OEA - Documento ACTAS-S C 411 26 de 2026

ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS OEA/Ser.G

CONSEJO PERMANENTE CP/ACTA 2497/24 (Transcripción)

22 abril 2024

TRANSCRIPCIÓN DEL ACTA DE LA SESIÓN CONJUNTA

DEL CONSEJO PERMANENTE

Y EL CONSEJO INTERAMERICANO PARA EL DESARROLLO INTEGRAL

DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS

CELEBRADA EL 22 DE ABRIL DE 2024

Se ruega a las misiones permanentes enviar a la Secretaría, Unidad de Servicios Editoriales, al correo electrónico EDíaz@oas.org, o a la Oficina ADM G-12 del Edificio Administrativo, dentro del plazo de cinco (5) días laborales a partir del 4 de septiembre de 2026, las correcciones de forma que consideren necesarias. El acta así corregida será sometida a la aprobación del Consejo Permanente y constituirá la versión final.

ÍNDICE

Página

Nómina de los miembros que asistieron a la sesión 1

Aprobación del proyecto de orden del día 3

Celebración del “Día Internacional de la Madre Tierra” 4

Panel sobre esquemas asociativos para la acción climática 14

Diálogo entre los Estados Miembros sobre la colaboración para la acción climática 23

DOCUMENTO CONSIDERADO EN LA SESIÓN

(SE PUBLICA POR SEPARADO)

CP/INF: 10180/24, Nota conceptual: Reunión Conjunta del Consejo Permanente y del Consejo Interamericano para el Desarrollo Integral para conmemorar el Día Internacional de la Madre Tierra, “Un llamamiento a la acción: enfrentando los desafíos ambientales críticos en las Américas”. [22 de abril de 2024].

CONSEJO PERMANENTE DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS

ACTA DE LA SESIÓN CONJUNTA DEL CONSEJO PERMANENTE Y

EL CONSEJO INTERAMERICANO PARA EL DESARROLLO INTEGRAL

CELEBRADA EL 22 DE ABRIL DE 2024

En la ciudad de Washington, D. C., a las nueve y treinta y siete de la mañana del lunes 22 de abril de 2024, celebraron sesión conjunta el Consejo Permanente y el Consejo Interamericano para el Desarrollo Integral (CIDI) de la Organización de los Estados Americanos para conmemorar el “Día Internacional de la Madre Tierra”. Presidieron la sesión el Embajador Chet Donovan Neymour, Representante Permanente del Commonwealth de las Bahamas y Presidente del Consejo Permanente, y el Embajador Steve Ferrol, Representante Permanente del Commonwealth de Dominica y Vicepresidente del CIDI. Asistieron los siguientes miembros:

Embajador Tarlie Francis, Representante Permanente de Grenada y Vicepresidente Interino del Consejo Permanente

Embajadora Luz Elena Baños Rivas, Representante Permanente de México

Embajador Washington Abdala, Representante Permanente del Uruguay

Embajadora Alejandra Solano Cabalceta, Representante Permanente de Costa Rica

Embajador Héctor Enrique Arce Zaconeta, Representante Permanente de Bolivia

Embajador Lynn Raymond Young, Representante Permanente de Belize

Embajador Samuel Hinds, Representante Permanente de Guyana

Embajador Benoni Belli, Representante Permanente del Brasil

Embajador Daniel Raimondi, Representante Permanente de la Argentina

Embajador José Luis Sardón, Representante Permanente del Perú

Consejera Ana Soledad Sandoval Espínola, Representante Interina del Paraguay

Ministro Consejero Gonzalo Mauricio Vásquez Orozco, Representante Interino de Guatemala

Ministra Consejera Christobelle Reece, Representante Interina de Barbados

Consejera Ana Soledad Sandoval Espínola, Representante Interina del Paraguay

Ministro Consejero Gonzalo Mauricio Vásquez Orozco, Representante Interino de Guatemala

Ministra Consejera Christobelle Reece, Representante Interina de Barbados

Ministro Consejero Augustine Fitzstephen Abdullah Skerritt, Representante Interino de Saint Kitts y Nevis

Ministro Consejero Felipe Andrés Sáez Marcuse, Representante Interino de Chile

Ministro Marco Vicente Ponce Villacis, Representante Interino del Ecuador

Consejera Pamela Polanco Jorge, Representante Interina de la República Dominicana

