From 26 February to 1 March, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), the world’s highest-level decision-making body for environment, meets in Nairobi, Kenya. This sixth session (UNEA-6) will envisage how multilateral actions can help tackle the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

Taking the EU's ambitions to the international stage

The Belgian presidency coordinates the European position, both in the run-up to and during the meeting. In Nairobi, the presidency will also have the important responsibility of representing the EU during the negotiations, together with the European Commission. Its objective will be to effectively convey its environmental priorities and ambitions at the international level. The Belgian Federal Minister for the Environment will represent the presidency of the Council of the EU. 

 
© UNEP

An international governance system to tackle pressing challenges

UNEA is the governing body of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), that brings together all 193 UN member states, as well as businesses, civil society and other stakeholders every two years at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Assembly sets the global environmental agenda, provides overarching policy guidance and fosters partnership to address the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. As the planet’s only universal membership forum for the environment, UNEA provides a unique platform for global environmental action.  


© ENB - IISD

The UNEA-6 objectives

This sixth session (UNEA-6) will be held under the overarching theme “Effective, inclusive and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution”. Member states will discuss draft resolutions or decisions, which have been organised into different thematic clusters. During the negotiations, the Belgian presidency will aim to secure a number of EU-priority resolutions. These resolutions address environmental issues such as chemical pollution, and set out measures to strengthen water policies, ocean and seas governance, circular economy and cooperation at all levels of decision-making.

During this session, the UNEA will deliberate on the adoption of the draft resolutions and the endorsement of a Ministerial Declaration. This declaration contains various commitments for multilateral actions and integrated solutions in order to effectively implement the resolutions.


Belgian presidency delegation at UNEA-6

Cluster I: Pollution, Chemicals & Waste   

Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) are recognized to cause the most harm both to human health and the environment, even though they constitute a relatively small share of all pesticides. The effective implementation of the Global Alliance on HHPs, which aims to develop and promote substitute solutions, is essential to achieve a global phase-out and to ensure the transition to more sustainable alternatives. The resolution on the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste (SMCW) highlights the lack of progress in this sector. The Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC) is presented as one of the solutions. Its goal is to prevent or minimize harm from chemicals and waste by covering the whole life cycle of chemicals through a multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral approach.  

Cluster I: Nature solutions

This cluster focuses on the role of nature in combatting climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. The EU has proposed two resolutions.

The first one concerns the implementation of effective and inclusive solutions to strengthen water policies for sustainable development (transboundary cooperation, global hydrological cycle, integrated water management, new Freshwater UNEP Strategy, the role of freshwater in climate change mitigation and adaptation, food and energy security, etc.).

The second resolution, presented jointly with Costa Rica, relates to strengthening the system of international governance of the oceans and seas (BBNJ agreement, legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, etc.).

Another resolution deals with strengthening international efforts to halt land degradation, restore degraded land and increase resistance to drought. Criteria, norms, standards and guidelines for the implementation of nature-based solutions to support sustainable development are also discussed in this cluster.  


© ENB - IISD

Cluster III: International environmental governance

The main objective of these proposals is to improve cooperation and synergies at all levels with a view to :

  • to enhance implementation of international environmental decisions;
  • to better addressing the interlinked global environmental crises;
  • to strengthen support to developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change; and
  • to support sustainable development.   

Cluster IV: Root causes of climate change, nature & biodiversity loss and pollution

Circular economy is at the heart of several resolutions, in particular the EU proposal that wants to accelerate the uptake of circularity in problematic sectors such as textiles. Regarding minerals and metals, the resolution highlights their important role to the achievement of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the urgent need for actions to be taken across the full life cycle.

The aim is to reach sustainable consumption and production while still securing mineral supply. Sustainable lifestyle practices and systems-based approaches are also highlighted as means to enhance the circular economy transition in different sectors and to tackle climate change. Particular attention is also demanded for circularity and resilience in the sugar cane agroindustry.