Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 15 – 21 February 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.

Due to the developments in the sanitary situation, most institutions in Geneva are 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.

Preparing for UNEA-5.1

On 22 and 23 February 2021, representatives of the 193 Member States of the UN, businesses leaders, civil society and environmentalists from around the world will come together virtually for the first part of the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.1), the world’s highest environmental decision-making body. Various preparatory and supporting activities to UNEA-5.1 are taking place from 15 to 20 February 2021. Our update “Towards UNEA-5” provides an overview of the programme, the involvement of International Geneva in the process, key messages from the high-level briefing, as well as useful links to register for events or news coverage.

AI for the Planet

UNEP, in collaboration with UNESCO, StartUp Inside, and Microsoft, is organizing a global virtual conference dedicated to the theme of AI for the Planet on 16 February 2021. This conference will be followed by a series of monthly dialogues (Tuesdays Together for the Planet) that will bring together the world’s best experts and AI pioneers to share concrete use cases, identify best practices, celebrate successes, and inspire further actions in this field. The conference and dialogues will address how AI can be harnessed to contribute to sustainability in the fields of climate change, nature and biodiversity conservation, and waste and pollution management.

Wednesdays for the Planet Leading Up to Wildlife Day

Wednesdays for the Planet is a series of online screenings and virtual presentations with experts highlighting the natural world and other environmental challenges our planet faces. For the month of February, we will be showcasing nature documentaries leading up to World Wildlife Day, celebrated on 3 March.

Corona: The Pandemic and the Pangolin, an uncomfortable, yet eye-opening, documentary that goes at the root of the pandemic to untangle the deep links between wildlife and our health, was presented last week and will be available until 3 March.
The Sanctuary: Survival Stories of the Alps, an incredible journey through the frozen heart of Europe to discover that it is not always the strongest who survives, but more often those who help each other, will be presented on 17 February 2021 from 13:30 CET, and followed by a presentation from the film director, Frédéric Fougea, and two experts from Eurac Research.

What (Else) Should I Read Next?

ILO achieves carbon neutrality | ILO | 8 February 2021
Achievements of the International Labour Organization (ILO) as part of the Greening the Blue initiative which targets carbon neutrality for the United Nations system by 2020
Deaths from fossil fuel emissions higher than previously thought | Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Science | 9 February 2021
New research reveals that air pollution caused by fossil fuel is responsible for more than 8 million deaths worldwide in 2018, a figure twice higher than estimates from previous studies
Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues | Plastics in the Life Cycle / SCP | Geneva Environment Network | 11 Februrary 2021
Outcomes of the Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues on Plastics in the Life Cycle
Deep seabed mining is an avoidable environmental disaster | WWF | 10 February 2021
New report on the dangers of deep seabed mining, revealing that these activities threaten unique ecosystems and biodiversity, and calling for a halt of the industry due to the high risks.
2021 a ‘crucial year’ for climate change, UN chief tells Member States | UN News | 8 February 2021
With nine months to go until Glasgow, and the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic continuing, Mr. Guterres underlined the UN’s commitment to ensuring preparatory negotiations will take place virtually.
Air Pollution Tightly Linked to Parkinson’s Clusters in Swiss Study | Forest Ray | Parkinson’s News Today | 9 February 2021
Clusters of Parkinson’s disease correlated significantly with air quality in urban versus more rural areas, a study spanning the Geneva canton reports, lending support to the idea that air pollution contributes to the disorder.