Ministro Consejero Omari Seitu Williams, Representante Alterno de San Vicente y las Granadinas

Consejera Gillian Ingrid Joseph, Representante Alterna de Antigua y Barbuda

Ministra Consejera Saira Esmeralda Ponce Rosales, Representante Alterna de Honduras

Primera Secretaria Ruedi Josiane Trouchen, Representante Alterna de Trinidad y Tobago

Embajadora María Fernanda Cortizo Frías, Representante Alterna de Panamá

Consejero Germán Enrique Herrera Toloza, Representante Alterno de Colombia

Consejera Carla Esperanza Rivera Sánchez, Representante Alterna de El Salvador

Ministro Consejero Mikhail Giovanni Bullard, Representante Alterno del Commonwealth de las Bahamas

Señor Thomas R. Hastings, Representante Alterno de los Estados Unidos

Primera Secretaria Chanel Vanessa Nahar, Representante Alterna de Suriname

Ministra Delita Elizabeth McCallum, Representante Alterna de Jamaica

Consejera Gillian Sarah Gillen, Representante Alterna del Canadá

Tercera Secretaria Lynsia Frank, Representante Alterna del Commonwealth de Dominica

También estuvo presente el Secretario General Adjunto de la Organización, Embajador Nestor Mendez, Secretario del Consejo Permanente.

Tercera Secretaria Lynsia Frank, Representante Alterna del Commonwealth de Dominica

También estuvo presente el Secretario General Adjunto de la Organización, Embajador Nestor Mendez, Secretario del Consejo Permanente.

El PRESIDENTE: Good morning, colleagues. I am honored to declare this joint session of the Permanent Council and the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI) open, which is convened this morning in recognition of Earth Day. Today’s theme, which is entitled “A Call to Action – Meeting Critical Environmental Challenges in the Americas,” is more relevant than ever.

We are particularly grateful for the presence of our esteemed guest speakers, renowned experts in the field of environmental challenges. Their insights will be invaluable as we navigate these pressing issues.

To the panelists and colleagues joining us in person or virtually, welcome to all of you. I would extend a warm welcome, but that would be if I were in The Bahamas; this morning is chilly, but you are nonetheless [warmly] welcome.

I also extend a welcome to my esteemed Co-Chair this morning, Ambassador Steve Ferrol, Permanent Representative of the Commonwealth of Dominica, and Chair of CIDI. Ambassador Ferrol, my brother, as always, welcome.

APROBACIÓN DEL PROYECTO DE ORDEN DEL DÍA

El PRESIDENTE: Colleagues, there is a correction in respect of the [draft] order of business that we ought to approve before we get started. Under agenda item 3: “Panel on Partnerships for Climate Action,” the presentations will be: first, panelist Mr. Avinash Persaud, Special Advisor on Climate Change to the President of the Inter-American Development Bank, followed by Ms. Elizabeth Lien, Senior Director for Federal Climate Policy [and Subnational Programs] at the World Wildlife Fund, and then the order remains the same.

In accordance with Article 43 of the Rules of Procedure, I hereby request that we begin now with the proceedings to consider the [draft] order of business as amended and reflected in document CP/OD-2497/24.

[El proyecto de orden del día contiene los siguientes puntos:

1. Aprobación del orden del día

2. Celebración del Día Internacional de la Madre Tierra

[El proyecto de orden del día contiene los siguientes puntos:

1. Aprobación del orden del día

2. Celebración del Día Internacional de la Madre Tierra

• Discurso de apertura a cargo del Excmo. señor Michael Halkitis, Ministro de Asuntos Económicos, Commonwealth de las Bahamas, Presidente de la Comisión Interamericana para el Desarrollo Sostenible - “Un llamamiento a la acción”, presentación a cargo de representantes regionales de la juventud:

o Waynisha Saunders, Embajadora Juvenil del Clima (las Bahamas) y Samantha Ramírez Ruvalcaba, Embajadora Juvenil de los ODS (las Bahamas), intervención conjunta

o Dennis Nolasco, Coordinador de Educación, Earthday.org

• Planes de la OEA para implementar el Plan de Acción Interamericano sobre el Cambio Climático, presentación a cargo del señor Mark Lambrides, Director del Departamento de Desarrollo Sostenible, SEDI

1. Panel sobre esquemas asociativos para la acción climática

• Alocuciones de:

o Sra. Elizabeth Lien, Directora Senior de Política Climática Federal del Fondo Mundial para la Conservación de la Naturaleza

o Sr. Avinash Persaud, Asesor Especial sobre Cambio Climático del Presidente del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo

o Sra. Alicia Montalvo, Gerente de Acción Climática de la CAF (Banco de Desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe)

1. Diálogo entre los Estados Miembros sobre la colaboración para la acción climática.]

If there are no objections or otherwise, it is approved.

