Overview.
The Government of Panama has taken seriously the
participation at the Summit on climate change to be held in Paris, France
(COP21), at 215. Expected this Summit to define a binding and definitive
commitment to reduction from the year 2020-greenhouse gases, including the
major powers. Remember that up to that date will last the postponement, which,
since the COP of Copenhagen, took to the Kyoto Protocol, which marked a cut in
CO 2 emissions of 15% for the signatory countries regarding the issued in 1990.
COP21
is remarkable for two situations: its economy is trade and services, by which
environmental concerns lack the specific weight of the "real
economies";
In addition, the size of its economy and
population no impact significantly on global climate change.
Despite the above, Panama shows significant delays in the fulfillment of international conventions that are directly or indirectly related to climate change.
Despite the above, Panama shows significant delays in the fulfillment of international conventions that are directly or indirectly related to climate change.
Pending the ratification of Convention No. 169, ILO,
indigenous peoples.
There are 7 Indigenous peoples in the Republic of
Panama: the Ngäbe, the Bugle, the Guna, the Emberá, the Wounaan, the Naso and
the Bri-Bri, and 5 regions: Ngäbe-Buglé, Emberá - Wounaan, Guna Yala, Wargandi
Guna and Guna of Madugandí.
Panama to contribute to
achieve the commitments in the is estimated that 285,231 inhabitants are
indigenous, representing 10% of the national population. About 50%
of the indigenous population has moved to three poles of attraction: the
Metropolitan Area of Panama and Colon; the area bordering Costa Rica (Bocas del
Toro, Chiriquí and Veraguas) and areas of Darién. This responds to the
deteriorating economic and social situation because if the national percentage
of people living in extreme poverty is 26.5% in the Kuna region of Kuna Yala is
82.4%, in the Comarca Kuna de Wargandi 60.3% in the region Kuna de Madugandi
63.1% in the Comarca Emberá - Wounaan 78.6% and the region Ngäbe - Buglé 93.4%.
In the last five years the indigenous regions have
attracted interest from entrepreneurs, national and international, for the
development of large mining projects (copper, gold), hydroelectric, hotel
infrastructure, etc., which has led to serious conflicts with the indigenous
population and their local authorities. The regions have become nature reserves
that could become irreparably damaged (deforestation, destruction of
watersheds), with negative impacts on climate change.
In 1989 the International Labour Organization (ILO)
adopted the indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169). The Convention
has not been ratified by Panama, despite various efforts in the National
Assembly in recent years.
Convention 169 has, as a general principle, that
indigenous peoples have the right "to the natural resources pertaining to
their lands», which include the right to"participate in the use,
Management and conservation of these resources.
Article 7 of the Convention No. 169 specifically
states that indigenous peoples must "participate in the formulation,
implementation and evaluation of plans and programs for national and regional
development which may affect them directly'.
The rights and concerns of indigenous and tribal
peoples have gained unprecedented importance, since they are inserted in the
global debate on human rights, governance, reduction of poverty and economic
development, social economy, climate change, sustainable development and
environmental protection.
The Panamanian delegation, therefore, assists the
COP21 with an outstanding debt with indigenous peoples.
Delays in the implementation of the Stockholm
Convention: continues the incineration of solid waste at the national level.
Panama participated in the Conference of
Plenipotentiaries for the Stockholm Convention on polluting organic persistent
(POPs), held in Stockholm from 22 to 23 May 2001; the National Assembly no.
ratified it through Act 3 of January 20, 20031, acquiring all of its
obligations and rights, and entered into force on 17 May 2004.
The Stockholm Convention is fully corresponds with the
General Law of the environment of Panama, contains fundamental provisions
regarding the responsibility of the State to regulate, monitor, control and
regulate everything related to human health and the management of wastes and
hazardous substances.
Poor management of solid waste, with the widespread
practice of open-air waste incineration, continues more than generating 80% of
dioxins and furans.
Other delays, related to the Stockholm Convention, relate
to provisions related to PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and POPs pesticides:
There is no ban on import of electrical equipment
containing PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) greater than 50 ppm.
The electric distribution companies are performing the
tasks of identify, label and remove from use equipment contaminated with PCBs,
as part of an environmentally sound management (cleaner production). However,
there is no certainty of reaching the goal of eliminating PCBs in 2025, nor was
it reached the goal of comprehensive management in all of its equipment
contaminated with PCBs exceeding 0.005% in 2008.
Governmental and private entities have not developed
any measures for the disposal of the PCBs. low current conditions is entirely
implausible that these sectors to achieve the goals set for 2025.
It has failed to require the use of materials,
products and processes substitute or modified to prevent the formation and
release of POPs in new construction.
Delays in the implementation of sustainable forest
management techniques.
The total forest area of Panama represents 46,800 Km2
(61.9%). The rest, 28,717 Km2 (38.1%) has been operated and they already do not
have forests.
Continue this trend, according to estimates by
Miambiente, the forest coverage in Panama would have passed from the 87.7 32.1%
in 1903. % in 2035, as shown in the following graph:
In order to deal with this problem the national
Government urges the "Alliance for the millions of hectares
reforested" program, to recover the degraded in the country especially in
protected areas and critical watershed areas.
The stated program objectives are:
- Improve hydrological regulation to deal with changes in the climate, which will manifest itself with longer droughts and more intense rainfall.
- Promote reforestation with native species.
- Strengthening the rural economy of the country through the development of a sustainable activity.
- Improve the quality of the water of the rivers to prevent sedimentation.
However, is has not contemplated the application of
criteria for a sustainable management of forests:
- Management systems shall promote the development and the adoption of non-chemical methods of pest management, to prevent damage to the environment. Be banned pesticides classified as of types 1A and 1B by the World Health Organization (who); hydrocarbon pesticides, and those compounds of chlorine; pesticides that are persistent, toxic or whose derivatives remain biologically active and accumulate in the food chain beyond its intended use; and any pesticide banned by international agreements...
- Chemicals, containers, inorganic waste, liquids and solids, including fuel and lubricants, should be disposed of in an environmentally appropriate way in places away from the work site.
- Chemical waste, packaging, solid waste and liquids produced in forest operations or processing sites, should be disposed of in a legal and environmentally sound way.
- Define and implement protocols for storage and use of chemicals and the equipment used, as well as for the management of wastes produced during the operation.
Overview.
Panama has pledged to comply with agreements and
commitments arising from the COP21 of Paris, this will force all sectors
(Government, municipalities, community organizations, NGOs, entrepreneurs) to
establish a national agreement to overcome the following weaknesses:
The scope / implementation of the legal framework is
reduced. This is attributable to several factors: a) the constantly
changing technical personnel to take control and command of shares as a result
of changes in government administration every 5 years; b) weak inter
agency coordination; c) technical staff lacks budgetary and logistical
resources necessary to perform their duties; d) resistance of stakeholders to
accept and participate in the measures implementing the agreements and laws; e) little
or no knowledge of vulnerable groups at risk on legislation that protects them.
Other limiting factors on the implementation of the
legislation on environmental matters are to) environmental responsibility is
defined as compensation/repair of the damage caused or the inferred damages because
of acts or omissions that cause environmental impacts. Does not apply the
precautionary principle; (b) the protection of the environment and natural
resources traditionally has been conceived as a function of the public
administration, which is a legal manifestation of the externalization of
environmental costs; and (c) environmental legislation continues to be
predominantly administrative in nature.
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