Decision 1
Governance of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean

Recognizing the progress made in building a common regional vision and action, as well as highlighting the urgent need for improvements in the organization and functioning of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean, to ensure their role as a regional forum for dialogue and effective presence in the political process and increase the integration and mainstreaming in public policies,
Reaffirming the regional consensus on the value of the Forum as an instrument of political coordination in Latin America and the Caribbean,
Noting the 2012 Caracas Action Plan  of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean Community States (CELAC for its initials in Spanish), which indicates the formation of  a working group to address environmental issues in the region highlight the need to coordinate efforts with the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean to strengthen cooperation, promote the coordination and complementarity of public policy on environmental issues, as well as the creation and implementation of plans, regional plans, policies and common priority areas for sustainable development.
Considering the lessons and experiences related to the institutional development of the Forum of Ministers of Environment  of Latin America and the Caribbean, accumulated over the last 30 years, and the exchange of views on the options presented in document UNEP / LAC-GWG -XVIII / 4.

DECIDE
1.    The Forum of Ministers provides for the creation of a working group, consisting of the board of the Eighteenth  Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean to strengthen cooperation, coordination and complementarity of public policy on environment and for the generation and implementation of common regional policies and plans in priority areas for sustainable development in order to develop a process in consultation with all countries of the region and in close coordination with the troika of CELAC.
2.    Give priority to the political dialogue, in order that the region has more elements to meet the emerging challenges of the global environmental agenda, and the defense of sovereignty over our natural heritage for the construction of sustainable development.  To this end, adopting the necessary measures for the Forum of Ministers, effectively strengthen its presence in global environmental policy processes.
3.    The proposed measures to strengthen the Forum of Ministers of Environment of LAC, referred to in the document UNEP/LAC-GWG-XVIII/4 will be reviewed in consultation with member countries, by the Intersession Committee of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the results of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012 (Rio + 20).
4.    Establecer como un mecanismo adicional del Foro de Ministros, el uso de las tecnologías de comunicación disponibles, para el diálogo y la adopción de acuerdos, que se facilite la realización de sesiones virtuales, que permitan la atención oportuna y cohesionada de la agenda de desarrollo sostenible regional. Establish an additional mechanism of the Forum, the use of communication technologies available for dialogue and the adoption of agreements, which facilitates the accomplishment of virtual meetings, which would allow the opportune and united attention of the agenda of sustainable regional development.
5.    Report to Ministers of the Environment on the proposal that the eighteenth Forum of Environment Ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean is itself the First Meeting of Ministers of Environment of the CELAC.


Decision 2
Environmental Education for Sustainable Development

Considering the need to broaden and strengthen the mechanisms of operation of the Environmental Education Network, in particular for his contributions to the implementation of the Latin American and Caribbean Initiative for Sustainable Development (ILAC in Spanish) through a significant effort in training and education environmental, as well as the decision-making and allocation of resources;

Recognizing the Latin American and Caribbean Programme for Environmental Education (PLACEA in Spanish) and the Andean Amazonian Communication and Environmental Education Plan (PANACEA);

Taking into account the actions taken by various governments of the Region in the framework of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005-2014, in particular the strengthening of environmental public policies and strategies in various countries of the Region;

Noting the Global Universities Partnership for Environment and Sustainability (GUPES) led by UNEP which aims to promote the integration of environmental and sustainability considerations in teaching, research, community participation and universities’ management, as well as increase and improve student participation in activities aimed at sustainable development within and outside universities;

Taking note that it is imperative to build bridges between policy makers and environmental training and research centers to boost local environmental policies with the support of the academy;

Emphasizing that regarding virtual training means, more effort is needed for their development, outreach, installation and use to get more social sectors and also in more varied forms of teaching, flexible and appropriate to the cultural characteristics of different social actors. We also need to promote more varied and flexible teaching methods which are also appropriate to the cultural characteristics of different social actors.

