Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 2 – 8 March 2026

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. The Geneva Environment Network is not responsible for the content of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site. Stay tuned and follow us on X (Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky, Youtube and WhatsApp, or visit our website regularly for additional updates.

Image of the week | Snapshot of World Wildlife Day activities at Jardin Botanique last weekend, where participants explored the scents and identities of plants with aromatist Yves Lottaz and science mediator Maud Oïhénart before discovering rare medicinal and aromatic species preserved in the Botanical Garden’s living and herbarium collections. → Explore this year’s activities to celebrate World Wildlife Day in Geneva and beyond

Celebrating World Wildlife Day in Geneva and Beyond | Spotlight on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

On 3 March 2026 – the day of the adoption in Washington of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973, World Wildlife Day will be celebrated in Geneva and around the world to raise awareness on this year’s theme “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods.” The celebration will shine a spotlight on the extraordinary plants that have supported human well‑being for centuries, while highlighting the importance of preventing their extinction and the role of sustainable trade in MAPs, to achieve several targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. → Learn more in our dedicated update

To mark the occasion, join the events:

From 09:30 CET, the traditional Geneva Celebration will take place at the International Environment House I. Convened by the Geneva Environment Network and the CITES Secretariat, it will showcase the role of Geneva in highlighting the importance of medicinal and aromatic plants in sustaining human health, cultural heritage, and local livelihoods and in advancing collaborative actions needed to ensure that these plants are conserved and used sustainably for future generations to continue benefiting from them. With Member States and UN representatives providing the formal Opening Segment, the celebration will feature a series of Lightning Talks – five-minute presentations (PechaKucha format) – delivered by experts exploring MAP-related topics of their choice. These talks will highlight the benefits and applications of MAPs, innovative ways to overcome the pressing challenges they face, as well as the important role played by those who protect them. A dedicated World Wildlife Day Exhibition will also take place in parallel. → Register on Indico

From 13:30 CET, the Global World Wildlife Day 2026 United Nations Celebration will take place virtually. Hosted by the CITES Secretariat, in partnership with UNDP, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (ifaw), Jackson Wild, the Geneva Environment Network, IUCN SSC Medicinal Plant Specialist Group and TRAFFIC, the virtual celebration will feature stories and presentations about the sustainable use and conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants by Member State experts, high-level representatives of international organizations, industry stakeholders, local community leaders and youth network members. The event will also feature a musical performance, the announcement of the winners and finalists of the IFAW 2026 Youth Art Contest, and the reveal of the Jackson Wild 2026 Film Showcase feature films. The United Nations Postal Administration and the CITES Secretariat will launch the 2026 Endangered Species Stamps Series during the event. → Register on Webex

It is to be noted that this week, the 52nd Session of the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore is also taking place in Geneva.

Environment @ 61st Session of the Human Rights Council

Advancing the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment will be a central point this week at the 61st session of the Human Rights Council (HRC61), as the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to a healthy environment, Astrid Riaño Puentes, presents her annual report to the Council (A/HRC/61/47). Building on past reports and research, the report highlights the need to advance the protection of clean air as a vital element of the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

The public health crisis can be solved and further risks prevented, as evidenced by research and improved monitoring and governance to tackle main drivers linked to a fossil-fuel-dependent economy and unsustainable activities. Stronger measures to improve air quality, prioritizing health to protect people, must be urgently implemented by States, aligned with their international and human rights obligations. The duty of private actors to support these efforts, and their urgent responsibility to prevent, reduce and remediate pollution, must also be underscored.
— UN Special Rapporteur on the right to a healthy environment, Astrid Riaño Puentes, in her report to HRC61

To dive deeper into the report:

The interactive dialogue on the report with the Special Rapporteur is scheduled to take place on 6 March 2026.
The UN Special Rapporteur HRC61 side event, “Actions to Breathe Clean Air: Protecting Public Health and Ensuring a Healthy Environment“, together with Slovenia, Monaco, Morocco, Maldives, Costa Rica, UNDP & GEN, will take place at Palais des Nations, Room IX on 9 March 2026, from 13:00 – 14:00 CET.
The third edition of the Geneva Rights and Environment Talks will be tackling the various human rights issues related to the advancement of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, including on air pollution and human rights. Stay tuned for more information.

