Latin America and the Caribbean are among the most sensitive regions to climate-related disasters on the planet. In March 2018, the region adopted a treaty known as the Escazú Agreement—named for the place in Costa Rica where it was signed—which seeks to protect environmental defenders in their fight for climate justice, and ensure that vulnerable communities in the area have a voice in decisions affecting the environment they live in. While 25 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have signed the agreement only about half of them have ratified it.
We [Open Society Foundation] spoke with Nicole Leotaud, executive director of the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute, about the current state of the agreement, the challenges involved in its implementation, and its value for the region.
Read the full interview below: