INTRODUCTION
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.
This edition of the Environmental Governance Update highlights the activities of the Law Division from January to March 2023. The newsletter also features recent events such as the quarterly Science Policy Actions for Redefining Knowledge (SPARK) Webinar series. The SPARK Webinar series exemplifies UNEP’s focus on knowledge sharing and exchange on issues of science policy interfaces.
The Law Division embraced the universal call to action on the environmental dimension of sustainable development, through UNEP’s Medium-Term Strategy for 2022—2025. The Division works on UNEP’s mandate to deliver transformational change for people and planet through promoting the environmental rule of law; advancing the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment; and promoting policy coherence, including through working with Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), United Nations agencies, institutions, and individuals at local, regional and international levels.
Advances have been made on global litigation on the environment including climate litigation, intergovernmental negotiations, and supporting environmental human rights defenders. The Law Division has contributed to information sharing through InforMEA courses on various aspects of the environment for different audiences, and capacity building and informative workshops held in varying regions such as Africa, Asia and Europe. The Division has also supported countries and stakeholders through the development of action plans and resources such as the Toolkit on Pro-Environmental Youth Engagement by and for African Youth. More activities are outlines under each section dedicated to the Law Division’s work streams linked below:
ENVIRONMENTAL RULE OF LAW
UNEP advocates for strengthened air quality legislation
- The Law Division presented its work on air quality legislation at the High-Level Forum on Clean Air held in Mongolia on 2 and 3 March 2023 and co-organized by the Government of Mongolia, UNEP and UNESCAP, and at the 7th Saltsjöbaden Workshop 2023 held in Sweden from 13 to 15 March 2023, co-organized by the Government of Sweden, UNEP and other organizations. UNEP presented its findings from the First Global Assessment of Air Pollution Legislation on the role of national and regional frameworks on promoting transboundary air pollution, and introduced the Guide on Ambient Air Quality Legislation. UNEP developed this Guide to assist national lawmakers and policymakers to develop or improve ambient air quality legislation.
Global litigation on the environment with a focus on climate advances
- The beginning of 2023 saw several advances at the world stage towards global litigation on the environment with a focus on climate, including to clarify State obligations arising from key environmental legal instruments, such as the Paris Agreement, and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
- On 9 January, Chile and Colombia formalized their request for an advisory opinion to the Inter-American Court on Human Rights (IACtHR) to clarify the scope of State obligations to respond to the climate emergency, especially from a human rights-based approach.
- Back on 12 December 2022, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) received the request from the Commission of Small Island States on climate change and international law, which the tribunal followed up by requesting UNEP and other organisations to submit written statements.
- As a result of Vanuatu’s efforts, the UN General Assembly on 29th March, adopted resolution 77/276 requesting the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to provide an advisory opinion on obligations of States in respect to climate change, with a focus on small island developing States and present and future generations.
- The way these three courts and tribunals will deal with the advisory proceedings and the conclusions they will reach will likely have a worldwide impact on environmental rule of law.
First United Nations Water Conference in 50 years held in New York
In the first UN Water Conference to happen in 50 years, UNEP’s Law Division hosted a virtual side event on water justice. The event brought together a broad range of speakers from around the world to share experiences in promoting the right to water, focusing on the impact of the 2018 Brasília Declaration of Judges on Water Justice on advancing SDG 6 and other water-related goals and targets. The virtual side event was held on 18 March on the margins of the 2023 UN Water Conference held in New York from 22 to 24 March, under the title: The “2018 Brasília Declaration of Judges on Water Justice”: The Role of Courts in the Implementation of SDG 6 and Other Water-related Goals and Targets. This event was organized by the Global Judicial Institute on Environment (GJIE), in cooperation with the Government of Brazil, the International Association of Judges (IAJ), the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law, the UNEP Law Division and the International Council of Environmental Law (ICEL). You can watch the full side-event below:
- To strengthen interfaith contribution to and collaboration at the World Water Summit, UNEP Law Division Faith for Earth co-hosted an Interfaith Networking Event ahead of the Water Conference to provide a networking opportunity for faith and interfaith actors attending the Water Conference. Participants shared information and resources with the network, including key priorities and engaging in a mechanism for action. This meeting was attended by representatives of faith-based organizations in New York to institutionalize the contribution of the network of faith actors. The meeting was convened in collaboration with the Water, Environment and Climate Workstream of the International Partnership on Religion and Development (PaRD), the World Council of Churches (WCC), and the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA).
