AG/RES. 1864 (XXXII-O/02)

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

(Adopted at the fourth plenary session held on June 4, 2002) 

            THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 

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. 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; and 

That resolution AG/RES. 1821 (XXXI-O/01) reiterated the instruction to CIDI to continue studying the issue and to the General Secretariat, with the collaboration of the Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development, to mobilize and obtain resources to assist member states in its efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change; 

HAVING SEEN resolution CIDI/CIDS/RES. 2 (III-O/02) "Climate Change" considered by the Inter-American Committee on Sustainable Development in its third meeting held on February 11 and 12, 2002 and resolution CIDI/RES. 117 (VII-O/02); 

BEARING IN MIND the Declaration of Santa Cruz de la Sierra and the Plan of Action for the Sustainable Development of the Americas; the Declaration of Santiago and the Plan of Action of the Second Summit of the Americas; and the Declaration of Quebec City and the Plan of Action of the Third Summit of the Americas; 

RECOGNIZING that climate change is a growing concern of humankind; and that there is a continuing need for scientific research into the sources and effects of climate change and its possible adverse impacts, including socio-economic consequences and that Small Island Developing States will be particularly affected;

NOTING: 

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 Developing States; 

The Bonn Agreements (COP 6 -- July 2001) on the Implementation of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action, in which Parties to the Convention adopted rules to implement the Kyoto Protocol including agreeing to establish special funding mechanisms to address the challenges of climate change.  The Bonn Agreements and related decisions provide for three new funds: a Special Climate Change Fund, a Fund for Least Developed Countries, and an Adaptation Fund;  

The Report of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties at its Seventh Session, held in Marrakesh (COP 7 – November 2001); 

The urgent need by all member states to begin the process of planning for adaptation to global climate change and to put into place measures to adapt to and mitigate the sources of climate change in the Americas, including but not limited to the promotion of risk management, renewable energy, and energy efficiency alternatives;  

The successful conclusion of the “Caribbean: Planning for Adaptation to Global Climate Change” project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) 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, and with active participation of the governments of CARICOM member states; and 

The decision of Caribbean member states to establish a permanent mechanism to address the challenges involved in adapting to climate change, in the form of a Caribbean Climate Change Center and to request GEF support for a follow-up project to CPACC called “Mainstreaming Adaptation to Global Climate Change in the Caribbean (MACC); 

CONSIDERING that the General Secretariat presented a report on Addressing Climate Change in the Caribbean; and 

REAFFIRMING that climate change is a common concern of humankind, 

RESOLVES: 

1.            To encourage member states to develop strategies for the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change through their development policy and planning initiatives, and to actively develop climate change mitigation and adaptation projects that are eligible for financing, for example by the Kyoto Protocol package.

2.            To instruct the General Secretariat to support the CARICOM countries and the programs of the Caribbean Climate Change Center aimed at promoting adaptation to climate change and in building a greater awareness in the Americas on climate change issues. 

3.            To request the General Secretariat to support member states in preparing strategies and multilateral projects in order to comply with the established objectives in this resolution and seek external funding to finance hemispheric technical cooperation in the area of mitigation and climate change adaptation. 

4.         To continue studying this topic, through the appropriate areas and bodies of the Organization, bearing in mind the need to avoid duplication of work internally and in other forums.