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Newsletter 16 Sep 2024

Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 16 – 22 September 2024

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 on X (Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Youtube, or visit our website regularly for additional updates.

Image of the week | Tour de table at the Alternatiba Léman World Café focusing on “Local do-ers of doing differently”. The Geneva Environment Network attended the event alongside local and regional networks such as Jardins de la Jonction, Association Porteous, Ultra Recup, LAC Chablais & Festival TEC. The event kicked off the 10th edition of the Alternatiba Léman festival, which continues this week with a rich program of conferences at Unimail from 16 to 20 September and the “Village des Alternatives” in Parc des Bastions on Saturday 21 September. © GEN, Jardins de la Jonction, 15 September 2024

Environment @ 57th Session of the Human Rights Council

The 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC57) continues this week in Geneva. Several informal consultations on environment-related resolutions were held last week, including on  technical assistance and capacity-building to address the human rights implications of the nuclear legacy in the Marshall Islands (Fiji, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Samoa and Vanuatu), biodiversity and human rights (Colombia and Costa Rica), and human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (Germany and Spain).

This week, the environment continues to remain high on the agenda of the Council.

  • The UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, Marcos Orellana, presents his report, “Pollution Information Portals: Strengthening access to information on releases of hazardous substances” in an interactive dialogue with the Council on 17 September 2024 from 11:30 CEST at Palais des Nations, Room XX & online. He is also holding a side event co-organized with USA, Mexico and the Geneva Environment Network, “The Fundamental Need to Know: The Role of Pollution Information Portals“, on 18 September 2024 from 14:00 to 15:00 CEST at Palais des Nations, Room XXII.
  • Continuing discussions on toxics and human rights, this year’s edition of the Geneva Toxic Free Talks is also taking place this week at Palais des Nations and online. Taking place on the sidelines of HRC57, the talks, co-organized with the UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, Earthjustice, Center for International Environmental Law and Geneva Environment Network, will highlight the work of the Special Rapporteur and of organizations in the struggle for the right to live in a toxic-free environment, with topics including:
  • The UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights is also expected to speak in other side events, including:
  • The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to water and sanitation, Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, is also presenting his report to the Council on the economic values assigned to water and aquatic ecosystems from a human rights-based approach, on 16 September 2024 from 11:30 CEST at Palais des Nations, Room XX & online. He is also holding a side event “Water as a Common Good“, co-organized with Germany, Spain, End Water Poverty, and the Geneva Environment Network, on 17 September 2024 from 14:30 to 15:30 CEST at Palais des Nations, Room XXII and online.
  • The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development, Surya Deva, is also presenting his report to the Human Rights Council on on what the right to development (economic, social, political and cultural development) means for children and future generations, scheduled on 18 September 2024, from 12:00 CEST at Palais des Nations, Room XX and online.
  • An interactive dialogue on the report of the Independent Expert on international order, George Katrougalos, is scheduled to take place on 16 September from 16:30 CEST at Palais des Nations, Room XX and online. It will highlight the promotion and protection of a democratic and equitable international order, including international cooperation to ensure the right of all peoples to a healthy environment and assistance for national efforts to adapt to climate change.
  • With the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on climate change and human rights expected to be renewed in this session, the Core Group on SR climate change mandate & the Special Rapporteur Elisa Morgera are holding a side event on The Importance of Interconnectedness, on Human Rights and Climate Change on 19 September 2024 from 9:30 – 10:30 CEST at Palais des Nations, Room XXII.

Other notable events taking place this week include:

→ Consult regular updates on key environmental issues at HRC57, side events, and further resources available on our dedicated HRC57 and the environment update.

Phasing Out Environmentally Harmful Subsidies

The phasing out of environmentally harmful subsidies — the financial resources allocated to activities exploiting the world’s natural resources unsustainably — are discussed in various processes in Geneva. Recent and upcoming discussions include:

  • The World Trade Organization, defining, monitoring, regulating, and discussing various types of subsidies, had sessions exploring agricultural and fisheries subsidies last week at the 2024 edition of the WTO Public Forum.
  • The UN Environment Management Group’s Nexus Dialogue webinar series on Repurposing Harmful Subsidies, seeks to foster a collective understanding among key organizations of how these subsidies contribute to environmental degradation and to strategize reform efforts that align with SDGs, culminating in a policy paper to guide meaningful global action towards sustainability. This week, the second Nexus Dialogue of the series entitled “Revitalizing Economies: The Path to Repurposing and Reforming Harmful Subsidies” will explore methodologies for measuring subsidies’ economic, social, and environmental impacts, emphasizing the urgent need for reform. → Learn more in the concept note and register to attend online on 17 September 2024 from 15:00 to 16:30 CEST.
  • The International Institute for Sustainable Development will be holding the webinar “Pricing Emissions in International Aviation and Maritime Transport: Subsidy reform and other options“. Member states from the coalition of 13 countries chaired by the Netherlands formed at the UN Climate Change COP28 to phase out fossil fuel subsidies and international experts will examine the opportunities and challenges to fossil fuel subsidy reform in the shipping and aviation sectors.