CELEBRACIÓN DEL “DÍA INTERNACIONAL DE LA MADRE TIERRA”

El PRESIDENTE: We move on to item 2, the recognition of Earth Day.

1. Diálogo entre los Estados Miembros sobre la colaboración para la acción climática.]

If there are no objections or otherwise, it is approved.

CELEBRACIÓN DEL “DÍA INTERNACIONAL DE LA MADRE TIERRA”

El PRESIDENTE: We move on to item 2, the recognition of Earth Day.

As we gather today, it is fitting to acknowledge Earth Day, a global movement dedicated to raising awareness about the critical state of our planet. Recognizing Earth Day within the Organization of American States (OAS) holds particular significance. The Americas encompass a vast and diverse ecological landscape. From the Amazon rainforest to the coral reefs and mangroves of the Caribbean, to the Andes Mountains, our region is a treasure trove of biodiversity. However, these ecosystems face immense threats like deforestation, pollution, and climate change.

The OAS plays a vital role in fostering cooperation and collaboration among member states on environmental issues. By recognizing Earth Day, we reaffirm our commitment to working together to address these challenges.

This joint meeting today provides a valuable platform for dialogue and action. By bringing together the Permanent Council and the Inter-American Council for Integral Development, we can explore innovative solutions and develop effective strategies to ensure a sustainable future for all in the Americas. Let today’s Earth Day serve as a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to protect our shared environment.

Now I have the distinct honor to invite the Honorable Senator Michael B. Halkitis, Minister of Economic Affairs of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, who also serves as the Chair of the Inter-American Committee for Sustainable Development. Minister Halkitis will join us to share his opening remarks virtually this morning.

Minister, thank you. The floor is yours, Sir.

Minister, I am advised that you need to request the floor, given that you are joining us virtually, just to make sure there is no other Michael B. Halkitis out there.

El MINISTRO DE ASUNTOS ECONÓMICOS DEL COMMONWEALTH DE LAS BAHAMAS Y PRESIDENTE DE LA COMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE: Thank you very much. Ambassador Neymour, can you hear me?

El PRESIDENTE: I can hear you, but you are coming through a little broken up, and we cannot see you. Nonetheless, please proceed, Minister.

El MINISTRO DE ASUNTOS ECONÓMICOS DEL COMMONWEALTH DE LAS BAHAMAS Y PRESIDENTE DE LA COMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE: Ambassador Chet Neymour, Permanent Representative of The Bahamas to the Organization of American States (OAS) and Chair of the Permanent Council; Ambassador Steve Ferrol, Permanent Representative of Dominica to the OAS, and Chair of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI); Assistant Secretary General Nestor Mendez; distinguished permanent representatives of member states and permanent observers, today across the globe, men and women of conscience are pausing to reflect on our responsibility to do all that we can to preserve this one home that we all share, called Earth.

While I am pleased to join you all today, and commend the OAS for this commemoration of Earth Day, the reality remains that, if we are to meet the environmental challenges of the moment, every day must be Earth Day. This year, there is a concerted focus on the important issue of pollution, including breaking our destructive addiction to plastics and other carbon-based pollutants. The Bahamas has joined others in instituting a ban on single-use plastics, and we join the global call for the eradication of single-use plastics that continue to pollute our oceans, our land, and even our bodies.

Effectively addressing the climate crisis, however, remains the overarching policy and diplomatic priority of The Bahamas and other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the region. Just a few years ago, my country witnessed loss and damage from Hurricane Dorian, totaling more than US$3 billion, adding to the almost 50% of our debt stock linked to recovery from climate-fueled natural disasters. This vicious cycle of mitigation, destruction, response, and recovery has left The Bahamas—like many others across the Hemisphere—perilously close to being all borrowed out, with the prospect of another major storm around the corner hanging like a sword of Damocles over our respective heads.

