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Newsletter 30 Jun 2025

Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 30 June – 6 July 2025

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, Bluesky, and Youtube, or visit our website regularly for additional updates.

Image of the week | The 7th GE-EN-VIE Gathering “Global change: adapting through the foundation of life“ took place at the International Environment House on 24 June and featured various presentations and workshops with Geneva academic and local authorities, highlighting the need to move to “better” sustainability discussions.

Environment @ 59th Session of the Human Rights Council

As the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC59) moves into its third week in Geneva, the spotlight intensifies on the environmental agenda and the human rights dimensions of climate change. Building on the critical discussions of last week, where intersections of environmental justice, migration & internal displacement, international solidarity, extreme poverty, and access to clean water and sanitation were explored, this week is set to deepen the global conversation on climate-related human rights challenges with the UN Special Rapporteur on climate change and human rights.

Key events taking place this week include the Annual panel discussion on the adverse impacts of climate change on human rights, alongside the Interactive dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on climate change and human rights. These sessions will provide crucial insights into how climate change threatens fundamental human rights and will highlight pathways for strengthening protections.

The second edition of the “Geneva Rights and Climate Talks” will launch this week, featuring a series of events focused on the just transition and human rights, the issue of plastics as fossil fuels, the right to science under threat, and the vital role of climate defenders in securing participatory climate action. Taking place on the sidelines of HRC59, the talks, co-organized with the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and climate change, Earthjustice, the Geneva Environment Network and the Geneva Climate Change Consultation Group, will reflect on the challenges posed by the impacts of climate change, and on how Geneva contributes to bringing together the actors working towards placing human rights at the heart of climate action, with topics including:

Events of interest this week include:

→ Consult regular updates on key environmental issues at HRC59, side events, and further resources available on our dedicated HRC59 and the environment update.

2025 Trade and Environment Week

The sixth edition of Trade and Environment Week takes place from 30 June to 4 July 2025 at the World Trade Organization headquarters and online. Since its launch in 2019, the Trade and Environment Week has grown into a flagship forum for deepening the global conversation on the nexus between trade and the environment. Anchored around the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) meeting, the Week complements the Committee’s work and sparks inclusive dialogue on emerging environmental challenges with trade dimensions. It offers a unique platform for WTO members to engage directly with business leaders, international organizations, academic experts, civil society and environmental practitioners — fostering an exchange of insights, experiences and actionable ideas.

The 2025 edition will feature 15 Member-organized side events, networking receptions and a display of sustainable products. Topics to be discussed include the global fight against plastics pollution, sustainable agriculture, the green transition in developing economies, carbon pricing mechanisms, deforestation-related regulations, the future of sustainable fuels, and trade-related climate policy measures. → Consult the full programme, access the live webcast link and register for in-person participation.

Happy 50th Anniversary to CITES | The World’s Leading Legal Instrument Regulating International Wildlife Trade

On Tuesday, 1 July 2025, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Adopted on 3 March 1973 – celebrated since 2014 as UN World Wildlife Day – CITES entered into force on 1 July 1975, following its tenth ratification. With now 185 Parties, CITES has been working for half a century to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species. As highlighted by CITES Secretary General, Ivonne Higuero “The journey that began as a vision forged in Arusha, recognized in Nairobi and Stockholm, signed in Washington, D.C. by 21 countries, and first ratified by 10 countries, has become one of the most impactful multilateral environmental agreements in the world, a unique treaty in which trade intersects with biodiversity.” Former Secretary General John Scanlon also highlighted “CITES is one of the world’s first MEAs and it has been a pioneer on many topics, such as on issues of compliance, the involvement of observers, and voting. It is a ‘hands-on’ Convention, with individual species being listed, trade transactions being regulated, and compliance measures being taken. As such, CITES is viewed by many as a Convention with ‘on-the-ground’ impacts, that ‘has teeth.’”

→ Take a look back on the major milestones and achievements of the Convention in ensuring that international trade in wildlife is sustainable, legal and traceable and does not threaten the survival of species in the wild and stay tuned with CITES website for additional content dedicated to the celebration.

While the CITES 50th anniversary of its entry into force will be officially celebrated at the upcoming 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to take place at the end of the year in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime and ADM Capital Foundation will host this week an online event to reflect on the legacy, impact, and future of CITES as the world’s leading legal instrument regulating international wildlife trade. It will examine CITES’ trajectory over the past five decades. At its core will be an exclusive interview with David Morgan, a renowned CITES expert, on his forthcoming book ‘Regulating International Trade in Wildlife – 50 years of CITES’, moderated by John Scanlon, former Secretary General of CITES, and featuring other leading experts, including Carolina Caceres, former Chair of the CITES Standing Committee. → Register to participate on Zoom on 30 June 2025 from 13:00 to 14:30 CEST.

