Both the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and its private arm, the IDB Invest, have recently opened the process for reviewing their environmental and social safeguards policies. It is important that Latin American civil society and, above all, communities affected by the projects financed by these institutions, participate actively in the public consultation process, either by sending virtual comments or by participating in face-to-face consultations that will be held in different cities of the region. Here, 5 key points to consider about the review processes.
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
Why is the review given?
Following the recommendation made by the IDB Office of Evaluation and Supervision (OVE) in its Evaluation of Environmental and Social Safeguards, the IDB Executive Board approved, on July 2, 2019, the launch of the process to “modernize” its policies environmental and social, which seek to ensure that potentially negative environmental and social impacts are properly evaluated, managed and mitigated in IDB operations. According to the IDB itself: “there is a need to update and integrate a policy framework for environmental and social risk management, so it seeks to develop an integrated Social Environmental Policy Framework, aligned with international standards and best practices.” In this way, the IDB follows the steps recently taken by other Multilateral Development Banks, such as the World Bank.
On the other hand, the IDB Invest (formerly Inter-American Investment Corporation -CII-), the IDB’s private arm, began updating its Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy last June. According to the Bank, the purpose of the review is to establish “a single framework of standards that customers must meet instead of using multiple third-party standards. The update process includes a review of current trends and best practices related to environmental and social sustainability, including those designed by other international financial institutions (IFIs) operating in the private sector. ” In practice, following OVE recommendations, the IDB Invest seeks that borrowers adhere to the IFC Performance Standards, which are widely recognized and already applied by IDB Invest borrowers, and references to other standards removed. from third parties.
What does the review include?
In the case of the IDB, the review includes the five independent policies that make up the environmental and social safeguards:
- Environment and Safeguards Compliance Policy (OP-703) of 2006
- Policy on Disaster Risk Management (OP-704) of 2007
- Involuntary Resettlement Policy (OP-710) of 1998
- Gender Equality in Development Policy (OP-761) of 2010
- Indigenous Peoples Policy (OP-765) of 2006
So far, the IDB has prepared a Policy Profile on the Modernization of Environmental and Social Policies.
In the case of IDB Invest, the review is only of its:
- Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy, effective since 2013.
And a Draft of the new Policy has been published, which is under public consultation.
When are the consultations carried out?
In the case of the IDB, on July 2, 2019, the Executive Board approved the launch of the modernization process and subsequently published the Policy Profile. The draft policy framework is expected to be submitted to the Executive Board at the end of October 2019 for public consultation. The stage of preparation for the modernization process would culminate in the development of the Environmental and Social Policy Framework (MPAS) in September 2020. The MPAS would be implemented as of 2021.
As for the IDB Invest, a Consultation Plan has been published with the basic information about the process, which basically consists of:
1. Making the Policy Draft available to the public.
2. Digital and face-to-face public consultations open for 120 days (as of June 17, 2019).
3. Consultations in person at:
- Colombia (September 4),
- Argentina (September 4),
- Jamaica (September 6),
- Panama (September 6) and
- Washington, D.C. (September, 10th)
4. Virtual consultation session at:
- Spanish (September 12),
- English (September 12),
- Portuguese (September 13).
5. Making the comments received and attended available to the public.
After conducting the public consultation, the IDB Invest will submit to the Executive Board the final draft of the Policy for final approval, after which a plan for its implementation will be established and executed.
Why is it important to participate?
For several reasons, it is necessary that civil society, citizens and, above all, indigenous communities and communities affected or potentially affected by IDB or IDB Invest operations actively participate in this process, contributing their experience and its recommendations and suggestions regarding the environmental and social safeguards of the institutions.
