OEA/Ser.P
AG/RES. 1821 (XXXI-O/01)
5 June 2001
Original: English

THE SOCIOECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE COUNTRIES OF THE HEMISPHERE

(Resolution adopted at the third plenary session, held on June 5, 2001;
subject to review by the Style Committee)

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

HAVING SEEN the Annual Report of the Permanent Council (AG/doc.3970/01) and the minutes of its meeting held on May 25, 2001 contained in (CP/ACTA 1280/01);

RECALLING:

Resolution AG/RES. 1674 (XXIX-O/99), "Climate Change in the Americas", through which the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI) was instructed to examine ways to address climate change in the Americas;

That, in resolution AG/RES. 1682 (XXIX-O/99), "OAS Natural Disaster Reduction and Response Mechanism," the member states established the Inter-American Committee on Natural Disaster Reduction and resolved "to promote the exchange of technical and scientific personnel in the area of research into adverse events" that have harmful socioeconomic and environmental impacts on the countries of the Hemisphere;

That in resolution AG/RES. 1755 (XXX-O/00) "OAS Natural Disaster Reduction and Response Mechanism," the members of the Inter-American Committee on Natural Disaster Reduction are requested to report on their activities to the General Assembly; and

That in resolution AG/RES. 1736 (XXX-O/00),"The Socioeconomic and Environmental Impacts of Climate Change on the Countries of the Hemisphere," the General Secretariat was instructed to seek to mobilize resources to assist member states in their efforts to adapt to climate change;

RECALLING ALSO:

The commitments by the Heads of State and Government with respect to sustainable development, climate change, environmental protection and disaster management as set out in the Quebec City Declaration and Plan of Action of the Third Summit of the Americas, the Declaration of Santiago and the Plan of Action of the Second Summit of the Americas, and the Declaration of Santa Cruz de la Sierra and the Plan of Action for the Sustainable Development of the Americas;

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Buenos Aires Plan of Action; and

The Barbados Declaration and the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island States, including the five-year review which took place at the United Nations in September 1999;

REAFFIRMING:

That climate change is a common concern of humankind; and

The continuing need for scientific research into the sources and effects of climate change and its possible adverse impacts, including the socioeconomic and environmental consequences for the countries of the Hemisphere; and

REITERATING:

The urgent need by all member states to begin the process of planning for adaptation to global climate change and to put in place measures to mitigate the possible adverse effects of climate change on the countries of the Hemisphere; and

The active participation by the governments of the member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in the Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Global Climate Change Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility through the World Bank and executed by the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States with the University of the West Indies Center for Environment and Development,

RESOLVES:

1. To renew its instruction to the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI) to keep this topic under review, through its appropriate subsidiary bodies, bearing in mind the need to avoid duplication of work in other forums.

2. To instruct the Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development (IACD) to seek, in collaboration with the General Secretariat, to mobilize and obtain resources to assist member states in their efforts to adapt to climate change.

3. To instruct CIDI to report to the General Assembly at its thirty-second regular session on the implementation of this resolution.