Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 23 – 29 January 2023

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.

Image of the week | On 17 January, at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, the Geneva Day at the House of Switzerland hosted a series of high-level events, organized by the Permanent Mission of Switzerland in Geneva, to discuss global issues and connect leaders present in Davos with Geneva-based global governance institutions. The first session focused on Beat Plastic Pollution. On the photo, H.E. Alain Berset, President of the Swiss Confederation, H.E. Guillermo Lasso Mendoza, President of the Republic of Ecuador, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of WHO, H.E. Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, Minister of Environment of the Republic of Rwanda, and Marco Lambertini, WWF Special Envoy.

Ending Plastic Pollution Agenda in Geneva and Beyond

The Intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC) to develop a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, is collecting inputs to prepare a document with potential options for elements towards an international legally binding instrument. This document could include both legally binding and voluntary measures. The statements received are being compiled and made available the INC website.

Various events are taking place around the world to prepare for the second session of the Intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC-2), to take place this spring in Paris. While the Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues will start reconvening next month, this week the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO), and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), are organizing a briefing for delegates of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution to discuss trade measures. The event is limited to State delegates and will take place on 24 January 2023, between 16.00 – 18.00 CET, followed by a dinner starting at 19.15 CET for delegates that are in Geneva. → Register for the webinar and for the dinner

Recent plastic-related news include:

Switzerland and Ecuador Appeal for Treaty to End the ‘Plastic Crisis’ | John Heilprin | Health Policy Watch | 17 January 2023
The presidents of Switzerland and Ecuador led a call at the World Economic Forum for greater international cooperation to fight plastic pollution, urging passage of a global treaty with tough regulations to confront a burgeoning environmental and health crisis from the ubiquitous material once seen as a symbol of modernity.
WHO Director General intervention at the Geneva Day hosted at House of Switzerland during WEF23 | 17 January 2023
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus doesn’t think the connection between plastics and health has been “given the attention it needed.” While doing more research to document how plastics affect human life throughout the lifecycle, we should also make use of the studies that already exist. A toothbrush can break down in 500 years, if at all. It’s not about us, it’s about the many generations to come.
Plastic Waste Power Play: The offshoring and recycling displacement involved in trying to recycle EU plastic waste | Environmental Investigation Agency | 16 January 2023
The report has found that EU plastic waste exports are taking up limited plastic waste recycling capacity in recipient countries. The vast majority of plastic has never been recycled, and the exporting of plastic waste from high-income, high plastic consuming countries helps perpetuate the linear status quo, rather than focusing on the reduction of plastic consumption.
The African Marine Litter Outlook | Thomas Maes & Fiona Preston-Whyte, eds. | 2023
This open access book provides a cross-sectoral, multi-scale assessment of marine litter in Africa with a focus on plastics. From distribution, to impacts on environmental and human health, this book looks at what is known scientifically.
New finance leadership group supporting development of international agreement to end plastic pollution | UNEP FI | 17 January 2023
The Finance Leadership Group on Plastics will provide input and suggestions to the Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee on the desired outcomes for banks, insurers and investors. It will also build readiness in the finance sector to act on plastic pollution through awareness raising, capacity building, and target-setting support.

Progress on Trade and the Environment

World leaders and other stakeholders who met in Davos last week for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, engaged in various discussions on trade and the environment, leading to important achievements.

Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies | Last Friday, Switzerland became the first WTO member to formally submit its acceptance of the WTO’s new Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, paving the way for the historic agreement for ocean sustainability to enter into force. Acceptance from two-thirds of WTO members are needed for the Agreement to come into effect. The agreement was adopted by consensus at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) held in Geneva last June, setting new binding, multilateral rules to curb harmful subsidies, which are a key factor in the widespread depletion of the world’s fish stocks. In addition, the Agreement recognizes the needs of developing and least-developed countries (LDCs) and establishes a Fund to provide technical assistance and capacity building to help them implement the Agreement. The Agreement prohibits subsidies to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and bans subsidies for fishing overfished stocks and for fishing on the unregulated high seas. Members also agreed at MC12 to continue negotiations on outstanding issues, with a view to making recommendations by MC13 for additional provisions that would further enhance the disciplines of the Agreement.

Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate | Last Thursday, over 50 Ministers of Trade representing a diversity of countries from all regions and levels of development launched a Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate. Led by trade ministers from Ecuador, the European Union, Kenya and New Zealand, the Coalition seeks to provide high-level leadership and guidance to boost inclusive international cooperation on the nexus of climate, trade, and sustainable development.

Ciné Environment House | Chaos in the climate of the Sundarbans

Ciné Environment House, free screenings organized at the Environment House, returns this year with “Chaos in the climate of the Sundarbans“, a short ‘moving picture’ demonstrating some early findings of the study for mapping the degradation of the Sundarbans ecosystems in the last three decades. In the light of climate change, the mutual relationship between health and development has already been in question. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic again underscores that the limitless growth model of economic development is often at odds with nature and the sustainability of natural resources, and in turn negatively impacting the health security of population across the world.

Premiered at the International Ecology Congress (INTECOL) in Geneva in 2022, a roundtable discussion will be held on some findings of the study, as well as broader discussions on fostering the One Health approach. → Join us in person or online on Wednesday 25 January at 12.45 CET.

What (Else) to Read Next?

General Assembly Confirms Inger Andersen of Denmark Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme, Following Recommendation by Secretary-General | UN | 18 January 2023
Following the recommendation of the Secretary-General, after consultation with Member States, the General Assembly confirmed Inger Andersen of Denmark as Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme for a further four-year term beginning on 15 June 2023 and ending on 14 June 2027.
Does CITES Really Have ‘Teeth’? CITES and Compliance | Christina Voigt and John Scanlon AO | IISD | 18 January 2023
“CITES has teeth” is often the catch cry of Secretariat staff and observers alike. But does it? Is it robust or a house of cards? Is it used consistently and equitably and has it achieved compliance?
L’Assemblée nationale se prononce contre l’exploitation minière des fonds marins | Le Monde | 17 January 2023
L’Assemblée nationale a demandé mardi 17 janvier que la France s’engage sur la scène internationale en faveur d’un moratoire sur l’exploitation minière des fonds marins.
CIEL Welcomes Mexican Government Announcement on Solar Geoengineering Ban | CIEL | 17 January 2023
The announcement of the Mexican government follows a private, US-based company’s (‘Make Sunsets’) recent unauthorized experimental solar geoengineering flights in Mexico, without prior notice nor consent from the government and surrounding communities.
Battery 2030: Resilient, sustainable, and circular | McKinsey | 16 January 2023
Battery demand is growing—and so is the need for better solutions along the value chain.
Warning of unprecedented heatwaves as El Niño set to return in 2023 | Damian Carrington | The Guardian | 16 January 2023
The return of the El Niño climate phenomenon later this year will cause global temperatures to rise “off the chart” and deliver unprecedented heatwaves, scientists have warned.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Addresses Opening of the Ninety-Second Session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child | OHCHR | 16 January 2023
During his opening address, Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, highlights how “the reality of climate change was also threatening the lives of children today and those in the future.” Various testimonies from children from the General Comment No. 26 on child rights, climate change and environment were also presented.
Four reasons why the world needs to limit nitrogen pollution | UNEP | 16 January 2023
Officials from around the world gathered online last week to discuss how countries can better manage nitrogen. This article lists four reasons humanity needs to limit nitrogen pollution.
Revealed: more than 90% of rainforest carbon offsets by biggest provider are worthless, analysis shows | Patrick Greenfield | The Guardian | 19 January 2023
Investigation into Verra carbon standard finds most are ‘phantom credits’ and may worsen global heating.
World-Leading Insurers and United Nations Launch Pioneering Target-Setting Protocol to Accelerate Transition to Net-Zero Economy | UNEP FI | 17 January 2023
For the first time ever, insurance and reinsurance companies among the largest globally have built a framework and measurement tools to assess the impact of their activities on climate change. The NZIA’s Target-Setting Protocol will serve as a catalyst to set unprecedented and ambitious targets towards net zero. NZIA members are required to set and disclose their initial target(s) by 31 July 2023.
Historic decision to institutionalize the Forum of Mayors | Geneva Cities Hub | 13 January 2023
UNECE Member States officially established the Forum of Mayors as a UN body and decided that it would be convened annually in Geneva immediately prior to the session of CUDHLM.