Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 7 – 13 September 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.

Clean Air for All

Monday, 7 September, is the first International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, as set out in the UN General Assembly resolution 74/212. The theme for 2020 is “Clean Air for All”. #CleanAirForAll #WorldCleanAirDay

Addressing air pollution requires multisectoral and multistakeholder efforts that build upon synergies between different organizations. Our Update on the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies lists various resources and relevant information on addressing air pollution in international and local Geneva, as well as online resources and events taking place around the world to celebrate the day.

Environmental Emergencies

A briefing on the recent Environmental Emergencies organized within the framework of the Geneva Environment Network, will take place on Tuesday, 8 September. Participation to this event is limited.

Climate Action

Climate:Red Summit

The International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement Climate:Red Summit is taking place on 9 and 10 September. This fully virtual conference will bring together people from all around the world, and will provide an engaging platform for learning, sharing, exploring and strategizing on how actors can support each other to reduce the humanitarian impacts of the climate crisis and support people to adapt.

Launch of the Climate Action for Jobs Initiative

Last Friday, the International Labour Organization (ILO) hosted the first meeting of the International Advisory Board of the Climate Action for Jobs Initiative to define a 2020-2030 Strategy for the Initiative. The high-level members of the Advisory Board include Ministers of environment, labour and planning, leaders of employers’ and workers’ organisations and senior officials of the United Nations and development finance institutions. Together, these leaders are engaged to transform commitments made at the UN Climate Action Summit of 2019 into concrete action. The Strategy will guide action at the national and global levels with a view to delivering decent jobs, advancing social justice, transforming economies to become carbon-neutral and climate resilient and supporting recovery efforts after the COVID-19 crisis.

Chemicals and Pollution: Outcomes of the Basel Convention OEWG12

The twelfth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention (OEWG12) convened a two-day online segment, on 1 and 3 September 2020. The meeting featured robust discussions on what more the Basel Convention should do on plastic wastes, waste lead-acid batteries, and transboundary e-waste shipments. On other issues, the OEWG took stock of progress and set deadlines for further inputs so the Secretariat and various intersessional groups could conclude their work in time to take decisions during a face-to-face segment of OEWG12, tentatively scheduled to be held back-to-back with the Fifth UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, in March 2021.

Summary Highlights of the Basel Convention OEWG12 | Earth Negotiations Bulletin
Basel Convention’s Open-ended Working Group meeting (online segment) concludes successfully | BRS Press Release | 3 September 2020
Tackling the Global Waste Crisis: Challenges and Ambitions for the Basel Convention’s 12th Open-Ended Working Group | CIEL | 31 August 2020
IPEN @ Basel Convention OEWG12

COVID-19 and the Environment

Addressing the G20 ministers at a virtual meeting on sustainable recovery from COVID-19 on 3 September, the UN Chief has called on governments to incorporate “meaningful” climate action in all aspects of recovery from the global pandemic. He urged them to submit “more ambitious” nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and long-term strategies before COP26 aligned with the goal to limit temperature increase to 1.5 degree Celsius. The Secretary-General outlined six climate-positive actions for a sustainable recovery, including investing in green jobs; not bailing out polluting industries; ending fossil fuel subsidies; accounting for climate risk in all financial and policy decisions; working together; and – most important – leaving no one behind.

In parallel, an online portal that showcases climate and environment policies and actions in recovery from COVID-19 was launched. The Platform for Redesign 2020 will help build momentum for COP26, the UN conference that assesses progress in dealing with climate change, to be held in 2021.

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.

What (Else) Should I Read Next?

Brazil: Alarming number of new forest fires detected ahead of Amazon Day | Amnesty International | 3 September 2020
Extreme summer impacts ice shelves and glaciers | WMO | 2 September 2020
Improved climate action on food systems can deliver 20 percent of global emissions reductions needed by 2050 | UNEP | 1 September 2020
From farm to fork: How food systems can power climate action | UN News | 1 Spetember 2020
Statement on the 30th anniversary of the IPCC First Assessment Report | IPCC | 31 August 2020
Why enabling all children to flourish helps tackle the climate crisis | Geneva Solutions | 31 August 2020

If you are new to international Geneva, watch and/or read the outcomes of our special session dedicated to new comers, providing an introduction to the key areas of environmental activities in Geneva.