First, because both the IDB and the IDB Invest are, today and despite the diversification of financial actors operating in the region, key actors in financing for development in Latin America and the Caribbean. According to the Bank itself: in 2018, with a historical amount of US $ 17,000 million approvals, the IDB and the IDB Invest were consolidated as the main source of multilateral financing for Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB approved a total of 96 sovereign guaranteed loan projects for a total financing of more than US $ 13.4 billion, and disbursed more than US $ 9.9 billion. In turn, 2018 was a record year for IDB Invest, with approvals of US $ 4,000 million, 26% more in volume and 21% more in number of transactions than the previous year. The IDB Invest extended its support to sectors such as infrastructure and Fintech, adding to education, tourism, water and sanitation, transport and energy. In the case of Argentina, the IDB has historically been the main multilateral partner for the country’s development, with an average of recent annual approvals of US $ 1,360 million. The current active portfolio with the public sector is 54 operations for an approved amount of US $ 9,206.4 million and an unpaid balance of US $ 3,874.7 million, according to the information provided by the Bank itself.
Second, because a robust and effective system of environmental and social safeguards is key to avoiding the impacts at the socio-environmental level that, in many cases, bring infrastructure projects financed by institutions such as the IDB or the IDB Invest. When the design, application or implementation of environmental and social safeguards fails in these types of projects, the impacts and consequences especially in the communities involved are often complex, and unfortunately in many cases, irreversible. Cases such as Camisea in Peru or Hidroituango in Colombia reflect the bitter consequences of the bad, or even the lack of application of socio-environmental safeguards in projects financed by the IDB Group
Third, because an active, informed, responsible and coordinated participation by the key members of civil society and the indigenous and affected communities of the region would contribute to the objective of avoiding a possible (and latent) dilution of the system of environmental and social safeguards from both the IDB and the IDB Invest. Recent experiences of dilution of environmental and social regulatory frameworks after review and “modernization” processes not only in related institutions such as the World Bank or the International Finance Corporation (IFC), but also in the national regulatory systems of the countries of The region clearly reflects a trend that the IDB Group seems not to want to escape.
How to participate?
Actors interested in participating in the review process of the IDB or IDB Invest safeguards can do so in different ways and through multiple channels:
For the IDB review:
The Bank offers two ways to participate in the consultation process.
Initial consultation stage: before developing the new Framework for Environmental and Social Policies, the IDB held two face-to-face workshops in Washington, DC (August 8 and 12) to analyze the lessons learned from the implementation of environmental and social policies existing.
Consultations in person on the proposed new environmental and social policy framework (dates and places have not yet been disclosed): the IDB will hold consultative meetings in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, at the IDB headquarters in Washington, DC , and in other member countries.
Those who want to stay updated about the review process can register on this link provided by the Bank.
- For the IDB Invest review:
IDB Invest also offers virtual and face-to-face instances to participate in the review process of its Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy.
Virtual or written comments can be sent to the SustainabilityPolicy@idbinvest.org email or through the mail addressed to: IDB Invest: Environmental and social sustainability policy. 1350 New York Avenue, NW. Washington, D.C., 20577. USA.
To participate in face-to-face consultations in some of the indicated countries, it is possible to register at the following link provided by the Bank.
In Argentina: The face-to-face consultation in Argentina on the proposal of the Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy of the IDB Invest will be held next Wednesday, September 4 from 09:00 am to 11:00 am at the IDB headquarters in Argentina, located in Calle Esmeralda 130, 11th floor, Buenos Aires.
In addition: those interested in knowing more about how to participate effectively in the consultations, can register to participate in the webinar “Review of IDB Invest safeguards, how to participate effectively?” Organized by DAR, Environment and Society and the Bank Information Center (BIC) by entering this link.
Fundeps, together with a group of organizations in the region, is coordinating actions to promote broad, inclusive and effective participation of civil society and indigenous peoples and affected communities in both the IDB and IDB Invest review process; and to try to strengthen and avoid a weakening of environmental and social safeguards. If you are interested in getting involved in this process, you can contact gon.roza@fundeps.org.
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Contact
Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org
A brake on agrochemicals
Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic.
The head of Federal Court No. 2 that investigates pollution with agrochemicals in the city of Pergamino, province of Buenos Aires, extended a precautionary measure that had been issued in the same case, ordering on this new occasion to suspend aerial spraying at a distance 3,000 meters from the urban area and 1,095 meters for land applications. The prohibition includes the use of pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and any other package of agrochemicals, such as glyphosate and its derived metabolites, atrazine, triticonazole, metolachlor, acetochlor, chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid, disetil, 2.4D; and commercial formulations such as ROUNDUP FULL II, ROUNDUP MAX II, ROUNDUP ULTRAMAX.
