The Escazú Agreement & Latin American Environmentalism
Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 - October 15 every year in the United States. This month celebrates the cultures and people whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, this article covers The Escazú Agreement, a promising new treaty between Latin American and Caribbean countries.
What is the Escazú Agreement?
The Escazú Agreement (AKA The Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters) is a treaty between Latin American and Caribbean countries. The treaty's goal is to make environmental information and decision-making more accessible to the general public and protect environmental activists in the region. Spoiler alert: Latin American countries are really struggling to keep their activists safe, so this treaty is mega necessary.
Not only is this treaty necessary, but it is also historically important. It is the first ever environmental treaty between Latin American and Caribbean countries AND the world’s first ever treaty that aims to protect environmental activists. Big yay to that!
The treaty was negotiated in 2018 and went into effect in April 2021. Twenty-four countries have signed the treaty and 12 have ratified (including Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Uruguay.) These countries will meet again within the year to negotiate specific rules for implementing the treaty.
Bottom line: The Escazú Agreement is a treaty between Latin American and Caribbean countries to protect activists and make environmental information more accessible.
Where did the Escazú Agreement originate?
The Escazú Agreement's roots are Principle 10 of the 1992 Rio Declaration. This Principle states,
"Environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level. At the national level, each individual shall have appropriate access to information concerning the environment that is held by public authorities, including information on hazardous materials and activities in their communities, and the opportunity to participate in decision-making processes. States shall facilitate and encourage public awareness and participation by making information widely available. Effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings, including redress and remedy, shall be provided."
In other words, all people should have the information and ability to participate in environmental politics. Although many world leaders agreed to this Principle in the Rio Declaration in 1992, few national policies specifically address Principle 10.
Without policies to enforce Principle 10, many people lack access to environmental information and the ability to participate in environmental politics. This lack of accessibility likely contributes to environmental misinformation and worsening environmental ills across the globe.
As misinformation spreads, it becomes harder for activists to convince the public that environmental problems are worth their time, attention and energy. As a result, anti-environmental corporations gain more support and environmental issues get even worse. In Latin American and Caribbean countries specifically, this cycle is contributing to hate toward activists and increased corporate exploitation of land, air and waterways.
Bottom line: The Escazú Agreement addresses Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration of 1992, which states that all citizens have a right to access accurate environmental information.
Why does the treaty protect activists?
In addition to calling for increased access to information and participation, the treaty calls for increased protections for environmental activists. The treaty protects activists in Latin American countries because they are uber not protected right now. In 2019, over 60% of global environmental activist deaths occurred in Latin America. And in 2020, the situation was even worse, with 75% of global environmental activist deaths occurring in Latin America (and nearly 30% in Colombia alone !!).
Not only do activists desperately need protection, but the goal of protecting activists also goes hand-in-hand with increasing access to information. In theory, reducing misinformation could help garner public support for activists and discourage organized crime targeted at activists. In this way, the Escazú agreement hopes to reduce misinformation and hate toward environmentalists through policies that address these issues simultaneously.
Bottom line: Activist homicide is wayy too common in Latin American countries. The Escazú Agreement hopes to decrease misinformation and activist homicide through related policies.
What’s next?
So, 24 countries have signed The Escazú Agreement, 12 have ratified it and it has officially entered into force. However, this convo isn’t over yet. The parties who ratified the treaty must meet again before April 22, 2022 (one year after the treaty entered into force) to discuss the exact rules of procedure for the treaty. At this meeting, and all meetings to follow, we will start to see more specific policies that address the agreement. Stay tuned for more updates surrounding the Escazú Agreement!