Environment and Water
19 aug 2010
In 2008, the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) took the lead in defining the environmental and water sector within the Paris Declaration framework. It coordinates 24 environmental institutions in the government sector, the private sector (production and services), the NGO sector, the academic sector and the municipal sector.
From the start, the Ministry's coordination activities in the environmental sector have been directed towards developing a strategic vision for the sector by linking up policies, plans and budgets to work towards the application of the Paris Declaration. The strategic objectives are:
- a reduction in vulnerability in terms of hydrometeorological events by strengthening capacities in climate change and the rational use of renewable natural resources;
- comprehensive water resources and basinmanagement;
- securing ecological equilibrium and biodiversity through conservation, protection and sustainable water resources management;
- boosting public awareness and environmental responsibility within all sectors.
With the support of the Dutch Embassy (EKN), MARN has set up an environmental and water committee comprising a range of environmental authorities. The committee is preparing an action plan, aimed at formulating a multiannual strategic plan and agreeing on a shared agenda.
Current situation
The socio-economic context of poverty, population growth, unequal opportunities and parallel economic powers has resulted in an indiscriminate struggle for resources and, in turn, environmental deterioration. Turning these trends around is a political challenge requiring the harmonization of social and economic forces, something the government is not yet in a position to achieve.
Government environmental institutions are still weak and operate with little coordination. Despite an estimated annual environmental damage of 2.0% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the environment is still very low on the political agenda. This is reflected in the budgets allocated to main government environmental institutions, such as MARN, CONAP and INAB. Over the last few years they were given a combined annual budget of less than 0.1% of GDP.
The Netherlands’ contribution to the environmental and water sector
The EKN has allocated approximately half of its development cooperation budget for Guatemala to the environmental sector. This investment seeks to stimulate the Guatemalan government to incorporate the principles of sustainable development in its national policies and programmes in 2011.
The EKN would like to see the environment higher on the political agenda, with a budget increase for the MARN, CONAP and INAB. The embassy wishes to contribute to the formulation and implementation of a sustainable energy policy, a water strategy and a strategic plan related to climate change. At the local level, the embassy expects an improvement in integrated natural resources management.
Since 2003 Nuffic has contributed, through the NPT, to the institutional strengthening of higher and technical education in Guatemala. The focus was on developing and/or updating curricula with an environmental component, including local environmental management, land administration, environmental legislation, primary and secondary school teacher training in environmental issues, environmental economics, productive forestry chains and environmental impunity.
More information
- Visit the website of MARN (in Spanish)
- Visit the website of CONAP (in Spanish)
- Visit the website of INAB (in Spanish)
