This article was created in collaboration with theEuropean Commission.
Commissioner SinkeviiusThe European Union will be represented at the fifth session United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5), held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 28 February to 2 March. The EU will join forces with partners from across the continents to launch negotiations for a new globally binding agreement on plastics. The EU will also seek to establish a Science-Policy Panel for chemicals, waste, and pollution to provide scientific advice to the international community in a manner similar to the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change. Final goal will be to agree on a definition of nature-based solutions. This is crucial ahead of COP15, under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Virginijus, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Sinkeviius said: The triple crisis facing our planet is climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The EU is not only working to address it at home but also building alliances on an international level as we work together to tackle these global issues. I am going to Kenya in order to secure key EU priorities and launch negotiations for a new global plastics agreement. We have more than 140 partners already on board, and I am optimistic that the international community can step up. Collectively, we can make a real difference and that is what I hope for at the UN Environment Assembly.
Global plastic pollution: A landmark in the fight
The EU’s key negotiating objectives include:
- Establishing an International negotiating group for a legally binding, global agreement on plastics. The EU wants to reach an agreement that follows a circular, whole-life-cycle approach to plastics. Circular Economy Action plan. Given the global nature and severity of plastic pollution, global coordination is the only way to solve this problem.
- How to create a Science-Policy Panel for Chemicals, Waste and PollutionThese problems can be dealt with by the, which will offer similar support as the. IPCC, IPBESAnd IRPSpecifically, they will provide support for climate, biodiversity, and natural resource policies.
- Defining and Promoting Nature-Based Solutions. Nature-based solutions are actions to preserve, sustainably manage and restore natural and altered ecosystems. They are able to provide multiple benefits for the environment, society and economy and increase resilience. Currently, the lack of an internationally agreed definition of naturebased solutions hampers progress in various negotiation processes and can lead to greenwashing’ and wrong classification of activities. The EU will be working towards a common definition to facilitate discussions at COP15, as well in other UN settings like the UN Climate Convention.
The conference should provide Other global processes may require guidance, such as climate negotiations and negotiations on the post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, (COP15), and post-2020 chemicals & waste framework, to encourage ambitious outcomes.
EU side events on pollution and nature
Next to the negotiations, a number of side events will be organised including the Commission’s event on A ‘zero pollution ambition’ to protect nature and people’ 1. March It will be focusing on actions and approaches to strengthen pollution reduction action as part of nature protection and well-being. Commissioner SinkeviiusInger Andersen (Executive Director of UNEP) will deliver the keynote speeches. Live streaming is available Here.
Commissioner SinkeviiusAdditionally, I will attend the Second High Level Meeting of the Global Alliance on Circular Ecosystem and Resource Efficiency (GACERE), on March 2. This meeting will focus on Circular Economy in the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. It will be discussed at the COP15 Biodiversity Conference later this year.
Background
The United Nations Environment Assembly is the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment. It meets every other year. Hosted by the UN Environment Programme, the United Nations Environment Assembly brings together representatives of the 193 Member States of the UN, businesses, civil society and other stakeholders to agree on policies to address the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. In line with the UN Environment Programme, the Assembly includes EU Member States as well as EU. UNGA Resolution A/65/276.
The overall theme of Fifth Session, United Nations Environment AssemblyIt is Strengthening Actions For Nature to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals. This highlights the pivotal role nature plays in our lives and calls for strengthened action to protect and restore nature and the nature-based solutions to achieve the sustainable development goals in its three complementary dimensions – social, economic and environmental. This fifth session was held in a format tailored to the COVID-15 pandemic. It included an online part that took place on 2223 Feb and an in-person portion in Nairobi.
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Background information about EU participation at previous UNEA sessions
