Ministers of environment of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) developed joint regional positions with respect to climate change, biodiversity, desertification, pollution, and other environmental challenges in preparation for multilateral negotiations later this year, including the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 30) and the seventh session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7).

The XXIV Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean convened in Lima, Peru, from 30 September to 2 October 2025.

The Lima Declaration calls for more integrated approaches and synergies in addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, desertification, drought, and pollution in all its forms. It recognizes the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, underscores the need to promote multi-level and multi-sector environmental governance, and emphasizes the importance of coordination among the different levels of government and the meaningful participation of all sectors of society in addressing environmental crises.

The Forum also adopted a decision outlining actions to effectively address these challenges.

Countries adopted initiatives and plans, including:

• The Regional Cooperation Programme for Reduction of Methane Emissions from Organic Waste and Closure of Dumpsites;
• The Action Plan for Regional Cooperation on Chemicals and Waste 2026-2029;
• The Regional Action Plan on Air Quality 2026-2029; and
• The updated Regional Action Plan for Ecosystem Restoration and Water Resilience.

Ministers also invited the LAC Working Group on Plastic and Microplastic Pollution, including in the marine environment, to develop and implement the annual programmes of work for 2026 and 2027.

The Forum considered resolutions to be forwarded to UNEA-7 on:

• Advancing options for international instruments on the environmentally sound management of minerals and metals, presented by Colombia;
• Enhancing international response to address crimes that affect the environment, presented by Peru and Kenya;
• Strengthening global response on the massive influx of sargassum seaweed blooms in the Greater Caribbean region, presented by the Dominican Republic; and
• Mother Earth-centric actions for living well in balance and harmony with Mother Earth, presented by Bolivia.

The meeting of the Forum was preceded by: the LAC Youth Environment Forum (LACYEF), on 27 September; the Regional Consultation for the Major Group of Women, on 28 September; and the Regional Consultation Meeting for LAC Civil Society, on 29 September.

COP 30 will convene in Belém, Brazil, from 10-21 November. UNEA-7 is scheduled from 8-12 December in Nairobi, Kenya. [XXIV Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean] [UNEP Press Release]