Newsletter 27 Apr 2020
Environment: What’s Up in GENeva this Week | 27 April – 3 May 2020
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. Experts are concerned the world is losing critical time to turn around alarming trends in biodiversity loss, climate change, sound management of chemicals and other environmental threats.
#1 | IUCN World Congress 2020, Tuesday 28 April, 9:00-9:50. >> EVENT DETAILS >> WEBEX LIVE REGISTRATION
#2 | Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention, Thursday 30 April, 9:00-9:50. >> EVENT DETAILS >> WEBEX LIVE REGISTRATION
All United to End the COVID-19 Pandemic
The #COVID19 pandemic is a crisis that affects everyone. For general reliable information on COVID-19 visit:
- WHO updates on COVID-19
- United Nations COVID-19 Information Portal
- Geneva State Council recommendations & information on COVID-19
- Update by the Geneva Cantonal Doctor
- Swiss Confederation updates on COVID-19 in Switzerland
- CAGI Covid-19 Resource Centre
Check our COVID-19 resource page for additional information on responses from the UN System and other partners.
COVID-19 & the Environment
Our “Latest updates on COVID-19 and the environment” page, lists relevant information, research, data and/or press releases on the environmental origins and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the numerous press releases and articles issued last week:
- To prevent the next pandemic, we must transform our relationship with nature. Gavin Edwards (Global Coordinator, New Deal for Nature & People, WWF International), Medium, 24 April 2020.
- SARS-Cov-2 RNA Found on Particulate Matter of Bergamo in Northern Italy: First Preliminary Evidence. Leonardo Setti et al., medRxiv, 24 April 2020.
- Milan announces ambitious scheme to reduce car use after lockdown. Laura Laker, The Guardian, 21 April 2020.
- COVID-19 does not mean climate action is on hold. UNEP, 24 April 2020.
- Earth Day 2020 – a moment to pair climate action with our COVID recovery. Maria Mendiluce, 23 April 2020.
- IEA and Denmark host ministerial roundtable discussion on making clean energy a key part of the global economic recovery. IEA, 24 April 2020.
- Where the Pandemic, the Environment and Gender Equality Meet: In Inger Andersen’s Home Office. Nate Bernard, Pass Blue, 22 April 2020.
- Environmental impacts of coronavirus crisis, challenges ahead. Robert Hamwey, UNCTAD, 20 April 2020.
Other resource pages on COVID-19 and the environment:
Earth School | Week#1 & Week#2
Today, over 1.5 billion children aren’t able to go to school. In response to this education crisis, UNEP and TED-Ed – with the support of educators and partner organizations – launched Earth School, which consists of 30 days of nature-focused content and environmental adventures for learners of all ages. The first week ending on 28 April, focused on ‘The Nature of Our Stuff’, the second week, starting on Wednesday, will address ‘The Nature of Society‘. #EarthSchool
Additonal ‘Live’ Events
The international community in Geneva has been teleworking for the past six weeks. 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. Open event this week, include:
- UNECE Multi-Stakeholder Policy Dialogue: Accelerating action for Sustainable & Circular Value Chains (Garment & Footwear), 27 April – 28 April, 14:00-17:00.
- EHAN Webinar – Environmental Policies in Humanitarian Organizations, 29 April, 15:00-16:00.
- IHEID CIES Seminar – REPLACING GDP BY 2030: Towards a common language for the well-being and sustainability community, 30 April, 13:30-14:30.
- FBI Debate – Post Coronavirus Ecological Front New strategies for change in the prism of the pandemic crisis, 30 April, 17:00-19:00.
If you have some free time, consider enrolling into one or more online learning opportunities.
Review IPCC WGI Draft Report
The Expert Review of the Second Order Draft of the Working Group I Contribution to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report will run from 2 March 2020 to 5 June 2020. IPCC reports undergo multiple stages of reviews. The review process is crucial for the quality of IPCC assessment reports.
What should I read next?
- Protect sport by taking care of biodiversity, says new IUCN guide supported by the IOC. IUCN, 22 April 2020.
- Insect numbers down 25% since 1990, global study finds. Damian Carrington, The Guardian, 23 April 2020.
- The Global Climate in 2015–2019 Report. WMO, 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.