Proportion of effluents that receive treatment Also, a potential methodology to measure the progress of national environmental statistical systems was extensively discussed. Fostering the preparation of ILAC National Reports To date, ten countries have published ILAC National Reports, with an average of 29 indicators. These countries are Costa Rica (2005), Mexico (2005), Argentina (2006), Brazil (2007), Colombia (2007), Peru (2008), Cuba (2009), Panama (2010), Nicaragua (2011) and Uruguay (2011). Barbados has made significant progress in preparing its national report. It is important to note that several countries regularly report on ILAC indicators in their environmental information systems, which can be updated more frequently than printed publications. However, the printed editions are critical in countries where the aforementioned information systems are not available. Promoting the regional use of the ILAC indicators Following a digital publishing model, the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico (SEMARNAT) has developed a Geospatial Viewer for displaying the ILAC indicators at a regional level available to all countries. Countries may enter their data in the platform using web map services (WMS). In all cases, each country retains ownership and responsibility over the information. Strengthening the Working Group on Environmental Indicators Between 2012 and 2013, representatives of four new countries joined the WGEI: Bahamas, El Salvador, Honduras and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Financial constraints prevented the realization of a workshop prior to the World Summit on Sustainable Development, as set forth in paragraph 13, Decision 5 of the Eighteenth Workshop Forum of Ministers. However, the Secretariat and ECLAC provided relevant inputs on indicators to regional discussions on the post-2015 agenda. UNEP organized the regional meeting ‘Strengthening regional networks and national capacities on environmental information’, held in November 2013 in Panama City. The meeting had the following objectives: Present progress in the generation and management of environmental information (including related geographic information) at the national level, and identify options for regional cooperation and priorities for capacity development within the framework of the ILAC WGEI and the ‘Eye on Earth’ initiative.
development and decision-making information and financing Strengthen the Working Group on Environmental Indicators At least two countries have been incorporated into WGEI March 2012 LAC governments The Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology Commission, the General Direction of Statistics and Census of El Salvador, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Honduras and the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Environment of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have joined WGEI since this work plan was approved. The inclusion of indicators of Sustainable Consumption and Production is assessed June 2013 WGEI UNEP This issue was addressed at the regional meeting "Strengthening regional networks and national capacities on environmental information" organized by UNEP in November 2013. It was agreed that a petit comité will revise the existing indicators and present a first proposal on possible indicators fit to the needs of the countries. WGEI gatherings through virtual tools and forums At least once a month WGEI UNEP Three virtual meetings were held in 2013. UNEP´s license of the Elluminate software for virtual meetings expired in April 2013, and the meetings were suspended momentarily. The renewal of this software is under procurement at the moment. Promote specific activities with similar initiatives and groups throughout the region The promotion of national capacities to construct environmental indicators and statistics, in collaboration with the Working Group on Environmental Statistics of the Statistical Conference of the Americas (SCA) Ongoing since November 2011 SCA ECLAC UNEP INEGI (Mexico) Dominican Six WGEI countries are participating in the regional environmental statistics project coordinated by ECLAC and INEGI. ECLAC and the UN Statistics Division has been involved in the
Republic development of methodology sheets in the Working Group. ECLAC and UNEP had agreed, in principle, to hold joint meetings and outputs in the framework of the Forum of Ministers and the Statistical Conference of the Americas, but funding and administrative constraints could not make it happen in 2013. The establishment of coordination mechanisms with the Working Group on Environmental Statistics of the SCA and with environmental commissions in the sub-regions (CAN, CCAD, CARICOM, MERCOSUR), among others Activities planned throughout the year SCA ECLAC UNEP CAN, CCAD CARICOM, MERCOSUR and others These sub-regional organizations were invited to the meeting on 13-14 November, 2013. UNEP participated in a meeting of the CCAD climate change observatory, where indicators for assessing the impact of disasters were discussed and the process of development and adoption of ILAC indicators presented. Promote training in the use of geospatial tools to construct the ILAC indicators Two virtual forums and conferences October 2013 UNEP The GeoSUR Programme (of Latin American Development Bank) participated in the November 2013 meeting, via Webinar. Beta software for geographic information portal April 2012 SEMARNAT Available for countries through SEMARNAT (Mexico) Promote incorporation of the Small Island Developing States of the Caribbean into WGEI, and their active participation in its development Three countries of the Caribbean incorporated into WGEI 2012 WGEI UNEP Two English-speaking Caribbean countries (Bahamas, St. Vincent and the Grenadines) have joined the Working Group. Promote systematizing and institutionalizing national and regional monitoring of ILAC indicators, thus improving coordination between environmental authorities, national statistics offices and the technical entities in charge of geospatial At least three countries receive technical assistance in designing and implementing a national environmental information system Assistance with topics such as: collecting environmental data, Needs assessment through May 2012 and subsequent high-level of WGEI UNEP Governments UNEP is supporting Honduras and Panama in developing their National State of the Environment reports and has conducted a short training event on the GEO methodology in Chile, in 2013. UNEP also supports