The climate crisis continues to teach us that no one country and no one institution can have a monopoly on addressing the climate crisis, given the scale of the threat and the transnational causes and impacts of the climate crisis. An all-hands-on-deck approach is needed if we are to halt and reverse the worst impacts of climate change.

And while global climate action still remains wholly inadequate, we believe that we are moving in the right direction. While we would have hoped for even more ambition, The Bahamas lauds the global commitment taken at the twenty-eighth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change for “transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a just, orderly, and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade, so as to achieve net zero by 2050 in keeping with the science.”

We must continue to progressively enhance our collective ambition towards realizing fully decarbonized economies within this generation. The Bahamas reiterates our expectation that the special circumstances of SIDS, low-lying countries, and least developed countries will continue to be accounted for in climate action commitments, and that the special vulnerabilities of our countries will be better reflected in the criteria used to assess financing and aid needs.

The Bahamas is also pleased that we have finally agreed to the constitution of a Loss and Damage Fund, whose interim host will be the World Bank until a permanent host is agreed. In order for this fund to become something more than just symbolic, it must facilitate efficient and responsive compensation by the significant polluter countries for loss and damage associated with the impacts of climate change, including extreme events and slow-onset events through the provision of financial and technical resources. We know that there is significant work that remains to operationalize the fund, including the election of a Chair, decisions on a host country for the board, and other legal and administrative conditions for operationalization. We encourage developed countries to meet their obligations to fully capitalize the fund and also reiterate our expectation that the fund’s board will engender equitable regional representation.

However, while we await the fulsome realization of global commitments to climate action, and particularly for the industrialized countries of the world to meet their moral obligation for financing climate action and leading decarbonization efforts, The Bahamas and other developing countries must do what we can to advance national efforts to adapt to and mitigate the effects of the climate crisis and to build resilience.

The Bahamas is doing its part by transitioning the fleet of government cars to electric vehicles and retrofitting government buildings with renewable energy infrastructure. We are partnering with the Inter-American Development Bank to better leverage our sunny climes by supporting the construction of solar energy projects, including microgrids for generation and storage across our archipelago. Within our special economic zone of Freeport, we have a blue action lab, which hosts entities dedicated to building environmental resilience such as Coral Vita and its pioneering efforts in coral restoration. This is critical work that we hope can reverse the 80% coral reef loss expected over the next several decades.

We are also building national capacity in sustainable agriculture and aquaculture with The Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Science Institute. The Bahamas has developed new innovative development financing mechanisms, including launching The Bahamas Sustainable Investment Program and the Blue Carbon Initiative, and we welcome collaboration with regional colleagues to leverage these mechanisms to tap into capital markets and donor finance to bridge the gap in global development finance.

Two years ago, The Bahamas made history by passing our carbon credit trading bill and positioning our country as the first country that will sell new carbon credits on the carbon market, via multilateral or bilateral trading agreements. Marine ecosystems like seagrass beds, mangroves, and salt ponds are capable of storing more carbon per square mile than their terrestrial counterpart forests, and this means that the 1,600 square miles of mangroves and other marine ecosystems in The Bahamas are perhaps our country’s most valuable natural resource. We are continuing the work to develop our carbon registry and our verification and accreditation framework and invite other countries of the region to look to blue carbon credits as a potential model for generating their own climate finance.

Colleagues, while The Bahamas and other developing countries of the Hemisphere are doing our part to innovate and find solutions to the ever-present threat of climate change, the hard truth is that it will not be enough. If the OAS is to maintain relevance for the small island and low-lying coastal developing states among its membership, it must do more to support climate action across the Americas. Given that the countries of the Americas are among the most vulnerable to climate change globally, we believe that the Hemisphere and its subregions should be leaders in shaping global climate action and global climate diplomacy, particularly in light of the shared risks and challenges that we all face.

As happened six months ago in The Bahamas at the Fourth Inter-American Meeting of Ministers and High-Level Authorities on Sustainable Development, and as is happening with this special meeting today, we see immense benefit to leveraging the convening power of the OAS within the inter-American system to build consensus and animate purposeful action within our Hemisphere toward climate action. Back at our Ministerial Meeting, in October, alongside discussing and memorializing for the first time a hemispheric consensus on needs around access, affordability, and adequacy in the provision of climate finance, the countries of the Americas also adopted a robust Declaration of Nassau [for Sustainable Development in the Americas], which serves as a hemispheric consensus on priorities for climate action, including commitments to promote nature-based solutions to support mitigation and adaptation efforts, reduce pollution, enhancing climate finance, and build a more hemispheric approach to climate action.

