EIA Issues Statement Following President Humala’s Address to the Nation

LIMA—In his annual “Message to the Nation” Peruvian President Ollanta Humala avoided any reference to the environment. Delivered on Monday, the speech, which is similar to the State of the Union given by U.S. Presidents, offered President Humala the opportunity to recommit his administration’s efforts to environmental protection.

As Peru will host the 20th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change this year, the international community expected the President to mention the environment during his speech, hoping he would reiterate, if not build upon, his former commitments to greater environmental protections in Peru. Failure to do so underscored a serious change in discourse regarding the environment in Peru.

Humala’s Message to the Nation came sixteen days after he signed Law 30230, a packet of economic measures that roll back environmental standards in a misguided effort to attract greater investment in Peru. The new law is a direct violation of Peru’s obligations under the U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA)—the first FTA signed by the United States with a legally binding environmental chapter prohibiting both parties from weakening environmental laws to encourage investment.

President Humala did reference trade agreements in his speech, noting the nation is currently operating under seventeen trade agreements and expecting six new agreements to come into effect by 2016. He noted that all agreements will be used to involve active participation by the private sector in Peru’s economy.

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) issued the following statements in response to the President’s speech:

“Helping to ensure environmental protection in the face of increased trade is an important element to the U.S.-Peru FTA. This new law signed by the President stands in stark contrast to that goal. It is a blow to the environment. Failure to adhere to obligations in the U.S.-Peru FTA calls into question Peru’s commitment to the environment and its ability to enforce obligations in future trade agreements, particularly commitments to environmental standards,” said EIA Latin American Program Coordinator Annalise Romoser.

“The President announced with optimism the signing of future trade agreements, but before the international community agrees to more agreements with Peru, it must be sure Peru adheres to current agreement obligations. This is the only way Peru can prove itself a reliable and trustworthy trade partner,” said EIA Peru Program Director, Julia Urrunaga.

Contact:
Maggie Dewane, Press Officer, EIA, 202-483-6621, mdewane@eia-global.org