Call for submissions | Environment-related International Processes, Negotiations, and Fora

Find information on environmental negotiations taking place in 2026 on the dedicated update: International Environmental Negotiations Agenda.

First International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC-IC1)

In November 2026, the first International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC-IC1) will convene in Geneva. With the demand for safer and more sustainable products, materials and value chains continuing to grow, the Conference will provide a platform to strengthen accountability, accelerate solutions and unlock investment opportunities that support healthier people, resilient economies and a cleaner environment. Key updates on the road to GFC-IC1 include:

• Registration for the first International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals is now open until 17 July 2026 for participants requesting funding or 30 September 2026 for self-funded participants.
• On the margins of the GFC-IC1, UNEP is convening under the GEF-8 Integrated Programme Eliminating Hazardous Chemicals from Supply Chains the Global Supply Chains Forum: Advancing Circular and Chemical-Safe Supply Chains in Fashion and Construction on 12 and 13 November 2026. → Registrations to participate are open

Call for Information in Follow-Up to the Basel Convention 15th Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group

At the fifteenth meeting held from 23 to 26 June 2026, the Open-ended Working Group agreed to invite Parties, observers and others, as applicable, to provide written comments to the Secretariat on various products reflecting the outcomes of the meeting. A letter inviting the submission of comments and information as agreed by the Open-ended Working Group at its fifteenth meeting was sent to Parties and observers.

• Technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants: Comments on the draft updated guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants, as revised during OEWG15 can be submitted by 31 August 2026
• Technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of waste lead-acid batteries and on other waste batteries: Comments on the draft updated technical guidelines on ESM of waste lead-acid batteries and draft technical guidelines on ESM of other waste batteries, as revised during the fifteenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group can be submitted by 31 August 2026
• Technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of used and waste pneumatic tyres: Comments on the draft updated technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of used and waste pneumatic tyres, as revised during the fifteenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group can be submitted by 31 August 2026
• Providing further legal clarity: Comments on which draft recommendations on the review of Annexes I and III to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal should be prioritized for further discussion by the expert working group on the review of annexes to close gaps in the control of transboundary movements of hazardous waste and/or clarify existing entries, and to provide supporting information for including the proposed changes can be submitted by 31 August 2026
• Technical guidelines on transboundary movements of electrical and electronic waste and used electrical and electronic equipment, in particular regarding the distinction between waste and non-waste under the Basel Convention: Invitation to use and/or test, on a pilot basis, the technical guidelines on transboundary movements of electrical and electronic waste and used electrical and electronic equipment, in particular regarding the distinction between waste and non-waste under the Basel Convention and to submit the results of their use and/or testing to the Secretariat for consideration by the expert working group. Results must be submitted by 30 September 2026
• National reporting: Comments on the possible revisions to table 9 of the reporting format and to the manual for completing the format for national reporting, as revised during the fifteenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group can be submitted by 30 September 2026
• Electronic approaches to the notification and movement documents: Comments on the draft fact sheets on key aspects to consider when developing e-approach solutions can be submitted by 30 September 2026
• Amendments to the annexes to the Basel Convention: Invitation to provide comments on the application submitted by the Government of Norway for the removal of wastes from Annex IX to the Basel Convention. Comments can be submitted by 30 September 2026
• Providing further legal clarity:
  • Comments on the consequential implications of the amendment to Annex IV to the Convention for other documents, such as technical guidelines and, as appropriate, the glossary of terms can be submitted by 30 September 2026
  • Comments on any need to develop explanations, technical guidelines or guidance in relation to the disposal operations in Annex IV can be submitted by 30 September 2026
• Cooperation with the World Customs Organization on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System: Comments on the need and added value of preparing an indicative table of existing Harmonized System codes for wastes and their correlation with the types of wastes listed in Annexes VIII and IX to the Convention can be submitted by 30 September 2026
• Cooperation with the International Maritime Organization: Comments on how legal clarity and coordination between the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal and the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships could best be achieved by 30 October 2026
• Used textiles and textile wastes: Comments on the possible options set out in section III of the report on possible options available under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal to address used textiles and textile wastes and on other relevant options can be submitted by 30 November 2026.
• Waste containing nanomaterials: Invitation to provide any new information related to activities aimed at addressing issues related to waste containing nanomaterials, including case studies about and best practices relating to the management of waste containing nanomaterials. Information can be submitted by 31 December 2026
• Further consideration of plastic waste: Comments on the draft report for submission to the Conference of the Parties at its eighteenth meeting, taking into account the outcome of the consideration of the matter by the Open-ended Working Group can be submitted by 18 January 2027