On this occasion, the judge considered that the reasons for ordering the original resolution had not changed, where a prohibition of 600 meters would be established provisionally, until studies on the health of the population were carried out. In this sense, new genotocixity studies were incorporated into the cause where the “presence of genetic damage in the organisms of people” was confirmed. The resolution said the studies found “glyphosate in the blood and urine of people, with an increase in blood markers of chromosomal damage.”
The cause was opened by the impulse of neighboring Florencia Morales and Sabrina del Valle Ortíz, who detected the poisonings in the Villa Alicia neighborhood, both referents of “Mothers of Fumigated Neighborhoods”. Throughout the cause, various tests were incorporated that demonstrated the environmental risk involved in the use of these products and their impact on human health. Given all this, the federal judge understood that these evidences, in principle, were sufficient to have as configured a danger of damage to health and the environment. Under the guideline of the precautionary principle, he argued that “in the absence of scientific certainty regarding the safety of the products discharged for the population of Pergamino justifies the extension of the measure already arranged and in the intended distances, since it is not possible to avoid that it is an extremely delicate and sensitive situation, the health of children and adults in that region being at stake”.
The Judge also assessed the results and evaluations carried out by the GeMA Research Group – Genetics and Environmental Mutagenesis – of the Department of Natural Sciences of the National University of Río Cuarto, in charge of Dr. Delia Aiassa. In one of their works, the researchers evaluated the level of damage in the genetic material of children in the city of Marcos Juárez, province of Córdoba. To this end, they studied three groups of children residing at different distances from the spray zone: less than 500 meters, between 500 and 1,095 meters, and more than 3,000. No differences in genetic damage were found between groups of children residing within 500 meters and between 500 and 1,095 meters. However, the genetic damage of both groups was significantly greater than that of resident children at distances greater than 3,000 meters, thus suggesting that the 500 meters of shelter indicated in art. 59 of Law 9,164 of the province of Córdoba (Law of Agrochemicals) are not enough in localities that are surrounded by crops where agrochemicals are sprayed.
Water in Pergamino
In April 2019, the same judge Carlos Villafuerte Ruzo ordered to suspend the application of agrochemicals in four fields surrounding three neighborhoods of Pergamino, determining a prohibition distance of 600 meters from the houses. There, the neighbors had reported serious health problems in children and adults. The judge’s decision was based on a study by the Experimental Agricultural Station (EEA) of the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) Balcarce, which resulted in the presence of pesticides in the water. From the Municipality they requested that a new analysis be made to the Water Authority of the province of Buenos Aires which, unlike INTA, concluded that the water was suitable for human consumption.
Although the presence of agrochemicals was found, it was detailed that they were below the parameters considered hazardous to health. Faced with these two reports, Judge Villafuerte requested a new study from the Toxicology team of the Supreme Court of the Nation, which confirmed that Pergamino water is contaminated with 18 types of agrochemicals. This result coincides with that shown by INTA Balcarce. This new report clarifies that the examination of the specialists of the Court was carried out based on liquid evidence and not on the reports already prepared that are part of the criminal case.
The three neighborhoods where water pollution was reported are: Villa Alicia, Luar Kayard and La Guarida. Villafuerte Ruzo in his ruling had urged the Municipality to immediately guarantee the provision of drinking water in these neighborhoods.
Cause impact
The Pergamino case and its subsequent ruling at the hands of the Federal Justice, generated that in the province the courts also handed down similar sentences. Such is the case at the town of Exaltación De La Cruz, where a recent ruling by Buenos Aires justice ordered the banning of sprays less than a thousand meters from the ground.
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Authors
María Laura Carrizo
Lorena Sciarini
Contact
Juan Bautista López, juanbautistalopez@fundeps.org
We exhibited at the ALADAA National Congress about the role of the AIIB in the New Silk Road
Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic.
