Mary Muia, SI UN Representative in Nairobi, brings us the highlights of the Fifth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).

The virtual Fifth session of UNEA, which ended on Tuesday 24 February concluded that the planet is in crisis and nature must be at the heart of global efforts to build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic. UNEA-5.1 also marked the start of a period of reflection and celebration to mark the creation of UNEP 50 years ago.

UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, declared that  “the urgency for action has never been clearer”, adding that 2021 is a critical year to reset our relationship with nature, noting that Member States will also gather this year to address biodiversity loss, chemical pollution, ocean health, desertification and climate disruption.

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, was among world leaders who addressed the UNEA 5 closing ceremony with a message that; “It is increasingly evident that environmental crises are part of the journey ahead. Wildfires, hurricanes, high temperature records, unprecedented winter chills, plagues of locusts, floods and droughts, have become so commonplace that they do not always make the headlines”.

In his opening remarks, UNEA 5 President Sveinung Rotevatn, observed that “the world will face recurring risks of pandemics if humanity maintain current unsustainable patterns in our interactions with nature. COVID-19 pandemic crisis proved just how our health and wellbeing depends upon nature and the solutions that nature provides.”

UNEP Executive Director Ms. Inger Andersen spoke on the urgent need to take action. “Unless we take action, future generations stand to inherit a hothouse planet with more carbon in the atmosphere than in 800,000 years. Unless we take action, future generations will live in sinking cities. From Basra to Lagos. From Mumbai to Houston. Unless we take action, future generations will be lucky if they can spot a black rhino. And unless we take action, future generations will have to live with our toxic waste – which every year is enough to fill 125,000 Olympic size swimming pools,”

The situation is dire but there are reasons to hope. Member States expressed support for a green post-pandemic recovery that leaves no one behind and protects and renews the fragile natural world, with many noting that the health of nature and human health are inextricably linked, with the nature crisis also tied to the climate and pollution crises.

The increasing adverse weather and climatic occurrences sound a warning that calls humanity to pay attention to three planetary crises; climate crisis, biodiversity and nature crisis, and the pollution and waste crisis.

Indian environmental activist Afroz Shah, who has been honoured by UNEP as a Champion of the Earth, told the delegates that the time for talking was over and that collaboration was needed to redress the planetary balance. “The problem is our rights are weighing too heavy on the rights of the other species. This delicate balance will have to tilt in the favour of other species and that is the key.”

The youth were not left behind, they addressed the delegates to demand action and a voice at the table. During the two days of online meetings and presentations, many Member States expressed concern at the triple planetary crises of climate crisis, nature loss and pollution and COVID-19 pandemic that threatens efforts to achieve sustainable development goals.

UNEA 5 Leadership Dialogues Key highlights:

A total of 87 Ministers and high-level representatives participated over two days of the Leadership Dialogue, including the engagement of UN Resident Coordinators. You can read the Summary of key messages from the Leadership Dialogue: ‘Contribution of the environmental dimension of sustainable development to building a resilient and inclusive post-pandemic world’ or click the image to watch the full session.

Recommended Resources:

Looking ahead to the resumed UN Environment Assembly in 2022

Watch the Event Summary of UNEA 5.1 HERE