Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 7 – 12 June 2022

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 also on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, or visit our website regularly for additional updates.

Image of the week | H.E. Ambassador Felix Baumann, speaking at the World Environment Day celebration in Geneva, discussing the decision to recognizing the right to a healthy environment, its role in advancing the environmental agenda and the road to the UN General Assembly, as we were leading towards Stockholm+50. © UNEP/GEN, Pablo Arturo Lopez Guijosa, International Environment House II, Monday 30 May 2022.

Tackling Plastic, Chemicals and Waste Pollution: From Dakar to Geneva

After the historic resolutions, especially those related to chemicals, waste, plastics and pollution cluster, adopted a the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in March 2022, other negotiations are taking place to move forward the agenda of this important cluster.

Last week, governments and stakeholders met in Dakar, Senegal, and took the first steps toward a new international binding agreement to end plastic pollution, setting out the schedule of negotiations and rules of procedure, and convened multi-stakeholder dialogues on the scope of the plastics pollution problem. The first session of the intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC-1), should convene in Uruguay at the end of the year. → Read the Earth Negotiations Bulletin

Under the theme “Global Agreements for a Healthy Planet: Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste”, the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS) are convening in Geneva from 6 to 17 June, to address the impact of hazardous chemicals and wastes on human health and the environment. → Useful resources and information on the Conference of the Parties to BRS (BRS COPs)

This meeting builds on the High-level Segment held in Stockholm on 1 June, in association with the Stockholm+50 conference, where more than 100 ministers identified opportunities to tackle the triple planetary crisis of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss, through the sustainable management of chemicals and wastes. → Read the Press Release

The Plastics Forum, an umbrella event under the BRS COPs will address the global plastic waste crisis by showcasing success stories, building on best practices, and addressing persistent challenges, while factoring in the role of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions with regard to the implementation of plastic waste management. Session can be joined remotely for who is not registered to attend the conference. → Find more about the forum

The Geneva Environment Network is also taking part in the Plastics Forum. Visit the stand featuring the Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues and join the two side events co-convened with IPEN during the forum:

Health, Chemicals, Plastics & a Non-Toxic Circular Economy | 9 June 2022, 13:15-14:45 CEST
Plastics & Refuse-Derived Fuel: Fuel Product or Plastic Waste Export? | 9 June 2022, 18:15-19:45 CEST

Stakeholders from Geneva and beyond are actively engaging in the INC process to support an ambitious treaty on plastic pollution, and other related negotiations. → Consult the recent resources on this topic

Key Recommendations from Stockholm+50

World leaders and other stakeholders attending last week the two-day international meeting, Stockholm+50: A Healthy Planet for the Prosperity of All – Our Responsibility, Our Opportunity, universally recognized and discussed in depth the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. The meeting concluded on Friday with a statement containing several recommendations for an actionable agenda, including, among others, placing human well-being at the center of a healthy planet and prosperity for all; recognizing and implementing the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment; adopting system-wide changes in the way our current economic system works, and accelerate transformations of high impact sectors.

Global well-being is in jeopardy in large part because we have not kept our promises on the environment. At Stockholm+50, I urge countries to embrace the human right to a clean, healthy environment for everyone, everywhere.
António Guterres, United Nations Secretary General

The Right to a Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment, its role in advancing the environmental agenda and the road to the UN General Assembly following the adoption of the landmark resolution at the Human Rights Council in October 2021, was discussed at last week’s Geneva celebration of World Environment Day, celebrating also 50 years of advancement in international environmental governance. The discussion focused on the need to ensure that this right is used by as many people as possible. → Read outcomes and steps forward

Celebrating the Ocean: From Geneva to Lisbon

World Oceans Day, celebrated on 8 June, reminds everyone of the major role the oceans have in everyday life. “Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean” is the theme for World Oceans Day 2022, shedding light on the communities, ideas, and solutions that are working together to protect and revitalize the ocean and everything it sustains.

The 2022 UN Ocean Conference to be held at the end of the month in Lisbon, will provide a critical opportunity to mobilize partnerships and increase investment in science-driven approaches to achieve SDG 14. Organizations in Geneva are actively supporting processes in the run-up to the conference, as discussed during the Geneva Blue Talks. → Read outcomes of High Level Briefing on UN Ocean Conference

On World Oceans Day, the Stop Funding Overfishing coalition, representing 182 leading non-governmental organizations, will install an ice sculpture of a fish at Place des Nations, in support of a World Trade Organization agreement on harmful fisheries subsidies to curb a key driver of overfishing. The timing of this event is significant, as after more than 20 years of negotiations, WTO members could finally reach a deal to end harmful fisheries subsidies, fulfilling their mandate as set out in Target 6 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal for the Ocean, SDG 14, at it’s Twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12) starting on Sunday 12 June, in Geneva. The Stop the Fish Meltdown action aims to demonstrate strong public support for a fisheries subsidies agreement and remind trade ministers of the urgent need to reel in a deal at MC12.

WTO 12th Ministerial Conference

The 12th WTO Ministerial Conference is convening in Geneva from 12 to 15 June 2022, after being postponed twice. WTO Members States are expected to commit to a number of existing and new environment and trade priorities that would advance progress on the SDGs, and are also expected to reach an agreement on the issue of fisheries subsidies. Ahead of MC12, a series of Ministerial Statements on environmental issues – specifically on trade and environmental sustainability, plastic pollution and fossil fuel subsidies – were launched on 15 December 2021. These statements were discussed within the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE).

Happening Abroad

International Geneva stakeholders are also involved this week in other negotiations taking place abroad, with a particular interest in the Bonn Climate Change Conference, convening from 6 to 16 June 2022.

What (Else) Should I Read Next?

Ukraine to join UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents | UNECE | 27 May 2022
Following its adoption by the Ukrainian Parliament on 3 May, and signature by President Zelenskyy on 17 May, the Law on the accession to the UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents will enter into force on 29 May 2022.
Harmful Marine Extractives: Deep-Sea Mining | UNEP FI | June 2022
This briefing paper sends a clear message to its members and the wider finance community that, in their current form, there is no foreseeable way in which the financing of deep-sea mining activities can be viewed as consistent with the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles.
Why mental health is a priority for action on climate change | WHO | 3 June 2022
As climate change poses serious risks to mental health and well-being, this new WHO policy brief highlights actions for countries.
Plastic Recycling Doesn’t Work and Will Never Work | The Atlantic | 30 May
If the plastics industry is following the tobacco industry’s playbook, it may never admit to the failure of plastics recycling.
Clean Energy with Clean Conscience: The Importance of Human Rights, Health and Well-Being When Transitioning to Clean Energy for Sustainable Development | GEN & partners | 1 June 2022
Read the outcomes of this session that aimed to strengthen the relationship between clean energy, health and the respect of human rights towards sustainable development.