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Newsletter 04 Mar 2024

Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 4 – 10 March 2024

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 on X (Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Youtube, or visit our website regularly for additional updates.

Image of the week | The Executive Director of the 2050Today Initiative, Jean-Pierre Reymond, acknowledging the engagement of the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Prof. Celeste Saulo, and the Permanent Representative of Mexico, H.E. Amb. Francisca E. Méndez Escobar, in reducing International Geneva’s environmental footprint at the event United for Zero Emissions: The 2050Today Charter Explained, hosted at WMO Headquarters, on 27 February 2024.

Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation

On Sunday 3 March, people around the world observed World Wildlife Day, connecting people with the natural world and inspiring continued learning and action for animals and plants beyond the day. This year’s celebration focused on how digital innovation supports improvements in wildlife conservation for people and the planet and its role as a strong ally against illegal wildlife trade.

To mark the observation in International Geneva, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Secretariat, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Geneva Environment Network are hosting a celebration this week, highlighting the role of Geneva as a digital transformation hub and how digital technologies used around the world are creating a new frontier for wildlife conservation. The event will also feature a short film screening and will be followed by a light reception. → Join us in person Monday 4 March 2024, from 14:30 to 16:00 CET in Room C1 of the International Telecommunication Union Headquarters.

A World Wildlife Day high-level event will also take place at the UN Headquarters in New York City, on 4 March 2024, from 16:00 to 19:00 CET. → Livestreamed on UN TV.

Advancing Human Rights and Environment | HRC55

Advancing the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment will be a central point this week at the 55th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC55), as the current UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, David Boyd, presents his last annual report to the Council, focusing this year on Business enterprises, planetary boundaries and the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Evaluating the inadequacies of voluntary normative frameworks for ensuring that businesses respect human rights, the report also clarifies State obligations to protect the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment from harms caused by businesses. → To dive deeper into the report:

  • Interactive dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur will take place on 6 March 2024.
  • HRC55 side event with the Special Rapporteur, co-sponsored by Costa Rica, Maldives, Monaco, Slovenia, UNEP, and the Geneva Environment Network, on 5 March 2024, from 16:00 to 17:00 CET at Palais des Nations, Room XXV. You may also watch the live stream or listen to the live audio.

Events of particular interest this week include:

Other environment-related side events, activities, and informal consultations on resolutions taking place this week include:

→ Regular updates on key environmental issues at HRC55, side events, and further resources will be made available on our dedicated HRC55 and the environment update.

Environment @ FIFDH 2024

In parallel with the Human Rights Council, the 2024 edition of the International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights (FIFDH) starts this week in Geneva and will run until 17 March 2024. This year’s selection includes films and discussions that focus on the environment, climate change, rights of Indigenous Peoples, business and human rights, among others. Featured this week:

Bringing together NGOs, filmmakers, impact practitioners, and funders to find joint strategies around common human rights themes, including on the environment, the FIFDH Impact Days taking place from 10 to 12 March, will be three inspiring days of pitches, impact talks and case studies, and curated networking sessions for collaboration on films that create true impact in protecting human rights.

Outcomes of the 6th UN Environment Assembly

The Sixth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) — the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment — concluded last Friday with the adoption of 15 resolutions, two decisions, and a Ministerial Declaration. Covering various topics where Geneva actors are highly engaged — such as the sound management of chemicals and waste, environmental aspects of minerals and metals, integrated water policies, and environmental assistance and recovery in areas impacted by armed conflict, among others — UNEA-6 resolutions will strengthen and accelerate action to restore the health of our planet, which, if it were a patient, it would be admitted to intensive care, as stated by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during the opening plenary of UNEA-6 High-Level Segment on 29 February 2024.