DECIDE
1.    To continue and strengthen the activities of the Environmental Training Network for Latin America and the Caribbean under the following criteria:

a)    To focus on the priority themes of the Latin American and Caribbean Strategy for Sustainable Development;

b)    To seek mutually complementary and mutual support among the activities of the ETN, PLACEA, PNACEA and the activities of the agencies of the Inter Agency Technical Committee of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment;

c)    To foster environmental education through virtual and face to face means and in different languages (Spanish, English, French, Portuguese), including at least one national language;

d)    To promote the integration of environmental subjects and focus on ecosystem management in University and technological institutes’ research and teaching in different disciplines, and on knowledge management;

e)    To build alliances with sub-regional organizations, the private sector and community organizations to boost local environmental policies with the support of the academy;

f)    To continue participating and technically assisting the regional Congresses of Environmental Education organized by Latin America and Caribbean countries and to establish an evaluation and monitoring mechanism of commitments made by governments;

a)    To extend the financial trust fund of the Environmental Training Network and pursue payment of contributions by countries;

g)    To embrace once more the proposal for the “establishment of a Consultative Committee of Focal Points that will allow for a more continuous process of consultation and decision-making, including programming and dissemination of activities, and selection of candidates as beneficiaries of the Network’s activities. This committee would include, at the same time, representatives of the Interagency Technical Committee of the Forum of Ministers and other agencies that collaborate in a concrete manner.” The Committee would meet virtually with the support of electronic tools.
2.    To request UNEP to continue supporting the countries, from a technical standpoint, in the implementation of PLACEA and PANACEA.
3.    To request UNEP to promote active participation of the universities of the region in the Global University Partnership for Environment and Sustainability (GUPES), from the perspective of the priorities and needs of the region, with focus around the three pillars of GUPES, namely, education, training and networking and also in initiative such as Mainstreaming Environment in Caribbean Universities (MESCA).
4.    To strengthen or to create environmental education and citizenship participation units of the Ministries of Environment, to enable them to have the necessary human and financial resources to meet the objectives.
5.    To promote South-South cooperation among the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean as a tool for transferring knowledge, best practices and technical resources, among others.
6.    To request UNEP to prepare a report on the activities undertaken and the resources used in environmental education in the region over the past three years to December 2011 in the framework of  the Environmental Training Network and the level of resources currently available in the Financial Fund Trust. Similarly, to add an explanation of the criteria that, at the time, countries agreed to establish the level of countries’ contributions to the Trust Fund. This report shall be distributed to countries no later than forty-five days as of the Eighteenth Meeting of the Forum.


