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Newsletter 10 Jun 2025

Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 10 – 15 June 2025

The Geneva Environment Network’s weekly newsletter includes the latest information on the global environmental agenda, main events, job vacancies, as well as other useful resources and updates. Stay tuned and follow us on X (Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky, and Youtube, or visit our website regularly for additional updates.

Image of the week | This year’s World Environment Day Celebration in Geneva highlighted how multilateral Geneva is collectively acting to beat plastic pollution. It took place exactly two months before countries meet in Geneva to continue negotiating a global treaty to end plastic pollution. The panel brought perspectives on what needs to be included in the future plastics treaty to make it effective and meaningful, and how the expertise in Geneva can contribute to its implementation. © Cass Kefford-Joyce | Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat

International Geneva @ UN Ocean Conference

Numerous experts from International Geneva are participating this week in the 2025 UN Ocean Conference — the high-level 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development — in Nice, France. Co-hosted by France and Costa Rica under the theme “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean,” the Conference is attended by over 120 Member States and includes various Ocean Action Panels and numerous side events. A rich programme is also taking place in parallel and mobilizing numerous stakeholders. → Follow the negotiations through the Earth Negotiations Bulletin live coverage and consult the Geneva Environment Network dedicated update

More than 50 Heads of State and Government took part in the opening ceremony on Monday 9 June, where numerous topics at the core of Geneva multilateral expertise were highlighted:

  • UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned in his opening remarks that the ocean is absorbing 90 per cent of the excess heat from greenhouse gas emissions and buckling under the strain: overfishing, rising temperatures, plastic pollution, acidification. Coral reefs are dying. Fish stocks are collapsing. Rising seas could soon “submerge deltas, destroy crops, and swallow coastlines — threatening many islands’ survival.
  • French President Emmanuel Macron declared that “The abyss is not for sale, any more than Greenland is for sale, any more than Antarctica or the high seas are for sale. If the Earth is warming, the ocean is boiling.” He insisted that the fate of the seas could not be left to markets or opinion. “The first response is therefore multilateralism.”
  • Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Robles said that “The ocean is speaking to us — with bleached coral reefs, with storms, with wounded mangroves. There’s no time left for rhetoric. Now is the time to act.”
  • One of the summit’s core objectives is to help bring into force the High Seas Treaty — the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, known by its acronym BBNJ — adopted in 2023 to safeguard life in international waters. Sixty ratifications are required for the treaty to become binding international law.
  • The goals of the Conference also include advancing the ‘30 by 30’ pledge, promote sustainable fisheries, decarbonize maritime transport, and unlock new streams of blue finance.
  • UN Secretary General concluded, “What was lost in a generation, can return in a generation. The ocean of our ancestors — teeming with life and diversity — can be more than legend. It can be our legacy.”

News on the UN Ocean Conference include:

Developments on advancing collective action to address the depletion of marine fish stocks include:

  • On 2 June, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala received Nicaragua’s instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies from Nicaragua’s WTO Ambassador Rosalía Bohorquez Palacios. Just ten more acceptances are needed for the Agreement to enter into force. → Read more
  • On 6 June, the WTO Fish Fund opened a Call for Proposals, inviting developing and least-developed country members that have ratified the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies to submit requests for project grants aimed at helping them implement the Agreement. WTO members can access the application portal here. Proposals must be submitted by 9 September. However, if the Agreement enters into force before this date, the deadline will be extended by one month.

113th Session of the International Labour Conference

The 113th Session of the International Labour Conference — the supreme deliberative and decision-making body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) — is expected to conclude on 13 June 2025. At the 2025 session of the Conference, Government, employer and worker delegates from the ILO’s 187 Member States are addressing important world of work matters such as possible new international standards on the protection of workers against biological hazards in the working environment, decent work in the platform economy and innovative approaches to promoting transitions from the informal to the formal economy. → Watch the plenaries livestream and read more in ILO Press Release

An ILO practical brief offers practical guidance on integrating just transition into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), highlighting how just transition provides a basis to leverage the contribution of climate action to decent work, social equity, and sustainable development.

