Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 11 – 17 October 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, Youtube, or visit our website regularly for additional updates.

Due to the developments in the sanitary situation, various institutions in Geneva continue 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.

Photo | H.E. Amb. Catalina Devandas presenting, on behalf of the core group on human rights and the environment (Costa Rica, the Maldives, Morocco, Slovenia, and Switzerland) the resolution on the recognition of the human right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, on 8 October 2021

Environment and Human Rights: Historic Breakthrough

The adoption of two landmark resolutions at the 48th session of the Human Rights Council, on Friday 8 October, the first finally recognizing the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, rooted in the 1972 Stockholm Declaration adopted almost five decades ago, and the second establishing mandate of Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change, was followed by numerous statements from stakeholders (consult our update on HRC48 for details). Among these:

UN recognition of human right to healthy environment gives hope for planet’s future – human rights expert | OHCHR | 8 October 2021
Statement by Inger Andersen on UN recognition of the Right to a Healthy Environment | UNEP | 8 October 2021
Bachelet hails landmark recognition that having a healthy environment is a human right | OHCHR | 8 October 2021
UN: Recognition of the right to a healthy environment is a milestone in the battle against the climate crisis | Amnesty | 8 October 2021

Interesting discussions continue in Geneva in this week:

A number of online side events in the lead up to the seventh session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention, the fourth session of the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs) and their joint High-level, will take place from 11 to 15 October 2021. These virtual events will address a number of important topics. See full list on UNECE website, amongh these:
- Monday 11 October, 10:00 – 12:00 CEST | Guaranteeing Aarhus-protected rights in International Climate Governance | CIEL
- Monday 11 October, 15:00 – 17:00 CEST | Defend the Defenders 2021 | Earthjustice, Arnika, Guta Association
- Thursday 14 October, 13:00 – 15:00 CEST | PRTRs: the evidence base instrument for the right to know our environment? | Earthjustice, GEN
- Friday 15 October, 13:00 – 15:00 CEST | Welcome Guinea-Bissau: opening a new dimension for Aarhus | Earthjustice, GEN and European ECO Forum
- Friday 15 October, 15:00 – 17:00 CEST | Cooperation between the Aarhus Convention and the Escazú Agreement to promote the protection of access rights and of environmental defenders | Guta Association, CIEL, EarthJustice, EarthRights, EEB and ECLAC

The 2021 Annual Conference of the Geneva Human Rights Platform taking place on 12 October, will be highlighting different aspects of connectivity between national human rights actors and Geneva-based international mechanisms. One of the thematic session, co-sponsored by UNEP, FES, CIEL, Earthjustice, Franciscans International, and the Geneva Environment Network, will address environment and human rights specifically. Join the session on 12 October at 14.00 CEST.

Nature-based Solutions for Building Resilience

This week Geneva Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Dialogue on Monday 11 October, as part of a journey co-convened with IUCN in the run-up to various international negotiations, will focus on building resilience, and is a special opportunity to celebrate the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. The event will showcase how NbS contribute to global efforts to build resilience and implement the Sendai Framework recognizing environmental management as a key component when designing well-informed nature-based actions for disaster risk reduction, but also for climate change adaptation. Register and join us online at 15.00 CEST!

Consult our update on Environmental Disaster Risk Reduction providing more information on the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, celebrated on 13 October.

Trade and Environment

The Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) of the World Trade Organization is convening this week. Public side-events hosted in parallel to the committee include;

Climate-Smart Trade and Investment for Sustainable Development / APTIR 2021 launch event | 11 October, 10.00 – 11.30 CEST | Organized by New Zealand and ESCAP
A Conversation on Clean Cooking, Women, and Trade | 15 October, 14.00 – 15.30 CEST | Organized by Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA)

For further information and news about trade and the environment in International Geneva, check out our update on trade and the environment.

Happening Abroad

This week events happening abroad and mobilizing actors from international Geneva include:

UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15/COP-MOP10/COP-MOP4) – Part 1 (Virtual), including online high-level segment | Kunming, China & Online | 11-15 October 2021
The first part will include the opening of the Meetings and will address agenda items that have been identified as essential for the continuation of the operations of the Convention and the Protocols. The high-level segment on 12 and13 October is expected to focus on the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.
World Resource Forum 2021, WRF2021 | Online and in Dübendorf (Switzerland), Accra (Ghana) and Geneva | 12-14 September 2021
A multi-stakeholder dialogue to put Earth’s resources at the heart of the global green transition. A special hybrid session from Geneva- The elephant in the extractive room: The neglected value of sand will take place on 12 October from 16:30 – 17:20.

What (Else) Should I Read Next?

Ecological Threat Report 2021 | Institute for Economics & Peace | 7 October 2021
Covering over 2,500 sub-national administrative units, 178 independent states and territories, the report assesses threats relating to food risk, water risk, rapid population growth, temperature anomalies and natural disasters.
The Ocean Economy: trends, impacts and opportunities for a post COVID-19 Blue Recovery in developing countries | David Vivas Eugui, Diana Barrowclough and Claudia Contreras | South Centre | October 2020
This paper discusses preliminary trends on trade, finance, and technology of the ocean economy, outlines key impacts and measures taken to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and raises awareness about the potential of the ocean economy to contribute to a sustainable and resilient recovery.
The State of Climate Services 2021: Water | WMO | 5 October 2021
More than 2 billion people are living in countries under water stress and 3.6 billion people face inadequate access to water at least one month per year. Meanwhile, water-related hazards have increased in frequency for the past 20 years. The report explores the progress made by WMO Members in using climate services to address water-related challenges – and highlights the gaps that still exist.
World must finally think long-term – U.N. environment chief | Andrea Januta and Katy Daigle | Reuters | 5 October 2021
Getting the finance industry to think longer-term is critical to addressing the climate crisis, says Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.
Confronting the climate crisis requires confronting systemic racism, say UN experts | OHCHR | 5 October 2021
In a report presented to the 48th Human Rights Council, the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent provides guidance on how to effectively address environmental injustice, racial disparities, unequal protection and the unique impact of the climate crisis and environmental racism.
Rising sea surface temperatures driving the loss of 14 percent of corals since 2009 | UNEP | 5 October 2021
The sixth edition of the “Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2020” provides the most detailed scientific picture to date of the toll elevated temperatures have taken on the world’s reefs, revealing how climate change and other local pressures put coral reefs at risk of irrevocable loss.
Leveraging Trade to Support Climate Adaptation in Developing Countries | IISD | 4 October 2021
This paper aims to support trade negotiators in leveraging trade for climate change adaptation and to explore the critical role National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes can play in this regard.