Climate News | Advancing Action

Climate change continues making the headlines globally with unprecedented records broken and extreme weather events causing social, environmental and economic impacts:

  • As confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization, record-breaking temperatures continued in August, marking the warmest August in history and the 15th consecutive month of record-high global temperatures. As a consequence of the hot weather, heavy rainfalls have precipitated around the world leading to floods that are causing devastation in many parts of the world, including West and Central Africa, linked to the so-called “super Typhoon Yagi” in Asia and in Europe.
  • Recent WMO updates also predicted 60% chance of La Niña weather phenomenon occurring in the last months of 2024 and the first months of 2025. Since June 2023 there is an extended streak of exceptional global land and sea surface temperature. Even if a short-term cooling La Niña event does emerge, it will not change the long-term trajectory of rising global temperatures due to heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Various events this week will contribute to drive action, including:

  • To mark World Ozone Day on 16 September, held this year under the theme “Montreal Protocol: Advancing Climate Action“, WMO will release its annual Ozone Bulletin, which will look at data on the ozone layer in 2023 and the role of the Montreal Protocol in helping to combat climate change.
  • Gold Standard is hosting a webinar “Importance of NbS and Sustainable Finance in Climate Adaptation“on 16 September 2024 from 15:00- 16:00 CEST to discuss the role of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as an effective solution, not only as powerful tools for climate adaptation but also contribute significantly to mitigation efforts, making them a dual-benefit approach to climate action. 
  • The Community of Practice on Environment, Climate, Conflict, and Peace (ECCP) will hold its September meeting on 17 September 2024 from 15:00 CEST on Zoom.
  • On Wednesday, 18 September, WMO will hold a press conference at 10:30 CEST at Palais des Nations with WMO Secretary-General, Celeste Saulo, to launch the United in Science report — the multi-organization high-level compilation of the most recent science related to climate change, impacts and responses.
  • WHO is conducting a series of technical webinars on various climate change and health topics with the aim of building capacity for implementation at country level, integratng training, experience sharing, interactive activities and group discussion Join Integrating health in NDCs and LT-LEDS on 18 September 2024 either from 09:30 to 11:00 CEST or from 15:00 to 16:30 CEST Online on Zoom.
  • The  International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), with support from AdaptAction is organizing a webinar “Mobilizing IPCC Evidence on Gender, Equity, and Justice in Climate Change Adaptation” where IPCC authors, researchers, practitioners, and advocates will discuss the key findings of the IPCC related to gender, equity, and justice and explore how they can be applied, towards more just and effective adaptation. The event will take place on 18 September 2024, from 16:00 CEST on Webex.
  • As the momentum towards the 29th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP29), to be held in November in Baku, Azerbaijan, this week two sessions will be held as part of the UNECE Sustainable Energy Week:
  • Achieving Climate Justice for Children in the Context of Climate Change | HRC57 Side Event | 16 September 2024 | 13:00 – 14:00 CEST | Palais des Nations, Room XXV & Online | Save the Children, World Council of Churches, Child Rights Connect, Child Rights International Network, Terre des Hommes International Federation
  • Local Climate Action in Geneva | Alternatiba Léman Festival 2024 | This year marks the 10th edition of the Alternatiba Léman Festival, a gathering of local climate initiatives aimed at mobilizing all civil society actors and raising public awareness on the climate crisis. The festival kicked off on Sunday, 15 September in the Jonction Gardens with the arrival of the Tour Alternatiba and will conclude on 21 September 2024.
    • From Monday to Friday, a series of free conferences, roundtables, workshops and screenings will take place at Uni Mail, Cinélux, MEG – Musée d’ethnographie Genève, Jardins de la Jonction, L’ESPACE and Espace 3DD.
    • The Conseil pour le climat de Genève (Geneva Climate Council) and the Geneva Environment Network will organize an event to present the final report of the Geneva Climate Council and its final recommendations to the State Council and take stock of the two years of work so far. → Join the event on 16 September 2024  from 20:00 to 21:45 at Uni Mail in MR290.
    • The event will close on Saturday 21 September with its traditional Village of Alternatives in Parc des Bastions, where local organizations engaged in raising awareness and acting to tackle climate change will offer a vast array of activities for people of all ages. → Consult the full program.

Road to Cali | Supporting the Convention on Biological Diversity from Geneva

The UN Biodiversity Conference, encompassing the Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16), the Eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and the Fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization, will take place next month in Cali, Colombia. Various international Geneva actors are building momentum towards this key appointment on the international environmental agenda:

  • Last week, a side event to the 57th Session of the Human Rights Council organized by the  Geneva Human Rights, Biodiversity and Land Task Force (GeHRBiL) highlighted how the Human Rights Council can play a role in supporting the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework following a human rights-based approach, reflecting on COP16 host country Colombia’s proposal of HRC57 a resolution on the importance of applying a human rights perspective on the KMGBF. → Rewatch the session
  • Last week, WWF set out the key priorities for a successful outcome at the UN biodiversity conference COP16, urging countries to speed up the delivery of their own nature targets and step up support to other countries to do the same.
  • Celebrating the autumn solstice, the Drums for Earth Demonstration comes back to Geneva to support the representatives of organized Indigenous peoples and amplify their voices at the CBD COP16. The demonstration also calls attention to the fact that at the same time as CBD COP16 takes place in Cali, negotiations on the treaty on human rights and transnational corporations will be taking place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, as another important instrument for safeguarding the environment and the self-determination of peoples. → Join the demonstration on Sunday, 22 September 2024 from 14:43 to 18:00 in Place des Nations.

