The Committee to Support Implementation and Compliance (CSIC) of the Escazú Agreement, in the framework of its function of consultation and dialogue with the Parties, visited Panama from 6 to 8 October 2025.

Preparation of the visit

Prior to the mission, the Committee and the Government of Panama prepared and agreed upon a list of topics to guide the consultation and dialogue:

1. Mechanisms for public participation in decision-making processes related to projects and activities, as well as in other environmental authorization procedures that have or may have a significant impact on the environment; and
2. Access to environmental justice through competent public authorities.

The visit was announced on 25 August 2025 on the official websites of the Escazú Agreement and the Committee, along with the agreed agenda. To facilitate participation, several public engagement tools were made available, including an online submission form, a public survey, and the invitation to an in-person and virtual participatory meeting during the visit.

Dialogue with Authorities and the Public

During the three days of work in Panama City, the Committee held 14 meetings with various public institutions, including the Ministry of Environment, Panama Canal Authority (ACP), Judiciary, Office of the Attorney General, Ombudsman’s Office, Office of the Procurator for the Administration, National Public Services Authority (ASEP), Maritime Authority of Panama (AMP), Aquatic Resources Authority (ARAP), and the Ministry of Housing and Land Management (MIVIOT), among other entities and local authorities.

On 6 October, an open participatory meeting was held at the Faculty of Public Administration of the University of Panama and broadcast online. Civil society organizations, local communities, academia, and youth representatives shared experiences, observations, and proposals to strengthen the implementation of the Agreement.

Closing Session

In the closing session, the Chair of the Committee, Patricia Madrigal, emphasized the technical and collaborative nature of the dialogue and highlighted that Panama is the first State Party in Central America with which the Committee has carried out this function. The Committee also recognized the country’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its environmental legal framework and the openness of its institutions to dialogue and continuous improvement.

From the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Carlos de Miguel, Director of the Division of Sustainable Development and Human Settlements, underlined Panama’s pioneering role in promoting the Agreement and being among the first countries to ratify it.

The Committee also shared a preliminary assessment of the two agenda items that guided the visit. Regarding public participation in environmental decision-making processes, the Committee noted that “progress is still needed in certain areas, such as defining a clear operational framework to incorporate and systematize citizen observations in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA).”

With respect to access to justice in environmental matters, the Committee acknowledged ongoing training efforts on environmental and human rights issues and encouraged “continued progress toward consolidating a specialized environmental jurisdiction with adequate resources.”

Next Steps

In accordance with its Working Modalities (LC/TS.2024/33), the Committee will prepare a preliminary report, which will be shared with Panama for comments prior to drafting the final report of the consultation and dialogue. The final report will include the corresponding conclusions and recommendations.

The Committee stressed that its dialogue with the Parties is periodic and continuous, and expressed its gratitude to the National Focal Point, the Panamanian authorities, and participating members of the public for their openness to constructive exchange and for the country’s commitment to the effective implementation of the Escazú Agreement.