Sustainable development is a goal that requires a balancing act. It recognizes         that people need jobs and economic opportunities, but not at the expense of the         air they breathe, the biodiversity they enjoy or the culture they value. The goal is to stimulate the type of economic development that can be sustained without reducing development and investment opportunities for future generations. 

The OAS Unit for Sustainable Development and Environment (USDE) oversees the Organization’s programs and efforts in this area. Supported by substantial outside funding, it carries out a range of technical cooperation projects to address the needs of member states. During the year 2000, it managed projects valued at some (U.S.) $43 million, of which 95% was leveraged from outside donors. The Unit actually executed an estimated $10 million during that calendar year.   

Areas of action include: 

Water resources—Several projects focus on managing transboundary water resources in major river basins of South and Central America. The OAS works in partnership on these projects with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The OAS also serves as the technical secretariat for the Inter-American Water Resources Network (IWRN), which was created in 1993 to foster coooperation on water management issues in the hemisphere.  

Climate change/coastal zone management—The OAS Unit for Sustainable Development and Environment has been carrying out a four-year project (1997-2001) to help Caribbean island nations cope with the adverse effects of climate change, particularly sea-level rise. Activities include vulnerability assessment, adaptation planning and training, and the establishment of a regional network of sea-level and climate monitoring stations. The project is being funded by the GEF, through the World Bank. 

Natural hazards—Since 1983 the OAS has provided technical support to reduce vulnerability to natural disasters and mitigate their effects. Working with national, regional and international institutions, the USDE conducts vulnerability assessments, provides training and helps formulate disaster mitigation policies and guidelines. It has also conducted a series of vulnerability reduction studies in specific sectors such as agriculture, education, energy, transportation, trade corridors and tourism. Funding comes from the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Caribbean Development Bank, the United Nations and bilateral donors. 

Renewable energy—The USDE serves as the technical secretariat for the Renewable Energy in the Americas (REIA) initiative. This forum offers governments access to information on renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies, and facilitates contact between the private sector and state energy entities in the Americas. The USDE also provides technical assistance for developing sustainable energy projects and facilitating their financing. 

Public participation—A key focus of recent USDE efforts has been to increase citizen input into decision-making about development and the environment. In December 1999, the OAS adopted  the Inter-American Strategy for Public Participation in Environment and Sustainable Development Decision-Making in the Americas (www.ispnet.org). Based on extensive consultation with civil society, academics and government representatives, this strategy provides a framework and best practices for governments to ensure a high level of public participation.

Background: Sustainable Development Mandates

 The 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, established a framework to address the challenges of achieving development while protecting the environment and respecting people’s quality of life. In December 1996, the hemisphere’s leaders held the Summit of the Americas on Sustainable Development in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, and agreed on an ambitious blueprint for action. The Bolivia Summit proposed 65 initiatives for programs in health and education; sustainable agriculture and forests; communities and cities; water resources and coastal areas; and energy and minerals. 

The OAS chairs the Interagency Task Force on Bolivia Summit Follow-Up, which includes several working groups and some 15 organizations within the inter-American and United Nations systems. This gives the OAS a key role in stimulating, guiding and coordinating assistance provided by the international community to countries in their efforts to implement the initiatives of the Plan of Action of Santa Cruz.

For more information:
Richard Meganck, Director,

Unit for Sustainable Development and Environment:

202-458-6248 Rmeganck@oas.org 

Last updated: September 2001