News

Applications are now open for the 2nd UNEP-ICRI small grants programme 2021 to support the conservation and restoration of coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass.

The GEF CReW+ Project held its Inception Meeting  The Caribbean Region faces many challenges in the water and sanitation sector. About 70% of the region’s population lacks access to safely managed sanitation services, implying severe environmental and public health risks. 

In an effort to strengthen the response of Caribbean countries to address the environmental concerns they face and enhance their capacities to fully engage in Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) implementation, the Secretariat of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Cartagena Convention, along with the Food and Agriculture Organization  of the United Nations (FAO) are jointly implementing a 5-year programme (2020-2024)

Collaboration under the United Nations Development Programme/Global Environment Facility (UNDP/GEF) Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem (CLME+) Project  

During the 2019/2020 biennium, the UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat has been fortunate to welcome 8 young, bright minds to its Internship Programme. Hailing from Aruba, China, France, India, Jamaica, Norway and the United Kingdom, these university graduates are connected by their shared interest in environmental science and their desire to make meaningful contributions to sustainable development at all levels.

The United States Coast Guard has conferred on Ms. Carla Bikker the Medal of Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty for her 25 years of dedicated service as Operations Manager, and now newly appointed Director of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO)/ United Nations Environmental Programme's (UNEP) Regional Activity Center (RAC)/Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Information and Training Center (REMPEITC).

The Steering Committee of the UNDP/GEF CLME+ Project “Catalyzing implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems project, Chaired the Government of Panama, convened virtually from 16-18 June 2020.

What do the UNDP/GEF Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+) Project, the Italian-funded Biodiversity for Sustainable Development Project and the Ecosystem-Based Management sub-project in the North-Brazil Shelf all have in common?

The United Nations Environment Programme’s Cartagena Convention Secretariat, as the lead co-executing agency, will be convening the Fourth Regional Project Steering Committee Meeting (RPSC) of the GEF-funded Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystem Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (UNEP GEF IWEco) Project from 1-2 July 2020 through virtual means. The main objectives of the meeting will be to:

Monday, 15 June 2020, marks the 25th Anniversary of RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe.

The Global Environment Facility-funded Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystems Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (GEF IWEco) Project, executed by the Cartagena Convention Secretariat, is thrilled to announce that its "Caribbean Breaking Up With Plastics" video won two major awards in May 2020!     

The health of our oceans and seas is inextricably linked with the health of our planet and all life on earth. Many nationalities, including mine, have a special relationship with the sea.

Six months ago, life was what we would have called “normal”; fast-forward to June 2020, in the throes of a global pandemic and recovery efforts- the catchphrases- quarantine, social distancing, masks and stay at home have become the new norm.

World Oceans Day on June 8 celebrates the underwater world whose abundant marine resources sustain the land above it. Some of these resources and ecosystems, such as the overlooked seagrass, mighty mangroves, and colourful corals offer potent, nature-based solutions to climate change and sustainable development.

The Caribbean Regional Fund for Wastewater Management (GEF CReW+) project will focus on further improving integrated water and wastewater management in the W

The theme for World Environment Day, 5 June 2020 is biodiversity — a call to action to combat the accelerating species loss and degradation of the natural world. One million plant and animal species risk extinction, largely due to human activities. Hosted by Colombia, in partnership with Germany, World Environment Day urges us to rethink how our economic systems have evolved and the impact they have on the environment.

Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) has released a Perspectives Paper on “Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic for the Caribbean Water Sector.”

Continue to follow us throughout the month of May to get daily facts about marine mammals in the Wider Caribbean, conservation efforts undertaken in the region through our Marine Biodiversity Protocol (SPAW) and Regional Activity Centre (SPAW-RAC), and how you can play a role in protecting these species.

The availability of a water source is a critical dimension of human security. Clean water is essential for many necessities of life, which include drinking, cooking, sanitation and hygiene.

An unprecedented coalition of over 70 environmental and education experts came together to help parents, students and pupils with a series of lessons called Earth School.  The programme is designed to help them discover and celebrate our connection with nature (

UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat participates in the Human Security Joint Programme Community Fair and Launch in Northern Clarendon  

UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat participates in Joint UN Jamaica Programme to build human resilience

This CLME+ is a portal designed to harness global knowledge, resources and tools in the one convenient place to support the achievement of the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf (CLME+) Vision and Strategic Action Programme (SAP) initiatives. The HUB has been designed to accommodate the information needs of a wide variety of CLME+ stakeholders including members of the general public to LME Practitioners. It is intended to be:

Emanating from the 7th ICM Meeting celebrated in March 2020 From 18 to 20 March 2020 the Members and Secretariat of the CLME+ Interim Coordination Mechanism (ICM) for integrated Ocean Governance in the wider Caribbean convened for a 7th time. In light of the ongoing novel coronavirus crisis, the meeting was held via teleconference.  

On 1st July 2022, the staff of the United Nations Environment Programme Caribbean Environment Programme and Cartagena Convention Secretariat along with members of the GEF IWEco Project Coordination Unit, commenced a phased return to office taking into account all recommended COVID-19 protocols.