Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 13 – 19 December 2021

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 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.

Image of the week | The Center for International Environmental Law Geneva Team at the ‎2021 Geneva CIELebration‎, Thursday 9 December 2021, Cottage Cafe, Geneva.

On the Road to UNEA.5-2: Tackling Pollution

Two-and-a-half months ahead of the resumed session of the 5th session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA5.2) – the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment, scheduled to take place in Nairobi, from 28 February to 2 March 2022, consultations are ongoing on various draft resolutions tabled by members states.

Science-Policy Panel for Chemicals, Waste and Pollution

UNEA-4 recognized the importance of science-based decision-making and requested UNEP to prepare an assessment of options for strengthening the science-policy interface (SPI) at the international level. The assessment report reviews a variety of existing SPI platforms and examines potential impacts of and outputs from a strengthened SPI for chemicals and waste.

This week, the Geneva session of a series of webinars – Establishing a Science-Policy Panel (SPP) for Chemicals, Waste and Pollution – co-convened by Albania, Mali, North-Macedonia, Switzerland and Uruguay with the support of UNEP in the run-up to UNEA-5.2, will take place within the framework of the Geneva Environment Network on Tuesday 14 December. The event will present the findings of the UNEP report and provide a platform to exchange and reflect on the need to strengthen the SPI for chemicals, waste and pollution. Participants will also be briefed on the proposal for a draft resolution for UNEA-5.2 on the establishment of a science policy panel to support action on chemicals, waste and pollution. Register on WebEx and join us at 14:00 CET.

Plastic Pollution

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) published on 10 December 2021 a comparison table on the potential resolutions on plastic pollution to be adopted at UNEA 5.2. This document provides a textual comparison of the two draft resolutions (Peru & Rwanda | September 2021, Japan | 6 December 2021) – currently tabled for discussion at the Committee of Permanent Representatives sessions in advance of UNEA 5.2 – and sheds some light on the potential merging of these draft resolutions.

On Wednesday 14 December, members of governments, representative organizations, and groups from civil society, Indigenous People, workers, and trade unions will launch a call to action for United Nations Member States to agree to establish a legally binding global instrument addressing the full life cycle of plastics — a plastics treaty — at UNEA5.2. The call has been endorsed by over 600 civil society groups from 113 countries. Speakers at the “Public Call to Action: A New Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution” virtual panel discussion (14 December, 17:00 CET | 15 December, 5:00 CET) will emphasize the need to negotiate a new legally binding global instrument on plastic pollution that includes measures along the entire life cycle of plastics, from extraction of feedstocks to production, transport, use, disposal, and remediation, and prioritizes participation from diverse stakeholders, especially civil society, Indigenous Peoples, workers and trade unions, and children and youth. The event is organized by CIEL, EIA, and WWF. See also other CIEL resources on Plastic Pollution.

Cities and Climate Negotiations

In the follow-up to the UN Climate Conference in Glasgow (COP26), the Geneva Cities Hub is organizing the Cities & COP26 Negotiations session as part of its City Diplomacy Series. This event, co-sponsored by the Geneva Environment Network, will discuss the contribution of cities, local and regional governments and their networks to the objectives of the Paris Agreement, and provide an opportunity to discuss and analyze their engagement in a multilateral conference such as COP26.

The event will be held in a hybrid format on Thursday 16 December. Register and join us at 16:00 CET.

Launch of Ministerial Statements on Trade, Environment and Sustainable Development

The joint launch of three Ministerial Statements, initially scheduled to take placed during 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12), will finally be hosted this week by the co-convenors of the three initiatives:

Trade and Environmental Sustainability: the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions will launch a ministerial statement focused on identifying best practices, challenges and opportunities for sustainable trade and fostering continuous discussions on the environmental impacts of trade.
Plastic Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade: Members of the Informal Dialogue on Plastic Pollution will launch a ministerial statement outlining the steps Members could take collectively to support global efforts to reduce plastics pollution. The statement is currently supported by more than 60 countries.
Fossil Fuel Subsidies Reform: the Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform will launch a ministerial statement, calling for the rationalization and phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption, while taking into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries.

Follow the launch of these initiatives through WTO live streaming on Wednesday 15 December at 9.30 CET.

What (Else) Should I Read or Watch Next?

Enabling Concerted Multilateral Action on Plastic Pollution and Plastics Substitutes | UNCTAD | 7 December 2021
This paper explores the role of trade in the current plastic pollution challenge and the options for devising a more coherent and concerted governance action within the United Nations and the multilateral trading system. It highlights the potential of circular economy principles and plastics substitutes to reduce plastic pollution and enabling local sustainable manufacturing development in selected developing countries.
Chair of fisheries subsidies negotiations outlines next steps for work in the new year | WTO | 10 December 2021
Fisheries subsidies negotiations aim to conclude as quickly as possible in the new year, the chair of the negotiations, Ambassador Santiago Wills of Colombia reported following consultations held in the wake of the postponement of MC12. Work will continue in January to refine the draft fisheries subsidies agreement for ministers’ consideration.
2021: A year of private finance stepping up sustainability action | UNEP FI | 8 December 2021
The UNEP Finance Initiative rounds up the momentous year when UNEP FI members stepped up action on helping deliver a more sustainable and resilient future economy and community.
The Multi-Billion Dollar Food Opportunity | The Green Renaissance Podcast | 7 December 2021
Produced with the support of UNDP and UNEP, the latest episode of the Green Renaissance Podcast investigates how repurposing the support provided to food producers can generate system-wide benefits for farmers, consumers, and nature.
Women sweep UN’s 2021 ‘Champions of the Earth’ awards | UN News | 7 December 2021
UNEP announced the winners of this year Champions of the Earth award, recognizing the contribution of outstanding leaders from government, civil society and the private sector to inspire, defend, mobilize and act to tackle the greatest environmental challenges of our time.
COP 22 adopts bold measures for the protection of the environment that can catalyze a green recovery in the Mediterranean | UNEP/MAP | 10 December 2021
The Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (Barcelona Convention) and its Protocols concluded their 22nd meeting (COP 22, Antalya, Turkey, 7-10 December 2021) with a package of action-oriented decisions to protect the Mediterranean marine and coastal environment and bolster sustainable development.
How Can We Better Protect and Promote Human Rights in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework? | High-Level Panel | FPP, Swedbio, IIFB, GYBN, GEN & IUCN | 8 December 2021
Outcomes of a session aimed at drawing attention to the importance of human rights in the Global Biodiversity Framework prior to the final face-to-face negotiations of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
Nature-based Solutions and People | Geneva Nature-based Solutions Dialogues | IUCN & GEN | 6 December 2021
Outcomes of the concluding session of the Geneva Nature-based Solutions Dialogue. Organized ahead of Human Rights Day, celebrated on 10 December, the session provided an opportunity to discuss and advance rights-based and gender-responsive approaches to Nature-based Solutions for people and the environment. The session also concluded with reflections on key outcomes drawn from across the series.
Plastic Waste in Mountains | Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues & International Mountain Day 2021 | 10 December 2021
Outcomes of the dialogue, organized ahead of the International Mountain Day, celebrated on 11 December, which provided the opportunity to put mountains in the spotlight of the global efforts to address plastic pollution.