Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 17 – 23 February 2025

The Geneva Environment Network’s weekly newsletter includes the latest information on the global environmental agenda, main events, job vacancies, as well as other useful resources and updates. Stay tuned and follow us on X (Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky, and Youtube, or visit our website regularly for additional updates.

Image of the week | Panelists and attendees engage in bilateral discussions after the launch event of the Geneva Dialogues on Mineral and Metal Resources, at the International Environment House on 13 February 2025. © Geneva Environment Network

Impact Days 2025 | Geneva International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights

The 23rd edition of the Geneva International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights (FIFDH 2025), an annual event taking place in the margins of the March session of the Human Rights Council, will be held under the theme “Between Anger and Tenderness: Cinema to Rethink the World”, from 7 to 16 March 2025. This year’s edition will feature the environment highly as the various films, exhibitions and conferences tackle the interlinkages between human rights issues and toxics, minerals and metals, Indigenous People’s rights, environmental (and) human rights defenders, and questions on economic growth, among others. → Learn more about FIFDH 2025 environment-related programme.

Bringing together NGOs, filmmakers, impact practitioners, and funders to find joint strategies around common human rights themes, including on the environment, the 7th edition of FIFDH Impact Days, taking place from 9 to 11 March 2024, will feature documentary projects, with the goal of working with filmmakers to refine their impact goals, and facilitate partnerships within the vast ecosystem of organizations, policymakers and funders active around International Geneva. In preparation, the Impact Days Collaboration Workshop for non-governmental and international organizations takes place on Monday 17 February 2025, to provide an opportunity for exchange on this year’s selected films and projects and on possible synergies and collaborations.

WHO 156th Executive Board Concludes Preparations for the 78th World Health Assembly

The 156th session of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization, chaired by Jerome Walcott, Health Minister of Barbados, concluded last week with members resuming considerations and adopting draft decisions and resolutions to be considered by the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA). Following the discussions held the week before and summarized in last week’s newsletter, advancing the protection of human health in relation to the environment, the following

On agenda item 20 on the impact of chemicals, waste and pollution on human health, the Board adopted a draft decision on Galvanizing global support for a lead-free future contained in document EB156/CONF./11 (Financial and administrative implications EB156/CONF./11 Add.1), with dissociation of Argentina. The Board didn’t reach consensus on the draft decision on [Effects of [nuclear weapons and] nuclear war on health and [health] services, contained in document EB156/CONF./10 (Financial and administrative implications EB156/CONF./10 Add.1) and intends to continue discussions.
On agenda item 21 on the updated road map for an enhanced global response to the adverse health effects of air pollution, the board adopted the draft decision contained in document EB156/24 (Financial and administrative implications EB156/24 Add.1) for WHA78 to adopt the Road map for an enhanced global response to the adverse health effects of air pollution and to request the Director-General to report on progress in its implementation to the WHA83 in 2030.
On agenda item 22 on climate change and health, on the Draft Global Action Plan on Climate Change and Health contained in document EB156/25 (Financial and administrative implications EB156/25 Add.1), the Board amended the document and decided to conduct informal consultations on the global action plan will continue to be facilitated by the secretariat prior to WHA78.

Speaking at the closing of WHO’s Executive Board on Tuesday 11 February, WHO’s Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus appealed for a second time to the United States to reconsider its decision to withdraw from WHO, “We regret the announcement by the United States, of its intention to withdraw, and it was also sad to see them participating less this week. I think we all felt their absence.”

Road to Belém UN Climate Change Conference

When climate change experts and leaders gather in Belém, Brazil, this November for the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP30) – it will mark a decade since the Paris Agreement was adopted at COP21, in 2015. In the run-up to Belém, numerous opportunities arise to boost climate action.

