Blog of Mary Muia and Dr Victoria Kutto, SI UNEA Representatives in Nairobi.

The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) was first established in June 2012 as a result of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, also known as Rio+20. The outcome document drafted for this first session and titled ‘The Future We Want’ called on the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to strengthen and upgrade the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

The UNGA then adopted resolution 67/213 on strengthening and upgrading UNEP and establishing universal membership of its Governing Council. In March 2013, the UNGA adopted a further resolution, 67/251, which changed the designation of the UNEP Governing Council to the UNEA.

UNEA-6

As the world grapples with a fragmented multilateralism, UNEA must bear the flag of an effective, inclusive and multilateral forum where solutions are sought, and agreement is reached. A UNEA that watches over the world, scales up action and responds to its most critical challenges. Soroptimist International (SI), among other global major group stakeholders, expects a UNEA that consolidates agendas, decisions and stakeholders to fill the gaps of international environmental governance – a bolstered UNEA that can play its part in revamping multilateralism, while providing greater capabilities to the entire UN system and Member States to achieve the SDGs.

The sixth session of United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) will take place from 26 February to 2 March, 2024, at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi Kenya.  UNEA aims to help restore harmony between humanity and nature, improving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people, under the theme: “Effective, inclusive and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution”.

A key feature of UNEA 6 process is the supplementary agenda item cooperation with Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEA). UNEA-6 theme provides a structured entry point to highlight the importance of cooperation with MEAs.

• Strengthen the engagement of MEAs in UNEA-6 to promote coherence between UNEA resolutions and decisions of MEA governing bodies whilst fully respecting the autonomy of MEAs.
• Enhance UNEA’s relationship with MEAs to contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
• Strengthening convergence of action and dialogue on common strategies and sharing of experiences while providing increased visibility to the decisions of MEAs governing bodies.
• Expected to result in tangible outcomes reflected as appropriate, in resolutions and conclusions of the meeting.

 

Thematic Focus of the High-Level Dialogues

The MEAs high level dialogues will be held on 28th February from 10:00 am to 1:00pm and from 3:00pm to 6:00pm;

• Dialogue 1: Strengthening science-policy interface for effective implementation of environmental commitments.
• Dialogue 2: Strengthening cooperation between UNEA, UNEP and MEAs to enhance effective implementation at the national level including through means of implementation.

 

National Statements High Level Segment

National statements High-level segment is scheduled to be held on Thursday, 29 February and Friday, 1 March 2024. During the National Statement segment, all Member States will have to an opportunity to deliver one national statement in person during the high-level segment.

Importantly, if time permits, observers will al be able to deliver statements in person. The SI UN Nairobi Centre Representatives are pleased and highly honored to host and be joined in person by Soroptimist International President Siew Yong Gnanalingam as the Lead of the Soroptimist Internal delegation to UNEA-6 session.

As the highest-level global decision-making body on environmental issues—UNEA is a forum with a unique authority to reach global agreement on the most pressing and emerging environmental issues. Backed by strong science, political resolve and engagement of communities, the sixth assembly session is an opportunity for world’s government, civil society groups, the scientific community and the private sector to shape the global environment policy.

Since its inception, UNEA has put science on the global multilateral table and shaped historic results for people and planet.  It has provided a biannual boost to action on a range of issues, particularly those that are not the focus of specific Conventions.

SI’s to UNEA 6 has been actively involved in the preparatory consultations in collaborations with the Women’s Major Group members.  The SI delegation team in Nairobi has participated since the launch of the roadmap for the consultations on the UNEA-6 ministerial declaration that was shared in April 2023.

 

SI’s Presence in Nairobi

The SI UN Nairobi Centre representatives have played an active engagement role to follow and contribute during the preparatory process towards the Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR). The team has participated both in person and online informal and formal discussions and negotiations of the UNAE 6 resolutions and decisions drafting process.

The proposed clustering of UNEA 6 draft resolutions and decisions are in five main clusters as summarised below.

• Cluster 1 combines draft resolutions relating to abating pollution and promoting sound management of chemicals and
• Cluster 2 combines draft resolutions relating to halting and reversing the loss of nature while restoring ecosystems
• Cluster 3 combines draft resolutions relating to international environmental governance
• Cluster 4 combines draft resolutions relating to addressing root causes of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss and pollution
• Cluster 5 combines draft resolutions and draft decisions relating to procedural, budgetary and administrative matters.

 

 

Concluding Thoughts

In conclusion, the United Nations Environment Assembly convening its sixth session, stands as a vital platform for global environmental governance. With a focus on effective multilateral action to combat climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, UNEA-6 emphasises cooperation with Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and strengthens the science-policy interface.

As stakeholders like Soroptimist International actively engage, the assembly underscores the shared commitment to shaping sustainable policies. With structured dialogue and clustering of resolutions, UNEA-6 epitomises collective efforts toward a more resilient planet, offering hope for meaningful progress in addressing pressing environmental challenges.