Role of youth in environmental decision-making in Asia-Pacific region strengthened
- UNEP and UNDP organised a Roundtable discussion titled “Beyond consultations: Youth as equal and empowered partners in environmental decision-making”, led by the Youth Advisory Group (YAG) on Climate Action on 24 March 2023, as part of the Road to the 10th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD): Regional Dialogue on Youth Empowerment in Climate Action.
- The Roundtable discussed recommendations from the report “Turning the Tide on Youth-Washing: 5 Ways to Effectively Engage Young Environmental Leaders” (UNEP) as well as the “Voices of Youth” report from Stockholm+50 (UNDP) from an Asian Pacific youth perspective. The YAG panelists shared recommendations on implementing findings from the reports, and on meaningful participation and inclusion of youth in environmental decision-making in Asia Pacific.
UNEP joins partners in action on environmental crime in South-East Asia
- On 12 January, UNEP participated in a Regional Counter Wildlife Trafficking Partner Coordination Meeting organized by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and others, in Bangkok, Thailand. The meeting built on discussions and deliberations of the Regional CWT Partnership Coordination Forum II held virtually on December 13, 2022 in order to advance development of a model for enhanced information sharing, coordination and collaboration among counter wildlife trafficking partners, stakeholders and the broader conservation community.
- From 13 to 15 March 2023, the Green Customs Initiative (GCI) secretariat organized a training workshop for customs officers from the Southeast Asia region, in Halong city, Vietnam, in collaboration with the Government of Vietnam and UNEP Law Division OzonAction Branch. The workshop enhanced capacities of customs officers to combat illegal trade in environmentally sensitive commodities, through increased knowledge on multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and sharing of practical experiences, to address transboundary environmental crime. The workshop improved the understanding of participants on facilitating compliance to MEAs, and supported collaborative efforts on integrating green customs within regular customs training programmes. Attendees were exposed to useful resources and tools such as the Green Customs Guide to MEAs, to facilitate their day-to-day functions related to MEAs. The workshop was held in parallel to a National Ozone Unit (NOU) Network Meeting, and was followed by a twinning workshop for customs and NOU representatives. Customs officers interacted with ozone counterparts to iron out practical issues related to data management, risk profiling and customs declarations, among others.
World religions call for peace and cooperation: Fraternity for the Environment
- In 2023, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity recognised two recipients of the Zayed Award under the theme “United by our common humanity” in 2023. The award builds on the Human Fraternity: For World Peace and Living Together, 2019 signed by His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Catholic Church, and His Eminence, the Grand Imam, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayyib, Sheikh of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, recognizing that the environment is important in strengthening human fraternity, a common theme among world religions.
- The award ceremony was held back-to-back with the Global Summit for Tolerance and Human Fraternity organised by the Government of the United Arab Emirates in cooperation with the Council of Muslim Elders where UNEP Law Division’s Faith for Earth, delivered an address on “Fraternity and the Environment”.
- Ahead of COP28, this newly founded partnership will strengthen engagement of faith actors in coordination with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Government. Watch the 2023 ceremony below. Access photos here.
Opportunities explored for global environmental governance in Southeast Asia
On 2nd February UNEP raised awareness on Global Environmental Governance Developments: Opportunities for Southeast Asia through a webinar that brought together experts and relevant stakeholders across different countries within Southeast Asia to discuss global environmental governance developments and what they mean at the national and regional levels in Southeast Asia.
