Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Judith Garber is in San Jose, Costa Rica this week. Her 3-day visit will focus on environmental issues and sustainable trade, said the U.S. Department of State’s office of the spokesperson in a statement Tuesday.

On June 20, Garber met with Costa Rican Minister of Environment and Energy Edgar Gutiérrez Espeleta to discuss engagement in the Third United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-3), environmental cooperation under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), and other environmental issues.

On June 21 – 22, together with Assistant United States Trade Representative for Environmental and Natural Resources Jennifer Prescott, Acting Assistant Secretary Garber represented the United States at the 11th Meeting of the CAFTA-DR Environmental Affairs Council (EAC).

During the EAC public session, Garber participated in a ministerial panel along with the other council members from Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua. The panel focused on sustainable trade.

Also yesterday, the acting assistant secretary joined a roundtable discussion with Costa Rican youth on how youth are critical to developing solutions to environmental challenges.

For further information, the State Department provided the following contact: Tory Peabody ([email protected]).