On August 22 and 23, 2019, the IX National Congress of ALADAA (Latin American Studies Association of Asia and Africa) Argentina “Cultures in Motion: Potentials and Challenges in Globalization. Asia and Africa from Latin America” was held in the city of Río Cuarto. Fundeps participated by presenting a paper entitled “The role of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in the New Green Silk Road”, which was presented by the Global Governance area volunteer, Mariano Camoletto.
The article deals with the financing of the Silk Road and the Silk Road Initiative, analyzing the role of the AIIB as its financial engine. In addition, it explores whether financing through the AIIB represents a possibility of providing greater environmental and social sustainability to the projects implemented in the framework of the New Silk Road (also known as the Belt and Road Initiative), the mega project on a global scale driven by China.
The AIIB, whose headquarters is in Beijing, was created in 2015 on the initiative of China and currently has more than 100 members, among which Argentina. The bank aims to contribute to the economic and social development of Asia with a focus on sustainable infrastructure, private capital mobilization and connectivity. For its fulfillment, the AIIB has a portfolio of 100 billion dollars and the strategy is based on the Lean, Clean and Green concept through which the bank seeks to be efficient, agile, ethical and environmentally friendly.
As for the bank’s operational policies, the most important are the Environmental and Social Framework and the Accountability Mechanism. As for the first, it was approved in 2016 and its purpose is to help the bank and its clients achieve positive results of environmental and socially sustainable development in their projects, as well as expose the institutional objectives to address environmental and social risks and impacts in the projects financed by the bank. Likewise, compliance with these policies is mandatory in order to access bank financing.
As for the Bank’s Accountability Mechanism, it was launched in 2018 and is intended to receive complaints and requests from those communities or populations negatively affected by Bank-financed projects. The mechanism has two essential functions: the first one is the resolution of disputes through dialogue and understanding of the affected parties; and secondly, that of compliance review, which consists in this mechanism investigating whether the Bank has fulfilled its obligations regarding the proper application of its operational policies.
The main objective of our participation as exhibitors in this congress was to promote the foundation’s approach to the national and provincial academic community for the study of Chinese investments and initiatives (such as the AIIB) and its impact on society, which is usually reflected in infrastructure projects with potential (or real) environmental and social impacts. The joint work has the purpose of analyzing and understanding China’s socio-political and economic insertion model in Latin America and, especially, in Argentina; as well as the strategies that Latin American countries implement against this phenomenon in the framework of the Silk Road.
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Author
Mariano Camoletto
Contact
Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org
The basic argentine food basket from the perspective of human rights
This document intends to make an analysis of the Basic Food Basket from the perspective of Human Rights, in the light of the Food Guidelines for the Argentine Population and other food standards regarding adequate food.
Canasta básica argentina – Documento Fundeps [[Spanish version]]
The basic food basket, a policy that undermines the right to adequate nourishment
We participate in the review of the socio-environmental sustainability policy of the IDB Invest
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”
Within the framework of the public consultations that the IDB Invest is conducting on the draft of its new Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy, we participate in the face-to-face public consultation held last Tuesday, September 4 at the headquarters of the IDB Argentina in the city of Buenos Aires. The IDB Invest is a member of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, better known as the IDB Group. It is a multilateral development bank with the purpose of promoting the economic development of the member countries of the region through investment in the private sector. That is, while the IDB is responsible for public sector investment, the IDB Invest invests in private sector projects.
Thus, in June of this year the IDB Invest began the public consultation to review the draft of its new policy of environmental and social safeguards; review that would last for 120 days. The objective of conducting a public consultation is due to the relevance of establishing a dialogue with interested parties to make suggestions for the new policy. Thus, virtual and face-to-face consultations have been carried out or will be carried out not only in Argentina but also in other countries such as Colombia, Jamaica, Panama or the United States.
According to the consultation plan announced by the Bank, once the public consultations have been finalized and a new draft has been prepared, it will be submitted to the Executive Board for approval, giving rise to the new Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy, replacing the policy of 2013. However, one of the main complaints heard in public consultations by a wide range of civil society organizations and indigenous communities, was the need for the Bank to open a second draft for public consultation. of the policy, in order to identify how the recommendations and suggestions made during public consultations were incorporated.