Marking 10 years of Endorsement of the Nansen Initiative Protection Agenda

The Platform on Disaster Displacement (PPD) is hosting this Monday a film screening of You Never Know One Day You Too Might Become a Refugee (2023), portraying the human reality of disaster displacement and climate change. The event is part of a series of events to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the endorsement of the Nansen Initiative Agenda for the Protection of Cross-Border Displaced Persons in the Context of Disasters and Climate Change (Protection Agenda/NIPA) and marks also the change of PDD Chiarmanship from Kenya to Costa Rica. → Register to join on 30 June 2025 at the Maison de la Paix Auditorium Ivan Pictet from 18:00 CEST

Plastics Treaty Updates | Road to INC-5.2 in Geneva

With now five weeks to the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-5.2), to convene at Palais des Nations from 5 to 14 August 2025, updates include:

  • The deadline for registration to attend INC-5.2 for Members of the Committee and Media is 30 June 2025, 23:59 EAT (22:59 CEST). The deadline for observer organizations was on 6 June 2025. The INC Secretariat has announced that there will be no on-site registration.
  • The INC Chair, H.E. Amb. Luis Vayas Valdivieso is convening an in-person Heads of Delegation meeting from 30 June to 2 July 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya. As highlighted in the Chair’s Note, the meeting aims to provide an opportunity for an exchange of views among Members in preparation for the conclusion of negotiations at INC 5.2. This exchange is intended for Members to better understand each other and to identify possible ways forward for the finalization of the international legally binding instrument. Additionally, the Chair will propose modalities and organization of work during INC-5.2. → Practical information
  • The HODs meeting will take place back-to-back with the Regional Consultation of the group of African States, in Nairobi from 3 to 5 July 2025.

  • To ensure the smooth running of INC-5.2, the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment is looking for volunteers to be assigned either to daytime or evening sessions, depending on the event’s operational needs and will perform functions as described in the Volunteer recruitment notice. Interested candidates can apply by sending their CV and a short motivation letter by 7 July 2025.

  • The artist Benjamin Von Wong will be building a giant sculpture on Place des Nations during the Plastics Treaty negotiation taking place in August. → If you want to get involved or support, . If you’re based in Geneva and can help collect plastics, check the Plastics Collection Guide. For more information, please consult the artist deck and see his past projects.

Are you organizing conferences, receptions, artistic and cultural demonstrations in the margins of INC-5.2? Fill this form with information on your activities, they will feed our dedicated Plastics Treaty INC-5.2, which will provide an overview of the initiatives taking place outside of the Blue Zone of the formal conference and negotiations, as well as useful information for delegates.

Events on plastics taking place this week in the context of the Human Rights Council and the Trade and Environment Week 2025 include:

  • The Right to Break Free from the Carbon Lock-in of Plastics | Geneva Rights and Climate Talks & Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues | In her report to HRC59 (A/HRC/59/42), the UN Special Rapporteur on climate change, Elisa Morgera, stresses that the increasing production of plastics and petrochemicals is embedding dependence on fossil fuels in our economies within and beyond the energy sector, regardless of continued contributions to climate change and other human rights harm. In addition, plastics and petrochemicals cause their own host of severe human rights impacts, worsening climate change, biodiversity loss and toxic pollution, and thereby compounding negative impacts on the rights to life, health, an adequate standard of living and a healthy environment and on cultural rights. This event will highlight the importance of integrating human rights in the future instrument. → Register to attend in person at Palais des Nations in Room H.307.1 or online on Webex on 4 July 2025 from 14:00 CEST.

Additional news include:

Climate Change Updates | Bonn Conference & Heatwaves

The Bonn Climate Change Conference concluded last Friday, when across continents, various countries, including Switzerland, are sweltering in the grip of heatwaves. In view of the hot weather forecast for the next few days, and following the warning issued by the Cantonal Medical Service, the City of Geneva’s Heatwave Plan was activated on Saturday, 28 June 2025.

Important advancements were made during the Bonn Climate Change Conference two weeks of intense work, paving the way ahead the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) this November in Belém, Brazil, including in the Just Transition Work Programme, Gender, NAPs, Transparency and the UAE Dialogue [on Implementing the Global Stocktake Outcomes]. However, “we have a lot more to do before we meet again in Belém,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell in his closing remarks.