Nature, Climate and Gender Virtual Symposium

This week, IUCN’s NAture-based Solutions for climate Adaptation (NAbSA), the Global EbA Fund and PODONG Indigenous Peoples Initiative teams are hosting a 3-day virtual symposium, with the support of Canada, Germany, the International Climate Initiative, NORAD and UNEP. The Symposium aims to spotlight bold, transformative, and grounded work integrating gender, human rights, and Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge into nature and climate action. It will be a space to share learnings, inspire action, and foster cross-project connections and solidarity. → Webinar Registration

All Eyes on Punta Del Este | Advancing Global Action to Address the Pollution Crisis

The resumed third session of the Ad hoc open-ended working group on a science-policy panel on chemicals, waste and pollution prevention (OEWG 3.2) will take place from 15 to 18 June 2025 in Punta del Este, Uruguay, at the Convention and Exhibition Center back to back with the Intergovernmental Meeting for the purpose of considering the establishment of the science-policy panel, and with the first meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group for the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC) to be held in the same venue held from 24 to 27 June 2025.

Prepare and follow the OEWG 3.2 session:

Additional news on chemicals, waste and pollution include:

Towards the Plastics Treaty | Road to INC-5.2 in Geneva

Last week, World Environment Day celebrations across the world called for collective action to tackle plastic pollution and generated global momentum for the resumed negotiations towards a global treaty to end plastic pollution. With less than two months before the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-5.2), convenes at Palais des Nations from 5 to 14 August 2025, key updates include:

Additional news include:

Enjoying Last Days of Spring

While warm summer days slowly approach Geneva, the city offers various activities to enjoy the last days of Spring. Our Green Spring suggestions this week include:

  • Rencontres aquatiques, à la découverte des poissons du Léman | 10 June 2025 | Association pour la Sauvegarde du Léman
    Dive into the fascinating underwater world of Lake Geneva through this interactive and family-friendly activity hosted by the Association pour la sauvegarde du Léman. The event offers a fun and educational journey into the lives of local fish species. With the help of a passionate guide, participants will explore the unique traits, behaviours, and ecological importance of Léman’s aquatic inhabitants, making for an engaging experience that blends science, storytelling, and environmental awareness.
  • Le plastique, c’est pas fantastique ! | 11 June 2025 | Association pour la Sauvegarde du Léman
    Despite its stunning natural beauty, Lake Geneva is under threat from various forms of pollution, especially plastics. Discover pollution affecting Lake Geneva through a scientific workshop, to better understand its impact on the lake environment, fauna, flora and water quality, and the actions that can be taken to protect this precious ecosystem.
  • Herbier Fantastique : Plantes inimaginables! | 11 June 2025 | Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques
    Step into the surreal world of botanical curiosities with a guided tour through the Conservatory’s most fantastical herbarium sheets. From dragon eggs and the mythical “magic bean” to the mysterious “eyes of the earth” and bubbling blood plants, discover bizarre and mind-bending specimens that challenge the limits of imagination, yet are astonishingly real. A playful and wonder-filled dive into nature’s strangest creations.
  • Fleurs, feuilles, tiges, racines à croquer! | 11 June 2025 | Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques
    Discover the edible plants growing all around us in this playful and hands-on workshop for children. After a guided gathering of common wild plants to taste, participants will prepare a delicious snack together. Part of the Green Workshops series at the Geneva Botanical Gardens, these sessions invite kids to explore botany through sensory investigations, themed quests, and fun activities led by garden mediators, gardeners, scientists, and Uni3 volunteers.
  • Atelier p’tits chefs et les petits pois ! | 11 June 2025 | Swiss Food Academy
    In this fun and educational workshop for children aged 6 and up, Juliette Mouries invites young chefs to discover the seasonal cycles of fruits and vegetables with a focus on peas. This workshop combines food knowledge with practical cooking skills, encouraging kids to appreciate healthy seasonal eating.
  • Découverte nature du site de Grange-Collomb | 13 June 2025 | Ville de Carouge
    What secrets lie hidden in a meadow or a pond? Join this guided walk to explore the rich biodiversity of the Grange-Collomb natural site. From elusive plants to pond-dwelling creatures, uncover the teeming life that often escapes the naked eye. The walk will take place rain or shine, spots are limited, so be sure to register!
  • Chauves-souris, reines de la nuit | 13 June 2025 | Moulin de Fabry
    Step into the night on this thrilling adventure designed for curious kids aged 8 to 14. Guided by nature experts, participants will set up nets and take part in the observation and identification of bats, mysterious winged mammals that rarely reveal themselves up close. A rare chance to discover their hidden world and learn more about these nocturnal queens of the sky.
  • Notre Biodiversité : Balade discussion | 13 June 2025 | Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques
    Take a midday stroll through the “Notre Biodiversité” trail and join a lively exchange with biodiversity experts. This participatory walk invites reflection on Geneva’s new Municipal Biodiversity Strategy, exploring what biodiversity means to us and how we can protect it, locally, nationally, and globally. From everyday actions to broader ecological challenges, come share ideas and connect with nature.
  • Les tourbières | 14 June 2025 | Centre nature de la Libellule
    Join expert Gilles Mulhauser for a full-day guided walk exploring the rare and fragile peat bogs of Switzerland. With only 15 km² of intact bogs remaining, down from over 200 km² in 1945, these extreme habitats are home to some of the country’s most specialized and endangered species. This immersive outing offers a unique opportunity to discover these biodiversity hotspots and reflect on what can still be done to protect them.
  • Que la montagne est belle ! | 14 June 2025 | Groupe Ornithologique du Bassin Genevois
    Set off at dawn for a scenic alpine hike along the Avançon de Nant beneath the majestic Muverans massif. This full-day excursion is designed for experienced hikers, with a 500m elevation gain and 4-5 hours of walking. Expect breathtaking landscapes and opportunities to observe mountain wildlife.
  • EcoTrail Geneva | 14 June 2025 | EcoTrail
    EcoTrail returns to Geneva for a one-of-a-kind trail-running event that blends physical challenge with environmental awareness and urban discovery. Runners of all levels are invited to explore Geneva’s iconic sites and surrounding natural areas on a route designed to highlight both the beauty and fragility of the local environment. Rooted in eco-responsibility, inclusivity, and community spirit, this edition of EcoTrail invites participants to rethink their connection to nature while enjoying a festive and supportive atmosphere.
  • Global Water Dances 2025 | 14 June 2025 | Various locations
    Join Geneva’s fourth edition of Global Water Dances, a worldwide biennial event where communities unite through movement to raise awareness about water issues. Open to all, this unique gathering blends art and advocacy, using dance as a powerful form of environmental expression.
  • A la découverte du guêpier, oiseau multicolore | 14 June 2025 | La Feuillée