Additionally, Fundeps together with a group of organizations in the region raised the need, among other things, to: Include two areas of expansion beyond the 8 Performance Standards of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), in particular, a Performance Standard related to gender and, second, another for the participation of stakeholders and communities. In turn, the need was also raised not to dilute responsibilities in the supervision of the implementation of the safeguards; and that the new policy should be guided by the principle of “generating benefits” beyond the idea of ”not causing harm” as the policy currently proposes.
More information
IDB and IDB Invest review their environmental and social policies – Fundeps Web page on the Consultation on the Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy of the IDB Invest
Contact
Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org
Health and law: internship at the O’Neill Institute at Georgetown University
February and March 2020 at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University in Washington DC.
Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic.
Calling institutions:
Requirements for submission:
Selection Mechanism:
Documentation to present:
* The materials must be sent in digital format in a single file in Acrobat Reader format (.pdf) to the address: info@fundeps.org, indicating in the subject: Call O’Neill – “Name of the candidate”.
Selection criteria:
Financing:
Queries
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First subject on abortion at the Faculty of Medicine of the National University of Córdoba
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
On Wednesday, August 14, he represented a before and after in one of the most traditional and consecrated houses of study in the city of Córdoba. For the first time a training space on abortion was opened in the Medicine career of the National University
This initiative responds to the need to fill a void of said theme in the Faculty, promoting the first academic curricular space for undergraduate education that comprehensively addresses the problem of termination of pregnancy. The academic proposal promotes the interdisciplinary approach that this situation requires through the inclusion of students of Medicine and Nursing, Nutrition, Phonoaudiology, Kinesiology and Physiotherapy and Medical Technology degrees.
Throughout its curriculum, the perspective of sexual and (non-reproductive) rights, the legal framework and socio-sanitary situation in Córdoba, Argentina and the region will be addressed, as well as the Care Protocols in situations of Legal Interruption of Pregnancy according to Current national legislation. The subject, intended for undergraduate students, proposes a training in which current legislation will be addressed, and will provide the technical tools to provide the corresponding care in the face of legal interruptions of pregnancy, among other related contents.
The space is the result of the work of the teaching team composed of the Dras. Mariana Butinof and Gladys Ponte, the Mgters. Alejandra Domínguez of the Faculty of Social Sciences, and Prof. Med. Julieta Dahbar, Med. Helena Facchin, Med. Camila Blanco, Med. Ana Nahas, Est. Leticia Pérez and Est. Sol Domínguez. The initiative is supported by the Gender Program of the UNC Secretariat of Extension.This group of medical and integral health professionals decided to organize themselves to generate an interdisciplinary space of social approach in front of a State that, instead of guaranteeing this right of people with pregnant capacity, throws them and condemns them underground. “This has enabled us to remove the problem of Abortion in academic and institutional spaces from the closet and address it from a human rights, gender and Public Health perspective,” in the words of the team that supports the space. Its commitment is to the construction of a Faculty that deals with the training of future Health professionals committed to social demands and in this matter in particular, the Abortion theme as a socio-sanitary problem of Argentina and Latin America.
Abortion is the leading cause of maternal death in the world, therefore it is a public health problem. The impossibility of real access to a legal abortion is one of the many violations of rights of the patriarchal and capitalist system on the body of women that are still in force. Deaths due to clandestine abortions are state femicides. It is necessary that the initiative of the UNC, as it was the chair on abortion opened two years ago at the Faculty of Medicine of Rosario, is transmitted to all the houses of study and state institutions, encouraging the construction of spaces in which disseminate a comprehensive and gender health perspective.
Seven years after the FAL ruling of the Supreme Court of Justice clarifying the scope of the non-punishable abortion, and the dissemination of the Protocol for the Comprehensive Care of Persons with the Right to Legal Interruption of Pregnancy of the Ministry of Health of the Nation, the majority of those who work in the health system continue to hinder people’s access to this right. In this context, the initiative to include these perspectives from training, as well as to demand greater positioning and encourage more interventions by university institutions to address these problems, is key in this context. Promoting respect for the human right of people to decide on their own body, thus advancing in a comprehensive health perspective, is essential for the training of professionals committed to building a more just society.
