Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 30 November – 6 December 2020

The Geneva Environment Network weekly newsletter includes updates on global environmental agenda, main events, job vacancies expiring soon, learning opportunities, as well as other useful news and updates. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some live events organized by organizations around the world, contributing to the global environmental agenda, have also been included. Stay tuned and follow us also on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or visit our website regularly for additional updates.

Due to the developments in the sanitary situation, most institutions of international Geneva are operating fully 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.

25 Reasons to Stop Funding Overfishing

This year, as the World Trade Organization (WTO) is celebrating its 25th anniversary, it has the opportunity to herald a new and better era for people and the planet. Based on the mandate from the WTO’s 11th Ministerial Conference, and the UN Sustainable Development Goal Target 14.6, negotiators have been given the task of securing an agreement in 2020 on disciplines to eliminate subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and to prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, with special and differential treatment for developing and least-developed countries.

WTO negotiators had 25 working days between the start of the third meeting cluster on 2 November, and the end of the fourth and last cluster of 2020, taking place this week, to reach an agreement to end harmful fisheries subsidies. The 174 organizations around the globe calling on world leaders to reach a WTO deal to help save our ocean defined 25 reasons to end harmful fisheries subsidies, giving the WTO each day of the countdown one more reason to reel in a deal. #StopFundingOverfishing

Climate | Progress, Equity and Ambition

The UN Climate Change Dialogues, taking place from 23 November to 4 December, aim to provide a platform for Parties and other stakeholders to showcase progress made in 2020 and exchange views and ideas across the subsidiary bodies and COP agendas mandated for 2020, in the run-up to the UN Climate COP 26 and subsidiary body sessions postponed to 2021. Various actors of International Geneva will contribute to the Climate Dialogues. #ClimateDialogues

A virtual Climate Ambition Summit co-hosted by the United Nations, United Kingdom, and France, in partnership with Chile and Italy, on 12 December, will mark the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Paris Agreement. On 7 December, a session convened by Switzerland within the framework of the Geneva Environment Network, will look into how the equity and fairness considerations can help highlight principles to stimulate the countries to be as ambitious as possible in submitting their updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 31 December 2020, under the Paris Agreement. Register on Webex to join the conversation.

Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues

The Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues were launched last week, with a first session on Plastics and Waste. #BeatPlasticPollution

The second session, to focus on Plastics and Climate and Air Pollution, will take place on 10 December from 14:00 to 15:00 CET, and will discuss an often hidden dimension of the plastic crisis, the plastics contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Register on Webex to join the conversation.

What (Else) Should I Read Next?

Carbon dioxide levels continue at record levels, despite COVID-19 lockdown | WMO | 23 November 2020
The industrial slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic has not curbed record levels of greenhouse gases which are trapping heat in the atmosphere, increasing temperatures and driving more extreme weather, ice melt, sea-level rise and ocean acidification, according to WMO.
Landmark Data Conference sets the scene for change | WMO | 24 November 2020
Landmark Data Conference convened by WMO has set the scene for a comprehensive modernization of the roles, rules and requirements for the international exchange of observations and other data which measure the pulse of the planet.
Address water scarcity ‘immediately and boldly’, urges UN agriculture agency chief | UN News | 26 November 2020
The State of Food and Agriculture 2020, notes that available freshwater resources have declined globally by more than 20 per cent per person over the past two decades, underscoring the importance of producing more with less, especially in the agriculture sector – the world’s largest user of water.
Oil and Gas Industry commits to new framework to monitor, report and reduce methane emissions | UNEP | 24 November
62 companies have joined the new Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) 2.0 framework that will improve the reporting accuracy and transparency of anthropogenic methane emissions in the oil and gas sector. OGMP 2.0 aims at reducing the industry’s methane emissions: 45% by 2025, 60-75% by 2030.
IISD Trade and Sustainability Review, Volume 1, Issue 1 | IISD | November 2020
Inaugural edition of IISD’s Trade and Sustainability Review featuring analytical pieces and commentaries on a series of topics at the forefront of the trade and sustainability discussion.