Other events of particular interest for the environmental community during the second week of the 61st session of the Human Rights Council include:

Interactive dialogues on environment-related reports with various UN Special Rapporteurs are also taking place this week, including:
- UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders on “Defending dignity and claiming rights: human rights defenders hold firm to universal values as others desert them” | 3 March
- UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights on “Nature conservation and cultural rights” (advanced edited version) | 3 to 4 March
- UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing on the “Guiding Principles on Resettlement” | 4 March
- UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food on “Land and the right to food” | 5 March
Informal consultations on the draft resolution on the Mandate of Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders organized by Norway are taking place throughout the week.
Ahead of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17 CBD) in October, a joint statement on biodiversity and human rights, prepared by Costa Rica, is expected to be delivered in this session.
Guiding principles on resettlement: ensuring human rights when people have to move | HRC61 Side Event | 4 March 2026 | 14:00 – 15:00 CET | Palais des Nations, Concordia 1 | UN SR right to adequate housing, OHCHR, Brazil, Finland, Germany & Namibia
Human Rights in the Philippines | HRC61 Side Event | 5 March 2026 | 12:00 – 13:00 CET | Palais des Nations, Room IX | Franciscans International
Human Rights in Guatemala | HRC61 Side Event | 5 March 2026 | 13:00 – 14:00 CET | Palais des Nations, Room IX | Peace Brigades International
Human Rights and Climate Change | HRC61 Side Event | 6 March 2026 | 12:00 – 13:00 CET | Palais des Nations, Room IX | Just Atonement Inc.
Food, Land, and Agrarian Reform: ICARRD+20 Outcomes and the Case for Redistribution | HRC61 Side Event | 6 March 2026 | 13:00 – 14:00 CET | Palais des Nations, Room IX | FIAN

→ Consult regular updates on key environmental issues at HRC61, side events, and further resources available on our dedicated HRC61 and the environment update.

Other consultations and events taking place this week include:

Roundtable with UN Special Rapporteur Human Rights Defenders Mary Lawlor in the margins of HRC61 | 2 March 2026 | 10:00 – 11:30 CET | Rue de Varembé 1 | ISHR
Consultation on forthcoming HRC report on Transforming food systems to protect human rights and prevent climate harm | 5 March 2026 | 12:00 – 13:00 CET | Palais des Nations, Room III | UN SR climate change
The consultation will inform the next thematic report for HRC62, seeking to clarify States’ international human rights obligations, individually and as part of international cooperation, as well as business responsibility, to ensure a just transition in the context of food systems, both land- and ocean-based, while enhancing the protection of everyone’s human rights in the context of climate change. Registration via Indico
Launch of the Human Rights and Environment Explorer | Danish Institute for Human Rights | 3 March 2026 | 13:30 – 15:00 CET | Online | Teams
A webinar launching the Human Rights and Environment Explorer – a new tool that lets you search across human rights treaty body commentary and human rights case law, giving you an overview of the environmental dimensions of human rights and the related obligations of States.
Virtual Consultations: Human Rights and Climate Change Working Group | 10 & 12 March 2026 | Online
The Human Rights and Climate Change Working Group (HR&CC WG), an informal global coalition of civil society and Indigenous Peoples advocates and experts working at the intersection of human rights and climate change, is hosting global consultations to strategize priorities and plan concrete actions identified during regional consultations for 2026. The consultations are taking place on 10 March, 10:00 – 11:30 CET and 12 March, 16:00 – 17:30 CET.

Environment @ Geneva International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights

The 24th edition of the Geneva International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights (FIFDH) kicks off this week on 6 March and will close on 15 March 2026. Taking place in the margins of HRC61, this year’s edition will feature the environment highly as the various films, exhibitions and conferences as they tackle the interlinkages between human rights issues and toxics, minerals and metals, Indigenous People’s rights, environmental (and) human rights defenders, and questions on economic growth, among others.

Environment-related activities taking place at the Festival this week include:

Oya – Clima Yaakaar | Exhibition | 6 – 15 March | Espace Pitoëff – Librairie

Yurlu | Country | Film | 6 March | 18:15 CET | Grütli – Salle Langlois
The film will present the story of Maitland Parker who has dedicated his life to protecting the Banjima people’s ancestral land that has been poisoned by asbestos mining. Discussions on “largest contaminated site in the southern hemisphere” will take place on 9 March in a side event at the 61st session of the Human Rights Council (16:00 CET at Palais des Nations) and the European premiere of the film (19:30 CET at Espace Pitoëff).

