Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 18 December 2023 – 7 January 2024

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

The Palais des Nations and the International Environment House I will be closed from Wednesday, 20 December 2023 to Sunday, 7 January 2024. The Geneva Environment Network secretariat will operate remotely during this period, except during its end-of-year closure, from 23 December 2023 to 2 January 2024. This newsletter exceptionally covers activities for the upcoming three weeks.

Image of the week | The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, speaking at the closure of the two-day high-level events concluding the year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights culminated, on 12 December 2023, at Palais des Nations. The event included a roundtable on the Future of Human Rights, Climate and the Environment.

Towards a Science Policy Panel to Tackle the Pollution Crisis

The second session of the ad hoc open-ended working group on a science-policy panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution (OEWG-2) concluded in Nairobi last Friday, marking the mid-point of the negotiation. Member States made significant progress. Following extensive discussions on Institutional Arrangements, Operating Principles, Conflict of Interest, and other work-related processes and procedures, Member States now have a better idea of the future instrument’s structure and agreed on a clear roadmap for intersessional work towards the final session, scheduled to take place in Geneva, in June 2024. In her closing statement, the Chair, Gudi Alkemade, highlighted that the meeting laid the foundations to fulfill the promise made at the 5th session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), with the adoption of resolution UNEA Resolution 5/8, towards establishing this Science Policy Panel. → Reports and analyses on OEWG-2 include the Earth Negotiations Bulletin Summary, and CIEL Press Release “Second Science Policy Panel Talks Demonstrate Substantial Progress“.

Outcomes of the UN Climate Change Conference

The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) concluded on 13 December 2023, one day later than expected. After long hours of negotiations, parties adopted a decision on the first Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement, which for the first time uses language on fossil fuels, calling for transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems. While many lament the lack of reference to a clear phase-out, this outcome is ‘the beginning of the end’. In the words of the UN Secretary-General Guterres, “[…] fossil fuel phase-out is inevitable. Let’s hope it doesn’t come too late.” → Access decision documents on UNFCCC Website. Among these, relevant highlights include:

Operationalization of the loss and damage fund on the first day of the conference. Commitments to the fund currently amount to more than USD 700 million to date. Parties also agreed that the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the UN Office for Project Services will host the secretariat of the Santiago Network for Loss and Damage.
Agreement on targets for the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) and its framework.
Decision (FCCC/CP/2023/L.4) accepting Azerbaijan’s offer to host COP29 from Monday, 11 November, to Friday, 22 November 2024, and Brazil’s offer to host COP30 from Monday, 10 November, to Friday, 21 November 2025.
Financial pledges to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) – USD 12.8 billion from 31 countries; the Least Developed Countries Fund and Special Climate Change Fund – USD 174 million; and the Adaptation Fund – USD 188 million.

COP28 also saw convergence on multiple non-negotiated declarations, pledges, charters, and coalitions, including:

Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) for Climate Action, signed by 71 parties.
UAE Leaders’ Declaration on a Global Climate Finance Framework, signed by 13 parties.
COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate and Health, signed by 143 parties
COP28 Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery and Peace, 123 signatories.
Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge, 123 signatories
COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action, signed by 159 parties
COP28 Gender-Responsive Just Transitions and Climate Action Partnership, signed by 68 parties.
Global Cooling Pledge for COP28, signed by 61 parties.
COP28 Declaration of Intent (hydrogen), signed by 37 parties.
COP28 Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter
COP28 Joint Statement on Climate, Nature and People, signed by 18 parties.
The High-Level Champions, under the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action, launched an implementation roadmap of 2030 Climate Solutions.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations launched a Global Roadmap for Achieving SDG2 without breaching the 1.5C threshold.
The Freshwater Challenge – launched at the UN Water Conference in March 2023 – was joined by 37 countries.
The Coral Reef Breakthrough was launched to secure the future of at least 125,000 km2 of shallow-water tropical coral reefs.
France, alongside Canada, the European Commission, Indonesia, Malaysia, Senegal, UK, and US launched the Coal Transition Accelerator initiative.

