean: Environment Outlook? GEO LAC 3,” said it highlights the positive efforts already being carried out to encourage the incorporation of alternative fuel sources.
The report points to the “urgent necessity” of achieving consensus “that effectively promotes sustainable development, integrates environmental considerations and the value of ecosystems and environmental services into development policy” in the run-up to the Rio+20 meeting to be held in Brazil in 2012.
According to the study, some countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have advanced in the transition process towards an environmentally sustainable economy.
It cites the experiences of Brazil, a world leader in recycling, with a national industry employing nearly 170,000 people, and the Caribbean Hotel Energy Action Programme, which it says encourages the implementation of energy-efficiency practices in the tourism sector.
“Yet, in spite of these advances, the environment in the region does not receive the level of priority it deserves,” the report said.
In addition to the limited existence of comprehensive and cross-cutting environmental policies, the GEO LAC 3 report emphasises the need to improve action, and coordination between the countries of the region.
It also notes the importance of being able to rely on quality data concerning the state of the environment, and to increase the level of investment for achieving environmental and social sustainability, essential for the continued development in the region.
According to the study, greater prosperity and development in the region depends on the joint efforts of national and local governments, citizens and civil society organizations, which it says must work together in a consensual manner to resolve the environmental challenges facing Latin America and the Caribbean.
“The growing interest and willingness to tackle environmental themes is evident in the agendas of different sectors, national and local governments, civil society and business organizations and universities and research institutes,” the report said.
It says climate change, loss of biological diversity, environmental degradation, emergencies caused by natural disasters, water scarcity and accelerated urbanisation that the region is experiencing “make it necessary to make urgent and decisive changes in environmental management.”
UNEP says regional countries face the challenge of designing and implementing efficient strategies for sustainable water use.
“Even though the region as a whole contains a great quantity of water, disparities are present within a single country, with areas where critical water shortages exist and where the inhabitants of the Caribbean islands have the greatest limitations on the availability of fresh water.
“This situation is compounded by the fact that there is a notable increase in water demand, due to human consumption, as well as, among other factors, an increase in the extent of irrigated agriculture,” the report said.
@only: you are such an idiot.
I am in.
Why doesn’t the UN go mind its own business and not every one elses (countries)?
Answer: Because it is a globalist organization that plans to rule the world.
Now I know why there were those signs that said “get us out of the UN.”