Fifth Meeting of the Steering Committee for the Fifth Montevideo Programme convened
- The Steering Committee for the Fifth Montevideo Programme for the Development and Periodic Review of Environmental Law (Montevideo Programme V) convened its fifth meeting on 10 March 2023. The steering committee discussed implementation of Montevideo Programme V, in particular, approval of the Implementation Roadmaps for priority areas identified by national focal points, and updates from the secretariat on the development of the Partnerships and stakeholder engagement strategy and the Resource mobilization strategy for the Programme. Steering committee members from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Uganda, the United States of America, and Uruguay attended the meeting.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Human rights approach adopted in enabling good environmental governance to address the triple planetary crisis
Right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment advanced at Human Rights Council
At the 52nd Human Rights Council (HRC), which took place in Geneva, from 27 February to 4 April 2023, several resolutions were negotiated that integrated environmental issues. The following three resolutions linked in the text, are specifically relevant for the environment:
- On the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment;
- On cooperation with regional human rights organisations which requests a stocktaking workshop with a thematic focus on the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment;
- On human rights, democracy and rule of law, which decided that the theme of the 5th session of the Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, will be dedicated to “Democracy and climate change: focusing on solutions”
UNEP’s Executive Director, Inger Andersen, sent a video message for the Human Rights Council highlighting the importance of the right to a healthy environment and the essential developments done in this regard, such as the recognition of a human rights approach to the Global Biodiversity Framework, agreed in December 2022. The Executive Director also highlighted that the right to a healthy environment will underpin the theme of UNEA-6, happening from 26 February to 1 March 2024.
Also in this session of the HRC, the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment, David R. Boyd, presented his report on “Women, girls and the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment” (A/HRC/52/33), which highlights that the triple planetary crisis clearly has distinct and discriminate impacts on women and girls. On 9 March, UNEP delivered an official statement during the Interactive Dialogue. UNEP welcomed the report and highlighted how women and girls are agents of change in the triple planetary crisis, while also sharing concerns about the situation of women and girls environmental human rights defenders.
UNEP also participated on the side event organised by the Special Rapporteur to present such report on the 7th of March. Recording of the side event is accessible here. In the margins of the HRC, UNEP participated, along with OHCHR, in an information briefing to Member-States on the work being carried out on human rights related to the environment.
Right to a healthy environment integrated in intergovernmental biodiversity and climate talks
Following the recognition by the UN General Assembly (resolution 76/300) of the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, UNEP, along with UNDP and OHCHR, prepared an information note explaining the importance of this right and its substantive and procedural elements. It traces the origins of this right, describes its key elements and highlights the expected benefits of its recognition by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Human rights approach embedded in the Global Biodiversity Framework
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), agreed in the 15th Conference of the Parties of the Convention of Biological Diversity (COP15), in Montreal, last December, succeeded in fully integrating a human-rights-based approach for the implementation of the framework while acknowledging the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. It also introduced specific targets on environmental human rights defenders and the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.
Climate change conference acknowledges importance of human rights
The 27th Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27), that took place in Sharm-al Sheik, Egypt, in November 2022, also acknowledged the importance of human rights and the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment in the Implementation Plan, recognising specifically the impacts of climate change on vulnerable groups.
Link between human rights, land use and climate change emphasised
At the end of 2022, General Comment No. 26 of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) on Land and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (E/C.12/GC/26) was published, which included a reference to the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment and made the link between land use and climate change and environmental degradation.
Protection of environmental human rights defenders the focus of UNEP Working Paper
In March, UNEP launched a Working Paper on Environmental Rule of Law and Human Rights in Asia Pacific: Supporting the Protection of Environmental Human Rights Defenders. This Working Paper presents trends in the application of the environmental rule of law and human rights in Asia Pacific, with special emphasis on the protection of environmental human rights defenders. The Working Paper establishes that the realisation of human rights and the environmental rule of law are necessary for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Environmental human rights defenders in the Asia-Pacific region empowered
On 24 and 25 January UNEP contributed to a training program developed by Diplomacy Training International to build the capacity of 30 human rights defenders from Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, PNG, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor Leste on human rights and the environment as part of the 30th Annual human rights and peoples diplomacy training program.
On 23 and 24 February 2023, UNEP supported a workshop by the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand on awareness raising and capacity building for a network of community rights and environmental-responsive NGOs. Participants shared lessons learned from advocacy on the Escazu Agreement and the Aarhus Convention. The outcomes of the workshop are planned to feed into the development of a Regional Framework on Environmental Rights. Watch the event’s recording here.