Updates on the recently concluded Bonn Climate Change Conference include:

Additional news include:

International Geneva @ Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4)

Numerous experts from international Geneva are attending the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) taking place from 30 June to 3 July 2025 in Seville, Spain. FfD4 aspires to build a renewed global financing framework that will unlock greater volumes of capital at a lower cost. In Seville, and through a renewed global financing framework, leaders are taking action to deliver an SDGs investment push and to reform the international financial architecture to enable the transformative change that the world urgently needs. The final revised text of the FfD4 Outcome Document — Compromiso de Sevilla — has been transmitted by the co-facilitators Zambia, Norway, Nepal and Mexico with a letter on 16 June 2025. The document reflects the co-facilitators’ best efforts to arrive at consensus and reflects a balanced, ambitious, and action-oriented outcome document. → Read more in the IISD SDG Knowledge Lab article and consult also the report “Sustainable Development Report 2025. Financing Sustainable Development to 2030 and Mid-Century” by Sachs, J.D., Lafortune, G., Fuller, G., Iablonovski, G. released in June 2025.

“By championing the financing of social protection, world leaders meeting at FFD4 would be taking a powerful stand against today’s deplorable attempts to upend the international order, ignore the climate crisis and abandon the world’s poorest people,” stressed the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Oliver De Schutter, last week at HRC59.

The conference will count on the contributions of various Geneva-based organizations, including: ILO | OHCHR | UNECE | UNEP FI | UN Trade and Development | IISD

Call for Submissions and Contests | Upcoming Deadlines

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 or for people to support their process. A dedicated update lists calls for submissions related to the environment. Additional updates also list those related to Human Rights Mechanisms and ongoing contests launched by our partners. Deadlines not to be missed during the coming weeks include:

  • Concours photo sur le sujet de la marche | We all have one (or even several) favorite paths. To mark its 50th anniversary, Pedestrian Mobility Switzerland invites you to take part in its photo competition and share your favorite path. Whether it’s through charming alleyways, lively pedestrian zones or along peaceful lakeside promenades – show them where you like to walk. Find out more about the conditions of participation and the original prizes to be won here. Registration must be submitted via e-mail by 30 June 2025 to concoursphoto@mobilitepietonne.ch
  • Policy Hackathon on International Trade and Food Security | The Policy Hackathon on International Trade and Food Security is an exciting competition that invites participants to contribute ideas on some of the most topical issues in global policy today. Team up with up to three other Master’s or PhD students and spend an intense three days envisioning, designing and articulating a policy proposal for consideration by an esteemed panel of leading international experts and policymakers. Applications close on 1 July 2025 (15:59 CEST) and must be submitted via this form. The Hackathon will take place from 29 August to 1 September 2025.
  • Minamata Convention Call for Comments on Technical Document | The Minamata Convention Secretariat is inviting comments on a technical document to facilitate integration of actions to reduce mercury pollution from artisanal and small-scale gold mining into the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). Comments are expected to focus on the substance of the draft technical document since the document will be further edited and formatted. The Secretariat will finalize the document taking into consideration all comments and inputs received and prepare a final version for consideration by the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, which will be held from 3 to 7 November 2025 in Geneva. Parties and stakeholders are invited to submit comments and input using this form and email it to the Secretariat (mea-minamatasecretariat@un.org) by 4 July 2025.
  • IPCC Call for Nominations for Workshop Participants | The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is calling for nominations of participants to two three-day co-located workshops to be held in the first quarter of 2026: a Workshop on Engaging Diverse Knowledge Systems and a Workshop on Methods of Assessment. Nominations are submitted through a dedicated online nomination tool by focal points in governments and accredited observer organizations, as well as IPCC Bureau members. Governments, observer organizations, and IPCC Bureau members have to submit their nominations by Wednesday, 16 July 2025 (midnight CEST). More information on the nomination process is here.
  • IGF 21st Annual General Meeting Registrations | The Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) 21st Annual General Meeting will take place from 3 to 5 November 2025 in Geneva, hosted by UN Trade and Development. This year’s theme is Value Beyond Extraction: Rethinking Mining for a Resilient Future. Following the 21st IGF Annual General Meeting, the IGF Government Forum will take place on 6 November 2025. Registrations are open and should be submitted on Indico.