Suggested analyses and resources on the outcomes of COP28 include:

Earth Negotiation Bulletin Final Report
COP28 Agreement Signals “Beginning of the End” of the Fossil Fuel Era | UNFCCC | 13 December 2023
The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) closed today with an agreement that signals the “beginning of the end” of the fossil fuel era by laying the ground for a swift, just, and equitable transition, underpinned by deep emissions cuts and scaled-up finance.
UAE Presidency Press Release | 13 December 2023
COP28 concluded with a final consensus that lays out a response to the Global Stocktake and puts forward a plan to close the gaps to 2030. It calls on Parties to transition away from fossil fuels, encourages them to submit economy-wide Nationally Determined Contributions, includes a new specific target to triple renewables and double energy efficiency by 2030, and builds momentum behind a new architecture for climate finance.
Simon Stiell’s closing speech | 13 December 2023
“We didn’t turn the page on the fossil fuel era, but this outcome is the beginning of the end. These climate conferences are a consensus-based process, meaning all Parties must agree on every word, every comma, every full stop. This is not easy, it underscores how much these UN conferences have achieved.”
Stop ‘kicking the can down the road,’ UN chief urges COP28 deal on phaseout of fossil fuels | UN News | 11 December 2023
As COP28 entered its final 48 hours, the UN chief delivered a clear message to government negotiators: “We must conclude the conference with an ambitious outcome that demonstrates decisive action and a credible plan to keep 1.5-degree goal alive, protecting those on the frontlines of the climate crisis.”
UNEP Executive Director’s statement | UNEP | 13 December 2023
COP28 has delivered, for the first time at climate talks, a clear call on countries to transition away from fossil fuels. The deal is not perfect, but one thing is clear: the world is no longer denying our harmful addiction to fossil fuels. Now, we move beyond bargaining to action.
The Global Climate Action Portal (GCAP) COP28 climate action announcement tracker | UNFCCC
Many countries, leading businesses, and activists advocated for stronger commitments and language, including a phase-out of fossil fuels. But although the final agreement is weaker than many had hoped, it is a step in the right direction.
While weaker than hoped, COP28 took a small step in the right direction | Business for Nature | 14 December 2023
A year on from the adoption of the Global Biodiversity Framework, nature played a critical role in this year’s climate conference. Colombia’s Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, Susanna Muhamed, announced that the country has offered to host COP16, the next biannual UN Conference on Biodiversity.
What are the loopholes in the COP28 climate deal? | Reuters | 14 December 2023
Some delegations and environmental groups say it contains major loopholes that could keep oil, gas, and coal flowing indefinitely: deployment of carbon capture, transitional fuels, a clause calling upon parties to transition away from fossil fuels “in energy systems” – as opposed to across the entire economy.
Nature Got a More Prominent Place at the Table at COP28 | Inside Climate News | 14 December 2023
Animals’ roles in the carbon cycle have long been overlooked. At the climate conference in Dubai, scientists showed how rewilding ecosystems can have big climate benefits.
Climate reparations are becoming a reality. Here’s what they could look like | GRIST | 14 December 2023
As debates continue over how to finance and deploy the fund such that it serves those most in need, one aspect is frequently lost in the conversation: how countries will use the money when they receive it.
COP28: Key outcomes agreed at the UN climate talks in Dubai | Carbon Brief | 13 December 2023
An in-depth analysis of all the key outcomes in Dubai – both inside and outside the COP. COP28 brought a wave of new international pledges – covering everything from oil-and-gas company emissions and tripling renewables, through to food systems and how the world can better integrate action on climate change and biodiversity loss.
Did COP28 get us closer to the world we want? Assessing the outcome on loss and damage | Loss and Damage Collaboration | 13 December 2023
While it’s a positive signal to see Loss and Damage reflected in the GST, it is still treated as an option rather than a key component of a comprehensive response to climate change, which is a concern given the fact that loss and damage is escalating in frequency and magnitude and households and communities are already bearing the burden of responding to both the economic and non-economic costs of loss and damage.
Climate Action from Geneva to Dubai | UN Climate Change Conference COP28

Calls for Submission and Contests Closing Soon

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. A dedicated update lists calls for submissions related to the environment. An additional update lists ongoing contests launched by our partners. Deadlines not to be missed during the coming weeks include:

United Nations World Wildlife Day 2024 Official Poster Contest | World Wildlife Day (WWD) is observed annually on 3 March to celebrate all the world’s wild animals and plants and the contribution that they make to our lives and the health of the planet. The theme for World Wildlife Day 2024 is “Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation”. The CITES Secretariat is hosting a contest for the official poster(s) to be featured in this year’s celebration events and activities. Designs can be submitted by 22 December 2023 through this form.
Call for Nominations for Experts for the Methodological Assessment on Monitoring Biodiversity and Nature’s Contributions to People Assessment | The IPBES Plenary approved the undertaking of the methodological assessment on monitoring biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people (“monitoring assessment”) to monitor biodiversity, nature’s contributions to people and the direct and underlying causes of the observed changes; and progress towards the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The Multidisciplinary Expert Panel invites Governments and other relevant stakeholders to nominate experts to participate in the monitoring assessment. Nominees are invited to complete the application form and attach their CV by 9 January 2024. Nominators (governments or organizations) should submit the nominations of all Nominees they support before 19 January 2024.
Second short national reports of the Minamata Convention on Mercury | According to Art.21, Parties to the Minamata Convention shall report to the Conference of the Parties, through the Secretariat, on the measures it has taken to implement the provisions of the Convention, on the effectiveness of such measures and on possible challenges in meeting the objective of the Convention. Parties are invited to submit their second short national report for the reporting period from 1 January 2021 until 31 December 2022 through the new online reporting tool by 31 December 2023.
Technical consultations as part of the WHO Global Research Agenda Setting for Climate Change and Health | The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts and practitioners to participate in technical consultations to develop a global research agenda for climate change and health. The Research Agenda for Action on Climate Change and Health, REACH 2035 will define a set of forward-looking research priorities on climate change and health. Applications must be submitted by 31 December 2023
Trade + Sustainability Hub 2024 | Running alongside the thirteenth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC13) taking place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from 26 to 29 February 2024, IISD’s Trade + Sustainability Hub will bring together thought leaders from both within and outside governments for a series of conversations on the challenges of building cooperative trade policy that delivers for sustainable development. The theme for 2024 is: Trade Policy in Turbulent Times: Can We Find a Way Back to Cooperation? → Register to join in person or online.
Written Inputs for the Preparation of the Zero Draft of the Pact for the Future | The co-facilitators of the Summit of the Future, Germany and Namibia, invite Major Groups and Other Stakeholders (MGoS), other civil society networks and organizations, NGOs, the private sector and academia to provide written inputs for the preparation of the Zero Draft of the Pact for the Future. The deadline for the submission of written inputs is 31 December 2023. Inputs must be submitted in Word format using this template.

End of the Year and Season’s Greetings

As 2023 comes to an end, it is time to reflect on another busy year for environmental governance, with major negotiations and intergovernmental meetings in Geneva and beyond, leading to landmark decisions to tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, we are facing. → Relive these moments in our selection of quotes for 2023

In 2023, the Geneva Environment Network organized 67 multi-stakeholder events, supported partners in hosting numerous other events, and welcomed 30 groups of students at the International Environment House. We also kept the Geneva community informed of environment-related activities and issues through our weekly newsletter and web resources. → Access videos and summaries of past events and a list of upcoming events

We would like to thank Switzerland, our partners, and other stakeholders for their continued support and collaboration, and for continuing to make Geneva a global hub for international environmental governance. The Geneva Environment Network team appreciates working with you and wishes you a very merry and environmentally-friendly holiday. We look forward to continuing our support to the Geneva environmental community in 2024!

Looking for some activities to complete your holiday program? Our page “Green Winter in Geneva” showcases our selection of environment-related activities, outdoor excursions, conferences, and more in Geneva.

What (Else) to Read Next?