On 21 and 28 February, UNEP organized two episodes of a “Seeds of Justice” Webcast about an environmental human rights defenders (EHRD) Toolkit, together with the Asian Research Institute for Environmental Law (ARIEL). Defenders and experts from the region discussed the toolkit based on their experiences and expertise.
Capacity-building supported on the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment
On 13 March 2023, UNEP and UN Human Rights provided a training on human rights and the environment for Lao PDR UN staff. The training increased collaboration, coordination, and found opportunities for joint action by the UN at country level in Lao PDR on human rights and the environment so that environmental rule of law is advanced, the right to a healthy environment is promoted and protected and environmental human rights defenders are supported thereby enabling good environmental governance to address the triple planetary crisis.
- On 14 March OHCHR and UNEP jointly facilitated an Environment, Climate Change and Human Rights briefing for the Government of Lao PDR. The joint OHCHR-UNEP delegation sought to support efforts by the Government to strengthen the integration of joint “human rights and environment” considerations in development cooperation in the country, in line with the UN Secretary General’s Call to Action for Human Rights.
- UNEP organized a session Access to Safe and Sufficient Water: A Right of Children and Future Generations together with Fair Finance Asia, Swedwatch, and United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Office for South-East Asia. This side-event marked 100 years of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child as well as 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It facilitated conversations on the impacts of water scarcity and pollution on children, the role that 'child rights’ play in achieving SDG-6, and the experiences of child and youth human rights defenders in advocating for climate and environmental action, especially on access to clean and safe water. The event also included an interactive art activity which highlighted intergenerational environmental justice and an exhibition with messages from children around the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
- On 29 March, UNEP held an event on “Access to Financing and Safeguarding A Just Transition in Asia: Trends and future pathways for just and inclusive transition to a zero-carbon economy”, together with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP), Child Rights Coalition Asia, and the Government of Philippines. The event, held alongside the 10th Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development, raised awareness among duty bearers, including States, Development Finance Institutions, and business actors, on the importance of adopting a rights-based approach to a just and inclusive renewable energy transition.
- UNEP supported a regional capacity building workshop for Pacific Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRDs) in Nadi (Fiji) from 28 to 30 March 2023. The workshop was organized together with the OHCHR Regional Office for the Pacific (ROP), the Asia Pacific Human Rights Defenders Network, the Diplomacy Training Program, Macquarie University’s Centre for Environmental Law, and the Hawai’i Institute for Human Rights. The three-day workshop provided a safe space for EHRDs across the Pacific to strengthen their collaboration in holding governments and businesses accountable for human rights violations, especially on the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable development. Participants also learned how the special procedures of the Human Rights Council work and how participants can prepare and submit complaints to relevant special procedures mandate holders about alleged human rights violations perpetrated by States or non-State actors. An event page link will be inserted here when it is available.
- On 7 March, in celebration of International Women’s Day UNEP cohosted a webcast with the Asia Research Institute for Environmental Law and ADB on Breaking the glass ceiling, women of environmental law. The episode celebrated three women who have made it their mission to fight for our planet through environmental law, using cutting-edge technology to achieve their goals.
- On 20 March UNEP showcased thought leadership on environmental justice and law, and increased outreach to youth at the Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) Youth Forum 2023. The Forum was held under the theme, Accelerating the Recovery from the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and the Full Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at All levels in Asia and the Pacific with Young People at the Forefront. UNEP raised awareness on environmental rights and justice in coherence with the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on the right to live in a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS: IMPLEMENTATION AND COMPLIANCE
Support to countries for policy coherence in implementing obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements offered to promote multifaceted action on environmental governance
Introductory Course to Gender and the Environment launched
- Environmental change affects the lives of men and women in different ways due to existing gender dynamics and inequalities. There is increasing understanding of the interactions between gender and the environment, including between efforts to ensure gender equality and environmental protection, and the close links between gender equality and sustainable development. This online course provides a general introduction to gender and the environment including issues such as the exacerbation of gender inequalities caused by climate change and biodiversity loss.
- The course comprises 6 lessons, organized in interactive modules, and combining theory with exercises and interactions to facilitate the learning process. It is a self-paced course.
- Participants can take a quiz at the end of the course to assess learning progress and obtain a course certificate.
