THE ENVIRONMENT and sustainable development will be the focus this week of a special meeting here of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED). Officials will begin meeting tomorrow for the 37th Special Meeting of COTED, while the two-day Ministerial Meeting begins on Thursday, according to a release from the CARICOM Secretariat.
Environmental dimensions of the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), sustainable land management in the Caribbean, climate change and renewable energy are among the matters slated for discussion.
With regard to the CSME, delegates will be brought up-to-date on the progress being made on the Community Environment and Natural Resources Policy Framework.
Under the broad heading of Sustainable Land Management in the Caribbean, COTED is expected to review and approve the Draft Caribbean Sub-Regional Action Plan (SRAP), and ascertain how Caribbean SRAP activities will be financed.
The meeting’s agenda includes CARICOM’s preparations for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Conference of Parties (COP) 10  scheduled for October 10 to 21; follow-up on the UN Cancun Climate Change Conference; and preparations for the UN Durban Climate Change Conference.
Discussions will also be held on the CARICOM Renewable Energy Road Map, the release added.