Environment Minister Orlando Jorge Mera participated in the Ibero-American Dialogue organized by the Ibero-American General Secretariat prior to the opening 27th Iberoamerican Summit in Andorra. As reported by the Ministry of Environment, Jorge Mera urged countries to promote a paradigm shift in the economic model to focus on sustainable economy to face environmental challenges.
The conversation took place as part of the official agenda of the Dominican Republic that will hold the pro tempore presidency of the Ibero-American Summit and host the 28th summit in 2022.
Jorge Mera advocated for advances in the IeroAmerican Environmental Agenda. This agenda seeks to comply with the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations Agenda 2030 and the activation of economic recovery in an effective and socially equitable and environmentally tolerable manner.
In his participation in the Ibero-American conversation “What environmental agenda for the future?,” Jorge Mera says the region needs to continue to take steps towards circular, inclusive and participatory economy.
“We need a transition in the region towards a sustainable, fair and green recovery of our countries, post Covid-19, also combating climate change based on adaptation, as well as the protection of ecosystems,” said the minister while recalling that the Dominican Republic as an island is greatly affected by the effects of global warming.
He also explained that it is necessary to promote recovery and restructuring funds to finance objectives such as energy efficiency, climate change, gender equity, risk management and digital governance, which will be part of the work agenda to be implemented by the country when it assumes the Pro Tempore presidency at this 27th Ibero-American Summit.
Jorge Mera spoke of the importance of international collaboration to combat problems such as sargassum and beach erosion.
Also participating in the Ibero-American Environmental Dialogue were Silvia Calvó Armengol, Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Sustainability of Andorra; Teresa Ribera, Fourth Vice-President and Minister for Ecological Transition of the Government of Spain; and Andrea Meza Murillo, Minister of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica. The dialogue was led by Rebeca Grynspan, Ibero-American Secretary General.
The Ibero-American Environmental Dialogue is part of the week of the 27th Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government and aims to deepen the analysis of the challenges and opportunities of the Ibero-American Environmental Agenda approved by the 22 Iberoamerican countries during the X Ibero-American Conference of Ministers of the Environment, held in September 2020.
In this context, the “Report on Innovation for Sustainable Development in Ibero-America 2021”, prepared by the Ibero-American Observatory for Sustainable Development and Climate Change of La Rábida, was presented.
The general theme of the 27th Iberoamerican Summit is: “Innovation for Sustainable Development – Goal 2030. Ibero-America facing the challenge of the coronavirus”. Likewise, during the event, speakers for the Ibero-American countries are promoting actions in line with the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Ministry of Environment
19 April 2021