Decision 3
 Regional Financial Strategy

Recalling that in decision 16 of the XVI Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), held in Santo Domingo in 2008, Ministers decided to request the Interagency Technical Committee (ITC) and Forum Secretariat in coordination with the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD, the development of a regional proposal to indicate patterns and actions needed to increase the flow of financial resources to support implementation at the national, subregional and regional level of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD);
 Also recalling decision 8 of the XVII Meeting of the Forum of Environment Ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), held in Panama City in April 2010, the Ministers decided to welcome the proposal for a Regional Financial Strategy (EFIR) produced by the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD, in consultation the Interagency Technical Committee (ITC) and general guidelines for developing a process that promotes the mobilization of financial resources to support effective implementation of the UNCCD in a synergistic approach;
Recalling that at the same meeting, the Ministers requested the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD and the Regional Coordination Unit of the UNCCD in consultation with the Regional Executive Committee of the UNCCD, with the support of the Secretariat of the Forum and the ITC, the developing a proposal for operationalization of the EFIR, to be submitted to the XVIII Meeting of the Forum, in line with the provisions of the UNCCD Ten-Year Strategy, such that defines ways of financing it, and the methods of operation , necessary actions and institutional responsibilities;
Recognizing that countries must strengthen their efforts to internalize the principles of shared responsibility to combat DTDS and multilateral lending agencies have their own criteria and credit lines and procedures in allocating resources to countries, programs, projects and specific actions that they do not always respond to the policies and plans, and it is therefore desirable to define policies, strategies, actions and resources required to guide and collaborate with these agencies so that their contributions are to a greater extent and properly coordinated to be better utilized by the countries
Bearing in mind what was stated in the XVIII Meeting of the Forum of Environment Ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) on the importance of synergies between the funds and programs that are linked to SLM issues and its positive impact in mitigating Climate Change;
6. Taking into account the high level session of the UN General Assembly on Desertification held in New York in 2011, where the international community expressed their concern of land degradation and that strongly recommended that countries work with initiatives related to Sustainable Land Management, also taking into account the approval of UN resolution A/C.2/66/L.72 on the promotion of international consensus as to reduce the excessive price volatility and speculation in commodity markets;
Welcoming the document "Operational Strategy for the Integrated Financial Regional Strategy (EFIR) to Increase the Flow of Funds to Fight Desertification and Land Degradation in Latin America and the Caribbean", which was requested by the Forum in Decision 8 of the XVII Meeting in 2010, facilitated by the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD and the Regional Coordination Unit of the UNCCD in consultation with the members of the ITC, requesting likewise taken into account the comments and contributions submitted by delegations present at the 18th meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of LAC.
DECIDE:
1.    Requests the UNCCD to continue the implementation process of the EFIR and to conduct  the necessary measures to establish the Technical Management Secretariat for the implementation of the EFIR; and to seek the necessary financial contribution to implement the Multi-Agency Fund Pre-Investment to allow the operation of the Technical Management Secretariat of the EFIR;
2.    Recommends to the UNCCD, to develop the work program of the Technical Management Secretariat with a special attention on the Latin America and the Caribbean Dry lands and conduct the necessary consultations with potential host institutions for the EFIR; taking into account the synergies with climate change adaptation financing mechanisms, with special attention on triggering South – South cooperation processes.
3.    Also recommends to the UNCCD, to present the results of these processes at the next meeting of the forum of Ministers, including the work program of Technical Management Secretariat.

Decision 4
Atmospheric Pollution within the framework of the Regional Intergovernmental Network

Recognizing that atmospheric pollution continues to exact a heavy toll in terms of damage to human health, eco-systems and crop yields across the LAC region;
Noting the agreements and conventions related to atmospheric contamination subscribed by the countries of the region and specifying that the present decision focuses on issues which are not covered by those agreements and conventions;
Reaffirming that controlling many atmospheric problems requires effective co-operation at the regional and sub-regional scales;
Also reaffirming that the current range of sub-regional initiatives on atmospheric pollution could benefit from a wider framework for regional co-operation and that cost-savings could accrue to all member states from co-operation in monitoring, assessment, emission reduction measures and research on atmospheric pollution;
Noting progress so far in understanding the range and diversity of the region’s atmospheric problems from meetings of the Regional Intergovernmental Network on Atmospheric Pollution established by the Forum of Ministers;
Taking into account the Decisions on Atmospheric Pollution during the previous meetings of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment and the request to continue the work of the Regional Intergovernmental Network and to develop an Action plan on Atmospheric Pollution to provide orientation to the work of the Network.

DECIDE:
1. To continue work on the elaboration of a Regional Action Plan which would provide orientation to the work of the Regional Intergovernmental network, in which potential sources of funding are assessed, with the aim of presenting it to Ministers at the next Meeting of the Forum for consideration of possible approval.
2. To participate in a collective exercise to assemble and review information and resources for monitoring and assessing atmospheric pollution impacts across the countries of the region, as an essential basis for developing the Action Plan, and to provide their inputs of priority subjects and abatement opportunities.
3. To strengthen initiatives targeting the promotion of public transport and non-motorized transport, the production and use of cleaner and more efficient vehicles and fuels.
4. To promote the strengthening of the institutional areas in each country, which are responsible for atmospheric pollution control and to maintain an active participation of these institutions in the regional activities related to this topic.
5. To build the regional capacity for the generation of air quality information for national decision-making.
6. To strengthen the public-private dialogue and the role of all sectors involved in the promotion of commitments and actions oriented to reduction of atmospheric pollution for all the priority areas defined, within regional, sub-regional and national planning.
7. To ensure coordination of the initiatives promoted within the framework of the Regional Intergovernmental Network with the activities development in the context of other commitments and agreements assumed by the countries of the region on issues related to atmospheric contamination.

