Our Pollution (AMEP) programme supports countries in the Wider Caribbean to implement the following agreements: Protocols concerning: (1) Pollution from Land-based Sources and Activities (LBS Protocol); and (2) Co-operation in Combating Oil Spills (Oil Spills Protocol).
These fall under the Cartagena Convention for the Protection and Development of the Caribbean Sea for which we are the Secretariat
What is the LBS Protocol?
A regional agreement for the prevention, control and reduction of marine pollution of the Caribbean Sea from land-based sources and activities.
What is the Oil Spills Protocol?
A regional agreement to promote cooperation in preventing and reducing oil spills in the Caribbean Sea.
Learn more about the Land-based Sources of Marine Pollution and Oil Spills Protocols of the Cartagena Convention.
What are AMEP’s areas of focus?
- Improving pollution monitoring and assessment
- Reducing pollution from solid wastes, marine litter and plastics
- Reducing pollution from untreated domestic and industrial wastewater
- Reducing pollution from agrochemical run-off including pesticides and fertilizers
- Sharing data and information on best management practices and most appropriate technologies
How can AMEP support my marine pollution work in the Caribbean?
- Improve monitoring of the sources and impacts of pollution on human health and the environment.
- Strengthen policies, laws and regulations on marine pollution.
- Provide information on best management practices and technologies for pollution prevention and reduction.
What are the recent achievements of our AMEP Programme?
- Ratification of the LBS Protocol by the Governments of Jamaica in 2015 and Costa Rica in 2016.
- Development of three regional partnerships on wastewater, marine litter and nutrients.
- Design and launch of a Global Environment Facility funded project for Caribbean Small Island Developing States on integrating water, land and ecosystems management (GEF IWEco).
- Ongoing development of the first State of Convention Area Report for the Caribbean Sea on pollution.
Status of Ratification/Signing of the LBS and Oil Spills Protocols:
What are the benefits to my Government by becoming a party to (ratifying)* the LBS and Oil Spills Protocols?
- Increased recognition and awareness of efforts to prevent, control and reduce marine pollution
- New employment and income generating opportunities
- Access to financial and technical support for training and pollution projects and activities
*Ratification is the process when Governments formally sign on to a regional or international agreement and commit to various national obligations.
How can my country ratify the LBS and Oil Spills Protocols?
How to ratify our Convention and Protocols.
The national focal point in each country should:
- Consult with other government and non-governmental organizations about the importance of ratification;
- Prepare justification letter or memorandum for ratification;
- Obtain cabinet /parliament approval for ratification;
- Submit instruments of ratification to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombia.
Our Pollution Projects
- Caribbean Regional Fund for Wastewater Management: GEF CReW
- Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystem Management in Caribbean SIDS: GEF IWEco
- Developing the State of Convention Area Report on Pollution (SOCAR)
- Trash Free Waters International - Jamaica and Panama
- Reduction of nutrient and wastewater pollution in Costa Rica and Jamaica
- Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Projects in the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf (UNDP/GEF CLME+)
Our Work Plan for 2019-2020
The work plan for the pollution (AMEP) programme is implemented under the following themes:
- Wastewater Management
- Watershed Management
- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
- Solid Waste and Marine Litter Management
- National Programmes of Action for pollution prevention
- Oil Spills Response Planning
For more details about these and our other projects and activities, please download our latest AMEP Meeting Reports and biannual Work Plans and Budgets.
Our Major Pollution Categories
Are you doing research? Learn about the more common pollutants impacting our oceans and seas.
