Guatemala, August 2025 – Under the motto “Central America united for environmental sustainability, the defense of the territory and resilience” , the Central America Vulnerable Forum United for Life celebrated its XVI Regional Meeting, with the objective that peoples, communities and civil society organizations work together in the face of the climate and social crisis that the region is going through.

 

The meeting brought together delegations from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica , as well as the Dominican Republic and Colombia, which participated for the first time in this collective effort. Over two days, a process of dialogue, reflection, and exchange of experiences on climate change mitigation and adaptation took place, reaffirming that the region faces a multidimensional crisis where climate change acts as a multiplier of vulnerabilities.

 

Climate crisis with human and social impacts

Currently, Central America and the Caribbean are experiencing a temperature increase of approximately 1.5°C , which is intensifying droughts, floods, storms, heat waves, and crop losses. These conditions directly impact food security, access to water, and respect for human rights, affecting Indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, women, and youth most severely.

 

Facing off at COP30

The participating delegations called on states and the international community for clear commitments, fair financing, and full respect for human and environmental rights. Among the main demands for COP30 in Belém, Brazil , were:

 

·       Recognize Central America and the Caribbean as highly vulnerable regions.

·       Guarantee direct and transparent resources for communities.

·       Recognize climate migration as a structural cause of forced mobility.

·       Include Afro-descendant peoples as subjects of specific rights in the UN Framework Convention.

·       Prioritize the human right to water and community resilience.

 

At the national level, participating delegations called on States to approve robust legal frameworks on environmental and climate matters, strengthen community resilience, protect environmental defenders, ratify and effectively implement the Escazú Agreement, and guarantee basic social rights such as health, education, housing, and decent work.

 

The Forum concluded with a firm and unifying call: “Climate justice begins with the people and their territories. We invite States and the international community to make clear commitments, guarantee fair financing, and place life and well-being at the center of decision-making. ”

 

About the Consortium for Sustainable Development in Central America.  

As a strategy for articulation and strategic repositioning from within civil society, the “Consortium for Sustainable Development in Central America” was established. Its aim is to build a just, supportive, inclusive, diverse, safe, sustainable, and resilient Central American society based on the principles of cooperation for integration and respect for and exercise of human rights, grounded in the principles of cooperation, co-responsibility, and complementarity. The 16th Meeting reflects this joint effort, having been convened by this body.  

 

Press contact:  

Gaby Aguirre I +503 3384 3011 I gaby@prevolucion.com   

Ciny Monzón I +503 5995 4556 I ciny@prevolucion.com