Environment: What’s Up in GENeva this Week | 11-17 May 2020

All United to End the COVID-19 Pandemic 

The COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis that affects everyone. As the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, said, the pandemic has exposed the fragility of our societies and economies to global shocks, such as disease or climate disruption.  As we recover, we must build back better for people and for the planet. The Secretary General keeps reminding us, that we have a framework for action – the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

For general reliable information on COVID-19, consult the links available on our COVID-19 dedicated page.

COVID-19 Impacts on the Global Environmental Agenda

Join the Geneva Environment Dialogues special COVID-19 series, discussing the impacts of the pandemic on the global environmental agenda.

Session #5 | WTO and the Committee on trade and environment | Tuesday 12 May, 9:00-9:50 | EVENT DETAILS  |  WEBEX LIVE REGISTRATION

Session #6 | UN Climate change conference (COP26) | Thursday 14 May, 9:00-9:50 | EVENT DETAILS | WEBEX LIVE REGISTRATION

The series addresses the following topics:

• The impact of the crisis on the invited organization activities
• The response of the invited organization to the COVID-19 crisis
• The impacts on the preparations of the conferences and negotiations, new schedules and programmes

Summaries, relevant links and documents mentioned during the discussions available online after the events.

Next sessions: SAICM ICCM5 (19 May) | UN-REDD & Nature Based Solutions | UNECE Water Convention (26 May 9am) | UN Biodiversity Conference (26 May 5pm) | Minamata Convention (28 May)

COVID-19 & the Environment

Our “Latest updates on COVID-19 and the environment” page, lists relevant information, research, data and press releases on the environmental origins and impacts of the pandemic. Among the press releases and articles issued last week:

• UNEP Response to COVID-19. 7 May 2020.
• There are no winners in the illegal trade in wildlife. Ivonne Higuero (CITES SG) | UNEP | 5 May 2020.
• La prochaine pandémie est prévisible, il est temps de prendre au sérieux la crise écologique. Collectif de 120 scientifiques | Le Temps | 5 May 2020.
• Mayor’s bold new Streetspace plan will overhaul London’s streets. Mayor of London | 6 May 2020.
• Will COVID-19 fiscal recovery packages accelerate or retard progress on climate change? Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment | Working Paper No. 20-02 | 4 May 2020.
• COVID-19 offers opportunities to make fishing industries more sustainable. UNCTAD | 7 May 2020.
• Sustainability or Crisis with GGKP Head Benjamin Simmons. Alessandra Mazzai | FORESIGHT – The CMCC observatory on climate policies and futures | 6 May 2020.
• « Non à un retour à la normale » : de Robert De Niro à Juliette Binoche, l’appel de 200 artistes et scientifiques. Collectif de personnalités | Le monde | 6 May 2020. In English.
• Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic for Global Sustainable Finance. UNEP FC4S & Finance Inquiry | 8 May 2020.
• The COVID-19 crisis shouldn’t undermine the need for environmental action. Quite the opposite. Anna Brach | GCSP | 8 May 2020.

Earth School | Week#3 & Week#4

The Earth School platform, launched on Earth Day by UNEP and TED-Ed – with the support of educators and partner organizations – in the run-up to World Environment Day allows our youth to learn #ForNature when not allowed to be outside. It consists of 30 days of nature-focused content and environmental adventures for learners of all ages. The third week ending on 12 May, focuses on ‘The Nature of Nature, the fourth week, starting on Wednesday, will address ‘The Nature of Change. Join the adventure! #EarthSchool

Additional ‘Live’ Events

>> During the COVID-19 pandemic lock-down, relevant live events organized by organizations around the world, contributing to the global environmental agenda, have also been included in the newsletter. <<

The international community in Geneva has been teleworking for two months. Tips to help you enjoying this largest teleworking experiment ever, were shared in our previous weekly newsletters. Check the boxes in the agenda section for details of the meetings and webinars taking place this week. Online events this week, include:

• WBCSD Webinar – Sustainability & finance sector: mobilizing capital for a resilient world | 11 May | 10:00-11:30 & 16:00-17:30 CEST
• GGKP WEBINAR – Sustain. After COVID-19: Can the global Green New Deal movement survive the pandemic? | 12 May | 15:00 CEST
• World Ocean Initiative WEBINAR – World Ocean Summit Insight Hour | 12 May | 16:00 CEST
• ‘Right On’ Web Chat – From Crisis to Opportunity: How to Build Back Better? 13 May | 15:00 CEST
• CIES Seminar – Biodiversity in our food systems | 14 May | 13:30-14:30 CEST
• GCSP COVID-19 WEBINAR – The New Business as Usual? Environment and COVID-19 | 14 May | 14:00-15:30 CEST
• UN DESA WEBINAR – Keeping the Momentum for Ocean Action: Youth Participation and Engagement | 14 May | 15:30-17:00 CEST

If you have some free time, consider enrolling into one or more online learning opportunities.

Join#NATURE4HEALTH Campaign

The Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction (PEDRR) launched on Earth Day a campaign on social media to share information on how nature can help us to recover to a healthier and greener post COVID-19 world. Join the campaign and share your thoughts through social media by using the hashtag #nature4health !

What should I read next?

• Study Finds Toys Made of Black Recycled Plastics Pose Serious Threat to Children’s Health. IPEN | 4 May 2020.
• Potential Implementation Steps of a WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. Theresa Redding and Graeme Macfadyen | IISD GSI | May 2020.
• Brazil opens 38,000 square miles of indigenous lands to outsiders. Mauricio Torres and Sue Branford | Mongabay | 8 May 2020.
• Frontier technologies to protect the environment and tackle climate change. ITU et al. | 22 April 2020.

Stay tuned for additional news

Please note that the list of events and vacancies provided in our weekly newsletter is non-exhaustive. Stay tuned and follow us also on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or visit our website regularly for additional updates.