During this session, the presenters discussed the use of international agreements to advance environmental justice in Europe and Central Asia and in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Aarhus Convention came into effect in 2001, and specifically applies to the 40 countries. It is not an environmental treaty per se, and does not provide classic environmental protection because it does not protect a particular part of the environment. Instead, it links procedural rights to a human right. The Escazú Agreement was signed in March 2018 after a six-year negotiation process. This agreement specifically applies to Latin America and the Caribbean, where conflicts over natural resources are increasing. Four environmental defenders are killed every week, which is part of the reason for creating the agreement. The agreement intends to increase the number of national laws addressing matters regarding environmental protection. Participants explored challenges with these two agreements, including implementation gaps and a potential excess of agreements, but also opportunities, such as expansion of a similar agreement to Africa.
Read the full summary for this working session.
Additional Resources:
The Escazú Convention: A Historic Step Forward for Environmental Rights in Latin America and the Caribbean