182 Member States Miss Nationally Determined Contributions Submission Deadline | Every five years, Parties to the Paris Climate Agreement are required to submit updated national climate plans or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the UNFCCC secretariat, as they agreed to assess their progress towards meeting the Paris goals in a five-yearly global stocktake and increase their efforts accordingly. Only 13 of the 195 Parties met the 10 February 2025 deadline for the third round of NDCs, at least nine to twelve months ahead of the start of COP30, as confirmed in the “global stocktake” of climate action adopted with a decision at COP28 in 2023. Although the UN climate chief, Simon Stiell, said in a speech earlier this month that the “vast majority of countries have indicated that they will submit new plans this year” and that “taking a bit more time to ensure these plans are first-rate makes sense”, various institutions pointed out the missed deadline:

Only 13 of the 195 Parties to the Paris Agreement communicated their NDC 3.0 by the deadline of 10 February 2025 | United Nations Economic Commission for Africa | 13 February 2023
Over 90% of countries fail to submit new NDCs by deadline – Climate Action Network | CAN | 11 February 2025
COP29: What are NDCs and why do they matter? | WEF | 11 February 2025
Majority of big polluters miss February deadline for 2035 climate targets | WWF | 10 February 2025
WWF calls on more G20 countries to show leadership and set out ambitious climate targets and plans
Analysis: 95% of countries miss UN deadline to submit 2035 climate pledges | Carbon Brief | 10 February 2025

61st Munich Security Conference | Last week, discussions held at the 61st Munich Security Conference featured heads of organizations of Geneva institutions and underscored the critical importance of addressing climate security. Mukhtar Babayev, President of COP29, represented Azerbaijan at the conference and was engaged in discussions aimed at reinforcing climate action. He met with Anthony Agota, the European Union’s Special Representative for Climate and Environmental Diplomacy, and other leading voices, to explore ways to strengthen climate initiatives and push forward the ambitious goals outlined in the Baku to Belém Roadmap to 1.3T. This roadmap represents a transformative initiative aimed at mobilizing substantial financial resources to combat climate change and transition to a sustainable, low-carbon future.

Other news include:

Climate finance cannot flow into a policy vacuum: UNEP FI | Insurance Day | 13 February 2025
UNEP FI chief, Eric Usher, outlines how the new climate action plans that countries submit to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change can unlock the finance and insurance needed.
Strengthening Confidence in Financing Local Climate-responsive Projects | Global Cities Hub | 13 February 2025
Scaling up funding and financing instruments for local and regional governments (LRGs) is essential for ensuring that they can pay their fair share in financing climate-responsive projects and driving forward the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Energy Transition – Trade, Climate, and Net Zero Pathways: Scenarios and Implications for Developing Countries and Climate-Resilient Development | Beth Walker & Ellie Belton | TESS Forum | 12 February 2025
This sectoral briefing note focuses on the energy transition, outlining climate action and impact scenarios in the transition away from fossil fuels while examining trade-related trends and dynamics.
CJ Climate Change Advisory Opinion: Noteworthy Trends | Nilufer Oral, Director of the | Centre for International Law, National University of Singapore | IISD SDGs Knowledge Hub | 12 February 2025
Member States, policymakers, legal professionals, and numerous other stakeholders have high hopes for the advisory opinion, which, albeit non-binding, will carry significant weight and credence.
Climate impacts are forcing people from their homes. When, how and why do they have valid refugee claims? | The Conversation | 10 February 2025
Refugee law defines a refugee as someone with a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group. So one challenge was in classifying supposedly “natural” events as “persecution”, which requires an identifiable human actor.

Plastic Pollution Headlines

The bureau of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution will meet on 20 February and is expected to agree on the venue for the upcoming resumed session of its fifth meeting. Also this week, the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee 33rd session — to be held from 17 to 21 February 2025 in Geneva — will include discussions on Implications of plastic pollution for the full enjoyment of human rights, on 19 February 2025 from 10:00 – 12:00 CET in Room XX, Palais des Nations.

