Bahamas joins the Escazú Agreement, the first regional environmental treaty

San Juan, June 5 (EFE).- Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis has announced his country's accession to the Escazú Agreement, the first regional environmental treaty, as a demonstration of the priority his government places on environmental preservation.

The Bahamas is the ninth member state of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to join the treaty and the eighteenth in the region, according to a statement released by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

"All Bahamians have the right to a safe and healthy environment. Our accession to the Escazú Agreement, precisely on World Environment Day, is a decisive step toward making this a reality. It puts our people and one of our greatest treasures, our environment, first," Davis said.

The public ceremony to join the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation, and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean (Escazú Agreement) was held at The Retreat National Park on New Providence Island.

"Our Government has deliberately prioritized the natural wealth of our islands as a foundation for the economy, livelihoods, and well-being of Bahamians for present and future generations," the Prime Minister stated.

Also participating in the ceremony were the Bahamas' Minister of Foreign Affairs, Frederick Mitchell, and the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Vaughn Miller; the Director of Sustainable Development and Human Settlements at ECLAC, Carlos de Miguel; and the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Bahamas, Aneesah Abdullah.

"Climate change is our top foreign policy priority. By joining the Escazú Agreement, we reaffirm one of the fundamental pillars of our diplomatic engagement and lead by example in a crucial year for the region, when COP30 on climate change will take place in Brazil," Mitchell said.

For his part, Miller highlighted the importance of the treaty for the Bahamas, as a vulnerable small island state on the front lines of climate change.

"The Escazú Agreement provides us with additional tools to safeguard and preserve our ecosystems and natural resources, developing capacities and strengthening our collaboration with other countries in the region," he emphasized.

The United Nations Resident Coordinator for the Bahamas has noted that "promoting prosperity, security, and a better quality of life for all requires informed and participatory decision-making, empowered citizens, and urgent action to reach the most disadvantaged."

De Miguel also congratulated and highlighted the Bahamas' environmental leadership following its accession to the Escazú Agreement.

"Today, the Bahamas sends a clear and decisive message to the region and the international community. By joining other States Parties in addressing common challenges, it reaffirms its commitment to multilateral cooperation and assumes a leadership role in advancing sustainable transformations based on the principles of transparency, inclusion, and meaningful public participation," he stated.

The Escazú Agreement, adopted on March 4, 2018, and in force since April 22, 2021, seeks to guarantee the right to a healthy environment and sustainable development through access to information, public participation, and access to justice.

Furthermore, it is the first in the world to include specific provisions to protect human rights defenders in environmental matters. EFE

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