2026 Call for Proposals — Kunming Biodiversity Fund

The Kunming Biodiversity Fund (KBF) invites UN organizations, together with relevant partners specified in the guidelines, to submit proposals for projects that support the conservation, protection, and restoration of biodiversity.

Proposed projects must contribute to at least one of the following thematic areas. Proposals that address multiple thematic areas will be viewed favorably. Further details on each thematic area are available in the guidelines.

The 2026 Call for Proposals will be conducted in two stages:

• Stage 1 deadline for submissions—15 September 2026 
• Stage 2 deadline for submissions—15 November 2026 

Applications are to be sent directly to the KBF Secretariat by email: kbf@un.org.

Calls for Proposals as Part of the Creation of the Lake Geneva Observatory

To enhance the use and accessibility of environmental data related to Lake Geneva, CIPEL is launching a new phase of its Lake Geneva Observatory project and issuing a call for proposals to support it in this effort:

• Development of the Lake Geneva Observatory’s Data Management and Visualization System to store, organize, analyze, and disseminate the scientific resources of CIPEL and its partners in a secure, interoperable, and scalable environment.
• Design and Development of the Lake Geneva Observatory’s Web Interface intended to make scientific data accessible to a broad audience through a modern and intuitive interface.

The deadline for submitting bids is 25 September 2026.

Join the First Children and Youth Delegation to the Global Framework on Chemicals International Conference (GFC IC-1)

The Chemicals and Waste Youth Platform (CWYP) announced an open call for delegates to represent the children and youth constituency at the upcoming First International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC IC-1), scheduled from 16-20 November 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland. GFC IC-1 will be preceded by the 4th Global Youth Forum on Chemicals and Waste from 14-16 November.

Global Survey to Inform the Development of the Minamata Convention Exchange Platform

The survey marks the first step in the development of the Minamata Convention Exchange Platform, a new digital service designed to strengthen the exchange of scientific, technical, economic and legal information on mercury. It seeks to better understand users’ information needs, priorities and expectations, and will directly inform the platform’s content, services, navigation and technical features, ensuring that it responds to the practical realities of those working to implement the Convention.

The survey is available in English, French and Spanish and will remain open until 30 September 2026 → Complete the survey here.

Submit a case study for the Global Wetland Outlook 2028: Wetlands for Healthy Cities

The Global Wetland Outlook is the Convention’s flagship publication. GWO2028 will be launched ahead of COP16 in Panama City in June 2028.

Case studies should address wetlands and sustainable urban development, e.g., how cities have integrated wetlands into urban planning, governance, financing, stakeholder engagement, biodiversity conservation, restoration, climate resilience, human health, or other relevant initiatives.

Case studies should be submitted using this online form. If you experience any difficulties completing the online form, please use the Word version attached to this invitation or download it here, and submit the completed form to gwo@ramsar.org. The deadline for submission is 30 September 2026.

STAY COOL, GROW GREEN: YOUTH FOR TREES IN CITIES. UNECE-IFSA Photo Contest 2026

Virtual Side Event Application 2026 UN Water Conference

The 2026 United Nations Water Conference, co-hosted by the Republic of Senegal and the United Arab Emirates, will be held from 8-10 December 2026 at the ​Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (​ADNEC), United Arab Emirates.

• UN Member States, Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs), UN entities, and all other
  accredited NGOs and stakeholder organizations can apply to organize a virtual side event. The lead organizer and all listed co-organizers of side events must be accredited to the 2026 UN Water Conference. Please find more information about accreditation here.

