Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)

IPEN POs in Latin America and the Caribbean work on a wide range of health and environmental issues despite many facing difficult conditions from violence with few avenues for public participation. IPEN supports its POs and the collaborations they develop with an increasing number of grassroots movements working against extractive industries and authoritarian regimes.

The LAC region features towering mountains, the Amazon, and numerous islands, creating varied climates and ecosystems. Its culture is a complex blend of Indigenous, European, and African influences, with Spanish, Portuguese, and English as the main languages along with many Indigenous languages. With IPEN, POs in the region work together on issues around pesticides and agroecological alternatives, mercury contamination, plastics and plastic waste, and others. Several POs are recognized as experts in areas of chemical concern and are building strong alliances to create urgency for health-protective policies.