Environment: What’s Up in GENeva this Week | 22-28 June 2020

The Geneva Environment Network weekly newsletter includes updates on global environmental agenda, main events, jobs and learning opportunities, and other useful news for the current week. During the COVID-19 pandemic lock-down, 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.

The Role of Water in Tackling a Global Health Emergency

Providing sufficient water and adequate sanitation and hygiene is key to protecting human health during infectious disease outbreaks, such as COVID-19. This has been regularly highlighted by key stakeholders in the past months. UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health is a legally binding agreement that brings together the environment and health dimensions and supports countries in setting intersectoral targets on water, sanitation, hygiene and health. The Protocol convening platform as well as a number of tools and guidance can be used during the COVID-19 recovery phase to prepare for and prevent possible future spread, while ensuring that vulnerable groups of population, including in schools, health care facilities and communities, are not left behind.

Join us Tuesday 23 June at 9am CEST, to learn how the Protocol on Water and Health can be used during COVID-19 recovery phase.

Registration: Webex Live | Video: Facebook Live | Event details

COVID-19 & the Environment

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.

This week again, various events will focus on how we can recover better from the pandemic, consult the full list in the events section.

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:

Coronavirus is a warning to us to mend our broken relationship with nature | Marco Lambertini, Elizabeth Mrema and Maria Neira | The Guardian | 17 June 2020
COVID 19: urgent call to protect people and nature | WWF | June 2020
Protect landscapes to protect humanity | UNEP | 16 June 2020
A Crucial Step Toward Preventing Wildlife-Related Pandemics | Dan Ashe & John E. Scanlon | Scientific American | 15 June 2020
Why we must address COVID-19 AND climate change | Maria Mendiluce (CEO, We Mean Business and Managing Director, Climate & Energy at WBCSD) | 18 June 2020
New UN report offers blueprint for greener, more resilient world of work | UN News | 19 June 2020
IUCN calls on business to put nature at the heart of economic recovery plans | IUCN | 15 June 2020
IEA offers world governments a Sustainable Recovery Plan to boost economic growth, create millions of jobs and put emissions into structural decline | IEA | 18 June 2020
COVID-19 and Human Development: Assessing the Crisis, Envisioning the Recovery | UNDP | June 2020

43rd Session of the Human Right Council to Resume

The 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC43), started in Geneva on 24 February. Given the circumstances surrounding COVID-19, the Human Rights Council suspended its 43rd session on 13 March 2020. The resumed session started on 15 June and end this week. Read about key environmental issues addressed at this session.