Black Water | Film | 7 March | 16:00 CET | Grütli – Salle Langlois

Of Mud and Blood | Film | 8 March | 13:30 CET | Espace Pitoëff – Grande Salle

DRC: War, Minerals and Impunity | Conference | 8 March | 15:00 CET | Espace Pitoëff – Grande Salle

The FIFDH Impact Days will kick off on 8 March and conclude on 10 March 2026, bringing together NGOs, filmmakers, impact practitioners, and funders to find joint strategies around common human rights themes, including on the environment. The 8th edition of Impact Days featured documentary projects, with the goal of working with filmmakers to refine their impact goals, and facilitate partnerships within the vast ecosystem of organizations, policymakers and funders active around International Geneva. → Discover the program.

Environment @ Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks 2026

The 2026 edition of the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks (HNPW) – a large humanitarian event held every year since 2015, providing a collaborative space for humanitarian networks, partnerships, practitioners and experts to meet and address key humanitarian issues – kicks off this week with online sessions running from 2 to 6 March 2026. These virtual discussions will be followed by in-person sessions from 10 to 12 March 2026 at the Geneva International Conference Center (CICG), featuring a newly introduced Community Day on Wednesday 11 March.

The HNPW inter-network collaboration covers Areas of Common Concern (AOCC) to improve humanitarian preparedness and response, which include climate crisis. The session will also feature the annual meeting of the Environment in Humanitarian Action Network (EHAN) on 10 March, focusing on environmental sustainability topics that are relevant to humanitarians.

→ Consult our dedicated page for an outlook on the environment-related activities @ HNPW, featuring this week 18 sessions exploring how climate change is reshaping core sectors such as WASH, health and child protection, while examining market disruptions, rising heat risks and the compounded effects of climate and conflict on vulnerable communities. Sessions will also emphasize the importance of strengthening early warning systems, using climate‑risk analytics to anticipate crises, integrating sustainable energy solutions into humanitarian operations, and advancing locally led adaptation efforts.

Marking International Women’s Day 2026

International Women’s Day, celebrated each year on 8 March, is a moment to reflect on progress toward gender equality, to call for renewed action, and to honor women’s contributions to addressing challenges. The 2026 theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls” underscores the urgency of closing persistent legal and systemic gaps. As we enter the second quarter of the 21^st century, no nation has closed the legal gaps between men and women. Right now, in 2026, women have only 64 per cent of the legal rights that men hold worldwide. In fundamental areas of life, including work, money, safety, family, property, mobility, business, and retirement – the law systematically disadvantages women. From harmful social norms to discriminatory laws, women and girls continue to face entrenched obstacles – even pushback – to equal justice. If progress continues at its current pace, it will take 286 years to close legal protection gaps. This unacceptable timeline highlights the need for justice systems capable of truly upholding women’s rights. → Learn more about the role of Geneva in advancing gender equality

Ensuring equal justice for women and girls is foundational to achieving the 2030 Agenda and environmental goals. Across the globe, including in Geneva, International Women’s Day is prompting conversations also about supporting women’s role in environmental governance, accelerating gender‑responsive environmental action, and advancing just transitions that leave no one behind. In the next few days, events to mark International Women’s Day include:

2026 Geneva Gender Debate | 3 March 2026, 18:30 – 19:45 CET | Auditorium Ivan Pictet A1A, Maison de la paix | Organized by International Gender Champions, Diplomatic Club of Geneva, Geneva Graduate Institute, European Union

Género y Cambio Climático (Gender and Climate Change) | 4 March 2026, 16:00 – 17:30 CET | Online | Organized by the Geneva Graduate Institute

Celebrating Women as Change-Makers Transforming Food Systems Delivering Triple Wins for Climate, People & Nature | 5 March 2026, 14:30 – 20:00 CET | Domaine de Saugey, Satigny | Organized by Climate Bridges

International Women’s Day: Critical Minerals, Critical Choices | 9 March 2026, 14:00 – 15:30 CET, Online | Organized by UN Trade and Development

Semaine de l’égalité 2026 | 3 – 13 March 2026 | Organized by the City of Geneva and Partners

Science citoyenne au féminin : l’aventure des dessins de la Flor des Dames de Genève | 4 March 2026, 14:00 CEST | Organized by the Conservatory and Botanical Garden of Geneva
In 1813, botanist Augustin-Pyramus de Candolle received 1,300 botanical drawings from a Mexican expedition, which allowed him to describe new plant species. When the drawings were requested back in 1817, nearly 1,000 were copied by hand in just eight days – mostly by women from Geneva’s high society – preserving an exceptional scientific and artistic heritage.