Just, Equitable and Sustainable Management of Critical Energy Transition Minerals

With demand for minerals critical to renewable energy technologies expected to almost triple by 2030, a diverse expert panel, convened by the UN Secretary-General — the UN Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals — has issued last week a set of recommendations and guiding principles for Governments, industry and other stakeholders to ensure the opportunities of the global energy transition are pursued with equity, justice and sustainability. The Panel’s report — Resourcing the energy transition: principles to guide critical energy transition minerals towards equity and justice — identifies ways to ground the renewables revolution in justice and equity, so that it spurs sustainable development, respects people, protects the environment and powers prosperity in resource-rich developing countries.

The just, equitable and sustainable management of critical energy transition minerals is an important topic for international Geneva, with discussions happening in different fora:

Arrival of (Green) Autumn in Geneva

At the end of this week, the astronomical Autumn begins with the Autumn equinox, on Sunday 22 September. That day the tilt of Earth’s axis is perpendicular to the Sun’s rays, producing a nearly equal amount of day and night all over the world. With the arrival of Autumn, nature changes its colors and Geneva offers many opportunities to enjoy its landscapes around the lake and its numerous parks. Find suggestions of exhibitions, nature trails, shows, music and festivals for a Green Autumn in Geneva. Suggestions for this week include:

  • Instantanés botaniques | Two talented photographers take an unusual look at the “Conservatoire Botanique” — an original artistic exploration of its heritage collections, a poetic glimpse into the research and conservation activities that have been driving the institution for two centuries. A look behind the scenes. → Visit the exhibition at Bains des Pâquis open from 16 September to 31 December 2024 and save the date for the opening vernissage on 24 September 2024 from 12:15 CEST.
  • In the context of the Alternatiba Léman festival numerous afterwork activities are taking place this week in Geneva.
  • On 8 December 2023, the United Nations General Assembly, in its seventy-eighth session, unanimously adopted resolution 78/122, proclaiming 20 September as World Cleanup Day, to be observed annually. The World Clean Up Day movement started in 2008 and counts on numerous events taking place around the world, including in neighboring France and Switzerland. Join the movement!

Happening Abroad

79th session of the United Nations General Assembly | Every September, the United Nations General Assembly gathers the world’s leaders and advocates to address, discuss, and debate the most pressing global issues. The High-level Week of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly kicks off at the end of this week, with the start of the Summit of the Future. Other major events addressing environmental and sustainability issues will take place this week in parallel and in preparation of the Summit and other important meetings taking place next week.

  • Summit of the Future & Impact Days | The United Nations General Assembly will hold a Summit of the Future on 22-23 September 2024 at the UN Headquarters in New York. The Summit is a high-level event, bringing world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future. As recently stated by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the summit is a “critical opportunity for safer, more sustainable and equitable world”. One of the major outcomes will be the adoption of an inter-governmentally negotiated, action-oriented Pact for the Future as well as a global digital compact and a declaration on future generations to be annexed to the Pact. The importance of building the future sustainably and the need to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution are recognized across the documents → Learn more and read about 5 Reasons You Should Care About The Summit Of The Future
  • Summit of the Future Action Days | To generate additional opportunities for the engagement of all actors, the UN SG is convening the Summit of the Future Action Days on 20 and 21 September 2024. The Action Days will focus on three priority themes – digital and technology, peace and security, and sustainable development and financing. → Stay updated consulting the upcoming virtual side events programme.
  • Climate Week NYC | Held every year in partnership with the UN General Assembly and is run in coordination with the United Nations and the City of New York, Climate Week NYC is the largest annual climate event of its kind, bringing together over 600 events and activities across the City of New York – in person, hybrid and online. Climate Week NYC is hosted by Climate Group, an international non-profit whose purpose is to drive climate action, fast. Climate Group hosts the official program during the week that brings together the most senior international figures from business, government, civil society and the climate sector. This year, Climate Week NYC is being held from 22-29 September 2024.

Twentieth meeting of the Chemical Review Committee of the Rotterdam Convention (CRC-20) | CRC-20 will take place from 17 to 20 September 2024 at the FAO Headquarters, in Rome, Italy, back to back with the 20th meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee of the Stockholm Convention. Pre-meetings of the intersessional task groups will be held on 16 September 2024. The Committee will consider draft decision guidance documents for chlorpyrifos and mercury and is scheduled to review up to 33 notifications of final regulatory action and four proposals for listing severely hazardous pesticide formulations. The Committee will also continue reviewing notifications of final regulatory action on carbaryl, chlorfenvinphos, ethion, methidathion and thiodicarb, discussed during the nineteenth meeting but consideration of which was not complete at that meeting. → Follow the live coverage of the IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB).

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