I believe that The Bahamas and similar countries can benefit from the demonstrated capacity of the OAS in human development, training, and capacity-building in areas of urgent need such as accessing climate finance, advancing decarbonization and renewable energy, providing climate-smart skills, advancing circularity within our economies, and strengthening disaster preparedness and recovery.

And so, in order to move from talk to action, back in October, our countries also adopted the Inter-American Climate Change Action Plan 2023–2030, which will serve as a roadmap to collectively work through the OAS to support climate action in and across member states.

Colleagues, in conclusion, I wish to encourage member states to support the OAS Executive Secretariat for Integral Development, and its efforts to execute the projects and programs envisioned in the Inter-American Climate Change Action Plan 2023–2030. All of our countries, big and small, can contribute through sharing knowledge, offering technical cooperation, and providing financial and other in-kind resources.

As I discussed last week at the Fourth Specialized CIDI Meeting of High-Level Cooperation Authorities, I also wish to encourage permanent observers to partner with us in the critical work we are embarking on to animate the Inter-American Climate Change Action Plan 2023–2030. The OAS can serve as an effective partner for your development cooperation efforts in the Americas.

The Bahamas looks forward to collaborating as we work to build a healthier, mode biodiverse, and cleaner Americas, and by extension, do our part to better protect and preserve this one planet Earth that we all share.

I want to thank you all, and once again wish you all a happy Earth Day.

El PRESIDENTE: Thank you ever so much, Minister, for your always so insightful remarks, and thank you very much for carving out the time. I know you are attending to some matters of state, and you are actually in transit. We wish you the best in your work, which you continue to do not only for The Bahamas, but for the Americas.

Moving on, I would like to now hear a call to action from our esteemed and invited young leaders. At one point I was considered [young]; I am no longer that.

I would like to welcome Ms. Waynisha Saunders, Climate Youth Ambassador, and Ms. Samantha Ramirez Ruvalcaba, Sustainable Development Goals Youth Ambassador, both from the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. We will also hear from Mr. Dennis Nolasco, Education Coordinator at EarthDay.org.

Firstly, we will hear from the passionate young individuals who are at the forefront of the environmental movement, and their voices deserve our full attention. I encourage everyone to listen closely as they share their perspectives and inspire us to take action.

Ms. Saunders and Ms. Ramirez Ruvalcaba, welcome to the Organization of American States. The floor is yours.

La EMBAJADORA JUVENIL DEL CLIMA DEL COMMONWEALTH DE LAS BAHAMAS: Good morning, everyone.

I am Waynisha Saunders, representing the beautiful islands of The Bahamas, and I stand before you as a Climate Youth Ambassador. Alongside me is my esteemed colleague, Samantha Ramirez, a Sustainable Development Goals Youth Ambassador. We are representing not just The Bahamas, but the wider Caribbean; together we bring the voice and determination of our region to the global stage.

Today, as we gather to commemorate Earth Day, we are reminded of the profound significance of this occasion. Earth Day serves as a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to protect and preserve the planet we call home. It is a day to celebrate the beauty and diversity of our natural world, but also a day to reflect on the urgent need for action and to address the environmental challenges that confront us.

In the Caribbean, our stunning landscapes and vibrant cultures are intertwined with the ocean and the environment; yet we face unprecedented environmental challenges that threaten our very existence.

As Youth Ambassadors, we are committed to raising awareness about the environmental challenges we face and mobilizing action to address them. We must transition to a more sustainable and resilient future, one that prioritizes the well-being of both people and the planet. But we cannot do it alone; we need governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals to join us in this endeavor. We need bold and decisive action at all levels to mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect our planet for future generations.

As we celebrate Earth Day today, let us renew our commitment to protecting and preserving our planet. Let us seize this opportunity to come together as a global community and take meaningful action to address the environmental challenges that confront us. The fate of our planet hangs in the balance, and the time to act is now.

La EMBAJADORA JUVENIL DE LOS OBJETIVOS DE DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE DEL COMMONWEALTH DE LAS BAHAMAS: Good morning. As previously mentioned by my colleague, my name is Samantha Ramirez Ruvalcaba, and I am a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Youth Ambassador for The Bahamas.

