24 October 2001: The Latin America and Caribbean Regional Preparatory Conference for the WSSD took place at Rio Centro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 23-24 October 2001.

Representatives of 27 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) States, three associate members of ECLAC, five non-ECLAC UN member States, and representatives from UN agencies, multilateral financial institutions, and NGOs attended the Conference.

Delegates considered progress achieved in implementation of Agenda 21, discussed the document regarding “The sustainability of development in Latin America and the Caribbean: Challenges and opportunities,” and heard statements by ministers and representatives of international organizations and civil society. A Special Session, during which Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso spoke, was held on Tuesday, 23 October, and a high-level Panel on Financing Sustainable Development was convened on the same day.

At the end of the meeting, delegates adopted the “Rio de Janeiro Platform for Action on the Road to Johannesburg 2002,” which includes sections on: reaffirmation of principles and commitments; obstacles and lessons learned; present considerations; and future commitments.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin report outlining these discussions in detail can be found at: http://enb.iisd.org/linkages/2002/wslac/