Annex 1 Working Group on Environmental Indicators of ILAC: Workplan 2014-2015 Activity Expected product Country, focal point, participant agencies Next steps or observations 1. Continue the development of methodological sheets of the ILAC indicators in the thematic areas approved by the Forum of Ministers Five methodological sheets agreed by the WGEI WGEI UNEP WGEI to present a proposal to the Forum of Ministers on the inclusion of indicators on sustainable consumption and production WGEI 2. Promote the systematic development and institutionalization of ILAC indicators monitoring at the national level, improving coordination between the environmental authority, the national statistics office, technical entities in charge of geospatial information and other ministries and agencies involved in the management of relevant information in each country. Promote the elaboration and update of ILAC indicators reports WGEI In addition to ILAC reports, the indicators could be included in the national reports on the state of the environment or environmental information systems. Promote capacity development in the use of geospatial tools for the compilation of ILAC indicators SEMARNAT GeoSUR (CAF) UNEP Technical assistance for the elaboration and launch of a National System of Environmental Information Assistance in topics such as: collection of environmental data (techniques, formats, exchange protocols), interpretation of statistical and environmental information, implementation of environmental accounting WGEI UNEP GEOSUR ECLAC South-South and triangular cooperation Projects already on-going or expected to start soon 3. Disseminate the use of ILAC indicators at the regional level to monitor progress towards sustainable development A regional thematic analysis using ILAC indicators, that could lead to a publication (according to funding availability) WGEI UNEP The compilation of data should be supported by a consultant. The possibility to link this analysis to other similar work from international partners (UNSD, ECLAC, FAO) could be also explored. 4. Strengthen the Working Establish close coordination Conference of Topics: sustainable
Group on Environmental Indicators promoting concrete activities with other similar groups and initiatives at the regional level. between the WGEI and other initiatives and projects, promoting national capacity development in the elaboration of environmental statistics and indicators. Statistics of the Americas WGEI ECLAC UNEP UNIDO consumption and production, green growth, environmental accounting, “blue growth” (referred to oceans and seas) Invite the sub-regional commissions (CAN, CCAD, CARICOM, MERCOSUR), to participate as observers of the WGEI WGEI UNEP Topics: environmental assessment, international trade Meetings of the WGEI through virtual tools and fora for the discussion of topics related to ILAC indicators or others of common interest WGEI UNEP Via Elluminate, Skype or videoconference 7. Promote the incorporation and active participation of the Small Island Developing States of the Caribbean in the WGEI Establish a sub-regional partnership for the adoption of ILAC indicators in the specific context of the SIDS WGEI UNEP CARICOM Proposal for a sub-regional Project to be submitted to the GEF Annex 2 List of the WGEI members (25 countries) Country Name Last name Position Institution Antigua and Barbuda Diann Black-Layne Chief Enviroment Officer Ministry of Agriculture, Land, Housing and the Environment Jason Williams Data Manager Environment Division Argentina Fernando Reinoso Director de Impacto Ambiental y Social Secretaría de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable de la Nación Silvia Chiavassa Técnicos de la Dirección de Impacto Ambiental y Social Fabián Scagnetti Martín Rabbia Bahamas Ingeria Miller Officer The Bahamas Environment Science & Technology Commission (BEST), Ministry of Environment Portia Tulloch Statistitian Department of Statistics
Honduras Carlos Alberto Thompson Director de la Unidad de Planeamiento y Evaluación de la Gestión Secretaría de Recursos Naturales y Ambiente Mexico Arturo Flores Martínez Director General de Estadística e Información Ambiental Secretaría del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT) César Rodríguez Ortega Director de Análisis e Indicadores Ambientales Francisco Javier Jiménez Nava Director General Adjunto de Recursos Naturales y Medio Ambiente; Dirección General de Geografía y Medio Ambiente Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía(INEGI) Carlos Roberto López Pérez Director de Estadísticas de Medio Ambiente Nicaragua Martha Lucía Sánchez Responsable del SINIA Ministerio del Ambiente y los Recursos Naturales (MARENA) Panama Neyra Herrera Estadística Ambiental Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente (ANAM) José Branca Encargado de la Unidad de Estadísticas Ambientales Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censo (DEC) Paraguay Rodrigo Mussi Buzarquis