Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 1 – 7 February 2021

The Geneva Environment Network’s weekly newsletter includes the latest information on the global environmental agenda, main events, job vacancies, learning opportunities, as well as other useful resources and updates. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some live events organized by organizations around the world, contributing to the global environmental agenda, have also been included. Stay tuned and follow us also on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or visit our website regularly for additional updates.

Due to the developments in the sanitary situation, most institutions in Geneva are operating virtually. Our update on COVID-19 and the environment lists relevant information, research, data and press releases on the environmental origins and impacts of the pandemic.

High-Level Briefing on the 5th Session on the UN Environmental Assembly

The United Nations Environment Assembly is the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment. It meets biennially to set priorities for global environmental policies and develop international environmental law. The fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) will take place in two parts, an online session in February 2021 and a resumed session in February 2022. Under the theme “Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”, it will mobilize, motivate and energize member States and stakeholders into sharing and implementing successful approaches and nature-based solutions that contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The high-level briefing on 3 February 2021 will provide an update on the UNEA-5 President’s priorities for the Assembly, envisioned to strengthening actions for nature to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and building a resilient and inclusive post-pandemic world for people and planet. Register on Webex and join us on Wednesday, at 15:00 CET.

World Wetlands Day

World Wetlands Day – on 2 February – is the occasion to celebrate the importance of wetlands to our lives, raise awareness of the role of these precious ecosystems and promote action to restore wetlands. The theme for 2021 is “Wetlands and Water”, highlighting the contribution of wetlands to the quantity and quality of freshwater on our planet. Water and wetlands are connected in an inseparable co-existence that is vital to life, our well-being and the health of our planet. The update on World Wetlands Day 2021 provides relevant information, events and resources to engage in the celebrations this year.

The Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is convening an online panel discussion for World Wetlands Day 2021, on Monday 1 February 2021 from 15.00 to 16.30 CET.

Plastics and Trade

The Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues launched in November 2020 will continue this week with a session dedicated to Plastics and Trade. The dialogues, organized by the Geneva Environment Network secretariat, in collaboration with the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat, the Center for International Environmental Law, the Global Governance Centre at the Graduate Institute, Norway, and Switzerland, address the plastic crisis and support coordinated approaches that can lead to more efficient decision making.

Plastics recycling efforts often involve exports, the majority flowing from developed to developing countries, where they have become a source of controversy due to the inadequate infrastructure for proper treatment and disposal. Trade of plastic waste is thus an important issue when discussing the plastic crisis. In May 2019, the 187 Parties to the Basel Convention added most types of plastic waste to the list of controlled wastes, effective on 1st January 2021. Governments at the World Trade Organization (WTO) are also showing increased interest in tackling plastics pollution. Leading experts invited to speak at this session will look at the contributions of the trade policy to international cooperation to reduce plastic pollution. Register on Webex and join us on Thursday 4 February, at 14:00 CET.

For more resources on the plastics crisis, the update on Plastics and the Environment provides relevant information and the most recent research, data and articles from the various organizations in international Geneva and other institutions around the world. The outcomes of the previous sessions on Plastics and Waste, Plastics, Climate and Air Pollution, Plastics and Human Rights, Plastics and Health, Plastics and Standards summarize current efforts and recommended action steps for further addressing these issues.

What (Else) Should I Read Next?

Restart 2021: Rising to the challenges of the environmental agenda | Inger Andersen | 26 January 2021
Statement of UNEP Executive Director at the 153rd meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives, emphasizing the need to step up actions for the environment and to prepare to deliver UNEP’s Medium-Term Strategy.
Secretary-General’s press conference on his Priorities for 2021 | António Guterres | 28 January 2021
Statement from the UN Secretary General on the priorities for 2021 in order three global emergencies that require immediate action: the distribution of vaccines for COVID, the financial support to countries in need, and the climate crisis.
After the Davos Agenda: what to expect for 2021 | Peter Bakker | WBCSD | 31 January 2021
The integration of sustainability in the economic agenda globally has finally made it to Davos. We need to act faster, together, to lead the critical transformations in the coming decade.
How Davos Became a Climate Change Conference | Time | 27 January 2021
Overview of the climate discussion at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting as leaders from around the world recognize the undeniable reality that a warming planet is reshaping geopolitics and threatening the economy as we know it.
GCA announces key adaptation initiatives at Climate Adaptation Summit 2021 | PR Newswire | 26 January 2021
Outcomes of the Climate Adaptation Summit 2021 held online on 25-26 January 2021, including commitments by the African Development Bank and the launch of several new initiatives for climate resilience by the The Global Center on Adaptation.
In battle against climate change, courts become a new frontier | UNEP | 26 January 2021
Launch of the Global Climate Litigation Report – 2020 Status Review, highlighting the increase of climate change litigation cases and the role of these action to end corporate greenwashing.
A UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights & Climate Change? Regional Perspectives | CIEL | January 2021
Key recommendations from civil society and Indigenous Peoples on the creation of a mandate for a new UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change to protect the rights of those on the frontlines of climate impacts.
People overwhelmingly believe in the emergency, world’s largest poll on climate change finds | Geneva Solutions | 27 January 2021
Findings of the People’s Climate Vote, a survey conducted by UNDP and Oxford University, showcasing the major support for climate policies from respondents of 50 different countries.
Climate protection: Federal Council adopts Switzerland’s long-term climate strategy | Federal Council | 28 January 2021
Switzerland aims to have net-zero greenhouse emissions by 2050.