The first Multilateral Environmental Agreements Day (MEA Day) served to showcase the role of these agreements, many of which are based in Geneva, in implementing the global environmental agenda and boosting multilateralism. UNEA-6 called extensively for the strengthening of collaboration among MEAs, and with UNEP and UNEA. → Learn more on UNEP Story

The assembly also elected by acclamation H.E. Abdullah Bin Ali Amri, Chairman of the Environment Authority of Oman as UNEA-7 President and the Bureau Members. The Seventh Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly will take place from 8 to 12 December 2025 at UNEP Headquarters.

Find out more on the outcomes of UNEA-6 at:

Released at UNEA:

Outcomes of the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference

The World Trade Organization’s 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) concluded on Saturday 2 March, after an extension to reach outcomes on development, e-commerce work programme and moratorium, and dispute settlement reform, and adopted the Abu Dhabi Ministerial Declaration, recognizing the role that the multilateral trading system can play in contributing towards the achievement of the UN 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. The Conference saw a wave of acceptances of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies with Brunei Darussalam, Chad, Malaysia, Norway, Philippines, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Togo, and Türkiye depositing the instruments, bringing to 71 ratifications, but no major agreement on harmful fisheries subsidies was reached, which was deplored by stakeholders. Co-sponsors of three environmental initiatives at the WTO presented at the Conference the next steps they are taking to advance work on plastics pollution, environmental sustainability, and fossil fuel subsidy reform. Two new members, Comoros and Timor-Leste, joined WTO. Read more at:

As mentioned last week, in the margins of MC13, the Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate convened its second annual ministerial meeting on 25 February 2024 in Abu Dhabi. The meeting marked a pivotal moment as it brought together all Coalition Ministers for the first time since its launch and had as a key outcome the endorsement of a communiqué and a Menu of Voluntary Actions. 

Importance and Urgency of Reducing Plastic Pollution

With the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-4), fast approaching, more reports and analyses are being released to support ambitious action. INC-4 is scheduled to take place from 23 to 29 April 2024 in Ottawa, Canada. → Find further information in our INC-4 update.

Upcoming sessions of the Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues will address important elements for an ambitious treaty, releasing new publications and articles by partner organizations:

After Mild February, Arrival of Spring in Geneva

The World Meteorological Organization announced last week that February has ended with extreme heat in the southern hemisphere summer and high temperatures atypical of the northern hemisphere winter. The Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology also announced last week that Switzerland experienced the mildest month of February since measurements began in 1864. South of the Alps, this month of February was much milder than the previous February in the record and we experienced the mildest winter since measurements began. The mild winter made the first bud of the Geneva Republic’s official chestnut tree bloom on Sunday 3 March, heralding the arrival of spring in Geneva. Since 1818, every year the administrative secretary of the State Council observes, communicates and records the opening of the first leaf of a chestnut tree located on the Promenade de la Treille.

What (Else) to Read Next?

Events

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Conference

Clarifying Norms in Conservation and Human Rights | HRC55 Side Event

08 Mar 2024 13:00 – 14:00

Palais des Nations, Room XXV & Online | Webex

UNEP, GEN, International Funders for Indigenous Peoples, International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs, IPRI, Soka Gakkai International, OHCHR, UNDP, IMPACT Kenya, Women4Biodiversity, Rainforest Foundation UK, AICA, Accountability Counsel, The Nature Conservancy, IUCN, FPP, Tikva Grassroots Empowerment Fund

Human Rights and Environment | Nature

SDG14 | SDG15

Cinema

Ghost Fleet | FIFDH 2024

09 Mar 2024 14:00

Espace Pitoëff - Théâtre

FIFDH Foundation

Eco-Humanitarian | Human Rights and Environment

SDG2 | SDG16

Cinema

Between the Rains | FIFDH 2024

10 Mar 2024 19:30

Espace Pitoëff - Théâtre - Grande Salle

FIFDH Foundation

Eco-Humanitarian | Human Rights and Environment

SDG10 | SDG13 | SDG16

Jobs

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Learning

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Updates

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06 May 2024

Ongoing Contests

Climate | Nature | Chemicals and Pollution

SDG11 | SDG12

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