Decision 5
Environmental Indicators

Convinced that one of the most complex challenges that our international community faces is achieving sustainable development in harmony with nature
Reaffirming our commitment to fight against poverty, the meeting advocates for sustainable development in harmony with nature, based on the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.  In this context, we support the Declaration for Harmony with Nature, given the interdependent and complementary systematic interconnection between human beings and natural resources , and that we are united by a genetic code that is based on a sacred union of life in its multiple forms, and therefore, Humanity is part of the community of life, the conscience and intelligence of the Earth, and it advocates for social, ecological, ethic, and moral justice of a new global economic regime;
Recognizing the contribution of the indicators of the Latin American and Caribbean Initiative for Sustainable Development (ILAC) to the capacity of the countries to measure their achievements and advancements in social, economic and environmental development, parallel with the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), especially MDG 7, which permits the effective application of national development plans;
 Recognizing that the matrix of indicators of the Work Group for Environmental Indicators requires updating and improvements taking into consideration the reality of peoples and nations in the framework of their visions and sovereignty, adjusting for the framework of Agenda 21.
Recognizing the efforts of many countries in the region to systemize environmental information through the creation of entities, inter-institutional coordination and methodological development and the incorporation of technology;
Taking Note of the necessity to increase even further the availability, access, regional harmonization and coordination of environmental data and information for decision making in matters of sustainable development, as well as the periodic updating and monitoring of this data and information;
Understanding the special contribution of geo-referenced and Earth Observation System data for the development and the dissemination of information and environmental indicators;
Underlining the necessity to increase efforts at a regional level, so that all countries have an integrated national system for statistics and environmental indicators, including the Small Developing Island Nations of the Caribbean;
Reaffirming the commitment of the countries in the region to harmonize the methodologies used for the gathering of statistics and environmental indicators under the framework of the Forum;
Taking note of the necessity to periodically review the relevance of the indicators for the regional and sub-regional priorities, and in a coherent manner align the objectives of the ILAC with the concrete objectives of the indicators within them;
Taking into account the inter-institutional cooperation between the UNEP and the ECLAC, whose main objectives are to strengthen and develop national technical capacities, helping to improve the production and quality of the environmental statistics in the country, and promote the dissemination and use of environmental information for the strengthening of decision making and evaluations;