Author
Lucia Calabria Aragon
Contact
Cecilia Bustos Moreschi cecilia.bustos.moreschi@fundeps.org
Trunk gas pipelines: we make requests for information from agencies in the province of Córdoba
On the occasion of the completion, in the course of 2019, of the work of trunk pipelines that began to be planned more than ten years ago, we made requests for information to the Córdoba Investment and Financing Agency (ACIF), the Ministry of Water, Environment and Public Services and the Ministry of Public Works and Financing.
With this work, according to the government of the province, the gas network reached almost 98% of Cordoba, however, there are a number of issues around the project that are not yet fully clarified.
Despite being completed, issues such as the lack of access to information on the control of the progress of the project, such as the lack of precision about the funders of each of the systems has been controversial and confusing. Although it could be observed that the communication on the progress in the work by the provincial government was constant, the same did not happen with access to more specific and sensitive issues related to the project.
From Fundeps we have carried out periodic monitoring and monitoring of the project, even though the official information has been scarce and difficult to access: requests for information we previously made were never answered. With these new requests made we hope that the modalities in the access of provincial information have been modified in a positive way in order to achieve a more transparent and open government to society.
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Author
Sofia Brocanelli
Contact
Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org
PreCOP Córdoba “Civil Society Collaboration”
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
Given the cross-cutting nature of environmental management, which is why environmental problems must be considered and assumed comprehensively and cross-sectorally, a logic of horizontal, multisectoral and interdisciplinary participation was sustained throughout the day.
In the morning the event began with the dissertation of specialists in climate change and then in the afternoon, through various work tables, the participants discussed, discussed and contributed on an equal and transparent footing to write a Roadmap . The discussion, in addition to being linked to the PreCOP issues, was framed in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In addition to the aforementioned, various projects and actions of NGOs against climate change were presented under the Pecha Kucha format, topics such as renewable energy, differentiated waste collection, community empowerment on climate change were discussed.
About the Roadmap
The Road Map was the central and final objective of the event, in which representatives of the Cordoba civil society left the actions to be followed. Specifically, it focused on what elements are necessary to achieve governance that guarantees and promotes the effective participation of all sectors in decision-making and in the allocation of resources for projects, plans and programs related to climate change.
The aforementioned document was presented, in its preliminary version, before the official PreCOP authorities and at COP 25 to be carried out in December 2019 in Chile. During the month of September, work will continue among the participating organizations of the Side Event to continue developing their content.
The Climate Summit (COP) this year will be held in Chile and is a great opportunity to reach our representatives the various voices embodied in a document that show what are the necessary actions to deal with climate change. The summit is attended by representatives from almost every country in the world, scientists, specialists and NGOs where they intend to set criteria for compliance with the Paris Agreement and improve gas reduction goals.
Authors
Carolina Tamagnini
Ananda Lavayén
María Laura Carrizo
Contact
Juan Bautista López, juanbautistalopez@fundeps.org
We request the intervention as amicus curiae in the Porta Hnos case.
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
We submit a request to federal court No. 3 by Judge Miguel Vaca Narvaja, admission and participation as amicus curiae (friend of the court) in the cars “CRUZ, SILVIA MARCELA AND OTHER C / MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINING OF THE NATION S / ENVIRONMENTAL AMPARO (FCB 021076/2016)”, which are processed before said court, on the occasion of the environmental protection initiated by the neighbors of the Porta Hnos plant, against the polluting activity present there.
Continuing with the commitment around the problem that afflicts the neighbors of that of the Porta plant, on this occasion, through the Amicus Curiae Institute, we intend to provide the intervening Court with foundations of fact and law that we consider relevant for the purposes of an adequate weighting in relation to the interests at stake and a resolution of the problem respectful of the fundamental rights affected.
It should be remembered that the conflict to be resolved in the federal justice of this province, involves more than 25 neighbors of B ° San Antonio and members of the Citizen Assembly “UNITED NEIGHBORS IN DEFENSE OF A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT – VUDAS” who initiated an action Amparo Ambiental group against the Ministry of Energy and Mining of the Nation (Secretariat of Hydrocarbons Resources) requesting the closure and final closure of the bioethanol plant of PORTA HNOS. S.A since the operation of this irreparably affects the health of the neighbors and the environment.