Quarterly Update Issue 7 | TESS | 19 December 2023
In this issue, TESS provides a round-up of a selection of major international gatherings, followed by updates on the activities and impacts that TESS has pursued this past quarter to foster multilateral cooperation.
Colombia to host CBD COP16 – UN Biodiversity Conference 2024 | 15 December 2023
Colombia will host the UN Biodiversity Conference 2024, from 21 October to 1 November 2024. The offer was made following the decision of the Republic of Türkiye to withdraw from hosting and presiding over the
Meetings, due to a force majeure situation created by the three destructive earthquakes of February 2023.
Governments in Europe and North America agree to revise Gothenburg Protocol to avoid long-term damage from air pollution to health, ecosystems, yields and climate | UNECE | 15 December 2023
The ground-breaking decision came on 14 December as a result of discussions on policy options to address the findings of the recent review report, which assessed the effectiveness of the amended Gothenburg Protocol. While emission reductions have been achieved, countries in the Pan-European region and North America are set to suffer long-term damage from air pollution to human health, ecosystems, crop yields, and climate. 
Sustainable infrastructure: a key to rebuilding economies and societies in line with the SDGs | UNECE | 14 December 2023
In her opening remarks at the 7th session of the UNECE Working Party on Public-Private Partnerships, UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean called on member States to front-load PPP and infrastructure projects in post-disaster and post-conflict contexts, by streamlining them – without compromising the broader goal of rebuilding economies and societies in line with the SDGs.
Water Convention and partners support efforts to mobilize public and private capital for cross-border water management | UNECE | 14 December 2023
As global water challenges are intensified by climate change, the Global Workshop on Funding and Financing Transboundary Water Cooperation and Basin Development brought together some 200 participants in Geneva on 5-6 December 2023.
Corporate sustainability due diligence: Council and Parliament strike deal to protect environment and human rights | Council of the European Union | 14 December 2023
The Council and the European Parliament reached a deal on the corporate sustainability due diligence directive, aimed to enhance protection of the environment and human rights, setting obligations for large companies on actual and potential adverse impacts on human rights and the environment.
‘I’ve never seen anything like this’: Japan says reason behind 1,200 tonnes of fish washing ashore is unknown | The Guardian | 14 December 2023
Earlier this month, an estimated 1,200 tonnes of sardines and mackerel were found floating on the surface of the sea off the fishing port of Hakodate in Hokkaido, forming a silver blanket stretching for more than a kilometre. Officials have admitted they are struggling to determine the causes.
How Multilateral Environmental Agreements can help mend the planet | UNEP | 13 December 2023
These Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) will feature prominently at the upcoming sixth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6), the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment. Attendees are expected to explore how countries can enhance their cooperation with MEAs, which are helping the world do everything from counter forever chemicals to protect bats.
Single-Use Food Packaging from 17 Countries Contains PFAS “Forever Chemicals” | IPEN | 13 December 2023
The study found toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including globally banned substances, in single-use, paper, cardboard, and plant-based molded fiber food containers and tableware purchased from 17 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Vested interests pose threat to chemical waste and plastic pollution initiatives | Chemistry World | 13 December 2023
As talks for the science-policy panel on chemicals, waste and pollution prevention get underway, concerns have been voiced about potential conflicts of interest that could undermine the panel. The warning comes as efforts to agree a global treaty on plastic pollution appear to have been delayed by vested interests.
More WTO members formally accept Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies | WTO | 12 & 13 December 2023
In the past week, Chile, The Gambia, and The United Kingdom have deposited their instruments of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies respectively on 12 and 13 December 2023, advancing the tally of formal acceptances to the halfway mark required for entry into force.
DG Okonjo-Iweala: It’s time to “dramatize” Geneva to deliver concrete outcomes for MC13 | WTO | 12 December 2023
DG Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said it was incumbent upon WTO members to deliver concrete outcomes at the upcoming 13th Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi next February. To achieve this, negotiators “need to conclude as much of the negotiations we can in Geneva” before the start of MC13.
Restoring mountain ecosystems | Challenges, case studies and recommendations for implementing the UN Decade Principles for Mountain Ecosystem Restoration | FAO and UNEP | 11 December 2023
The report analyses several mountain ecosystem restoration projects and recommends how the UN Decade’s Ten Principles for Ecosystem Restoration can be applied to mountain ecosystems. Mountain restoration success stories from initiatives that have been selected or shortlisted as the UN Decade’s World Restoration Flagships are also highlighted.
Global Humanitarian Overview 2024 | UN | 11 December 2023
In 2024, nearly 300 million people around the world will need humanitarian assistance and protection, due to conflicts, the global climate emergency, and economic factors.
The Quadripartite launches a guide to support countries implement One Health approach | UNEP | 10 December 2023
The Quadripartite Collaboration on One Health releases –The guide to Implementing the One Health Joint Plan of Action at National Level (the Guide) to support countries to strengthen their One Health actions.
Undoing environmental wrongs through human rights | UNEP | 10 December 2023
UNEP pledges to advance the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, because the environment makes our lives and wellbeing possible, underpins sustainable development, and enables the fulfilment of many other rights. UNEP pledges to support environmental human rights defenders, the brave individuals and communities that face intimidation, criminalization and death when they stand up to those who would devastate nature for profit.
Barcelona Convention COP23 commits to a green transition in the Mediterranean | UNEP | 8 December 2023
In the Portoroz Ministerial Declaration, the Contracting Parties vow to undertake the required radical shifts to decouple economic progress from the drivers of environmental degradation, and to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Mediterranean region.
Understanding the Drivers of Investment Portfolio Decarbonisation | UNEP FI | December 2023
The Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance members are individually committed to decarbonising their investment portfolios and financing a net-zero transition. The Alliance believes that the most effective approach is a combination of capital allocation strategies, engagement with relevant stakeholders, and field building.