Meanwhile, plastic pollution action or inaction continues to make the headlines:

Effects of tire particles on earthworm (Eisenia andrei) fitness and bioaccumulation of tire-related chemicals | Thibault Masset, Florian Breider, et al. | Environmental Pollution, Volume 368 | 1 March 2025
This work highlights that soil highly contaminated with tire particles can negatively impact habitat function due to changes in texture and/or chemical stressors, lead to uptake of tire-related additives by earthworms and that high concentrations can impact organism’s fitness.
Plastics Dialogue explores cooperation, standards and harmonization of trade measures | WTO | 13 February 2025
The discussions focused on supporting ongoing multilateral negotiations, strengthening cooperation on standards for non-plastic substitutes and alternatives, exploring strategies to harmonize trade-related measures for single-use plastics, and potential outcomes for MC14.
‘Cocktail of contaminants’. Burning plastic and emitting toxic gases has become central to plastic offsetting claims | Source Material | 12 February 2025
One of the plastics industry’s favoured ways to cut waste puts the climate and people’s health at risk, without curbing production.
Coca-Cola says it may use more plastic due to Trump tariffs | BBC | 12 February 2025
Coca-Cola may have to sell more drinks in plastic bottles in the US if President Donald Trump’s tariffs end up making aluminium cans more expensive, the company’s chief executive, James Quincey, said in a call with investors.
Open letter to INC Bureau regarding observer participation at INC 5.2 | Science Coalition | 11 February 2025
Letter sent to INC Bureau on behalf of the Scientists’ Coalition calling for protections and assurances for observer participation at INC 5.2, dated 11th February 2025.
World must explore solutions to environmental crises without relying on US Experts | PTI | 11 February 2025
US President’s decision to abandon efforts to curb plastic pollution has raised concerns among experts, who warn that the global progress in tackling the crisis could slow down and suggest that the world must now look for solutions, without relying on the United States.
Trump’s unnecessary stand on plastic straws ignores American Health Crisis | Greenpeace | 10 February 2025
Greenpeace statement in response to President Trump’s plan to revoke the Biden Administration’s directive to phase out plastic straw use across the federal government.
Study finds microplastics in our brains are accumulating, with unknown outcomes on our health | Salon | 7 February 2024
By analyzing the brains of 52 dead patients, scientists were able to visualize how microplastics amass inside us.
Independent Science Key to Breaking Stalemates in Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations | Farrelly, Trisia & Brander, Susanne & Thompson, Richard & Almroth, Bethanie | Cambridge Prisms: Plastics | February 2025
The Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty outlined the reasons for the failure to reach consensus in negotiations. The body of over 400 independent scientists also called for support to continue work that underpins the efforts of the ‘coalition of the willing’.

Upcoming Deadlines Related to the Environment

With the environment high on the agenda of International Geneva and beyond, different international processes, negotiations, and fora regularly call for inputs in preparation for future reports and guidelines, as well as contests. → Find here calls for submissions related to the environment, find here information on ongoing environmental contests, and here calls for submissions from Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council and other human rights bodies and instruments.

IPBES Call for nominations of participants in a workshop to reflect on scenarios and models to better account for different knowledge systems | IPBES task forces on scenarios and models and on Indigenous and local knowledge, in line with their workplans for 2025, are organizing a workshop to reflect on scenarios and models that better account for different knowledge systems, including Indigenous and local knowledge systems, and Mother Earth-centric scenarios and models. The workshop is planned to be held over four days in Valencia, the Philippines, in May 2025. With reference to notification EM/2024/02, nominators (Governments or organizations) must submit the nominations of all nominees who they would like to support before 19 February 2025. → Find more details and apply.
Call for Inputs to UNEA-7 Ministerial Declaration | In a letter, UNEA-7 President His Excellency Abdullah bin Ali Al Amri circulated the roadmap for the preparation of the draft ministerial declaration. Written inputs should be shared with the secretariat of the United Nations Environment Programme using the e-Submit module on the e-deleGATE. More information on how to access the e-deleGATE and share inputs through e-Submit module is available on the website of the Committee of Permanent Representatives. The invited Member States and observers to share initial thoughts, key topics and issues to be considered for inclusion in the zero draft by 21 February 2025.
Climate Justice, Sustainability, and the Right to Development | At its 8th session, the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development (EMRTD) of the Human Rights Council outlined that the thematic studies that it planned to submit to the Human Rights Council during the 2024-2026 cycle, included a study on Climate Justice, Sustainability, and the Right to Development. The study seeks to explore strategies, mechanisms, and best practices to uphold the Right to Development (RTD) in the context of climate justice and sustainability. It will examine how RTD principles—such as meaningful participation, non-discrimination, resource equity, and interdependence of rights—can reinforce just transitions and sustainable climate action. The deadline for submission is 20 February 2025.

