UNEP GC/GMEF Briefing to the Permanent Missions

Briefing on the next GC/GMEF main topics and challenges by Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP

The 26th session of the Governing Council / Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will be held from 21 to 24 February 2011 at the United Nations Office in Nairobi, Kenya. The ministerial consultations during the twenty-sixth session will focus on emerging policy issues under the overall theme of contribution of UNEP to the preparatory process for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2012. Specific themes to be taken up at the session are “Green economy” and “International environmental governance”.

The draft decisions already submitted to the secretariat include: World Environment situation; Chemicals management, including mercury; A 10 year Framework of Programmes on sustainable consumption and production; Waste management; Organizing the third intergovernmental review meeting of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities; Consultative process on financing options for chemicals and wastes; Amendments to the Instrument for the Establishment of the Restructured Global Environment Facility; Management of trust funds and earmarked contributions; Omnibus decision on reports of the Executive Director; Global Environment Monitoring System Water Programme; E-waste problems.