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.

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.

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.

Call for nominations: IGF Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) 2027

In December 2025, the United Nations General Assembly, through Resolution 80/173 on the twenty-year review of the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20), decided to make the IGF a permanent forum of the United Nations. As the IGF enters this new chapter, its Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) will continue to play a central role in shaping the programme of its annual meetings. On behalf of the UN Secretary-General, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) invites all stakeholder and regional groups to submit nominations to renew the MAG for 2027.

Learn more about the MAG’s selection and operating principles and submit nominations by 5 November 2026. 

Join the Together for Science and Health movement

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced a global call inviting organizations and institutions to affiliate with Together for Science and Health, a new movement to strengthen the connection between science, health and society and build trust in evidence-informed decision-making.

Together for Science and Health is built around three interconnected pillars:

• science and society: bringing scientists and communities closer together so that research reflects people’s needs and experiences, strengthens trust and benefits everyone;
• science and policy: helping decision-makers use reliable evidence to shape practical, fair and effective health policies; and
• science communication: making science easier to understand and discuss, listening to people’s questions and concerns, and responding constructively to misinformation and disinformation.

Call for affiliation

WHO invites organizations and institutions that share the movement’s vision and values to join Together for Science and Health.

Organizations wishing to affiliate are invited to endorse the Declaration of Commitment and complete the affiliation form, support the movement’s principles and values, and indicate how they can contribute to its three pillars.

By affiliating, organizations can contribute expertise, networks and practical solutions to strengthen trust in science and improve health outcomes through collaboration across sectors.

The movement will be officially launched on 10 November 2026, marking the beginning of a new chapter in collective action to make science a stronger force for health, equity and the public good.

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!

Questionnaire to identify gaps and priorities regarding the challenges and best environmental practices related to lead, cadmium, arsenic, and organotins, as well as waste containing or contaminated with these substances

Through the Resolution 7/8 on sound management of chemicals and waste, paragraph 1, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) “requests the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), subject to the availability of resources, to support Member States in identifying their gaps and priorities regarding the challenges related to lead, cadmium, arsenic, and organotins, as well as to waste containing or contaminated with those substances; to facilitate the exchange of views, best environmental practices and knowledge-sharing on the sound management of chemicals and waste; and to report on the findings to the UNEA at its eighth session.”

In this context, UNEP’s Chemicals and Health Branch has developed the below questionnaire to facilitate the collection of feedback from UNEP’s Member States, ensuring consistency in responses across countries while remaining sufficiently flexible to capture country-specific contexts on gaps and priorities regarding the management of lead, cadmium, arsenic, and organotins. In addition to the Member States, similar feedback will be collected through a different questionnaire from the accredited organisations to the UNEA, namely Major Groups and Stakeholder (MGS) organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Nevertheless, the two questionnaires are independent of each other and are designed to capture perspectives of two distinct stakeholder groups, recognising that each group may have different role, experiences, and perspectives on the issues.

The information collected through this questionnaire will inform the UNEP’s Chemicals and Health Branch in preparing the report on the matters referred to in paragraph 1 of UNEA Resolution 7/8 for submission to the eighth session of UNEA.

Member states are invited to coordinate nationally and submit a single consolidated response on behalf of the Member State by 15 November 2026. 

Applications for the 2026-27 UN Youth Ecopreneur Programme

Young entrepreneurs developing green business solutions and contributing to land restoration can now apply to join the 2026-27 Youth Ecopreneur Programme, a United Nations initiative offering business training, mentorship, international exposure, access to networks and funding opportunities. Members of previous cohorts have gone on to win international awards and attract millions in investment.

The Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO), a flagship initiative of the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the G20 Global Land Initiative under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), supports youth-led enterprises working toward environmental sustainability and land restoration.

Learn more and apply for the 2026/27 Youth Ecopreneur Programme. Applications close on 22 November 2026.

Review of Progress on Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) on the Selected Priority Indicators Related to the Theme “Energy “

During the twenty-fourth session of the Working Group on Environmental Monitoring and Assessment in April 2022, participants suggested continuing the regular and continuous use of SEIS, sharing data and exchanging good practice experience and to regularly reviewing the implementation of SEIS for specific environmental themes and developing the system further, including at the national level, also in view of its relevance for ongoing open data initiatives.

During its twenty-seventh session, the Working Group agreed that the environmental theme “energy” should be reviewed in 2026 by using the SEIS offline reporting tool (Excel spreadsheet). The SEIS reporting tool was developed jointly by UNECE, EEA and UNEP and was simplified in 2026 as per the request of Member States.

Members of the Committee on Environmental Policy are to support this review of progress on SEIS on the selected priority indicators related to the theme “energy”.

You are kindly requested to provide the secretariat (email: wgemasec@un.org ) with the contact details of the country focal point for the progress review.

Completion by the competent authority of the questionnaire in the attached Excel spreadsheet and provide a single national response to the secretariat must be completed not later than 30 November 2026

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.

Call for Expressions of Interest to Host World Environment Day 2028 or 2029

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is inviting Member States to submit expressions of interest to host the global observance of World Environment Day in 2028 or 2029.

Hosting World Environment Day offers countries a unique opportunity to demonstrate leadership on environmental issues, bring its priorities to the global stage, showcase solutions and capture worldwide attention through high-level participation, global media coverage and UNEP’s advocacy campaign, which reaches millions each year.

Recent campaigns demonstrate the reach: the 2026 campaign generated 180 million video views and 239 million social media impressions, while the 2025 campaign generated more than 56,000 media stories and 5.2 million website visits.

Host countries are expected to organize and fund in-country events and to contribute to UNEP’s global outreach effort. UNEP provides global campaign outreach, media engagement, digital promotion, storytelling and participation by senior leadership.

Call for nomination to the GEO Programme Board

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.