Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 22 – 28 November 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. 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, some 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.

Photo of the week | Experts are discussing how to move from data to environmental action at “From Data to Environmental Action | GRID-Geneva Science Day” on 17 November 2021.

Nature-based Solutions for Water

The Geneva Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Dialogues are back this week with a session on water, organized in the run-up of the 9th World Water Forum. Leading experts speaking at this session will set the stage for NbS for water as a key component for climate change mitigation and adaptation, good health and thriving livelihoods, thus contributing to achieving SDGs water-related targets, as well as the Sendai agreement on natural risks and disasters and the Paris agreement on climate goals. Register on Webex and join us on 22 November at 15.00 CET.

Stockholm+50: Only One Earth

Next year will mark 50 years since the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment – the 1972 Stockholm Conference – that led to the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme and that designated 5 June as World Environment Day. Sweden will host the Stockholm+50 international high-level meeting to commemorate this 50th anniversary and to accelerate implementation to deliver on the 2030 Agenda and achieve sustainable recovery from COVID-19.

Sweden will also be the host country of World Environment Day 2022, as announced last week. The day will be held under the theme Only One Earth, highlighting the need to live sustainably in harmony with nature by bringing transformative changes – through policies and our choices – towards cleaner, greener lifestyles. Only One Earth was the motto for the 1972 Stockholm Conference; 50 years on, the motto holds true. This theme “reminds us of the roots of the critical work of protecting our environment and injects vital impetus to global efforts to build back better and greener”, said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen. Our dedicated World Environment Day webpage will be regularly updated and include the latest news and updates from Geneva and beyond.

In the run-up to this major event for environmental governance, the UN Environment Management Group is organizing a 2-Part Nexus Dialogue Series to encourage consideration and reflection within the UN system on the progress made since the 1972 conference, the challenges encountered and lesson learnt, and the perspectives for integrating the environmental agenda within UN initiatives and frameworks. The first roundtable – “Taking Stock of Our Responsibility & Opportunity”, is taking place online on 23 November at 14.00 CET.

Implementing COP26 Outcomes: Supply of Critical Minerals for the Transition to a Net Zero Economy

As the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) delivered new emissions reduction and net-zero pledges, countries and other stakeholders now have to take stock and move toward solutions to achieve these commitments. In this effort, the UK mission in Geneva and UNECE are hosting a webinar on Future-Proofing Supply of Critical Minerals for Net Zero: Cross-Sectoral Perspectives, on 23 November at 15.00 CET.

This briefing will feature leading specialists on how to secure a resilient, sustainable supply of critical minerals for the transition to a net zero economy. The session will explore how minerals are mined, distributed, tracked through supply chains, and re-used and recycled effectively and ethically for a circular economy. Speakers will discuss how to implement the key outcomes from COP26, and the challenges and opportunities ahead across sectors.

What (Else) Should I Read Next?

Secretary Antony J. Blinken at an Ocean Plastics Event | US Secretary of State Press Release | 18 November 2021
Announcing the United States support for multilateral negotiations on a global agreement to combat ocean plastic pollution.
The Global Commitment 2021 Progress Report | UNEP & Ellen MacArthur Foundation | 16 November 2021
Tracking the progress of the Global Commitment brands and retailers towards a circular economy for plastics, this report indicates that virgin plastic use appears to have peaked, largely due to increasing recycling. However, efforts to eliminate single-use packaging are still urgently needed.
GEO for Cities – Towards Green and Just Cities | UNEP & UN-Habitat | 18 November 2021
Global cities are key to overcoming the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and pollution. A new vision of future cities is detailed in this new report.
World Antimicrobial Awareness Week: An Interview with the World Health Organization | News Medical | 18 November 2021
Dr. Liz Tayler, lead of the Tripartite Joint Secretariat for AMR hosted by WHO, explains why addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is crucial to achieve the SDGs and how the collaboration with UNEP, FAO and OIE is essential in this endeavor.
Honduras: Release Guapinol defenders and honour pledges made to UN – human rights experts | Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council | 19 November 2021
UN human rights experts urged Honduras, elected to the Human Rights Council last month, to release eight environmental defenders in line with recommendations made by another UN body.
“Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration” announced as theme of World Wildlife Day 2022 | CITES | 16 November 2021
UN World Wildlife Day 2022 to raise awareness of the state of endangered and critically endangered wildlife, and to highlight the power of conservation efforts seeking to reverse their fate.
Issues Brief: Marine plastic pollution | IUCN | November 2021
With over 300 million tons of plastic produced every year, the IUCN provides an issues brief on marine plastic pollution, from what it is, why it’s important to what can be done.
From Data to Environmental Action | GRID-Geneva Science Day | 17 November 2021
Experts from UNEP, GRID-Geneva, UNOSTAT, GEO, UNIGE, and the FOEN presented concrete examples of how to harness big data, remote sensing, artificial intelligence and more to foster action for the environment and the SDGs.