DECIDE:
1. To adopt the recommendations of the Working Group on Environmental Indicators (WGEI resulting from the meeting held the 11 and 12 of October of 2012 in Mexico city;
2. To express satisfaction with the work performed by the WGEI and support its continuation, promoting attention to the strengthening of the indicators related with the environmental, social and economic pillars of the ILAC;
3. To accept the action plan of the WGEI in order to continue with the methodological development of environmental indicators, harmonized at the regional level, and their adoption by the countries in the region;
4. To analyze, update, modify and reformulate the structure and content of the matrix of indicators in their thematic areas, 24 specific goals and 38 specific objectives, in accordance with Annex 3 of the UNEP/LAC-IGWG.XVIII/5.Rev.1 document;
5. To agree that said process must be guided by a focus on integrated and sustainable development, contemplating the reduction of poverty, food security, food sovereignty and harmony with nature, taking into account, among other things, the socio-cultural visions of indigenous peoples and local communities.
6. To construct and implement these indicators while respecting the sovereign vision of the development models and paradigms of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
7. To urge the governments to dedicate more human and financial resources to the generation of relevant information for the development of policies to achieve environmental sustainability; strengthening the generation of environmental information and the creation of offices for environmental statistics in the Ministries of the Environment and other relevant public entities in the region, in agreement with national policies.
8. To promote horizontal and triangular cooperation between countries of the region with the purpose of promoting the development of capabilities and replicate the best practices in the generation of information and management;  
9. To promote inter-institutional coordination, the sistematisation of the monitoring of the ILAC indicators and capacity building between ministries, geo-spatial and statistical agencies, universities and other relevant institutions, with the purpose of using resources efficiently, avoiding the duplication of efforts and the integration of environmental information as a fundamental element for the development of policies; as well as the strengthening of processes for establishing the national indicators within the framework of the ILAC, at the national and regional level.
10. To promote, in coordination with the “Work Group for Environmental Statistics of the Statistics of the Americas Conference”, the creation of capabilities focused on the basic data and indicators to support the processes of evaluation of the state of the environment, through the use of virtual tools, forums and on-line educational seminars.
11. To leverage on GTIA experience of the measurement of sustainable development objectives for developing a regional position to the next "United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development" and the implementation of the initiatives arising from the Rio +20;
12. To promote, within the region, in countries and in international forums, the use of ILAC indicators to complement the MDG indicators, to ensure proper measurement of environmental variables, in particular MDG Goal 7, and Sustainable Development Goals that could be approved at Rio +20;
13. Promote the organization of a workshop previous to the World Summit on Sustainable Development, to be the space in which countries can present and discuss their views and proposals for sustainable development towards the Rio +20 process.
14. Continue supporting the development of integrated environmental assessments (IEA) at regional, sub-regional, national and ecosystem levels, reflecting both the specific areas of environmental priority of the ILAC as well as the identification of data gaps on various topics;
15. Continue to support UNEP´s work on Global Environment Outlook and capacity building for developing countries as a component of the evaluation process, to enhance the construction and application of sustainable development indicators.
16.  Request Inter-Agency Technical Committee, in accordance with their respective mandates, and other regional and sub-regional organizations, to cooperate with the Working Group on Environmental Indicators of the Forum of Ministers of Environment for the strengthening and consolidation of environmental indicators, geo-spatial information and Earth observation systems.

Decision 6
Sustainable Consumption and Production

Considering the call of Agenda 21 for action to change unsustainable patterns of consumption and production;
Recognizing that the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 identified Sustainable Consumption and Production as an overarching objective of and essential requirement for sustainable development; and called on all stakeholders to “Encourage and promote the development of a 10-year framework of programmes in support of regional and national initiatives to accelerate the shift towards sustainable consumption and production to promote social and economic development within the carrying capacity of ecosystems.”;
Considering the sustainable consumption and production plans and programmes promoted by the countries of the region to achieve progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals and the implementation of Agenda 21;
Considering that sustainable consumption and production is an important tool for mitigation and adaptation to climate change, and to contribute to the reduction of desertification and the conservation of biodiversity;
Recognizing the high potential and leadership that the countries of the region have in adopting more sustainable consumption and production patterns, the work of the Council of Government Experts on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in Latin America and the Caribbean as an instance to come to agreement, and to exchange experiences and information on the subject, the results of the previous Regional Meetings of Experts on SCP, and the Decisions on SCP adopted by the Forum of Ministers in its sessions;
Recalling that the priority areas identified by the Forum of Ministers in its Decision 5 / 2010 to focus efforts on common SCP issues in the region are: 1) policies and national action plans on SCP, 2) SCP implementation in Small and Medium Enterprises, 3) sustainable public procurement, 4) sustainable lifestyles;
Recognizing the efforts from the United Nations Environment Programme, together with the CAF - Development Bank for Latin America, which, following up in the process of implementation of the Regional SCP Strategy and encouraging the continued discussion on the 10 Years Framework of Programmes on SCP, conducted the Sixth Meeting of Government Experts on SCP in Latin America and the Caribbean, "Regional Meeting on Sustainable Consumption and Production and its contribution to Resource Efficiency" in Panama City, Panama, the 24 and 25 of November of 2011;
Recognizing the significant participation and valuable contributions made at the Sixth Meeting of Government Experts on SCP by representatives of various Governmental institutions, Sub-regional Organizations, Non Governmental Organizations, the Cleaner Production Centres, academia, business sector, experts in the field, and cooperation agencies and from the United Nations System;