Upcoming Deadlines Relevant for the Environment

With the environment high on the agenda of International Geneva and beyond, international processes, negotiations, and fora regularly call for inputs in preparation for future reports and guidelines, for people to support their process or to register to attend upcoming sessions. A dedicated update lists calls for submissions related to the environment. Additional updates also list those related to Human Rights Mechanisms, ongoing contests and environmental awards and prizes launched by our partners. Deadlines not to be missed during the coming weeks include:

Call for Side Events | Regional Forum for Sustainable Development 2026
The 2026 Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE region will take place on 21 and 22 April 2026 under the theme “Transforming Together: Innovative and Equitable Actions for the SDGs“. Interested UNECE member States, UN and other intergovernmental organizations, civil society, youth-led organizations, academia, private sector and other partners are invited to submit their proposals for side events, which provide a unique platform for stakeholders to share best practices, pilot innovative solutions, and foster partnerships on a specific theme or initiative that complements the official deliberations of the Forum. → The deadline to send the submission form is 4 March 2026.
International Day of Forests Photo Contest | Celebrating How Forests Contribute to Economic Prosperity
To celebrate the International Day of Forests on 21 March, and the vital connection between forests and economies, FAO invites everyone to submit photos that highlight how forests contribute to economic prosperity. → Learn more and submit photos by 8 March 2026 at 12:00 CET.
Internet Governance Forum 2026 Call for Thematic Inputs
The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) invites all stakeholders to take part in shaping the IGF 2026 process. Through this open call for thematic input, individuals and organizations from all stakeholder groups and regions of the world are invited to share their perspectives on the most relevant emerging issues, priorities, and challenges in the governance of digital technologies. → Inputs can be submitted via the form until 8 March 2026.
Organizational and Program Survey | European Forum on Environmental Human Rights Defenders
The first European Forum on Environmental Human Rights Defenders, drawing on similar forums established in Asia-Pacific and LAC, will take place in Strasbourg on 3-4 June 2026. The initiative is co-led by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Council of Europe, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), and the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention, in cooperation with UNECE Aarhus Convention secretariat, several Human Rights Council Special Procedure mandate holders, and civil society organizations active in Europe. → A survey on the organization and program of this first European Forum meant for defenders from Council of Europe States and for the organizations that support them has been launched. The deadline for submissions is 15 March 2026.
Call for Abstract Submission | 17th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP 2026)
The Executive Committee and Scientific Steering Committee invite contributions to the programme by submitting an abstract for potential inclusion in the 17th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP 2026) 2026 programme. This year, ICGMP will be hosted in Hyderabad, India, from 4 to 9 October 2026 with the theme “Reaching Ten Years of Enforcement of the Minamata Convention: Achievements, Challenges and Road Map for the Future”. → The deadline for submissions is 15 March 2026.
Prix IDDEA 2026
Prix IDDEA supports project makers in the development of sustainable and innovative business projects. Proposed ideas must be economically viable and socially and ecologically useful. → The deadline for subscription is 17 March 2026.
UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment | Planning and the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment
In her upcoming thematic report to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment aims to help States advance on the understanding of planning tools and processes, and how these planning processes and tools can enable management of the environment, both related to land and marine ecosystems. To do so the report aims to identify and analyze existing planning tools, processes, frameworks and measures to protect human rights, including those coming from Indigenous Peoples, coastal and fishing communities, and peasants, as well as if and how present and future generations rights are considered. The deadline for submission is 30 March 2026. → Submit your input
UNEP Young Champions on the Earth
Launched in 2017, the UNEP Young Champions on the Earth Award is the flagship youth engagement initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The award is given annually to ambitious young people from around the world with outstanding ideas to protect and restore the environment, and since 2024 it has been implemented with the support of Chris Kemper and in partnership with Planet A. → The application deadline for the 2026 awards is 31 March 2026.

Upcoming conferences for which registration deadlines are approaching:

The fifteenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG-15) of the Basel Convention will take place from 23 to 26 June 2026 in Geneva, with pre-meetings, including Bureau and regional meetings on 22 June 2026. Parties are invited to designate one or more representative(s) to participate in the OEWG-15 meeting. Registrations for the meeting must be made using the BRS Secretariat online registration platform. The deadline for registration and for submitting the official nomination letter is 5 March 2026. The Secretariat highly encourages early registration.

