Environment: What’s Up in GENeva this Week | 15-21 June 2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic lock-down, relevant live events organized by organizations around the world, contributing to the global environmental agenda, have also been included in the newsletter. Please note that the list of events and vacancies provided in our weekly newsletter is non-exhaustive. Stay tuned and follow us also on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or visit our website regularly for additional updates.

Continuing the Momentum #ForNature

Momentum continues #ForNature in Geneva and around the globe, at all levels.

Geneva Canton adopts new Biodiversity Plan

Last week the Geneva State Council adopted a new Biodiversity Plan for the period 2020-2023, proposing concrete actions to enforce its Biodiversity strategy 2030, adopted back in 2018. The plan, developed with over 70 institutions, rehabilitates ecological infrastructures.

How collective leadership will reverse nature loss

Monday 15 June, don’t miss the first major global leadership event “Building business resilience: How collective leadership will reverse nature loss“ to discuss nature in a world rethinking how to emerge from the crisis of a pandemic, organized by the World Economic Forum, WBCSD, ICC, UN Global Compact and IUCN, Business for Nature. This event brings together inspiring business and world leaders to explore how making nature part of your decision-making is critical to becoming a future-fit business. #natureiseveryonesbusiness

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

On 17 June we celebrate the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. This year’s observance is focused on changing public attitudes to the leading driver of desertification and land degradation: humanity’s relentless production and consumption. Under the slogan “Food. Feed. Fibre.” the day seeks to educate individuals on how to reduce their personal impact. A global observance event will take place online, with a full-day program, broadcasted via Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. #DesertificationAndDroughtDay #FoodFeedFibre

Enroll in the InforMEA online training to learn more about the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

International Governance Issues on Climate Engineering

The world is struggling to limit emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that are causing global climate change. This has brought increased attention to climate engineering technologies, which could counteract some disruptions and heat caused by elevated greenhouse gases. However, climate engineering technologies could also cause unintended adverse impacts and consequences on the environment and sustainable development, generate controversy and pose governance challenges.

A new session of the Geneva Environment Dialogues series taking place Thursday 18 June, at 9 am CEST, will address international governance issues on climate engineering and discuss a new research study. Event Details | Webex Live Registration #GENevaEnvDialogues

COVID-19 & the Environment

The COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis that affects everyone. As the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, said

The pandemic has exposed the fragility of our societies and economies to global shocks, such as disease or climate disruption. As we recover, we must build back better for people and for the planet.

The Secretary General keeps reminding us, that we have a framework for action – the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

This week again, various events taking place around the globe will focus on how we can recover better from the pandemic, consult the full list in the events section.

Our “Latest updates on COVID-19 and the environment” page, lists relevant information, research, data and press releases on the environmental origins and impacts of the pandemic. Among the press releases and articles issued last week: