Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 28 October – 3 November 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.

Celebrate with us and join our 25th Anniversary of the Geneva Environment Network call for video messages. To take part, record a video message (maximum 2 minutes) on how the Geneva Environment Network has been GENerating participation and engagement for increased collaboration among stakeholders for stronger environmental governance in the fight against the triple planetary crisis.

Image of the week | A view of Lake Geneva from Jardin Anglais on an Autumn day. © UNEP/GEN, October 2024

Plastics Treaty | Countdown to the Final Negotiating Session in Busan

With less than a month to the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-5) in Busan, Republic of Korea, initiatives and discussions continue highlighting important aspects to achieve the goal of ending plastic pollution and support a timely outcome at this final negotiating session.

This week, two Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Road to Busan Dialogues will gather stakeholders to discuss important principles for the global plastics treaty and introduce the ambition for plastic production reduction of a new business coalition:

Prioritizing Principles of Accountability, Transparency and Justice in the Future Global Plastics Treaty | This event will discuss how prioritizing principles of accountability, transparency and justice are essential to enable the future global plastics treaty to succeed in its objective to end plastic pollution. → Register and join us on Webex on Tuesday 29 October 2024, from 14:00 to 15:30 CET.
Launch and Panel Discussion | Champions of Change – Business Leaders for Plastic Production Reduction | Greenpeace, Break Free From Plastic and Plastic Pollution Coalition are launching Champions of Change, a global initiative giving companies a platform to leverage their influence and push for a strong Global Plastics Treaty that will drastically cut plastic production. The goal of Champions of Change is to show that ending the age of plastic doesn’t have to come at the cost of a healthy business landscape. More than 350 businesses have already signed an open letter calling on governments to cut plastic production via the treaty. This event will stress the importance of globally binding obligations to reduce plastic production. → Register and join us on Webex on Wednesday 30 October 2024 from 14:00 to 15:30 CET.

Other events of interest taking place this week include:

Ministerial Conference on Plastic Pollution including Marine Litter – Informal consultations addressing the mandates of UNEA 5/14 and the proceedings of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee | Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Germany and Ghana with the support of UNEP | 28 October 2024 | Spiwak Hotel, Cali, Colombia
Forum on Mitigating Plastic Pollution from Runoff | UNEP | 29 October – 1 November 2024 | ฺBangkok, Thailand
Swiss Symposium on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) | Food Packaging Forum, ETH Zurich | 28 October 2024
The event will feature in-depth scientific talks and discussions about EDCs, exogenous substances that interfere with hormone signaling, affecting hormone levels and disrupting normal biological functions. These chemicals have emerged as a major health concern, backed up by scientific evidence. Food packaging chemicals, especially plastic chemicals, are an important contributor to exposures. Throughout the day, participants will hear leading experts talk about the history of EDC research, as well as ongoing and future efforts to better understand hazards and exposures associated with these compounds.

Applying for the Global Framework on Chemicals Fund

The Global Framework on Chemicals – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste (GFC), adopted in September 2023 at the fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5), seeks to protect both the planet and human health, advocating for strong governance mechanisms and enforcing international standards. It acknowledges the pollution and waste crisis as the third planetary crisis alongside the crisis of climate change and the crisis of nature, land and biodiversity loss. The Global Framework on Chemicals Fund, also established at ICCM5, supports countries in implementing this international agreement that guides countries and stakeholders in jointly addressing the lifecycle of chemicals, including products and waste.

The Fund launched its first call for applications on 1 October 2024, to provide financial support of 300,000 to 800,000 USD for an implementation period of up to three years. Governments from developing countries, Small Island Developing States, and countries with economies in transition can apply for funding, as can civil society networks, subject to an agreement with the respective government. The Fund also encourages regional or multi-country applications.

To support applicants in better understanding the scope of the GFC Fund and in completing applications, the GFC Secretariat with the support of the Geneva Environment Network is convening two events this week:

Guidance on the Scope of the Global Framework on Chemicals Fund | The first of the two events aims to inform applicants about the Global Framework of Chemicals Fund as well as the eligibility criteria for applying for funding. Applicants are encouraged to join to find out more about the application process. In addition to the webinar, the guidance document on the scope of the Fund provides interested applicants with concise information about the fund’s strategic priorities and application eligibility. It is available in English, French and Spanish. → Register and join un on Webex on Tuesday 29 October 2024 from 10:00 to 11:00 CET.
Guidelines on Completing the Application for the Global Framework on Chemicals Fund | The second online event aims to inform applicants about how to complete the application documents. More specifically, the webinar will speak about the concept of results-based management and how activities and the budget can be formulated to align with the projects outputs and outcomes. In addition to the webinar, the Secretariat has developed an application guideline to help applicants complete the application documents. The application guidelines are available in English, French and Spanish. → Register on Webex to attend the event taking place on 30 October 2024 from 10:00 to 11:15 CET.

International Geneva @ UN Biodiversity Conference

The UN Biodiversity Conference, taking place in Cali, Colombia, under the theme “Peace with Nature,” is in its second week and is expected to conclude on 1 November 2024. A High-Level Segment on 29 and 30 October 2024 will encompass the launch of Colombia’s Initiative “World Coalition for Peace with Nature: A Call for Life”, and discussions aiming to strengthen and support the implementation of the global biodiversity framework. → Follow the conference through IISD Earth Negotiation Bulletin daily updates and watch or rewatch plenaries on UN Web TV.

Multilateral Geneva is strongly present at the UN Biodiversity Conference, providing contributions to the events and discussions ongoing in the various zones. Events counting from contributions of international Geneva this week include:

Finance and Biodiversity Day | 28 October 2024
UNEP FI will lead the second Finance and Biodiversity Day aimed to support resource mobilization and alignment of financial flows with the vision and mission of the Global Biodiversity Framework. → Find more information about UNEP FI @ COP16 and read UNEP FI’s latest publication From Kunming-Montreal to Cali: Is the Financial System on Track?
Mobilizing the biodiversity-related Conventions on the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework | 28 October 2024
The Convention on Wetlands and CITES will participate in this side event to discuss tangible and actionable opportunities for biodiversity-related conventions to cooperate and build complementarity to support Parties’ efforts towards the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
How to include the private sector contributions in NBSAPs for an effective implementation of the GBF | 28 October 2024
Organized by various actors including Business for Nature will present lessons learned from governments who started this process, discuss challenges and solutions as well as hearing directly from the business community on how engagement can be strengthened to reach an ambitious outcome.
Ministerial Conference on Plastic Pollution including Marine Litter – Informal consultations addressing the mandates of UNEA 5/14 and the proceedings of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee | 28 October 2024
Convened by Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Germany and Ghana with the support of UNEP as a follow-up of the one held in 2021 leading towards UNEA 5.2. The goal of the Conference is to build further momentum and political will to advance a coherent global strategy to end plastic pollution thus ensuring a future with clean environment.
Priority Actions for Insurance: Contributing to Nature-Positive and Resilient Future | 29 October 2024
As part of the Finance & Biodiversity Pavilion, members of the PSI Working Group for Nature will provide an update on the development of recommendations for priority actions to start embedding nature in insurance organizations and to contribute to the mission of the Global Biodiversity Framework to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030.
Interoperable sustainable finance taxonomies: a key tool to mobilize private capital for the Global Biodiversity Framework implementation | 29 October 2024
UNEP FI, WWF and others will explore how sustainable finance taxonomies can enhance private investment in biodiversity conservation and restoration, with a focus on the LAC Taxonomy Common Framework for Biodiversity.
UN Regional Commissions’ High-Level Side Event at CBD COP-16: Key Actions for Interregional and Regional Implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework | 30 October 2024
ECA, UNECE, ECLAC, ESCAP, CBD will host a side event to launch the publication, “Mainstreaming Biodiversity and Investment Across Regions and Sectors: Key Messages, Good Practices, and Actions from UN Regional Commissions,” which supports the regional implementation of the Kunming-Montreal GBF.
Mapping Nature’s Footprint: The Global Ecosystems Atlas | 30 October 2024
GEO Secretariat will be launching the proof-of-concept of the Global Ecosystems Atlas during an official side event co-organized with CBD.
The New WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge | 30 October 2024
Will provide an introduction and overview of the WIPO Treaty agreed upon in May 2024.
Promoting the Joint CBD/Aarhus Convention Pocket Guide on Promoting Effective Access to Information and Public Participation regarding Living Modified Organisms/Genetically Modified Organisms (LMOs) | 31 October 2024
CBD and UNECE will host a side highlighting different aspects from countries implementation on access to information and public participation regarding LMOs.
Cooperation Day | 31 October 2024
Cooperation Day will emphasize the role of cooperation for efficient and effective implementation of the KMGBF and other biodiversity-related objectives.
A new Protected Planet Report — the first global stocktake on protected areas — will be launched this week by UNEP-WCMC, IUCN WCPA and protected planet.

→ Find latest news on contributions of actors and stakeholders from International Geneva in our dedicated update.

Road to Baku | Preparing for the UN Climate Change Conference

With now only two weeks to the UN Climate Change Conference in Baku, key reports are being issued to support Member States and stakeholders in their work and for stronger ambition and action. Reports issued last week include:

The Emissions Gap Report 2024 No more hot air … please! looks at how much nations must promise to cut off GHG, and deliver, in the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It remains technically possible to get on a 1.5°C pathway, with solar, wind and forests holding real promise for sweeping and fast emissions cuts — cuts of 42% are needed by 2030 and 57% by 2035 to get on track for 1.5°C goal. To deliver on this potential, sufficiently strong NDCs would need to be backed urgently by a whole-of-government approach, measures that maximize socioeconomic and environmental co-benefits, enhanced international collaboration that includes reform of the global financial architecture, strong private sector action and a minimum six-fold increase in mitigation investment. G20 nations, particularly the largest-emitting members, would need to do the heavy lifting. A failure to increase ambition in these new NDCs and start delivering immediately would put the world on course for a temperature increase of 2.6-3.1°C over the course of this century.
Working together for better climate action. Carbon pricing, policy spillovers, and global climate goals released by UN Trade and Development, WTO, IMF, OECD and the World Bank, outlines pathways for coordinated approaches on climate action, carbon pricing and the cross-border effects of climate change mitigation policies, with a view to achieving global climate goals. The report stresses the need to step up climate action to meet global emission reduction targets, while contributing to broader development goals and makes clear that international organizations’ future work can help fill important knowledge gaps. These include a need for more granular and better data on embedded carbon prices and embedded emissions, the design of border adjustment policies and their interoperability, and other approaches to enhance cooperation to increase ambition and ensure a just transition for all.

Other notable reports to be launched this week:

The World Meteorological Organization will launch the annual edition of the Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, which represents the latest analysis of observations from the WMO GAW Programme. The Bulletin will be presented on 28 October 2024 at a press briefing at Palais des Nations → Watch the press briefing on UNTV and learn more about WTO upcoming climate-related reports.
UNEP FI and the Adaptation and Resilience Investors Collaborative (ARIC) will launch Physical Climate Risk Assessment and Management: An investor playbook, a guide providing investors with a clear, step-by-step approach to integrate the assessment and management of physical climate risks in investment processes. Join us to learn how investors can better align their portfolios with climate resilience goals. → Join the launch on 29 October 2024 on BrightTalk

Climate change and the Conference of Baku will also be on the agenda of other conferences and discussions taking place this week in Geneva, including the 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, where wildfires, heatwaves and climate resilience will be put under the spotlight.

Additional news on climate and the upcoming COP29 include:

Several Opportunities to Address the Health Impact of Climate at COP29 | Health Policy Watch | 25 October 2024
Our real-life deluge: when climate fiction mirrors reality | Geneva Solutions | 25 October 2024
What’s the NCQG? For COP29 and the climate crisis, it’s ‘the answer to everything’ | The New Humanitarian | 24 October 2024
Governments affirm role of UN Water Convention in building climate resilience | UNECE | 24 October 2024
COP29: Crucial Moment For Business To Accelerate Global Climate Action | María Mendiluce | Forbes | 23 October 2024
From a business perspective, climate change has become a material risk. No longer is it just an environmental or ethical concern — it’s a financial one. The concept of the return on responsibility — where businesses invest in climate-related efforts not only because they’re good, but because they’re good for business – is central to how businesses are increasingly viewing climate risks and the long-term economic imperative of climate action.
Health Sector Seeks Path to Greater Impact on Climate Policies – but Fossil Fuel Subsidies Block the Way | Elaine Ruth Fletcher | 23 October 2024
Over-reliance on land for carbon dioxide removal in net-zero climate pledges | Kate Dooley, Kirstine Lund Christiansen, Jens Friis Lund et al. | Nature Communications | 23 October 2024
In a warring world, Azerbaijan’s COP29 truce appeal draws fire as “PR exercise” | Climate Home News | 23 October 2024
Barbados diplomat on climate Cop29: ‘We’re negotiating how quickly we should save the Earth’ | Geneva Solutions | 23 October 2024
Education: a powerhouse for driving climate ambition | Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies | 21 October 2024
A staggering 400 million students globally experienced school closures from extreme weather since 2022, with climate change disproportionately impacting those boys and girls who are displaced or affected by conflicts, violence and other humanitarian crises. The challenge is clear, and so are many of the solutions.
Early warning systems and early action in fragile, conflict-affected and violent contexts: Addressing growing climate and disaster risks | UNDRR | 21 October 2024
Cities Face ‘Severe Degradation’ Without Meaningful Climate Action, Warn Experts | Health Policy Watch | 21 October 2024
COP29 Host Country Agreement Lacks Rights Protections | Human Rights Watch | 10 October 2024

Advancing the Human Rights and Environment Agenda

Several meetings that take place this week will tackle the interlinkages between the human right to development and the environment:

Tenth session of the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development (EMRDT) | At its tenth session, taking place from 28 to 30 October 2024 in Room XXI of Palais des Nations, the EMRTD aims to undertake meaningful exchanges with Member States and stakeholders about the different ways in which the right to development can be featured in ongoing international discussions, agreements, and instruments. Environmental issues feature in this year’s work programme as they tackle:
- Business and the Right to Development | 28 October | 15:00 – 16:30 CET
- Engaging the Unengaged: Building Inclusive Development through Meaningful Civil Society Participation | 29 October | 10:30 – 12:30 CET
- Trade, Biodiversity and the Right to Development: An Equation to be Constructed | 29 October| 16:30 – 18:00 CET

Social Forum 2024 | The 2024 Social Forum takes place on 31 October and 1 November in Room XX of Palais des Nations, under the theme “The Contribution of Financing for Development to the Advancement of All Human Rights for All”, with an aim to make a human rights-based contribution to the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), in Sevilla, Spain in 2025. This year’s theme recognizes the urgent need to address the financing challenges exacerbated by recent and evolving global crises, including the climate and environmental crises. Environment-related events taking place at this year’s Social Forum include:
- Opening Remarks | 31 October | 10:00 – 10:30 CET
- Keynote Panel: The Human Rights Lens for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development | 31 October | 10:30 – 11:30 CET
- International Development Cooperation | 31 October | 15:00 – 15:45 CET
- International Trade as an Engine of Development | 31 October | 16:30 – 17:15 CET
- Roundtable: Debt and Debt Sustainability | 1 November | 10:00 – 10:45 CET
- Side Event: Fixing the International Financial Architecture for Realizing Human Rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development | 1 November | 13:00 – 14:00 CET

Last week various UN Special Rapporteurs presented their reports to the 79^th session of the UN General Assembly

Astrid Puentes Riaño, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, called for the implementation and strengthening of existing legal frameworks, enhanced accountability for environmental harm, and a focus on protecting groups in vulnerable situations while presenting her first report. → Read the press release.
Elisa Morgera, the UN Special Rapporteur on climate change, stressed in her first report to the General Assembly that access to information on climate change and human rights is a pre-requisite for transparent, inclusive and effective decision-making on climate action. → Read the press release.
Marcos Orellana the Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, stressed in his report that hazardous substances and wastes are having a disproportionate impact based on peoples’ gender. States must prevent gendered injustices and discriminations that result from exposures to hazardous substances and wastes. → Read the press release.
Surya Deva, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development, stressed in his report that climate justice requires developed countries and large corporations, especially fossil fuel corporations, to accept their historical responsibility to remediate adverse impacts of climate change-related loss and damage on the right to development and other human rights. He proposes in his report a climate justice framework comprising four pillars (mitigation, adaptation, remediation and transformation) and 12 overarching human rights principles. This framework should guide climate actions of States, multilateral development banks, businesses and other actors. → Read the press release.

Continue Enjoying a Green Autumn in Geneva

With school holidays still ongoing in neighboring France and some private schools in Geneva, suggestions to enjoy your free time and a Green Autumn in Geneva this week include:

Theater: Atacama | 22 October – 10 November 2024 | Théâtre de la Parfumerie
A contemporary poem about migration, memory and mining.
Les diatomées, ces algues planctoniques microscopiques, passion de Jacques-Joseph Brun | 29 October 2024, 12:30 CET | Conservatoire et Jardins Botaniques
Meet diatoms, algae with a silica skeleton, and talk about Jacques Brun’s collections, wine, matches, bedbugs and biodiversity.
Biodiversity: case closed? | 31 October2024, 19:30 CET | Salle Faubourg
Let’s take stock of the many conservation actions we’ve taken to save biodiversity. Is it enough? Several specialists open the debate.
Hike: Expériences préhistoriques | 2 November 2024 | La Libellule
Build a shelter, make a fire without a match, track animals, make tools, collect plants for medicine and food. Learn the forgotten gestures of our hunter-gatherer ancestors.
Fête de la Glace | 3 November 2024 | Patinoire des Vernets
A one-day opportunity to discover a variety of ice sports.
Fossils, when animals grow old | 3 November 2024, 14:00 CET | Musée d’histoire des sciences
Animuse geologists share their passion in the grand salon of the Museum of the History of Science.
Exhibtion: Medusae | 1 – 30 November 2024 | Bibliothèque des Pâquis
Medusae, little sister of the major exhibition Cinquecento Medusae, represents a school of colorful, light and dancing jellyfish, made of veil and organza.
Exhibition: Corallium | 1 – 30 November 2024 | Bibliothèque des Eaux-Vives
Corallium is a large coral reef made with crochet.

Happening Abroad

The 13th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (COP13) and 36th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MOP36) are convening this week in Bangkok, Thailand. The conferences, proceeded by COP12/MOP35 Bureau meetings and the seventy-third meeting of the Implementation Committee (ImpCom73) on 25 October 2024, are gathering stakeholders to discuss enhancing the protection of the ozone layer and climate, including how parties will fund atmospheric monitoring sites to bridge information gaps, manage remaining emissions of controlled substances, and address uncertainties about substances not controlled by the Protocol. → Stay up to date with the daily coverage of the IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin.

What (Else) to Read Next?

Renewed Push for A December Deadline To Conclude The Pandemic Agreement | Geneva Health Files | 24 October 2024
Key actors in the negotiations on a new Pandemic Agreement are making vigorous and renewed efforts to see if countries can reach consensus and conclude these discussions in December 2024.
Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson’s extradition process further delayed | EuroNews | 24 October 2024
« Le tribunal du Groenland a décidé que Paul Watson devait rester détenu jusqu’au 13 novembre 2024 afin d’assurer sa présence dans le cadre de la décision d’extradition » que le gouvernement danois doit prendre après une demande du Japon en lien avec son combat pour les baleines, a indiqué la police. Paul Watson a fait appel.
From Geneva to Riyadh: Eight takeaways on drought resilience | UNCCD | 23 October 2024
The Drought Resilience +10 conference convened the world’s leading experts in Geneva from 30 September to 2 October. They took stock of the significant progress made since the first meeting in 2013 — which framed drought as a risk to be managed with policies, rather than an unavoidable disaster—and discussed ways to speed up action for drought resilience in the next decade.
Pollution-free environment a ‘fundamental right’, India’s top court says | Reuters | 23 October 2024
Living in a pollution-free environment is a fundamental right, India’s Supreme Court said on Wednesday as it urged authorities to address deteriorating air quality in the north of the country.
Kuwait formally accepts Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies | WTO | 22 October 2024
Kuwait is the fourth Gulf Cooperation Council member to have formally accepted the Agreement. A total of 25 more formal acceptances are needed to reach two-thirds of the WTO membership required for its entry into force.
The Right to a Healthy Environment: From recognition to implementation | Franciscans International | 21 October 2024
This publication aims to empower human rights defenders, activists, and affected communities working to promote and defend this right. Developed together with Astrid Puentes Riaño, it traces the historical processes that led to the UN recognition of the right to a healthy environment, explains the different substantive and procedural elements that make up the right, and offers advice on how to incorporate it into ongoing advocacy efforts.
Drop funding for massacre-linked gas project or face legal trouble, UK warned | POLITICO | 16 October 2024
Campaign group Friends of the Earth sent a letter to the UK government stressing it would be “unlawful” to re-authorize $1.15 billion in British taxpayer-backed loans and grants supporting the TotalEnergies’ gas project in northern Mozambique.
Good Practices and Lessons Learned in Data-sharing in Transboundary Basins | UNECE Water Convention | October 2024
The report presents a global collection of case studies related to different aspects of data and information sharing, building on real-life experiences across all levels. The publication provides a wide array of examples showing how monitoring and data-sharing programmes can be implemented, and thus complements previously developed guidance on monitoring and assessment.
Planète, état d’urgence Les réponses de la durabilité | René Longet | Savoir Suisse | October 2024
À l’heure où la transition écologique rencontre des résistances croissantes, la notion de durabilité permet d’aborder cette nécessaire adaptation de nos modes de vie dans un état d’esprit à la fois réaliste et humaniste : en articulant développement et environnement, elle vise à traiter ensemble les exigences écologiques, les attentes sociales et les perspectives économiques.