Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 12 – 18 October 2020

The Geneva Environment Network weekly newsletter includes updates on global environmental agenda, main events, job vacancies expiring soon, learning opportunities, as well as other useful news 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.

Another busy week with numerous events and the possibility to join live events organized around the world.

Disaster Risk Reduction: It’s All About Governance

On Tuesday 13 October, we celebrate the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. It is the occasion to acknowledge the progress being made toward reducing disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan in March 2015.

This year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is all about governance. COVID-19 and the climate emergency are telling us that we need clear vision, plans and competent, empowered institutions acting on scientific evidence for the public good. This requires having national and local strategies for disaster risk reduction in place by the end of the year as agreed by UN Member States when they adopted the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2015. We need strategies that address not just single hazards like floods and storms, but those that respond to systemic risk generated by zoonotic diseases, climate shocks and environmental breakdown. #DRRday #ItsAllAboutGovernance

Among the events taking place this year to celebrate the day:

Launch | Massive Open Online Course on Nature-based Solutions for Disaster and Climate Resilience | PEDRR |13 Oct 2020, 10:00 – 11:30 CEST
AI for Good Webinar | How can Artificial Intelligence reduce disaster risks in countries? | ITU | 13 Oct 2020, 11:00 – 12:30 CEST
Online presentation and Q&A on the Words into Action Guidelines on Disaster Displacement | How to reduce risk, address impacts and strengthen resilience | Platform on Disaster Displacement | 13 Oct 2020, 14:00 – 15:00 CEST

Two other important events taking place on the day:

Launch | WHO guidance for climate resilient and environmentally sustainable health care facilities | WHO | 13 Oct 2020, 09:00-11:00 & 15:00-17:00 | Online
2020 State of Climate Services Report Launch | Risk Information and Early Warning Systems | WMO | 13 Oct 2020, 15:00 – 16:30 | Online

Financing a Resilient Future: UNEP FI Global Roundtable

The UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is hosting its 16th Global Roundtable (GRT), a major global biennial agenda-setting event on sustainable finance, on 13–14 October 2020. Held under the theme of “Financing a Resilient Future”, the GRT will bring together decision-makers, experts and thought leaders on a virtual event platform, and help shape approaches to integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and accelerating sustainable banking, insurance and investment. #GRT2020

The event will highlight the development of financial products with positive impacts, explore emerging approaches to financing the Sustainable Development Goals, provide invaluable insight into alignment with the Paris Agreement, innovation, emerging guidance and good practice, and identify trends and issues on the horizon at a global level to explore the finance sectors’ responses to science, policy and business developments in areas such as climate change, biodiversity, circularity and ocean health.

The Growing Environmental Risks of E-waste

On 14 October, we celebrate the International E-Waste Day, used to raise the public profile of e-waste recycling and encourage consumers to recycle their e-waste. Various organizations in international Geneva are committed to improve e-waste management, read more in our update on The growing Environmental Risks of E-Waste.

In 2019, a record 53.6 million metric tonnes (Mt) of electronic waste was generated worldwide (7.3 kg per capita), up 21 per cent in just five years, according to the UN’s Global E-waste Monitor 2020. Only 17.4 per cent of the e-waste was collected and recycled. The report also predicts global e-waste – discarded products with a battery or plug – will reach 74 Mt by 2030, almost a doubling of e-waste in just 16 years. This makes e-waste the world’s fastest-growing domestic waste stream, fueled mainly by higher consumption rates of electric and electronic equipment, short life cycles, and few options for repair. #EWasteDay

Minamata Online

Minamata Online, the series of digital engagement providing an opportunity for stakeholders to better understand the Minamata Convention. This week session, on 15 October, will address mercury material flow with a focus on waste.

Sustainable Food Festival

During the week of the World Food Day, celebrated on 16 October, the City of Geneva organizes the second edition of the Sustainable Food Forum, with food waste as its main theme. With FAO and Partage as partners, the Forum aims to bring together citizens, farmers, actors and actress of sustainable food to discuss the content of our plates and our relationship to food. The program includes various lunch time and afterword events.

COVID-19 and the Environment

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. Events addressing the pandemic recovery this week:

GGKP Webinar | Rebuilding Better: What’s sand got to do with it? | GGKP | 13 Oct 2020, 15:00 – 16:30 CEST
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 | Webinar 4: Preparing for and responding to chemical risks: re-starting industry | UNEP/OCHA JEU | 14 Oct 2020, 14:00-15:30 CEST
Protocol Webinar Series 2020 | N° 3 | Surveillance of COVID-19 virus in wastewater | Water Convention | 15 Oct 2020, 10:30 – 12:00 CEST
Session on using international standards to build smart sustainable cities and tackle climate change post-COVID-19 | ITU | 15 Oct 2020, 13:30 – 15:00 CEST

Green Autumn in Geneva

We have prepared a list of suggestions of environmental awareness activities to entertain this fall, regularly updated. From exhibitions and film screenings to creative workshops and outdoor activities, learn more about the environment, encounter local wildlife and explore nature trails for a “green” autumn in Geneva.

What (Else) Should I Read Next?

The pandemic shows need for resilient and sustainable cities, say local authorities as UNECE Forum of Mayors paves way for more inclusive multilateralism | UNECE | 6 October 2020
A commitment to work together to make cities more sustainable, resilient and inclusive was enshrined in the Geneva Declaration of Mayors, endorsed by the mayors.
Nations fall short on biodiversity despite protected area growth – IUCN co-authored study | IUCN | 7 October 2020
National governments have fallen short on delivering conservation commitments for protected and conserved areas under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), despite the expansion in protected areas over the last decade.
2020 Antarctic ozone hole is large and deep | WMO | 6 October 2020
The annually occurring ozone hole over the Antarctic is one of the largest and deepest in recent years. Analyses show that the hole has reached its maximum size.
Human Rights for the Planet – high-level international conference on human rights and environmental protection Statement by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet | OHCHR | 5 October 2020
High Commissioner for Human Right reiterated her call for global recognition and effective implementation of the human right to a healthy environment.
Revealed: air pollution may be damaging ‘every organ in the body’ | Damian Carrington |The Guardian | 6 October 2020
Tiny air pollution particles have been revealed in the brain stems of young people and are intimately associated with molecular damage linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
‘Total destruction’: why fires are tearing across South America | Uki Goñi, Sam Cowie, William Costa | 9 October 2020
Wildfires, mostly caused by land clearing for cattle grazing and soya production, have set four nations ablaze.
With “Earthshots”, Prince William takes aim at environmental decline | UNEP | 8 October 2020
The United Nations Environment Programme is part of a global coalition that has been established to maximize the impact of the Earthshot Prize. This coalition includes the World Economic Forum, World Wildlife Fund, and others.
What’s being done about mask and glove pollution? | Emilie Rindard | Swissinfo | 10 October 2020
As more places make mask-wearing compulsory, we are facing the problem of how to manage a new source of pollution.
Outcomes of the Webinar on Recent Environmental Emergencies | Geneva Environment Network | 7 October 2020
A webinar on the recent environmental emergencies organized within the framework of the Geneva Environment Network, took place on Wednesday, 7 October 2020. This public event offered the latest environmental analysis and assessment of two emergencies currently faced by the international community and UNEP’s response: Environmental risks of the Beirut explosion, and Environmental challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.