Happening Abroad

9th Meeting of the Environmental Network for Optimizing Regulatory Compliance on Illegal Traffic (ENFORCE.9) | The Environmental Network for Optimizing Regulatory Compliance on Illegal Traffic (ENFORCE) was established by the 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (BC-11/8) with the aim to promote parties’ compliance with the provisions of the Basel Convention pertaining to preventing and combating illegal traffic in hazardous wastes and other wastes through the better implementation and enforcement of national law. At ENFORCE.9 taking place from 17 February to 18 February 2025 in The Hague, Netherlands, Member States are expected to inter alia, exchange information on activities and identify activities that would benefit from being coordinated or jointly planned and implemented, and to deliberate on the modalities for the operation of the network.

What (Else) to Read Next?

13 persons arrested for illegally disposing 35 000 tonnes of hazardous waste | Europol | 14 February 2025
Criminals made at least EUR 4 million by illegally disposing of medical and hazardous waste from Italy, Slovenia and Germany in Croatia.
UNECE Inland Transport Committee advances international cooperation for sustainable and resilient future of transport | UNECE | 13 February 2025
Gathering in Geneva, global transport leaders shared commitments aimed at forging a sustainable, efficient, and resilient future of inland transport.
Can Indonesia reply to global nickel demand without destroying its environment? | Swissinfo | 13 February 2025
Indonesia is making the most of its nickel ore reserves and has invested in developing a home-grown industry. The success story comes with a downside: pollution and deforestation. As demand for critical minerals soar, the United Nations is pushing for standards.
Corporate tax incentives for green growth: Where, when, and how they are being used | Worldbank Blog | 13 February 2025
A Prosperity Insight Note, based on findings from a new World Bank database of Corporate Income Tax (CIT) incentives, reveals that tax incentives are rewarding polluting economic activities in more cases than they are promoting sustainability.
Mismatch Between Global Importance of Peatlands and the Extent of Their Protection| Kemen G. Austin, Paul R Elsen, Euridice N. Honorio Coronado et al. | Society for Conservation Biology | 12 February 2025
Global peatlands store more carbon than all the world’s forests biomass on just 3% of the planet’s land surface. Failure to address mounting threats to peatland ecosystems will jeopardize critical climate targets and exacerbate biodiversity loss.
US-Israeli Start-Up Unveils Reckless Geoengineering Gamble | Center for International Environmental Law | 12 February 2025
Stardust Solutions cited and endorsed a report announcing its plans to develop and commercialize a highly controversial solar geoengineering technology. This would be a likely violation of the de facto moratorium on geoengineering at the Convention on Biological Diversity, according to CIEL.
A deep dive into the wins and losses for wildlife and forests at CITES SC78 | EIA | 11 February 2025
Covering one packed agenda, four interventions and six hectic days, EIA campaigners share the highlights from CITES SC78 in Geneva.
Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet | France Presidency | 11 February 2025
This Summit has highlighted the importance of reinforcing the diversity of the AI ecosystem.
Découverte de deux nouvelles espèces de poissons dans les eaux suisses | Eawag: L’Institut de Recherche de l’Eau du Domaine des EPF | 11 February 2025
Par le biais d’un sondage, la population pourra décider comment nommer ces deux espèces découvertes par par des chercheuses et chercheurs de l’université de Berne, du musée d’histoire naturelle de Berne et de l’Institut de recherche sur l’eau Eawag. Dans cet interview, la biologiste Bárbara Calegari explique où elles vivent et comment rendre visible la diversité de nos eaux.
Chile Joins France as Co-Lead of 100% Alliance for Sustainable Ocean Management | WRI | 10 February 2025
Chile has been confirmed as the new co-lead of the 100% Alliance, an international campaign urging all coastal and ocean states to commit to the sustainable management of 100% of their national ocean areas. As the world prepares for a critical year in ocean action, Chile joins France in partnership with the Ocean Panel in leading this initiative, which is coordinated by WRI.