Every two years, all 193 UN Member States come together to discuss urgent environmental challenges affecting the planet. This gathering is known as the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). The sixth session, UNEA-6, will take place from February 26 to March 1, 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya.
UNEA is designed as a global platform for environmental decision-making. It plays a key role in setting priorities for environmental policies and advancing international regulations.
Why is UNEA important?
The 2024 session of UNEA is expected to welcome a record 6,000 participants, including seven Heads of State, 139 Ministers and Vice-Ministers, experts, activists, and industry leaders.
UNEA was established in 2012 as part of the outcomes of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) held in Brazil. Since its inception, the Assembly has strengthened global cooperation on environmental matters, giving them the same level of attention as global issues like security, health, and peace.
Over the years, UNEA has passed significant resolutions on topics such as fighting illegal wildlife trade, protecting the environment in conflict zones, and promoting sustainable urban mobility.
Following discussions held during UNEA’s 2022 session, negotiations began on the first legally binding global agreement to tackle plastic pollution. This agreement is expected to be finalized by the end of 2024.
What’s at stake for UNEA-6?
UNEA-6 will focus on multilateral environmental agreements and their role in addressing the three major global environmental crises: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
Despite economic uncertainties following the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing geopolitical tensions, the past two years have seen significant progress in environmental cooperation.
In 2022, the UN General Assembly officially recognized the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as a universal human right. This decision has paved the way for legal and constitutional reforms at the national levels to strengthen environmental protection.
That same year, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted, introducing measures to safeguard one million animal and plant species at risk of extinction.
In June 2023, all 193 UN Member States signed the High Seas Treaty, aimed at preserving marine biodiversity in areas beyond national borders.
At COP28 in November 2023, a long-awaited agreement was reached on funding for loss and damage. This funding will support vulnerable nations facing severe climate-related impacts.
UNEA-6 has dedicated a session to reviewing these achievements and exploring how governments can take collective action to implement the agreements they have committed to, including securing adequate financial resources.
In addition to discussing new commitments, UNEA-6 will emphasize the importance of fulfilling existing promises to ensure real progress in global environmental efforts.
What are the priority topics?
The Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Inger Andersen, has outlined six key focus areas for UNEA-6. These include water scarcity, responsible mining, the management of minerals such as phosphorus, climate-related technologies, funding for environmental initiatives, and the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal framework.
According to Andersen, the priority is to collaborate and fulfill global commitments to ensure a sustainable future for all, allowing humanity to thrive on a healthy planet.
Leading up to and during the event, discussions will center on proposed resolutions submitted by Member States and the ministerial declaration to be adopted at the end of the Assembly. These resolutions aim to address shared environmental challenges, propose solutions, and define UNEP’s main areas of focus.
UNEA-6 will see debates on 20 resolutions and two decisions covering a wide range of issues, including solar radiation modification, mining practices, desertification, sustainability in the sugarcane industry, the use of hazardous pesticides, ecosystem resilience to drought, and regional efforts to improve air quality.
What’s up with the negotiations?
At the Environment Assembly, resolutions are expected to be adopted by consensus. This means that every participating member has the ability to veto a decision. As a result, the days leading up to the conference are crucial for reviewing draft texts, identifying areas of disagreement, and working to resolve conflicts before formal discussions begin. Negotiations frequently continue into the week of the event, with closed-door meetings often lasting late into the night.
As the highest environmental decision-making body, UNEA’s goal is to strengthen the relationship between humanity and nature while improving conditions for the most vulnerable populations.
To minimize the conference's environmental impact, UNEP will purchase certified carbon credits to offset emissions from participant travel. This initiative is part of its broader environmental inventory efforts, which include additional measures to reduce the event’s carbon footprint.
Mary Watson
