The Escazú Agreement: A Landmark in Environmental Protection in Peru
The Escazú Agreement is a historic treaty signed on March 4, 2018, in San José, Costa Rica, aimed at promoting access to information, public participation, and justice in environmental matters. This treaty is named after Escazú, a city in Costa Rica where the agreement was signed. The Escazú Agreement is the first regional environmental treaty in Latin America and the Caribbean, and its impact has been felt not only in Costa Rica but across the region, including in Peru.
The Escazú Agreement has three main objectives: to guarantee access to information, to promote participation in environmental decision-making processes, and to provide adequate and timely access to justice in environmental matters. These objectives are aimed at improving environmental governance in the region and at ensuring that affected communities have a say in decisions that affect their environment and their livelihoods.
In Peru, the Escazú Agreement has had a significant impact on environmental protection and governance. Peru has been a signatory of the agreement since it was signed in 2018, and the government has taken steps to implement it. For example, Peru has established a national commission to coordinate the implementation of the agreement and has developed a national action plan to guide its implementation.
The agreement has also had a positive impact on civil society in Peru. Environmental activists and organizations have used the agreement to demand greater transparency and participation in environmental decision-making processes. The agreement has also provided a legal framework for communities to challenge government decisions that threaten their environment and their rights.
One example of the Escazú Agreement`s impact in Peru is the case of the Conga mining project. In 2011, the Peruvian government approved the Conga mining project, which was expected to produce significant amounts of gold and copper. The project was met with opposition from local communities, who feared that it would damage their environment and their water supply. The Escazú Agreement provided these communities with the legal basis to challenge the government`s decision, and they were successful in halting the project.
The Escazú Agreement is a landmark in environmental protection in Peru and across the region. It has provided a legal framework for greater transparency, participation, and justice in environmental matters, and it has empowered communities to protect their environment and their rights. The agreement represents a new era in environmental governance and has the potential to transform the way that environmental decisions are made in the region. Its legacy is likely to be felt for many years to come.