    Rise early for a colourful adventure in search of one of the most vibrant birds in our region, the European bee-eater! This family-friendly morning outing invites participants to explore a peaceful cross-border nature reserve between France and Switzerland. Discover a haven for rare and uncommon birds while learning about the habitats that support their presence.
  • Le monde fabuleux des fourmis | 14 June 2025 | Centre Nature du Vallon de l’Allondon
    Step into the fascinating world of ants in this fun and educational workshop for children aged 6 to 12. Discover how these tiny creatures play a vital role in nature, learn about their complex social structures, and marvel at their incredible abilities. A playful exploration of nature’s miniature marvels, perfect for curious young minds!
  • Qui vit autour de l’étang ? | 14 June 2025 | Parc des Evaux
    Set off on an exciting nature adventure around the pond! In this discovery workshop, young explorers will investigate the wetland’s unique ecosystem and uncover the secret lives of frogs, newts, and dragonflies. Through hands-on exploration and playful learning, participants will deepen their understanding of these fascinating creatures and their watery world.
  • BOTANICA 2025 – Plantes pour notre avenir | 14 June to 13 July 2025 | Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques
    Is everything truly organic? Could chayote be the vegetable of the future? Might taro replace potatoes on our plates? BOTANICA 2025 explores the future of food plants through more than 60 events across 26 botanical gardens in Switzerland. From exotic crop origins to their environmental impact and role in biodiversity, this national initiative invites curious minds to take part in guided tours, hands-on workshops, and excursions focused on conscious eating and sustainable agriculture.
  • Agriculture et biodiversité | 15 June 2025 | Centre nature de la Libellule
    Take a behind-the-scenes tour of La Touvière, a local organic farm pioneering practices that protect and enhance regional biodiversity. Discover how sustainable agriculture can nourish both people and ecosystems as you explore the secrets of food production rooted in harmony with nature.
  • Fabrique ton herbier : à la découverte des fleurs du parc | 15 June 2025 | Parc des Evaux
    Embark on a floral adventure and uncover the hidden beauty of the park’s wildflowers! During this hands-on workshop, budding botanists will learn how to identify various flower species and craft their very own herbarium to take home, perfect for future nature walks and discoveries.
  • Exploration consciente de la nature | 15 June 2025 | Centre Nature du Vallon de l’Allondon
    This nature outing for families with children aged 6 and up offers a different kind of adventure, one that turns the lens inward. Through mindful observation and immersive activities, participants will explore not only the natural world but also themselves. By deepening self-awareness, this unique experience encourages greater empathy and care for all living beings on our beautiful planet.
  • Trail du Grand Genève | 15 June 2025 | Grand Genève
    Embark on a spectacular cross-border trail adventure through the Salève massif, connecting Switzerland and France in a series of scenic and technical routes. Starting at the Vessy sports centre and finishing lakeside in Parc La Grange, the event offers multiple race formats, from a full 40 km marathon with a dramatic passage through the grotte d’Orjobet, to shorter options like the 8 km trail-walk along the Arve cliffs. With relay formats, inclusive trails for joëlettes, and a fun 1 km parent-child run, this UTMB-indexed event welcomes all levels of outdoor enthusiasts.
  • Extra-nature | 15 June 2025 | Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques
    Step into a vibrant dialogue between botany and ceramics during this special themed tour, co-hosted by the Musée Ariana and the Geneva Botanical Gardens. The visit begins outdoors among the museum park’s living flora, guided by mediators from both institutions, before moving indoors to explore the fantastical ceramic garden created by artist António Vasconcelos Lapa. 
  • Dialogues Insolites – Petites histoires BioDivertissantes | Until 21 June 2025 | Bibliothèques municipales de Genève
    Enter a space where science meets storytelling through this unique exhibition blending biodiversity and illustration. In collaboration with the Natural History Museum and the École supérieure de bande dessinée et d’illustration, first-year students present 15 original illustrated tales inspired by local animal species. These artistic narratives engage in dialogue with pressing scientific themes, from habitat loss to human-driven environmental change.
  • Dialogues insolites entre le Muséum d’histoire naturelle de Genève et le Conservatoire botanique de Genève | Until 29 June 2025 | Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques
    Discover the fascinating interactions between the plant and animal worlds through a unique exhibition showcasing historical specimens and scientific connections. Learn how creatures like the sphinx moth, tattooed armadillo, and Darwin’s orchid have contributed to scientific advancements, and explore the legacy of renowned Geneva naturalists.
  • Ici, le lac ressemble à la mer. Chansons pour le Léman | Until 29 June 2025 | Quartier Libre SIG
    Discover the musical soul of Lake Geneva in this poetic, immersive exhibition presented by SIG and the Musée du Léman. Featuring 40 songs, from 19th-century ballads to modern tributes, this sonic journey blends audio, art, and storytelling to celebrate the Léman’s enduring inspiration. Eleven tracks have been reimagined by contemporary Swiss artists and vividly illustrated by painter Cyrille Chatelain.
  • Accès à l’eau et consignes de baignade | Republic et Canton de Genève
    Consult the interactive nature and terroir map showing public access to the water, as well as walking routes along the lake and waterways. The platform also showcases the richness of Geneva’s terroir. Plan your bathing and gastronomic outings with the interactive nature and terroir map.