Enjoying the End of a Green Winter in Geneva

As we approach the end of the winter season and enjoy the return of warmer days, in Geneva we begin looking at the unique local marker of the changing season, the hatching of the first leaf of the official chestnut tree on the Promenade de la Treille. According to a tradition unbroken since 1818, Spring in Geneva is not proclaimed, it is observed, on this very tree and this tree alone. However, for now, according to the sautier, it is still too early for the long-awaited first bud to appear. In the meantime, we invite you to explore our Green Winter in Geneva 2025/2026 suggestions. Ideas of activities for the week ahead include:

Screening and discussions of the film “trop chaud” | 3 March 2026 | Maison de l’enfance et de l’adolescence – HUG
Discover the legal journey of elders committed to the climate and their mobilization in response to environmental challenges. After the screening, join a panel discussion with experts actively engaged in the fight for the climate.
Animation famille – Rencontres aquatiques, à la découverte des poissons du Léman | 4 March 2026 | Espace Léman
Join the ASL team for an exciting activity exploring the fish that inhabit Lake Geneva. You will be guided by specialists and discover the unique features of the lake’s fish: their physical characteristics, lifestyles, and role in the aquatic ecosystem.
Quand les graines deviennent des profits… qui nourrit le monde ? | 4 March 2026 | Maison de l’avenir
The event will focus on the privatization of seeds and its impact on biodiversity, food sovereignty and the right to food. Seeds are central to our diets, yet they are increasingly patented and controlled by a few economic actors, threatening biodiversity, health and farmers’ autonomy.
Glacier(s) | Until 4 March 2026 | Ecolint Centre des Arts
This exhibition brings together the works of Bernard Garo and Jacques Pugin around their shared fascination with and concern for landscapes, mountains and glaciers: their beauty, and their inevitable transformation under climate change and human impact. The exhibition explores their artistic worlds and ways of seeing, while creating a space for awareness and critical reflection. Alongside this, works by the young artist Albatros will be presented.
Rez:urgence – Iris Leroyer | 4 – 29 March 2026 | Centre culturel du manoir de Cologny
The exhibition examines today’s urgent ecological, social, and philosophical challenges, exploring the tipping points where life balances between collapse and resurgence. The exhibition is part of Iris Leroyer’s Opus Carbone project, at the intersection of art and ecology. The exhibition will be inaugurated on 4 March 2026 with a vernissage from 18:15 CET.
Sustainability Days | 5 –7 March 2026 | Forum Rolex, EPFL
Join the three days of discussions dedicated to innovating and acting for a sustainable future.
A la découverte des amphibiens | 7 March 2026 | Bois des Mouilles
Do you know about the diversity of amphibians during this time of year? During this evening, the different species will be introduced through their calls, their physical characteristics and their behaviors. This will be followed by a walk to the crapauduc to observe the species present!
Festival du Film Vert | 7 March – 12 April 2026 | Various Locations
Launched in 2006, the Festival du Film Vert has made its mission to present a programme of lesser-known films on current ecological issues or cinematic works dealing with less widely covered environmental topics.
Les étranges fossiles de Burgess, histoire d’une incroyable découverte paléontologique | 8 March 2026 | Musée d’histoires des sciences
How do paleontologists work? Come and experience it through the story of the discovery of the Burgess Shale. In the early 20th century, several excavation seasons uncovered extraordinary fossils dating back to a time of great diversification of life: the Cambrian period. Long before the age of the dinosaurs, you will discover animals with fascinating shapes, such as Opabinia, whose five eyes and claw-tipped “proboscis” are sure to amaze you!
L’eau du Léman – des glaciers aux Bains des Pâquis | Until 8 March 2026 | HEPIA
As part of Mr. Alfonso Gomez’s mayoral year, the City of Geneva, in partnership with Maison de la Rivière, presents an immersive exploration of Lake Geneva and its biodiversity. The exhibition follows a drop of water from one of the lake’s sources to the Geneva harbor, revealing how water shapes landscapes and sustains plants and animals
Libre comme le Rhône – de Robert Hainard | Until 29 March 2026 | Quartier Libre
The exhibition invites visitors to travel back in time along the river, from the last wild landscapes before the major developments of the Rhône to the major energy decisions taken during the 20th century, right up to the emergence of environmental awareness.
Exhibition “Quel froid!” | Until 30 August 2026 | Maison Tavel
This exhibition explores the theme of winter in Geneva and beyond, bringing together traditions, artists’ perspectives, and visual archives. Visitors are guided through popular practices, urban scenes, and majestic landscapes, from Lake Geneva to the Alps. 
Temporary Exhibition – « Jamais la nature ne nous trompe » | Until 23 December 2026 | Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques
Come and discover a scientific and aesthetic object that bears witness to Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s passion for nature and botany: one of his rare portable herbariums, designed to deepen knowledge of plants and awaken an interest in botany.