Introductory Course to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands launched
- InforMEA and the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands launched a course on the Convention on Wetlands. This course highlights the importance of wetlands for maintaining key ecological processes and for the rich flora and fauna they support. The course explains the structure and functions of the different bodies of the Convention, and concepts of wise use, and Wetlands of International Importance. It highlights the role of the Convention in giving visibility to wetlands, a mission as urgent as ever.
- The online course is composed of 5 lessons which are organized in interactive modules and combine theory with exercises and interactions to facilitate the learning process. It is a self-paced course.
- Participants are encouraged to take a quiz at the end of the course to assess learning progress and obtain a course certificate.
Regional Cooperation called for to improve ocean governance in the Wider Caribbean
- On 2 and 3 March at the eight “Our Oceans” Conference, a joint side event on “Regional Cooperation for improving oceans governance in the Wider Caribbean: The Cartagena Convention and the Caribbean Biological Corridor Initiative” was held by UNEP Latin America, and the Caribbean Office and the Cartagena Convention Secretariat.
- The side event provided the opportunity to expand partners and public knowledge on the Cartagena Convention, the Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) protocol, as well as regional strategies and action plans to manage coastal and marine resources in the Wider Caribbean Region. Participants shared views on projects and activities implemented with support of regional partners for the conservation of marine biodiversity and prevention of pollution from marine litter and plastics in the region. Participants also discussed the Caribbean Biological Corridor Initiative (CBC) and its view of the future through its Strategic Plan towards 2030 with an emphasis on the marine component. See the Tweet and Facebook posts.
Green Customs Initiative focuses on preventing environmental crime
- On 24 and 25 January 2023, the Green Customs Initiative’s (GCI) partners held their seventeenth annual partners meeting at UNEP’s OzonAction Office in Paris, France. The meeting addressed fostering synergies between multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), enhancing voluntary and mandatory reporting for MEAs, and promoting the role of customs in a circular economy. Participants also discussed enhancing gender integration in the partners’ and customs work, deepening linkages between trade and the environment, and promoting understanding of environmental terminologies that are of relevance to customs. The importance of GCI’s work was stressed, especially with the initiative’s recognition by the United Nations General Assembly’s resolution on preventing and combating crimes that affect the environment.
Environmental Law Lecturers in Middle East and North African Universities hold talks on biodiversity law
From 27 to 28 February 2023, the Fourth Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Environmental Law and Policy Scholars’ Conference was convened in Amman, Jordan. The conference’s theme was “Law on Biodiversity, Nature Conservation and the Protection of Cultural Heritage in the MENA region.” With the Law Division’s support, the Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s College of Law, the University of Jordan and the Association of Environmental Law Lecturers in Middle East and North African Universities (ASSELLMU) co-hosted this event, bringing together environmental and multidisciplinary educators and researchers to share knowledge on how to strengthen biodiversity law education and implementation.
The Law Division provided expertise on international biodiversity law, particularly on implementation of the Convention of Biological Diversity in MENA and on teaching and practice of biodiversity and environmental Law in the region. The Division promoted women’s participation in the conference by proving travel support to female scholars. As a result of the conference, the ASSELLMU network attracted a financial pledge from an attending scholar and created thematic committees to address emerging environmental education issues.
African Elephant Range States convene to discuss the revised African Elephant Action Plan
- On 1 February 2023, representatives from 20 range States across Africa met virtually for a briefing session on the draft revised African Elephant Action Plan (AEAP). Participants shared progress, present the latest version of the plan, at this meeting organized by the African Elephant Fund (AEF) Secretariat. The meeting also provided a platform for exchange between the range States from Anglophone and Francophone countries.
- Human-elephant conflict is a pervasive and increasingly challenging issue for most African range States. Not only does it threaten the existence of the elephant, but also causes social and economic losses, including loss of human lives. Range States agreed that the AEAP objective “Reduce Human-Elephant Conflict” should now be listed as the first objective, a move up from the original Action Plan where it was listed as the third objective. The revised plan also now recognizes the two-elephant species classification (the savanna (or bush) elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis)), as this has direct implications on their conservation needs.