As a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), the environmental challenges that hinder our path to sustainable development are of great impact and urgency, with the most prominent challenges here in The Bahamas being our financial limitations, mason’s capacity-building on a national level, and a lack of resources to implement circular economy concepts.

With respect to financial limitations, we need to encourage the creation and implementation of financial support initiatives, like those that are outlined in the Inter-American Climate Change Action Plan 2023–2030, the Bahamas [Climate Finance] Declaration, and the Declaration of Nassau [for Sustainable Development in the Americas]. These documents were agreed to by our Hemisphere in The Bahamas, highlighting the importance of inter-American collaboration to address sustainable development and climate-related challenges. These initiatives focus on providing funds to SIDS, since we are the most vulnerable to experiencing adverse effects caused by climate change. Financial support will allow us to accelerate our transition to clean, renewable energy, develop water, resource, and disaster-risk management solutions, and combat climate change.

A second major challenge identified is educating our nation on the subject of climate change. Encouraging future Bahamians about the importance of sustainable development in The Bahamas is imperative. We need to teach our people about the significant positive impacts implementing more environmentally conscious technology can make in our country, and how important transitioning to renewable energy sources and sustainably using our terrestrial and marine resources is. Taking inspiration from ideas such as climate-smart skills training programs, we need to create accessible programs where Bahamians and other Caribbean citizens are able to learn about climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Last but not least, building a circular economy is useful to ensure plans for long-term sustainable development. Again, being a SIDS means that we are not resource independent, and that makes sustainably developing our rapidly growing economy ever more difficult. We take this opportunity within this special meeting, hosted by the Organization of American States (OAS), to learn from other fellow SIDS on how we can maintain the rate of growth in tandem with achieving our SDGs.

Thank you for listening. We look forward to collaborating with you all in the future and overcoming these challenges together.

El PRESIDENTE: Thank you very much to both Youth Ambassadors, and on behalf of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, I must say you make us proud and continue to do so. And thank you very much for your call to action and joint statement.

We now invite Mr. Nolasco.

Mr. Nolasco, we are honored to have you with us today. It is my understanding you are representing the original “Earth Day” organization; from the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, when Senator [Gaylord] Nelson and Denis Hayes planned and organized the inaugural movement, inspiring 20 million Americans to take part, up to today, when Earth Day has become a global event recognizing environmental challenges and opportunities facing our planet. We welcome you and your colleagues to the Organization of American States.

Mr. Nolasco, the floor is yours.

El COORDINADOR DE EDUCACIÓN DE EARTHDAY.ORG: Muchísimas gracias.

Estimados [Estados] Miembros de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA), mi nombre es Dennis Nolasco, soy hijo de padres salvadoreños, y estoy muy agradecido por el esfuerzo que han hecho para darme la oportunidad de estar aquí frente a ustedes.

Me dirijo a ustedes hoy como representante del movimiento global que exige una acción urgente frente al cambio climático y a la crisis relacionada con los plásticos. El tema de este año en EarthDay.org, “Planeta contra plásticos”, resalta la interconexión entre el uso desenfrenado de plásticos y los impactos ambientales y climáticos que enfrentamos en todo el mundo.

La producción y el consumo masivo de plásticos están contribuyendo significativamente al cambio climático. Desde la extracción de recursos necesarios para la fabricación de plásticos hasta la incineración de desechos plásticos, cada etapa de su ciclo de vida emite gases que agravan nuestra crisis climática.

Además, los plásticos representan una grave amenaza para nuestros ecosistemas y comunidades. La contaminación plástica afecta gravemente los medios de vida y la salud de las personas, especialmente en las comunidades costeras y las áreas donde la vida marina es abundante. Los plásticos contaminan nuestros océanos, dañan la vida marina y, eventualmente, ingresan a la cadena alimentaria humana.

Es fundamental que trabajemos [para lograr] un tratado global sólido sobre plásticos para abordar este desafío de manera integral y coordinada. Este tratado debe establecer estándares claros para la reducción, la gestión sostenible y el manejo responsable de los plásticos en toda la cadena de suministro.

La educación sobre el cambio climático y la contaminación plástica es esencial para capacitar a las generaciones futuras en la lucha por un futuro sostenible. Debemos [fomentar] la conciencia ambiental y climática en nuestros sistemas educativos y comunidades p