On Friday morning, the Ministerial Segment opened with a presentation by Isabella Teixeira, Environment Minister, Brazil, on preparations and expected outcomes for Rio+20.

Delegates then considered a report from UNEP on emerging issues from a global perspective, and delegates identified their own emerging issues, such as disaster management, sustainable urban development, invasive marine species, food security and animal welfare. Next Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director, introduced the agenda item on the 12th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum by urging LAC Environment Ministers to use the meeting to seek common ground with their peers from other regions regarding Rio+20.

Acting on a proposal by Venezuela, FME18 suspended its work to convene as the First Meeting of Environment Ministers of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (CELAC). This meeting was presided over by Rodrigo Benitez, Vice-Minister for the Environment, Chile, in Chile’s capacity as pro tempore President of CELAC. The CELAC meeting agreed to create a working group to, among other things, develop a regional environmental agenda. UNEP was asked to act as Secretariat for the CELAC Ministers.

In the afternoon, FME18 reconvened to review the draft final report of FME18, followed by a paragraph-by-paragraph review, negotiation and amendment of the Quito Declaration until its approval late in the evening. Following closing remarks, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:45 pm.