More Happening Abroad

  • Launch and first hearing of the Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health | To accelerate health and climate action, WHO/Europe is launching the first Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health in Reykjavík, Iceland, on 11 June 2025. Chaired by Katrín Jakobsdóttir, former Prime Minister of Iceland, the Commission aims to raise political awareness and advocate for stronger action across multiple sectors and levels of government to address the health impacts of climate change.

What (Else) to Read Next?

  • That Swiss glacier collapse? It wasn’t a one-off | Bob Henson | YALE Climate Connection | 9 June 2025
    Climate change is greasing the skids for glacier detachments that can lead to rock-ice avalanches.
  • The Geneva Call for Disaster Risk Reduction: The Co-Chairs’ Summary of the Global Platform | UNDRR | 7 June 2025
    The 8th Global Platform’s outcome document, the Co-Chairs’ Summary, aims to serve as a guide and a rallying call to governments and stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of the Sendai Framework in the remaining five years until 2030. The Summary concludes with an eight-point call to action: The Geneva Call for Disaster Risk Reduction.
  • State of the Climate in the South-West Pacific 2024 | WMO | 5 June 2025
    The World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Climate in the South-West Pacific 2024 report warns that unprecedented ocean warming, sea level rise, and extreme weather are endangering lives, ecosystems, and economies across the region—especially in coastal and island communities.
  • El Niño/La Niña Update (June 2025) | WMO | 5 June 2025
    The latest forecasts from the WMO Global Producing Centres for Seasonal Prediction indicate that sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific are expected to remain close to average, with a 70% chance of ENSO-neutral conditions continuing and a 30% chance of La Niña conditions developing during the period June–August 2025. Forecasts for the period July-September 2025 suggest about 65% chance of continued ENSO-neutral conditions, with the chances of La Niña conditions slightly increasing to about 35%.
  • CERN sets new environmental objectives for 2030 | CERN | 5 June 2025
    To mark World Environment Day on 5 June, CERN has released its new environmental objectives for 2030, which emphasise its ongoing commitment to environmentally responsible and sustainable research. These updated goals align with CERN’s strategic vision, the evolving landscape of particle physics research and global sustainability expectations.
  • Children are climate and disaster risk reduction champions | WMO | 5 June 2025
    A new Memorandum of Understanding between WMO and COPE Academy Ltd strengthens cooperation to equip children with the knowledge and tools they need to understand, prepare for, and respond to hazards such as floods, cyclones, droughts, heatwaves.
  • Fact sheet for the now-collapsed Birchgletscher, Switzerland | ETH Zurich | 5 June 2025
    This factsheet provides our present understanding of the situation, including key background information about the glacier, its pre-event behavior, the role of permafrost, possible links to climate change, and information about comparable events involving glaciers in the past.
  • World Environment Day Spotlights Communities Fighting Climate Crisis | Human Rights Watch | 5 June 2025
    World Environment Day 2025 arrives amid a barrage of sobering news. Key developments around the world, however, offer a reminder that the global fight for environmental human rights is waged in frontline communities as well as in legislative halls. And where local communities are leading, there’s reason for hope.
  • New Nature Positive book | Nature Positive Initiative | 4 June 2025
    On the eve of World Environment Day, the world’s first book about Nature Positive is being launched. Published by Routledge Earthscan, Becoming Nature Positive: Transitioning to a Safe and Just Future provides a deep dive into how the Nature Positive global goal came to be, why it matters – and what it will take to achieve it across business, finance, governance and society – written by a diverse range of nature leaders.
  • Republic of the Marshall Islands joins IUCN as newest Pacific Island State Member | IUCN | 4 June 2025
    Situated in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, the Marshall Islands is a nation of over 1,000 islands and atolls, renowned for its rich marine biodiversity, including extensive coral reefs, seagrass beds and vital fish stocks. The country faces mounting challenges from climate change, particularly sea-level rise and ocean acidification, which threaten both its ecosystems and the livelihoods of its communities. By joining IUCN, the Marshall Islands strengthens its capacity to address these challenges through access to a global network of conservation expertise and resources.
  • World News in Brief: Aid for Syria, children under attack in Mozambique, rights-based climate action | UN News | 3 June 2025
    The UN’s top rights official warned on Tuesday that humanity’s survival is inseparable from the health of the planet. Speaking at Oxford University, Volker Türk highlighted the need for a new kind of politics to tackle the climate crisis and rising global inequality, urging strong leadership to push for urgent, just and rights-based solutions.
  • Enhancing Coherence Between Agricultural, Trade, and Health Policy Objectives in the Climate Crisis Context | TESS | 2 June 2025
    There is an urgent need for global trade policy instruments and international trade cooperation to support sustainable agriculture and improved food systems, nutrition, and health.
  • Cancer Alley’ Residents Win Petrochemical Suit Appeal: Opportunity for Justice | Human Rights Watch | 2 June 2025
    In a unanimous decision in April, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit gave new life to a hard-fought effort by residents of St. James Parish in Louisiana to seek a moratorium on new petrochemical plant construction and expansion. This reversal of a lower court’s dismissal in 2024 marks a promising moment in the fight for life in a particularly polluted part of the area known as “Cancer Alley.”
  • Heat: Through the eyes of the most vulnerable-Perceptions and pathways to action | IFRC and Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre | 1 June 2025
    The report provides a bottom-up perspective on extreme heat. Heat disrupts health, weakens social systems and triggers cascading failures in water, food and electrical and transport infrastructure. It will serve as a foundation for informed dialogue, strengthened partnerships and decisive steps towards protecting communities from one of the most urgent threats of the climate crisis. 
  • Accountability in Environmental Governance | Sylvia Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen and Arthur Lyon Dahl | 28 May 2025
    While states have adopted major international conventions on climate change, biodiversity, desertification and hundreds of other Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), degradation of the environment continues to accelerate. Current approaches to implementation are insufficient, lacking accountability mechanisms that could improve performance. This issue brief outlines three principal options for strengthening accountability mechanisms, and thereby the implementation of MEAs.

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