DECIDE:
1. To promote the adoption of the 10 Years Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), based on the final text approved during the 19th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development.
2. To reaffirm the priority areas, that are common to the countries in the region, recognizing the significant progress achieved in the implementation of activities in each one of them and, at the same time, highlighting the need of additional support to implement, replicate and disseminate successful experiences at national and regional level.
3. To mainstream SCP objectives into the design and implementation of State policies.
4. To integrate, in national development plans, actions that promote and strengthen SCP.
5. To urge inclusive participation of the different social sectors in the formulation, capacity building and implementation of SCP policies, action plans or strategies and foster SCP strategies in all development sectors, according to the national priorities of each country in the region.
6. To guarantee the allocation of national resources, in addition to external financial support, for SCP implementation.
7. To internalize social and environmental costs and opportunities in the formulation of public policies.
7 alt. To include in public policies the internalization of costs produced by environmental and social impacts.
8. To take advantage of local and national capacities and potential to generate regional synergy with the objective of achieving greater opportunities of supply and demand of sustainable goods and services which contribute to the promotion of SCP patterns.
9. To promote the life cycle approach as an instrument to identify sustainability criteria, as well as transparent information in regards to sustainability attributes and characteristics.
10. To support research, innovation and technological development, with the intention of increasing resource efficiency.
11. To ask for the ratification of the Executive Committee members for the Regional Council of SCP Government Experts for the 2011 – 2013 period.
12. To include the topic of Sustainable Consumption and Production and chapter III of the Implementation Plan of Johannesburg in the agenda for the Nineteenth Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment.
13. To recognize that SCP implementation contribute to the efficient use of natural resources.

Decision 7
Chemicals, Hazardous Wastes and Other Wastes

Aware of the serious adverse effects on human health and the environment that can be derived from the unsound management of chemicals and hazardous wastes;
Considering that the lack of suitable information about the trade, supply chains, and content of hazardous chemicals in products, the levels of harmful substances in the environment, the lack of updated national profiles on chemical substances, as well as inventories of hazardous wastes and polluted sites, and the limited access to hazardous waste treatment technologies, hampers the design of effective policies to reduce exposure risk to the people and the environment;
Highlighting the relevance of the outcomes and decisions adopted at the Conferences of the Parties of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (ODS), as well as the work under Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management;
Acknowledging the efforts and leadership played by the Government of Colombia within the framework of the 10th Conference of the Parties of the Basel Convention, which were undoubtedly decisive to achieve historical results, including the adoption measures to strengthen the implementation of the Convention, and the Cartagena Declaration, which provides the Convention of the strength and necessary instruments to move forward in the minimization, control, and sound management of hazardous wastes and other wastes at international level;
Stressing the progress of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to prepare a global legally binding instrument on mercury, as well as the active participation of the countries of the region during intersessional periods, and highlighting that the next meeting of the INC will be held in the region (Punta del Este, Uruguay, June 2012);
Acknowledging the role as facilitator and the support provided by UNEP to the countries of the region in the preparation and organization of regional meetings on chemicals and wastes, that contributed to the identification of key issues for the region as well as to the adoption of common positions;  
Recalling that all the countries in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean are parties to the Montreal Protocol and therefore must comply with the established timetable for the elimination of ODS;
Reaffirming the need to increase the technical capacity of the countries of the region, and acknowledging the work developed by the regional centres of the Basel and Stockholm Conventions, as well as the support provided by their hosting countries;
Reiterating the importance of mobilizing the necessary financial resources to strengthen global, regional and national efforts, in order to comply with international instruments related to chemicals and hazardous wastes and other wastes;