We consider participation in this case to be of fundamental importance since in the underlying conflict, fundamental human rights such as life, health and the environment are compromised. For this reason, the resolution must consider such extremes and, in this case, provide a judicial response that may mean an important judicial precedent in environmental matters.
Author
Ananda Lavayen
Contact
Juan Bautista Lopez, juanbautistalopez@fundeps.org
The IDB and the IDB Invest review their environmental and social policies
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
Why is the review given?
Following the recommendation made by the IDB Office of Evaluation and Supervision (OVE) in its Evaluation of Environmental and Social Safeguards, the IDB Executive Board approved, on July 2, 2019, the launch of the process to “modernize” its policies environmental and social, which seek to ensure that potentially negative environmental and social impacts are properly evaluated, managed and mitigated in IDB operations. According to the IDB itself: “there is a need to update and integrate a policy framework for environmental and social risk management, so it seeks to develop an integrated Social Environmental Policy Framework, aligned with international standards and best practices.” In this way, the IDB follows the steps recently taken by other Multilateral Development Banks, such as the World Bank.
On the other hand, the IDB Invest (formerly Inter-American Investment Corporation -CII-), the IDB’s private arm, began updating its Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy last June. According to the Bank, the purpose of the review is to establish “a single framework of standards that customers must meet instead of using multiple third-party standards. The update process includes a review of current trends and best practices related to environmental and social sustainability, including those designed by other international financial institutions (IFIs) operating in the private sector. ” In practice, following OVE recommendations, the IDB Invest seeks that borrowers adhere to the IFC Performance Standards, which are widely recognized and already applied by IDB Invest borrowers, and references to other standards removed. from third parties.
What does the review include?
In the case of the IDB, the review includes the five independent policies that make up the environmental and social safeguards:
So far, the IDB has prepared a Policy Profile on the Modernization of Environmental and Social Policies.
In the case of IDB Invest, the review is only of its:
And a Draft of the new Policy has been published, which is under public consultation.
When are the consultations carried out?
In the case of the IDB, on July 2, 2019, the Executive Board approved the launch of the modernization process and subsequently published the Policy Profile. The draft policy framework is expected to be submitted to the Executive Board at the end of October 2019 for public consultation. The stage of preparation for the modernization process would culminate in the development of the Environmental and Social Policy Framework (MPAS) in September 2020. The MPAS would be implemented as of 2021.
As for the IDB Invest, a Consultation Plan has been published with the basic information about the process, which basically consists of:
1. Making the Policy Draft available to the public.
2. Digital and face-to-face public consultations open for 120 days (as of June 17, 2019).
3. Consultations in person at:
4. Virtual consultation session at:
5. Making the comments received and attended available to the public.
After conducting the public consultation, the IDB Invest will submit to the Executive Board the final draft of the Policy for final approval, after which a plan for its implementation will be established and executed.
Why is it important to participate?
For several reasons, it is necessary that civil society, citizens and, above all, indigenous communities and communities affected or potentially affected by IDB or IDB Invest operations actively participate in this process, contributing their experience and its recommendations and suggestions regarding the environmental and social safeguards of the institutions.
First, because both the IDB and the IDB Invest are, today and despite the diversification of financial actors operating in the region, key actors in financing for development in Latin America and the Caribbean. According to the Bank itself: in 2018, with a historical amount of US $ 17,000 million approvals, the IDB and the IDB Invest were consolidated as the main source of multilateral financing for Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB approved a total of 96 sovereign guaranteed loan projects for a total financing of more than US $ 13.4 billion, and disbursed more than US $ 9.9 billion. In turn, 2018 was a record year for IDB Invest, with approvals of US $ 4,000 million, 26% more in volume and 21% more in number of transactions than the previous year. The IDB Invest extended its support to sectors such as infrastructure and Fintech, adding to education, tourism, water and sanitation, transport and energy. In the case of Argentina, the IDB has historically been the main multilateral partner for the country’s development, with an average of recent annual approvals of US $ 1,360 million. The current active portfolio with the public sector is 54 operations for an approved amount of US $ 9,206.4 million and an unpaid balance of US $ 3,874.7 million, according to the information provided by the Bank itself.