Please use this form to submit your application by 16 October 2026 to organize a virtual side event in connection to the 2026 UN Water Conference.

Experiences in Engaging with the Compliance Mechanism | Draft Survey for Comments | UNECE Aarhus Convention

Parties to the Aarhus Convention and interested stakeholders are invited to review the draft text of the survey and to provide their possible comments on the draft text.

The survey is being conducted pursuant to paragraph 3 of decision VIII/8 adopted by the Convention’s Meeting of the Parties at its eighth session (Geneva, 17–20 November 2025). Under paragraph 3 of that decision, Parties agreed to gather, through an open and participatory process, experiences in engaging with the compliance mechanism of the Convention and to make recommendations to the next session of the Meeting of the Parties. 

Pursuant to this decision, the Working Group of the Parties at its thirtieth meeting (Geneva, 24-26 June 2026) considered the Note on process to gather experiences in engaging with the compliance mechanism and agreed inter alia that the Bureau shall: (a) support the process; (b) with the support of the secretariat, organize a survey on this subject involving a questionnaire, which shall be subject to comments by Parties and stakeholders before finalization and distribution; and (c) prepare the required documents for consideration by the Working Group of the Parties and the Meeting of the Parties, as appropriate. The Working Group of the Parties also agreed that the questionnaire’s scope shall be formed around the main areas of work of the Compliance Committee and, in addition, allow, in a neutral manner, for the sharing of experiences related to thematic or cross-cutting questions and any other area of the work of the Compliance Committee on which Parties or observers may wish to comment, and that the outcomes of the survey will be summarized in a report and may serve as a basis for the development of a possible draft decision for consideration at the ninth session of the Meeting of the Parties.

Any comments should be sent to the secretariat by 1 November 2026 to aarhus.survey@un.org.

The ECCP Community Fund

The purpose of the ECCP Community Fund is to provide financial support to specific projects within the Community of Practice initiated by community members. The projects supported by the fund should align with the mission of the ECCP: learning, connecting, and taking action together.

The second cycle of the Community Fund in 2026 will run from 17 August to 13 November. Descriptions of the successful projects are linked here!

Expression of Interest to host the Global Observances of World Habitat Day and World Cities Day in 2027

UN-Habitat has officially opened the call for expression of interest to host the global observances of World Habitat Day and World Cities Day in 2027. These high-profile events offer a unique opportunity to put urbanization, housing and sustainable development issues on the world stage. The call will close on 30 November 2026.

Geneva Technical Hub Call for Expressions of Interest to support preparedness efforts: El Niño

Geneva Technical Hub is mobilizing its expertise and resources to support anticipatory action and preparedness initiatives aimed at reducing the potential impact on vulnerable communities. Through this call for expressions of interest, GTH seeks to identify opportunities to contribute technical assistance, coordination, and preparedness measures in countries and regions likely to be affected. The purpose of this form is to rapidly identify field needs related to the anticipated impacts of El Niño and other climate-related risks.

Help Understand How UNITAR is Perceived

UNITAR is currently conducting an awareness and perception survey to better understand the extent to which external audiences are aware of UNITAR’s mandate and areas of work, as well as how they perceive the Institute and its work.

WMO Call on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (Rolling Basis)

The World Meteorological Organization has released the WMO Call to All Stakeholders to Collaborate on the Development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Environmental Monitoring and Prediction Technologies, Tools and Applications, adopted at the Extraordinary session of the World Meteorological Congress (October 2025).

The Call invites the public, private and academic sectors to collaborate on the development and use of AI and ML for environmental monitoring and prediction — helping to protect communities and economies from hazards, including extreme heat and rainfall.

It reaffirms WMO’s mission to facilitate international cooperation and standardization, building on decades of trust and data collection, while also underscoring the vital importance of the single official and authoritative voice of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs). AI must complement, not replace, existing well-honed scientific forecasting methods and infrastructure.

