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Objectives
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Provide support, in areas of its technical
expertise, to the political organs of the OAS, and represent the General
Secretariat in technical dialogues in the hemisphere and in
intergovernmental environmental fora especially those of the United Nations.
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Formulate and execute technical cooperation
projects within its field of expertise, including follow-up of the mandates
of the Summit of the Americas on Sustainable Development.
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Facilitate exchanges of information on
sustainable development in the region and lay the foundation for
participation by civil society in decision-making on environmental
management.
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Assist countries and regions in preparing investment projects for
consideration by regional and international financing mechanisms.
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Support efforts to promote coordination and
cooperation among bilateral and international agencies and non-governmental
organizations in pursuit of the goals established by the member states of
the OAS.
Challenges
Effective
Institutions: Countries in the Hemisphere have distinct environmental
management sectors and have gone through a renaissance of constitutional
and legal reform and capacity building, but major gains are needed in
accountability, incentives to the private sector for pollution control,
cost recovery, enforcement and compliance. Environment is an important
and measurable component in the marketplace. To apply thee measures to
project evaluation, “best practices” of environmental assessment and
economic analysis of environmental impact should be factored into the
calculations of whether a project is sustainable. Environmental goods
and services are no longer considered free goods. Decentralization and
civil-society involvement are proven factors in building effective
institutions.
Improved data for decision-making. Among the key challenges facing the
Hemisphere is the need to increase statistical information and analysis
on environmental conditions and sustainability indicators at the
country-specific and regional levels. In the area of trade and
integration, countries are seeking ways to ensure that the hemispheric
trade agenda provides an opportunity to advance environmental standards,
institutions, civil society networks and the private sector in assessing
the social and environmental impacts of economic liberalization.
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