Protecting the Climate in Peru

Peru is taking bold steps to protect the climate through law. Last week, Peru’s Congress unanimously approved the Ley Marco sobre Cambio Climático – the nation’s first framework climate change law.
 
ELAW partner Iris Olivera, an attorney at Derecho, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (DAR), supported the initiative of civil society organizations — which began in 2014 — and the Peruvian Congress to draft the law and participated in the discussions leading to its approval.
 
“The new law requires climate change assessments for new public and private investments subject to the National Environmental Impact Assessment System,” says Iris.
 
Peru is the fifth country in Latin America to enact a Framework Climate Change Law, following Brazil, Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala.

These laws include greenhouse gas reduction plans and promoting sustainable energy alternatives. Other countries in the region have also adopted legal provisions, policies, and national strategies to protect their citizens from the economic impacts of climate change.  
 
Peru’s new law complies with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and requires transparency and public participation, especially of indigenous populations, in decisions that might impact the climate.
 
Congratulations to DAR and all the Peruvian lawyers who participated in this important achievement!
 
For more information (in Spanish) see:
 
Se aprobo unanimidad la Ley Marco de Cambio Climatico
 
¿Que es la ley marco sobre cambio climatico? Por que es importante?
 
Maggie Keenan
Communications Director &
Fellows Program Coordinator   
maggie@elaw.org

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