DECIDE:
1. To reaffirm the willingness to establish effective policies and to apply the measures needed to ensure the environmental sound management of chemicals and wastes, fostering collaboration of public and private actors, considering the differentiated possibilities of each country and the need of an effective transfer of resources and technology;
2. To request UNEP and other ITC agencies, in accordance with their respective mandates, to continue to provide technical support to the countries, including the development of inventories and profiles of hazardous chemicals and wastes; the strengthening of monitoring capacities; and the design of suitable plans and policies.
3. To promote the effective implementation at national, regional and global levels, of the decisions on cooperation and coordination between the Basel, Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions, in order to facilitate its application and to ensure the rational use of resources.
4. To encourage those countries that have not yet done so to ratify the Ban Amendment to the Basel Convention in accordance with the decisions adopted at the 10th Conference of the Parties of the Basel Convention.
5. To maintain and strengthen the active and coordinated participation of the countries of the region within the framework of intergovernmental negotiations to prepare a global legally binding instrument on mercury, so that this instrument ensures a balance between the obligations and the provision of means of implementation, and include an effective and long-term financial mechanism to support the countries of the region in the achievement of the objectives of the future instrument.
6. To request UNEP and other agencies to continue providing technical support to the region in the negotiations on mercury, as well as for the development of related projects within the framework of the Global Mercury Partnership, and to express the interest to continue regional consultations during the intersessional periods with the support of donors.
7. To welcome the results and constructive discussions to date within the framework of the Consultative Process on Financing Options for Chemicals and Waste, and to express interest in continuing to participate actively in this process, in order to promote an integrated approach to long-term financing contributing to the effective implementation of international instruments.  
8. To highlight the importance of the Quick Start Programme (QSP), within the framework of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management, as an alternative for accessing financial resources.  
9. To encourage those countries that have not yet done so to ratify the amendments of the Montreal Protocol, and to maintain a high level of participation in the negotiations of the Multilateral Fund (MLF) for the Montreal Protocol in order to ensure proper funding for the needs of the countries of the region;
10. To invite UNEP and the Secretariats of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention to continue their support to the regional and subregional centres in Latin America and the Caribbean, to facilitate the fulfillment of its objectives and functions in the field of capacity building and technology transfer.
11. To increase efforts and establish regional mechanisms to prevent and control illegal traffic of hazardous wastes, ODS and chemicals.
12. To promote the development and implementation of integrated policies, programmes and projects for the management of hazardous wastes and other wastes, including electrical and electronic waste, considering the principle of the "3 Rs" (reduce, reuse, recycle), and in line with the Cartagena Declaration from the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention;
13. To welcome the initiative of UNEP and other agencies to establish a Global Partnership on Waste Management, including the creation of an Information Platform, and to express interest in participating in the assessment of the needs on capacity building, so that priorities of the countries of the region are taken into account.
14. To promote  the cooperation and exchange of information between the countries of the region in relation to policies and best practices for the management of chemicals and wastes, in particular as regards to substances of recent inclusion in the different Conventions.
15. To request UNEP to transmit this decision to the Secretariats of the Basel, Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions, as well as to the Montreal Protocol Secretariat and other relevant bodies.
Decision 8
Landlocked Countries
Emphacizing that there are regions in Latin America and the Caribbean that due to their weather, geographic, characteristics and/or biological diversity are specially vulnerable as considered in paragraph 18 of the preamble in the text of the Framework Convention on Climate Change of the United Nations.  
Considering that the Great American Chaco is approximately 1,14 million km2 wide and covers from the farthest areas of the Andean Cordillera in Argentina and Bolivia to the basins of rivers Paraguay and Paraná in Brazilian and Paraguayan lands. And from north to south from the Izozog in Bolivian lands to Salinas Grandes in Argentina. The region of the Chaco plays a fundamental role to keep climate, hydrological, and ecological dynamics in South America. The Chaco registers the highest temperatures in a continental level and constitutes the second forest region in South America and is characterized by its great rivers and water bodies with high biological and cultural diversity.

