By Renée Smith
The 2024 Latin American and Caribbean Community of Environmental Funds (RedLAC) Congress is happening in Saint Lucia throughout October 7-10, marking the primary time that the regional physique holds its annual occasion within the Jap Caribbean. Over 200 attendees from 20 international locations together with strategic companions from all over the world, are anticipated to take part on this twenty sixth RedLAC Congress.
Saint Lucia will function a super venue for this congress. Regardless of its comparatively small landmass, the island possesses a excessive diploma of biodiversity incomes it international recognition as a biodiversity hotspot – its waters help an unlimited array of worldwide vital habitats and species, and the island boasts 17 main vegetation sorts and over 200 endemic species.
What’s RedLAC?
Since being established in 1999, RedLAC has facilitated the event and implementation of modern monetary mechanisms tailor-made to the precise wants of the area. It continues to help sustainable improvement efforts in addition to capability and resilience constructing, whereas addressing important points akin to deforestation, local weather change, and the safety of endangered species.
Excessive-Stage Agenda
Organized by the Saint Lucia Nationwide Conservation Fund (SLUNCF) with help from the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), this yr’s RedLAC Congress will run beneath the theme of 30x30x30: The Path to 2030. Referencing the worldwide efforts to preserve 30% of each terrestrial and marine habitats by 2030 that was agreed upon in the course of the 2022 UN biodiversity convention, COP15.
“This yr’s theme, 30x30x30: The Path to 2030, guarantees to encourage and problem us to assume creatively and decisively as we deal with the urgent environmental problems with our time,” expressed Craig Henry, the Chief Govt Officer of the SLUNCF in the course of the RedLAC media launch in August. This convention will function a regional stocktake for progress made in the direction of the purpose, figuring out the successes, challenges, and potential alternatives dealing with environmental funds in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Reaching the 30x30x30 goal will yield main advantages for the area in addition to the remainder of the world. Initial reports recommend that defending these ecosystems might present a 3rd of the local weather mitigation wanted by 2030, help 30 million jobs in ecotourism and sustainable fisheries, help $500 billion of GDP in ecotourism and sustainable fisheries, and 650,000 new jobs in conservation administration.
The Caribbean has been a number one determine within the race to achieve the worldwide goal, and our communities can have an outsized affect, because the area’s wealthy biodiversity offers us with a possibility to maximise conservation and its rewards. Collectively, RedLAC members together with the SLUNCF and CBF already shield 50% of the world’s tropical forests, 41% of the world’s mammals, 33% of the full reptile species, and 50% of the world’s birds.
Excessive-Stage Agenda
With RedLAC happening simply weeks forward of the following UN biodiversity convention (COP16) in Colombia, it should function an vital primer for the conversations held with different international stakeholders. Reflecting this, the occasion’s speaker card is stuffed with high-level consultants from throughout the area, in addition to enter from main worldwide organizations like Conservation Worldwide and The Nature Conservancy. Discussions will give attention to subjects together with carbon accounting, circularity, local weather resilience in addition to financing for blue and inexperienced initiatives.
Setting the tone for the convention in Saint Lucia might be Professor Dale Webber’s introductory keynote. One of many Caribbean’s most revered educational voices, Prof. Webber is uniquely positioned as he isn’t solely the previous Principal of the regional main College of the West Indies, but additionally advises the Authorities of Jamaica at international conferences and is Chairman of a founding RedLAC member, the Environmental Basis of Jamaica. His deal with will spotlight the significance of the 30x30x30 goal and the way vital intra and inter-regional collaboration is to assembly this purpose.
Constructing for the Future
The CBF was borne out of the Caribbean Problem Initiative (CCI) and its on the time bold 20×20 purpose to guard 20% of the area’s ocean and land by 2020. This initiative showcased the Caribbean’s excellence in conservation in addition to highlighted how modern our communities are in terms of creating workable sustainable options.
Conserving the environment and pure heritage is an ever-increasing precedence because the scars of local weather change, speedy industrialization, and concrete improvement mark our landscapes. Issues like marine air pollution, deforestation, and biodiversity loss want collective motion to be remedied, and the options that may deliver forth change can typically enhance a number of sides of our society. That is why the work carried out by RedLAC members and the discussions that might be held in Saint Lucia in October might be key to constructing for the longer term.
This yr’s congress is not only an occasion, however a platform for significant dialogue and motion, setting the stage for impactful outcomes main as much as an upcoming UN biodiversity convention the place the Caribbean and Latin America can stand happy with our achievements. By fostering regional collaboration and capacity-building, the twenty sixth RedLAC Congress will catalyze the collective efforts essential to guard our area, and the planet’s wealthy pure heritage for future generations.
Registrations to the convention are at present open, and extra details about the agenda, audio system, and the work being carried out by RedLAC and its members may be discovered right here: https://congreso.redlac.org/
