Second Inter-American meeting of ministers and high-level authorities on sustainable development

Following-up on a mandate from the heads of state and government of the Americas from the Fifth Summit of the Americas, on January 26th member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) officially convened the Second Inter-American Meeting of Ministers and High Level Authorities on Sustainable Development. This meeting, supported by the OAS Department of Sustainable Development (DSD) will be hosted by the Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo.

Since the first Inter-American Meeting of Ministers and High-Level Authorities on Sustainable Development in 2006, the 34 OAS member states have been working with the DSD in a focused and clear cooperative agenda inspired by the Declaration of Santa Cruz + 10 and the Inter-American Program on Sustainable Development. However, countries have decided that it is time to build on accomplishments to date and move towards advancing in addressing emerging environmental challenges in the region.

The upcoming ministerial meeting is the next milestone of progress in the western hemisphere’s environmental agenda. During the preparatory process, the DSD will work closely with governments, technical experts, civil society organizations and the private sector to set out pecific, tangible and cooperative measures that can make a difference in the regions’ environmental performance. The OAS welcomes and encourages participation of the environmental community in this process.