Considering that the Amazonia is a region of approximately 6 million km2 and that represents more than half of the rain forest in the world, it constitutes part of the earth´s balance. This region is known as having the widest biodiversity in the world housing half of the world´s animal species. Despite the importance of this region to the world, it is suffering an accelerated process of habitat reduction, fragmentation, and ecosystem transformation.
DECIDE
1.    To recognize that there exist regions especially vulnerable to environmental impacts such as the Grant American Chaco, the Amazonia and coastal zones.
2.    To Invite countries in the region and international organizations to support the fight against climate change, desertification, and deforestation.
3.    To recognize that certain conditions such as the landlocked condition exacerbate the vulnerability of the countries to diverse impacts.

Decision 9
Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

Recalling Decision 4 of the 14th Meeting of the Forum of Ministers held in Panama in 2003 establishing the Caribbean SIDS Programme,
Further recalling Decision 9 of the 17th Meeting of the Forum of Ministers held in Panama in 2010 on Small Island Developing States,
Acknowledging the contribution made by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in formulating the Caribbean SIDS Programme
Noting that a number of successful initiatives have been undertaken within the context of the Caribbean SIDS Programme, including, inter alia, the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM); the  Caribbean Biological Corridor (CBC), the Change for a Better Environment Project and that  Caribbean small Island Developing states have participated in various projects and plans under the Regional Action Plan;
Further noting that since the commencement of the UNEP Medium Term Strategy 2010-2013 (MTS), there is no specific focus on SIDS
Taking into account challenges that have proven to be new and emerging issues for  Caribbean SIDS including: non-communicable diseases, energy security, ecosystem services especially those pertaining to REDD+, marine ecosystems including blue carbon as well as the issue of volatile food markets on  food prices  and security   as noted in UN General Assembly Resolution A/C.2/66/L.72
Decides
1.    To call for the establishment of a SIDS-specific sub-programme within the current MTS and future MTS, taking  into consideration the specific requirements contained in UNGA Resolution 56/165 of 21 January 2011, urging that timely action be taken for the effective implementation of and follow-up to the Mauritius Declaration and the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, including the further development and operationalization of concrete projects and programmes;  agenda 21
2.    To call for urgent and full implementation of Decision 9 of the 17th Meeting of the Forum
3.    That any framework which evolves under the theme “Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development” must be designed in a manner so as to provide a clear institutional mechanism, to address, in a concrete and focused manner, the sustainable development of the most vulnerable countries (i.e. SIDS and LDCs), at the global and regional levels. Such a mechanism must provide, inter alia, a context for enhanced UN coherence; the facilitation of adequate and predictable financial resources to facilitate transition to sustainable green economies, given the financial gap which exists on most of these countries as well as commitment to capacity development and technology transfer, underpinned by sound science.

Decision 10
Central American and Caribbean Countries
Welcoming the agreement reached by the 3rd Summit of the Head of States and Government of the Central American integration system (SICA) and the Caribbean Community, held in San Salvador in August 2011 as a further step to regional integration on issues of common interest
Recognizing the high vulnerability of both sub-regions
Acknowledging their interest to intensify efforts and improve collaboration for the definition of common positions in international fora and negotiations, and particularly to promote a common position on the Green Economy and on an effective and efficient institutional framework for sustainable development and poverty eradication.
Further acknowledging the contribution made by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to the Caribbean and the support given to the Central American countries in the promotion of the sustainable development agenda


Decides
1.    To Support the implementation of the  joint declaration of  the 3rd Summit of the Head of States and Government of the Central American integration system (SICA) and the Caribbean Community,  held in San Salvador in August 2011 through:
a.    Strengthening cooperation at the multilateral level within the preparatory process of the United Nations conference on Sustainable Development, RIO 20 to be held in Brazil in 2012 with the objective to provide an assessment of the principles of the Earth Summit Declaration of 1992,  
b.    Fostering  a discussion and profound analysis on the green economy, which includes principles of sustainable development, eradication of poverty, and  
c.    Establishing an efficient and effective institutional framework in this matter in both sub-regions

Decision X
Gratitude to the People and Government of Ecuador
To express the deep gratitude of the Eighteenth Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean held in Quito, Ecuador from 31 January to 3 February 2012, to the People and Government of Ecuador for the generous hospitality shown during this Meeting.