What (Else) to Read Next?

Long-term warming reduces fish biomass, but heatwaves shift it | Shahar Chaikin, Juan David González-Trujillo & Miguel B. Araújo | Nature Ecology & Evolution | 26 February 2026
Long-term ocean warming, interannual temperature variability and marine heatwaves pose serious but poorly quantified threats to marine species. […] Ultimately, management strategies must plan for the biomass loss expected under continued ocean warming.
Australia welcomes decision to host pre-COP in Fiji and Tuvalu | Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia | 26 February 2026
Australia welcomes the Pacific Islands Forum announcement that Fiji and Tuvalu will bring the world to the Pacific as part of the pre-COP climate events to be held later this year. Fiji will host the pre-COP meetings, while Tuvalu will have a special leaders’ component – ensuring that Pacific priorities are front and center in global climate negotiations, a critical priority for our region. In addition, Palau will host a special climate event as part of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in August. Pre-COP is expected to be held in October and will act as a springboard to launch outcomes in the annual UN climate conference.
The State of Play After INC-5.3: Assessing the “Start-and-Strengthen” Approach | CIEL | 26 February 2026
The brief examines whether current draft proposals contain the necessary foundations — including binding core obligations, effectiveness evaluation mechanisms, and clear procedures for decision-making and amendment — to ensure that the treaty can evolve over time to meet its objective of ending plastic pollution. The brief was released as around 20 countries are meeting in Japan (1-3 March) to discuss the future of the potential package, process and way forward for a Plastics Treaty.
Microplastiques : une menace silencieuse pour vos reins ? | Giliane Nanchen, Florian Breider, Myriam Borgatta and Menno Pruijm | Revue Médicale Suisse | 25 February 2026
Plastic production constantly increases and raises important environmental and public health concerns. Plastics used in daily life and in the health sector degrade into microplastics, risking contaminating water, air, soils and foods. Whether through ingestion or inhalation, microplastics can affect the blood circulation and various organs. Their presence in the kidneys and urine has been demonstrated.
New global report highlights slow progress in expanding secure land tenure | FAO, ILC and CIRAD | 25 February 2026
While progress has been achieved in land tenure and governance over the past 20 years, the ownership, tenure or use rights of only 35 percent of the world’s land is formally documented, according to the Status of Land Tenure and Governance. Tenure security is a crucial catalyst of responsible land governance, and rights over the control of land and decision-making about its use enables better productive and environmentally sustainable decisions, fosters stability and peace and gives people the confidence to invest.
Waste trafficking driving toxic pollution and harming public health | UNODC | 25 February 2026
Illegal waste flows are causing economic, public health and environmental damage, especially in low-income countries, while a patchwork of regulations enables criminals to evade punishment, according to a new analysis from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released today.
Ocean governance must be grounded in international law: UN experts | OHCHR | 24 February 2026
UN experts urged States to ensure that any new regulations governing the deep seabed, including a code on mining, are firmly grounded in international law, including international human rights law, and implement the precautionary principle.
Building what Lasts: Welcoming The Audacious Project’s Newest Cohort | TED | 24 February 2026
From leveraging AI to discover new medical treatments to charting paths to plastic-free oceans, the Audacious donor community committed $1.03B in total funding at the end of last year to bring these ideas to life.
UNESCO report: Major blind spot in ocean carbon research could undermine global climate predictions | UNESCO | 23 February 2026
A new report by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO reveals a critical lack of understanding of how the ocean absorbs and stores carbon. This glaring uncertainty threatens to skew current climate predictions, and hamper our ability to develop effective mitigation and adaptation strategies in the coming decades. The report also lays out a roadmap to bolster international cooperation, strengthen ocean carbon monitoring and update climate models accordingly.
Toxic Chemicals Abundant in Cosmetics, Hair Products, with Little Regulation | Health Policy Watch | 23 February 2026
Everyday beauty and hair products on drugstore and supermarket shelves can contain chemicals known to be harmful to human health. Ingredients like PTFE, phthalates, parabens, and parfum hide in make up, shampoo, and other products – and have been linked to cancers, reproductive harm, and endocrine disruption.
Brokering Solutions to Safeguard Our Planet | Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary, Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions | IISD | 19 February 2026
“By advancing sustainable jobs, green chemicals, circular approaches to resources and wastes, as well as ensuring access to healthy food, clean water, and secure livelihoods, we can continue to work toward safeguarding our planet as we translate global commitments into tangible benefits for every citizen of planet Earth.”