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Newsletter 21 Feb 2022

Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 21 – 27 February 2022

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 learning resources and updates. Stay tuned and follow us also on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, or visit our website regularly for additional updates.

In light with the recent developments in the sanitary situation, institutions in Geneva are adjusting their response and adapting their operations. 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 | Cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) at the Bioparc in Geneva | Species listed under CITES Appendix I and as critically endangered under the IUCN Red List

Preparing for Major Biodiversity Negotiations & Celebrations

Multilateral action to protect biodiversity will be an important topic in Geneva this week, as actors prepare for important negotiations and celebrations taking place in 2022.

74th meeting of the CITES Standing Committee | SC74

A briefing on the 74th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES SC74) will provide updates from the CITES Secretariat and France on the preparations for SC74, to be held in Lyon, from 7 to 11 March 2022. → Register on Webex and join us online, on Monday 21 February at 14:00 CET.

CBD Resumed Sessions of SBSTTA-24, SBI-3 and WG2020-3

In March, Geneva will host several important meetings convened by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) ahead of the 2022 UN Biodiversity Conference, which should lead to the adoption of a post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). A briefing on the CBD Resumed Sessions of SBSTTA-24, SBI-3 and WG2020-3 will provide updates from the CBD Secretariat, the Chairs and Co-Chairs, as well as Switzerland on the preparations. → Register on Webex and and join us online on Tuesday 22 March at 15.00 CET.

Various groups are calling on member states to strengthen elements of the GBF. Among these, a Non-State Actors’ Call to Secure an Ambitious Global Biodiversity Agreement that reverses biodiversity loss this decade, in support of climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals, is available for signature until 1st March 2022.

World Wildlife Day 2022

In the run-up to World Wildlife Day, held each year on 3 March, the Geneva Environment Network is relaunching its Wednesdays for the Planet series. This week’s session will focus on “Killing the Shepherd“, a documentary telling the powerful story of a community attempting to break the stranglehold of absolute poverty by waging a war on wildlife poaching, and addressing also the importance of ecosystem restoration – the theme of this year’s world wildlife day. → Watch the documentary and register on Webex to join us for the live discussion with the filmmaker, CITES Secretary-General, and leading experts, on Wednesday 23 February at 13.30 CET.

Closer to the UN Environment Assembly

One week ahead of the resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), the resumed fifth session of the Open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR-5.2) – UNEA’s main intersessional organ – is convening this week in Nairobi and virtually. Watch live the Opening Plenary.

Other stakeholders’ mobilizations ahead or in parallel to UNEA-5.2 include:

Negotiations at UNEA-5.2 are a crucial opportunity to raise ambition and take action on the three planetary crises we are facing – climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Multilateral commitment and action is more relevant than ever in face of looming environmental threats. Ahead of UNEA, UNEP released last week the Frontiers 2022 Report, shedding light onto urban noise pollution, wildfires and phenological shifts as emerging environmental issues that require attention and action from governments and the public at large.

Other resources prepared by stakeholders in the run-up to UNEA-5.2 include:

Find out more on the events in preparation of UNEA in our update Towards UNEA-5.2, including the summary of last week’s High-Level Briefing on UNEA-5.2.

Spotlight on Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution remains a major focus for many governments and stakeholders ahead of UNEA-5.2, as the Assembly is expected to adopt a resolution on the matter, and possibly establish an International Negotiating Committee to start the process towards a global legally-binding agreement on plastics. Three recently published reports provide contributions to the debate by diving into the specific issue of financing mechanisms for a potential global instrument on plastic pollution:

Additional publications on the plastics crisis issued last week or coming up include:

It is still possible to join calls for a legally binding treaty on the full lifecycle of plastics:

Climate Change: From Science to Policy

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) approval session considering the Working Group II contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report, looking at impacts, adaptation and vulnerability to climate change, should conclude at the end of this week. In his statement at the opening of the 55th Session of the IPCC and 12th Session of Working Group II, IPCC Chair highlighted that the report “will provide policymakers with sound data and knowledge to help them shape policies and make decisions”.  The report will be launched virtually on 28 February.

Consult the Earth Negotiations Bulletin for highlights and images of main proceedings of the IPCC sessions.

What (Else) Should I Read Next?

Events

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Virtual

Methane Mondays

21 Feb 2022 15:00 – 16:30

Online

UNECE

Green Economy

SDG7

Jobs

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Professional

CFO Network Manager

23 Feb 2022

WBCSD

Green Economy | Health and Environment | Air Pollution

SDG7 | SDG12

Intern

Nature Internship

27 Feb 2022

UNEP FI

Nature | Green Economy

SDG8 | SDG14 | SDG15 | SDG17

Learning

See all

Updates

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19 Apr 2022

Towards UNEA-5.2

Chemicals and Pollution | Climate | Green Economy | Nature

SDG1 | SDG2 | SDG3 | SDG6 | SDG8 | SDG12 | SDG13 | SDG14 | SDG15 | SDG17

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