The ESCAZÚ Project: Environmental Rights For All Jamaicans

What is the Escazú Agreement?

In March 2018, after years of negotiation, the Escazú Agreement was adopted. It is the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation, and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters.

This first ever environmental human rights treaty for Latin America and the Caribbean aimed at promoting the enhanced governance of natural resources in the region.

In September 2019, Jamaica joined 23 other countries to sign the treaty.

At the C-CAM Foundation, we understand the importance of the Escazú Agreement and the need to ensure that this agreement is ratified by the Jamaica Government, as is has been by other countries in the region.

Why is The Escazú Agreement important to Jamaican citizens?

This regional treaty guarantees environmental rights, provides protections for environmental human rights defenders and ensures citizens can play a part in decision-making on matters related to the environment.

This treaty works to ensure that all Jamaicans can:

• Enjoy the right to a healthy environment
• Access information on the state of the environment and the decisions and plans that may affect it
• Effectively participate in the environmental decision-making process
• Voice their opinions, and take legal action to seek redress to protect the environment, or if citizens are excluded from the decision-making process on environmental matters, or refused environmental information

Ratification of the Escazu Agreement will mean that Jamaica has made a commitment to greater transparency in environmental matters.

FAQs

What is the Escazú Agreement?

The Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean is known as the Escazú Agreement. The agreement takes its name from Escazú, Costa Rica, where in 2018 after 2 years of preparation and negotiation among the countries of the region, the Agreement was adopted.

What are the benefits of the Escazu Agreement?

The Escazu Agreement is aimed at protecting the rights of present and future generations to live in a healthy environment.

The treaty aims to achieve the effective implementation of the rights to access environmental information as well as justice regarding environmental matters.

The treaty also aims to improve public participation in the environmental decision-making processes. Simply put, with the treaty in full effect, the environmental rights of the citizens will be better protected.

What does the Escazu Agreement cover?

Key aspects of the Agreement are:

1. Access to information and justice for citizens
   • Countries should create mechanisms to guarantee access to environmental information and establish entities to promote transparency in access to environmental information
   • People may not push for environmental justice because they are not equipped with the necessary knowledge and resources to access the justice system
2. Public participation in environmental decision making
   • The authorities should identify citizens that will be directly impacted by projects, and activities that will likely have an impact on the environment and health and promote measures of public participation in the process
   • Efforts should be made to involve people or groups in vulnerable situations in a timely, active and effective manner in the environmental decisions that will affect them and remove barriers to their participation in decision making.
   • The public should be informed about environmental decisions, the authorities involved and the procedure for public participation and requesting information.
   • The public should be informed about the reasons and grounds for the decisions taken and how their comments were taken into account.
3. Create and strengthen the capacities of authorities, public officials and citizens on environmental access rights
   • Promote education, training and awareness of environmental access rights
   • Acknowledge the importance of civil society organizations in the environmental decision-making process

How does the treaty benefit me?

• Escazu Agreement benefits you because it takes environmental sustainability to the grassroots. You will be able to actively participate in protecting Jamaica’s land, water, air, and natural resources.
• The treaty means that Jamaicans can enjoy healthier and sustainable lives as the government and decision makers will pay more attention to aspects of environmental sustainability.
• The treaty encourages community efforts towards environmental sustainability. This means that the citizens will be better empowered to preserve their natural resources and natural heritage.

When should the government ratify the Escazu Agreement?

The Escazu Agreement will come into effect on the 22nd of April, 2021, International Earth Day. The Jamaican government should ratify the treaty now to show that it is ready for its full implementation.

Without the ratification of the agreement in any country, its citizenry cannot benefit from the protection the treaty offers.