Andina

Peru signs landmark environmental treaty during UN General Assembly

15:21 | New York (U.S.), Sep. 27.

Peru signed Latin America and the Caribbean's first agreement to consolidate environmental democracy during a ceremony in New York City within the framework of the Climate Week and 73rd United Nations General Assembly.

The Escazu Agreement is the short name of the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean.

After the signing, Peruvian Environment Minister Fabiola Muñoz said that the treaty provides an opportunity to strengthen regional ties on an important and critical issue like transparency in environmental matters.

Additionally, she continued, the legal instrument can provide the most vulnerable populations with effective access to information and promote environmental justice.

The official affirmed Peru is committed to fighting corruption and expressed the belief that transparency —within the environment sector— is essential.


The minister noted the efforts undertaken over the past six years to get this deal done, including those of the Peruvian State and different countries, as well as civil society and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), which backed the entire process.

In this sense, Muñoz mentioned previous environment ministers, civil society and enterprises, who were present in the discussion process, and whose contributions resulted in the signing by 12 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean, including Peru.

The ceremony took place at the Treaty Event Area in the building of the UN General Assembly.

The Escazu Agreement was adopted last March 4 in the Municipality of Escazu in Costa Rica.

(END) NDP/RRC/RMB/MVB

Published: 9/27/2018