Countries supported to participate in the Biosafety Clearing House
- During the first quarter of 2023, UNEP and the Global Environment Facility supported national training workshops on the Biosafety Clearing House (BCH) organized in Solomon Islands, Pakistan, Seychelles and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Participants developed an increased understanding of the common format of BCH records, and the procedures for registering and publishing biosafety-related decisions. Participants deepened knowledge on technical national BCH responsibilities, and the impact on the institutional processes for creating and registering BCH information and making biosafety related decisions. Stakeholders from different institutions including, government offices, NGOs, the private sector, and research institutions attended the workshops.
- The Biosafety Clearing House (BCH) is a mechanism established in Article 20 of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety that facilitates the exchange of scientific, technical, environmental, and legal information and experience with living modified organisms (LMOs).
- In December 2022, the Biosafety Clearing House (BCH) III project in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity held a training workshop in Montreal, Canada, preparing for the 15th Conference of the Parties of the Convention. The two-day workshop, held on 5 and 6 December, aimed at enhancing global and sub-regional networking and knowledge sharing of information for effective implementation of the BCH. Participants discussed obligations, searching for information, submitting information to, and supporting resources on the BCH.
INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING
Capacity building and engagement of youth sustained to innovatively contribute to positive environmental change on an individual, local, national and international level
- Youth take action on climate change by storytelling and visualisation: On 7 March, the ACP MEAs 3 Programme organized a virtual workshop titled “Visualizing Climate Change for Impact”, in collaboration with “GRULAC Junior” to enhance storytelling and visualisation skills of youth to take effective action on the environment from across the world. Our People Our Climate, a ground-breaking documentary film initiative, presented their remarkable work aiming to develop the storytelling skills of indigenous youth and young adults. Watch the workshop recording on Youtube below. Access the workshop materials here.
Pro-environmental African Youth Working Group launched
The ACP MEAs 3 Programme launched an African Youth Working Group to contribute to pro-environmental change on an individual, local, national and international level, and through social media. The Group consists of 40 dedicated youth across Africa adapting a Toolkit on Pro-Environmental Youth Engagement. A number of YETI Alumni from Africa are now leading the adaptation process of the Toolkit by and for African youth.
Environmental Protection Agencies in Africa heighten action on the triple planetary crisis
On 7 and 8 March, the first in-person Roundtable Meeting for the Forum of Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) in Africa was held, with the theme “Strengthening sound science to accelerate actions to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss and, pollution and waste.” The meeting was hosted by the UNEP Africa Office and the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), at the Grand Ubumwe Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda.
Participants discussed the nature, structure and operations of the EPA forum and established a common framework for scaling up science-policy interface. Participants also discussed ways to strengthen collaboration with UNEP, improve dialogue on experiences, and share knowledge and best practices, for addressing environmental challenges in Africa.
Financing the Sustainable Blue Economy embedded in biodiversity talks
Sustainable Blue Economy (SBE) is an economy that: protects, restores, and regenerates healthy ecosystems; delivers equitable and inclusive processes and outcomes; enables climate stability and resilience; facilitates and promotes sustainable consumption and production; and applies circular economy approaches. This aligns with the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework such as reducing threats to biodiversity (Targets 1-8), meeting people’s needs through sustainable use and benefit-sharing (Targets 9-13).
Governments from around the world met in Montreal in December 2022, and agreed on the new global biodiversity framework and associated targets to protect and restore nature. Governments and intergovernmental organisations were urged to implement a transition to the Sustainable Blue Economy and related approaches across ocean-linked sectors, rooted in the SDGs.
At country level, the Sustainable Blue Economy requires a national focus on integrating ocean sustainability in governance frameworks – through policymaking and implementation, economic planning and development, integrated ocean accounting and sustainable financing, as well as close engagement with the private sector and civil society (Targets 14-21 of the GBF).
Environmental law, governance and related policy issues stay ingrained in the progressive, cross cutting, innovative and inclusive work of the Law Division in leading the international community towards sound environmental law and governance for a healthy planet and people. We encourage you to stay informed about our work by visiting our dedicated environmental governance webpages on the UNEP website.
Contact information: alvin.gachie[at]un.org / stephen.tengo[at]un.org / maryann.kuria[at]un.org
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations Environment Programme. We regret any errors or omissions that may have been unwittingly made.