Director de Planificación Estratégica Secretaría del Ambiente Nimia Torres Directora de Estadísticas Económicas Dirección General de Estadística , Encuestas y Censos (DGEEC) Peru Sonia González Molina Directora General de Investigación e Información Ambiental Ministerio del Ambiente (MINAM) Verónika Mendoza Especialista Doris Mendoza Loyola Profesional de la Dirección Técnica de Demografía e Indicadores Sociales Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INEI) Saint Lucia Caroline Eugene Sustainable Development and Environment Officer III Ministry of Physical Development and the Environment Majella Louis Statistician III Ministry of Physical Development and the Environment Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Todd Lewis Environmental Analyst Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment Suriname Andreas Ronald Talea Manager of the Economic Statistics Division General Bureau of Statistics Uruguay Marcelo Iturburu Ministerio de Vivienda, Ordenamiento Territorial y Medio Ambiente Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) José Félix Uzcátegui Director General de Análisis Estratégico Ministerio del Poder Popular para el Ambiente
Annex 3 Matrix of ILAC indicators THEMATIC AREA OBJETIVE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE INDICATOR Methodological sheet 1. BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY 1.1 Increase the forest area 1.1.1 Guarantee the sustainable management of forest resources in the region, significantly reducing actual rates of deforestation. 1.1.1.1 Proportion of country surface covered by forests AGREED 1.2 Increase the territory under protected areas 1.2.1 Significantly increase regional territory under protected areas, considering also transition zones and biological corridors. 1.2.1.1 Proportion of terrestrial and marine protected areas AGREED 1.2.1.2 Proportion of known species at extinction risk AGREED 1.3 Guarantee the equitable distribution of benefits derived from the use of genetic resources. 1.3.1 Adopt regulation frameworks for access to genetic resources as well as the equitable and fair distribution of benefits derived from its use, compatible with the Convention on Biological Diversity 1.3.1.1 Number of authorized projects for the use of genetic resources that generate benefits at the national level. AGREED 1.4 Preserve marine diversity 1.4.1 Secure the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, particularly in coastal and marine ecosystems. 1.4.1.1 Proportion of terrestrial and marine protected areas AGREED 2. WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 2.1 Increase water supply 2.1.1 Increase the efficiency of water use in industry, agriculture and domestic consumption 2.1.1.1 Proportion of water resources utilized AGREED 2.1.1.2 Water consumption for domestic use AGREED 2.1.1.3 Water consumption in the industrial sector AGREED 2.1.1.4 Water consumption for irrigation in the agricultural sector AGREED 2.1.2 Introduce modern technologies for water desalinization 2.1.2.1 Desalinated water EMERGING 2.1.3 Integrate coastal aquifer management to avoid marine intrusion 2.1.3.1 Existence of regulatory frameworks for the management of EMERGING
AND CONSUMPTION 5.1.1.3 Use of energy for each US$ 1,000 dollars of GDP (Purchase Power Parity - PPP) AGREED 5.2 Increase clean production 5.2.1 Install Cleaner Production Centres in all countries of the region 5.2.1.1 Consumption of chlorofluorocarbons that deplete the Ozone Layer AGREED 5.2.2 Incorporate the concept of clean production in a significant fraction of the principal industries, focusing on small and medium industries. 5.2.2.2 Companies with ISO 14001 certification AGREED 5.3 Increaseenvironmental expenditure and promote the use of economic instruments 5.3.1 Formulate and execute strategies for a productive transformation that preserves natural and energy resources 5.3.1.1 Existence of economic instruments applied at the national level AGREED 5.3.2 Increase the economic resources allocated by the Government to the conservation, protection and restoration of the environment and natural resources 5.3.2.1. Environmental expenditure as a percentage of total public expenditure AGREED 6. INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES 6.1 Strengthen environmental education 6.1.1 Enhance and strengthen the environmental dimension in formal and education 6.1.1.1 Existence of official integrated environmental education programmes in schools EMERGING 6.2 Promote and strengthen education and capacity building of human resources 6.2.1 Eradicate analphabetism and provide universal basic and secondary education 6.2.1.1 Net enrollment rate in primary education AGREED 6.2.2 Develop capacities to address vulnerability in the region 6.2.2.1 Public expenditure in risk management of extreme natural and anthropogenic events AGREED 6.2.3 Establish programmes for capacity building in the management of sustainable development for the public sector, the private sector and at the community level 6.2.3.1 Teaching hours of environmental science in primary education EMERGING 6.3 Establish national systems of environmental information 6.3.1 Develop and implement systems of information and indicators of sustainability at the national and regional level that correspond to the social, economic and political characteristics of the region 6.3.1.1 Reports on the state of the environment AGREED 6.3.1.2 System of environmental statistics AGREED 6.4 Promote citizen participation. 6.4.1 Create and strengthen participation mechanisms related to sustainable development, with representation of the government, non-government sectors and major groups of the region 6.4.1.1 Existence of national committees on sustainable development AGREED