Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 11 – 17 January 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.

2021 and the Global Environment Agenda

Various key events for the future of our planet are scheduled to take place around the world this year virtually or physically. However, due to the current pandemic, most institutions in Geneva and around the world continue operating virtually, and major negotiations on the agenda might still be subject to changes. Our update on COVID-19 and the environment lists relevant information, research, data and press releases on the environmental origins and consequences of the pandemic, its impacts on the global environmental agenda, as well as the opportunities for a green recovery. The post COVID-19 recovery packages are indeed a unique occasion to put the world on a more sustainable path.

Among the international meetings planned this year of particular interest for international Geneva: 1st part of the 5th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5), UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15), Fifth Meeting of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5), UN Ocean Conference, 2021 meetings of the Conferences of Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam & Stockholm Conventions (2021 COPs), UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), 4th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention (COP4).

Two important decades are kicking off this year:

2021 is also the International Year of Fruits & Vegetables, intended to raise awareness on the important role of fruits and vegetables in human nutrition, food security and health, as well as in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This week, the 4th edition of the One Planet Summit will focus on mobilizing and taking action for biodiversity. Organized by France, in cooperation with the United Nations and the World Bank, the summit will be held virtually, Monday 11 January, to mobilize political attention toward the preservation of the planet in the international sequence leading up to the UN Biodiversity Conference.

One Health Response to Antimicrobial Resistance

Monday 11 January, a webinar co-hosted by UNEP, FAO Liaison Office in Geneva, and The South Centre, will focus on Advancing the One Health response to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). The webinar’s objectives are raising awareness and communicating the importance of the One Health approach in addressing AMR, sharing good policy practices to mitigate the threat of AMR by reducing the use of antimicrobials in agricultural systems and the environment, and showcasing regional and country examples of what is taking place to address AMR from a One Health perspective in the global community. Register online and join the event at 14:00 CET.

Plastics and Human Rights

The Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues launched in November 2020, with a first session on Plastics and Waste, and a second session on Plastics, Climate and Air Pollution, will continue this week with a session dedicated to Plastics and Human Rights. 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. They aim to facilitate further engagement and discussion among the stakeholders in International Geneva and beyond.

This week, leading experts will discuss the human rights aspect of the plastic life cycle and identify the possible roles and extent of a rights-based approach to address the plastics crisis, including the protection to the most vulnerable groups in society, the access to information, participation in decision making, and ensuring accountability. Register on Webex and join us on Thursday 14 January, at 14:00 CET.

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.

What (Else) Should I Read Next?

Leaders pledge to protect biodiversity at One Planet Summit | Shweta Desai | AA News | 12 January 2021
4th edition of the One Planet Summit: mobilizing and taking action for biodiversity | France (Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères) | 11 January 2021
At the One Planet Summit, several notable initiatives were launched: the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People with 50 countries committing to protect at least 30% of land and sea by 2030, the Coalition for a Mediterranean Exemplary Sea to address over-fishing, marine pollution and transport, PREZODE to prevent the risks of zoonotic emergencies and pandemics, and an alliance for the Preservation of Tropical and Humid Forests. Countries also discussed finance mechanisms for biodiversity and climate and expressed their support to the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures. The summit was preceded by a forum on the Great Green Wall of the African Union to combat desertification in the Sahara region where over 14$ billion were committed.
Opinion: We are close to the point of no return | Inger Anderson | DW | 4 January 2021
We must make 2021 the year when climate action came of age, or face disaster, writes Inger Andersen, the executive director of the UN Environment Programme.
World’s first global, legally-binding measures on curbing plastic waste become effective for 186 States | BRS MEAs | 1 January 2021
Unanimously agreed at the breakthrough 2019 Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention, the Plastic Waste Amendments clarify the way plastic waste is internationally traded, bringing additional types of plastic waste into the existing control mechanism.
GGKP to launch Green Forum online interactive community for sustainable growth | GGKP | 21 December 2020
Building on its policy, industry and finance platforms, the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP) rolled out at the end of 2020 a beta version of the Green Forum – an online interactive community space for professionals to share and discuss insights on a range of themes and issues in the pursuit of a sustainable economic transformation.
Human Development Report 2020 | The Next – Development and the Anthropocene | UNDP | December 2020
While the devastating effects of Covid-19 have taken the world’s attention, other layered crises, from climate change to rising inequalities, continue to take their toll. The challenges of planetary and societal imbalance are intertwined: they interact in a vicious circle, each making the other worse.
Building Forward Better: Prospects for Green Recovery Efforts | Geneva Environment Network | 17 December 2020
Outcomes of the event discussing how supporting green deal strategies is instrumental in national and global recovery plans for the future of our planet, especially with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chemicals and Waste Briefing | Year in Review and Priorities for 2021 | Geneva Environment Network | 16 December 2020
Outcomes of the briefing reviewing negotiations related to chemicals and waste that took place in 2020, with the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic and presented the important conferences scheduled in 2021.
Briefing on the 5th Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly – GENeva UNEA Briefing | Geneva Environment Network | 15 December 2020
Outcomes of the briefing reviewing preparations and civil society engagement ahead of the 5th Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) which will take place in February 2021 and February 2022.
Plastics, EDCs & Health | IPEN | 15 December 2020
Joint report of the Endocrine Society and IPEN providing the outlining the latest scientific knowledge about the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on human health.
The Stockholm Convention 16th Meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Review Committee (POPRC-16) is taking place online from Monday 11 to Saturday 16 January. Find daily web coverage, summaries and updates on the Earth Negotations Bulleting.