Second, because a robust and effective system of environmental and social safeguards is key to avoiding the impacts at the socio-environmental level that, in many cases, bring infrastructure projects financed by institutions such as the IDB or the IDB Invest. When the design, application or implementation of environmental and social safeguards fails in these types of projects, the impacts and consequences especially in the communities involved are often complex, and unfortunately in many cases, irreversible. Cases such as Camisea in Peru or Hidroituango in Colombia reflect the bitter consequences of the bad, or even the lack of application of socio-environmental safeguards in projects financed by the IDB Group
Third, because an active, informed, responsible and coordinated participation by the key members of civil society and the indigenous and affected communities of the region would contribute to the objective of avoiding a possible (and latent) dilution of the system of environmental and social safeguards from both the IDB and the IDB Invest. Recent experiences of dilution of environmental and social regulatory frameworks after review and “modernization” processes not only in related institutions such as the World Bank or the International Finance Corporation (IFC), but also in the national regulatory systems of the countries of The region clearly reflects a trend that the IDB Group seems not to want to escape.
How to participate?
Actors interested in participating in the review process of the IDB or IDB Invest safeguards can do so in different ways and through multiple channels:
For the IDB review:
The Bank offers two ways to participate in the consultation process.
Initial consultation stage: before developing the new Framework for Environmental and Social Policies, the IDB held two face-to-face workshops in Washington, DC (August 8 and 12) to analyze the lessons learned from the implementation of environmental and social policies existing.
Consultations in person on the proposed new environmental and social policy framework (dates and places have not yet been disclosed): the IDB will hold consultative meetings in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, at the IDB headquarters in Washington, DC , and in other member countries.
Those who want to stay updated about the review process can register on this link provided by the Bank.
IDB Invest also offers virtual and face-to-face instances to participate in the review process of its Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy.
Virtual or written comments can be sent to the SustainabilityPolicy@idbinvest.org email or through the mail addressed to: IDB Invest: Environmental and social sustainability policy. 1350 New York Avenue, NW. Washington, D.C., 20577. USA.
To participate in face-to-face consultations in some of the indicated countries, it is possible to register at the following link provided by the Bank.
In Argentina: The face-to-face consultation in Argentina on the proposal of the Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy of the IDB Invest will be held next Wednesday, September 4 from 09:00 am to 11:00 am at the IDB headquarters in Argentina, located in Calle Esmeralda 130, 11th floor, Buenos Aires.
In addition: those interested in knowing more about how to participate effectively in the consultations, can register to participate in the webinar “Review of IDB Invest safeguards, how to participate effectively?” Organized by DAR, Environment and Society and the Bank Information Center (BIC) by entering this link.
Fundeps, together with a group of organizations in the region, is coordinating actions to promote broad, inclusive and effective participation of civil society and indigenous peoples and affected communities in both the IDB and IDB Invest review process; and to try to strengthen and avoid a weakening of environmental and social safeguards. If you are interested in getting involved in this process, you can contact gon.roza@fundeps.org.
More information
Contact
Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org
Coming Soon: Fourth Open Government Action Plan
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
Argentina has already implemented three Open Government plans, drawn up in the framework of the Open Government Alliance (OGP). In 2020, the Fourth Plan should be implemented, so that from the National Open Government Bureau – composed of government and civil society representatives – proposals were received for the elaboration of the new commitments.
In order to work in depth on the elaboration of these commitments, 14 tables of various topics were developed such as: Extractive Industries, Indigenous Affairs, Budget Transparency, Public Works, Trafficking in Persons, Water and Sanitation, Access to Justice, Gender and others. From Fundeps, we were participating in the table of Subnational Governments and in the table convened by INAM that addressed the federalization of the Micaela Law.
Also, we were present in the writing both commitments, which will be submitted to public consultation during the month of August. To participate in the public consultation, you must enter the following link.
More information
Contact
Carolina Tamagnini – carotamagnini@fundeps.org