Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 8 – 14 November 2021

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

Due to the developments in the sanitary situation, some institutions in Geneva continue operating 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.

Photo of the week: All United for Earth, Ensemble pour la Terre, De Genève à Glasgow – COP26: mapping on the Palais des Nations façade, from 3 to 12 November 2021.

Climate Action in Glasgow & Geneva

After a first week of intense negotiations, climate talks continue in Glasgow, under the scrutiny of citizens all around the world. Catch up with the ongoing discussions at COP26:

Live coverage of the conference through the Earth Negotiation Bulletin and UN News special coverage
What International Geneva wants from Glasgow | Geneva Solutions | 31 October 2021
Over 700 Civil Society Groups Demand Real Climate Solutions, Not Net-Zero Promises | Global Call for Real Solutions | 1 November 2021
WWF welcomes pledges to protect and restore forests and increase financing; urges action and rapid implementation | WWF | 2 November 2021
From Glasgow to Geneva: reflections on Cop26 so far | Geneva Solutions | 3 November 2021
UN Unveils New Finance Mechanism to Boost Climate Action | WMO, UNDP & UNEP | 3 November 2021
ILO welcomes COP26 Just Transition Declaration | ILO | 5 November 2021
UN Special Rapporteur concerned by no mention of human rights in COP26 work programme on public participation in climate action | PBI | 7 November 2021
WMO at COP26

Publications issued last week bringing additional evidence to support the need to act with urgency and ambition include:

Adaptation Gap Report 2021 | UNEP | 1 November 2021
The report finds that there is an urgent need to step up climate adaptation finance. Estimated adaptation costs in developing countries are five to ten times greater than current public adaptation finance flows, and the adaptation finance gap is widening.
COP26: 10 New Insights in Climate Science and Global Carbon Budget | WMO | 4 November 2021
The 10 Insights in Climate Science report is based on an assessment made by more than 60 world-leading academic experts, with a scoping process that reaches several thousands of scientists working on fields related to climate change. The Global Carbon Budget highlight that the global carbon emissions in 2021 are set to rebound close to pre-Covid levels.
Nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation | UNEP & IUCN | 5 November 2021
Analysing scientific literature, the report finds that Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can deliver emission reductions and removals of at least 5 gigatons of CO2 per year by 2030, and at least 10 gigatons by 2050 on a conservative basis.
WTO issues information briefs on trade, climate, related issues with COP26 talks underway | WTO | 3 November 2021

Geneva activities in support of climate ambition for COP26 and beyond this week include:

The Geneva Cryosphere Hub is hosting a series of events throughout the week on climate science, climate adaptation pathways in mountain regions, COP26 outcomes and more. Check out these insightful events in the full program.
On Monday 8 November don’t miss A fragile future: can mountain communities adapt to climate change? from 17:15-18:45 CET, at Uni Mail and online, to discuss how climate change threatens the vast high latitude and high altitude cold regions of the world that provide freshwater to over half of humanity, concluding with a networking reception in Geneva. On 12 November, don’t miss the closing session, which looks at the next steps to achieve climate ambition.
All United for Earth, from Geneva to Glasgow for COP26 – a joint initiative of UNDP, UN Geneva, the City of Geneva and its Natural History Museum, the Permanent Mission of Switzerland, the Canton of Geneva and the local authorities of Greater Geneva aims at making the residents of Geneva more aware of the issues and solutions relating to climate change and biodiversity loss. A special night discovery tour from the Palais des Nations to the museum will take place on 9 November. Discover the programme from 3 to 12 November.

Greening the Blue: UN Family Walking the Talk

The United Nations is launching the latest edition of the Greening the Blue Report on Monday 8 November, at 10:00 CET. Greening the Blue Report 2021 – The UN system’s environmental footprint and efforts to reduce it, is the first edition to reveal impacts on the UN system’s environmental footprint due to COVID-19. The annual report, prepared by UNEP Sustainable United Nations (SUN) Facility, provides UN system-wide data on the environmental impact areas and management functions identified in the Strategy for Sustainability Managment in the United Nations System 2020-2030, Phase I: Environmental Sustainability in the Area of Management. The full Report and UN entity-specific data will be available online at www.greeningtheblue.org

Meanwhile, many institutions in Geneva are continuing their efforts to assess and reduce their climate footprint through the 2050Today initiative. New data for each member will be published soon, stay tuned!

Call to Earth Day

On 10 November, CNN International is partnering with thousands of schools, individuals and environmental organizations across the world to hold the first-ever Call To Earth Day, with the aim to create a positive environmental impact and to celebrate those who fight for a healthier planet. On this occasion, CNN broadcast inspirational stories which highlight the urgency of protecting the environment out to more than 370 million households in 200 countries.

There are many ways to take part in this global initiative, whether through discussions, field trips, or art. Get involved with your own project and discover many stories from around the world online with the #CalltoEarth!

What (Else) Should I Read Next?

Parties to the Minamata Convention reinforce their commitment to stopping mercury pollution in a fully online session | Minamata Convention | 5 November 2021
The first segment of the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury concluded after an intense week of work with important agreements on the programme of work and budget for the coming year and announces dates for in-person segment in Bali, Indonesia. Read also coverage of the conference through the Earth Negotiations Bulletin.
Poaching and illegal trade a growing threat to jaguars: CITES study | CITES | 2 November 2021
The study maps illegal trade in jaguars throughout its range, which stretches from the southwestern United States to northern Argentina, covering 8.42 million km² across 19 countries. It identifies four illegal trade routes. CITES Standing Committee will consider these findings at its 74th meeting, in March 2022.
Hydrogen can help decarbonize the economy, through massive investments and appropriate policy support, according to new UN report | UNECE | 4 November 2021
This new UN Policy underlines the potential of H2 to decarbonize the economy and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 in line with the objectives of the Paris. However, massive investments and sustained policy commitment are required to operate this shift to a decarbonized hydrogen-based economy.
China, US welcomed as new participants in trade and environmental sustainability talks | WTO | 4 November 2021
Participants also expressed broad support for a draft ministerial statement that would set out future work for the initiative in areas such as trade and climate change as well as fix a road map for advancing discussions in 2022.
Executive Briefing on the United Nations Biodiversity Conference | Geneva Environment Network & Geneva Biodiversity Cluster | 2 November 2021
Outcomes of the event with the head of the CBD Secretariat and heads and senior representatives of the Geneva biodiversity cluster.