It emphasizes the importance of open data, open-source tools, and FAIR principles to foster transparency and global participation. It calls for ethical frameworks that establish principles for cooperation, intellectual property, and responsible AI use.

Volunteer to IOMC Toolbox User Group

The Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) is looking for volunteers to share feedback to better understand how the IOMC Toolbox  is used and identify areas for improvement. Participation opportunity as a user is open between May and June, you will be invited to explore the Toolbox and complete a short questionnaire. If you are interested in contributing, we would be grateful for your input. Register to volunteer to IOMC Toolbox User Group.

Call for Requests for Technical Assistance for Countries | The Santiago Network (Rolling Basis)

The Santiago Network was set up to help catalyze technical assistance of Member organizations, bodies, networks and experts for the implementation of relevant approaches for averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change at the local, national and regional level in developing countries, particularly vulnerable to these effects. Technical assistance through the network is provided in a demand-driven manner and developed through an inclusive and country-driven process, taking into account the needs of local communities and vulnerable groups, including women, children, youth and Indigenous Peoples.

Requests should be submitted according to the process determined by each country. The following organizations and institutions, among others, may prepare and submit requests:

• Government/public institutions (including national, regional, sub-national and local governments)
• Academic institutions
• Non-governmental organizations
• Civil society organizations (including organizations representing local communities, women, children and youth, and Indigenous Peoples)

Technical assistance requests can be made by completing this short template (English, French, Spanish).  The request can be submitted by completing the form directly in the Santiago network portal or by filling in the document (English, French, Spanish) and submitting it by email to secretariat@santiago-network.org. Requests are accepted on a rolling basis. If you need any support with your request, please contact the Secretariat for assistance.

Health Diplomacy Youth Network

The Health Diplomacy Youth Network is an initiative designed to bring together young leaders committed to advancing global health through diplomacy and policy.

Launched in September 2024, parallel to the Summit of the Future Action Days, the network allows members the opportunity to engage with peers, exchange ideas, and contribute to critical discussions shaping the future of global health diplomacy.

Register your interest and join through the specific form.

Global Air Quality Cooperation Network – Expressions of Interest

Please use this form to express your interest in participating in the Global Air Quality Cooperation Network being established by the United Nations Environment Programme in response to United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) Resolution 6/10 Promoting regional cooperation on air pollution to improve air quality globally.

Member states are invited to nominate up to two (2) national focal point(s), noting that:
(1) national focal points will be part of the further development of the network and will be invited to take leadership roles in technical and thematic work streams;
(2) engagement in the network would benefit from technical knowledge of national air quality management and/or key sectors relevant to air pollution (e.g. agriculture, transport, energy, waste, urban development, industry, finance, etc.);
(3) Member States and members of specialized agencies can decide to nominate the same focal points as those already functioning as focal points for other existing air quality initiatives, including regional cooperation networks and programmes and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.

If you have questions about the form please contact unep-economy-airquality@un.org

UNFCCC Submissions Tracker Tool

To lay the ground for these meetings and make the best use of the limited negotiation time, the UNFCCC Secretariat is often tasked with collecting stakeholders’ views ahead of time. Some of these calls for submission are open only to parties, but many are also open to other stakeholders. This means academics, civil society organizations, private sector entities, and youth and Indigenous Peoples’ groups, among others, can submit their views on various issues relating to the climate negotiations. They can propose topics for workshops and dialogues, provide feedback on the effectiveness of specific work programmes, highlight gaps that should be addressed, and point to resources that might help governments and others enhance their climate action.

The UNFCCC Submissions Tracker is an effort by the International Institute for Sustainable Development Earth Negotiations Bulletin (IISD ENB) to raise awareness about these input opportunities. The embedded spreadsheet below tracks opportunities by subject and deadline while providing broader context and suggestions on which stakeholders may be especially interested.

Human Rights Mechanisms

The special procedures of the Human Rights Council and other bodies of the council, as well as the Office of the High Commissioner and other human rights bodies also regularly call for inputs for the reports in preparation. Find the calls related to the environment on the relevant page.