Enjoying a Green Summer in Geneva

Schools are now officially closed in Geneva, and the holiday season has begun for many. Suggestions to enjoy a green summer in Geneva include this week:

  • Golf urbain | From 30 June to 18 August 2025 | Parc des Bastions
    Grab a club and hit the greens, right in the heart of Geneva. Urban golf invites players of all ages to enjoy a playful six-hole course winding through some of the city’s most iconic landmarks. 
  • La Biodiversité autrement | 1 July 2025 | Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques Genève
    Enjoy an afternoon of games, coloring, and storytelling under the trees while exploring the wonders of biodiversity in a playful, creative setting.
  • Halte aux Renouées | 1 July 2025 | Espace Léman
    Would you like to get involved and help in the long-term effort to combat the scourge of invasive plants? It’s also a great opportunity to get out and about, meet new people and share your experiences! 
  • Vie cachée du Léman : mollusques et crustacés sous la loupe | 1 July 2025 | Espace Léman
    Dive into the hidden world of Lake Geneva’s mollusks and crustaceans. Equipped with magnifying glasses and microscopes, discover these lesser-known yet vital lake dwellers and their essential roles in the underwater ecosystem.
  • Eveil du Léman | 2 July 2025 | Plage des Eaux-Vives
    Eveil du Léman is a lively series of nature discovery events designed for families and curious explorers of all ages. Join the event to celebrate the beauty and biodiversity of Lake Geneva, from workshops to guided walks. takes place along the beautiful shores of Lake Geneva, offers breathtaking views and many opportunities to link yourself to the environment.
  • Les origines sauvages de nos légumes : voyage au cœur de notre herbier et de notre potager | 2 July 2025 | Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques Genève
    Trace the wild ancestry of familiar vegetables in this guided tour through a unique herbarium and rare vegetable garden. Discover how cabbages, leeks, and celery evolved, and taste their ancient roots.
  • «Spécial été» : un objet, un son, une histoire: assister au combat de Saphir, la vache d’Hérens | 2 July 2025 | Musée d’ethnographie de Genève
    Follow the tale of Saphir, a Hérens cow in a fierce alpine duel, through objects, stories, and sounds, from Valais traditions to an alpine yodel finale.
  • Exposition : Observons les oiseaux | Until 2 July 2025 | Prévessin-Moëns
    Step into the fascinating world of birds through this interactive exhibition blending augmented reality, educational displays, and themed panels. Meet twenty of Europe’s most iconic feathered friends, known for their songs and behaviors, and uncover the deep ties between birds and human culture, from literature to music to the environment. 
  • Workshop: Le Musée des indésirables | 4 and 5 July 2025 | Musée d’art et d’histoire
    In this two-day workshop for adults, give new life to broken electrical devices by turning them into living micro-gardens using plants collected nearby. A playful act of “renaturalisation” that questions permanence, conservation, and decay—this ephemeral, participatory artwork by Michel Blazy redefines what belongs in a museum. Registration required; bring your unused electronics!
  • Formation naturaliste – mammalogie printemps | Until 5 July 2025 | La libellule
    Learn to identify local medium- and large-sized mammals through seven guided outings. Spot or listen for wildlife in the field, with some silent observation and light hiking.
  • Balade de l’été | 6 July 2025 | Thônex
    This guided walk will explore how biodiversity adapts and returns to urban environments undergoing transformation. Starting from École de Belle-Terre, participants will observe the recent developments in Thônex are integrating nature back into the urban fabric through ecological corridors, native vegetation, and thoughtful land use.
  • Climate Fiction, un récit sur la collection du Fonds cantonal d’art contemporain | Until 31 August 2025 | Musée de Carouge
    Through a bold curatorial lens, this exhibition dives into the environmental crises of our time by uncovering their roots in social, economic, and geopolitical inequalities.
  • Été 2025 au Théâtre de l’Orangerie | Until 6 September 2025 | Théâtre de l’Orangerie
    Under the theme “La vie c’est sûrement autre chose,” the 2025 program features a dynamic mix of theatre, dance, visual arts, concerts, workshops, and family activities.
  • L’été au Jardin | Until 14 September 2025 | Jardin botanique alpin de Meyrin.
    This summer, the alpine garden transforms into a lively space for learning, creativity, and connection. With a mix of exhibitions, workshops, and outdoor activities, visitors of all ages are invited to celebrate nature, community, and seasonal joy.
  • Our Biodiversity | Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques
    Explore biodiversity through an immersive outdoor exhibition inspired by Geneva’s new Municipal Biodiversity Strategy. Along a contemplative garden trail, discover short texts displayed on flowing fabric panels that invite reflection on the essential role of biodiversity in our health, food systems, and planetary wellbeing.
  • Enjoy the sun, warmth and many jumps in the lake at UN Beach!
  • Enjoy the newly reopened access for swimming in the Rhône
  • Check local resources to handle heatwaves and hot days in our summer suggestions

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23 Aug 2026

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SDG11 | SDG12

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