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. Due to the Whit Monday holiday, this edition of the newsletter exceptionally covers eight days.

Image of the week | The Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, H.E. Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdiviedos, speaking to Member States at the Executive Briefing on Plastic Pollution INC-5.2, at the International Environment House, on 27 May 2025, where he emphasized that Geneva is this wonderful laboratory for international relations and negotiations. He stressed the importance of the work ahead and insisted that the objective is the adoption of an instrument to combat and to end plastic pollution, in August in Geneva.

Celebrating World Environment Day | Multilateral Geneva Collectively Acting to Beat Plastic Pollution and Advance a Global Plastics Treaty

On 5 June, the world will be observing World Environment Day, calling this year for collective action to tackle plastic pollution, exactly two months before delegates meet in Geneva for the resumed negotiations towards a global treaty to end plastic pollution. In November 2024, the Republic of Korea hosted the first part of the fifth session of negotiations to develop a plastic pollution treaty, and this year is the official host of World Environment Day.

With the fifth session of the intergovernmental negotiation committee resuming in Geneva from 5 to 14 August 2025, this year’s Geneva World Environment Day Celebration is of particular importance and will highlight how the international Geneva multilateral diplomacy system is collectively taking action to tackle plastic pollution and supporting the establishment of a treaty to end plastic pollution. The traditional Celebration at the International Environment House on 5 June 2025 will include a World Environment Day Breakfast offered by the host country and local authorities (9:00-10:30 CEST), organized in parallel to the GENeva World Environment Day Forum showcasing how international Geneva is advancing the Beat Plastic Pollution agenda, and back to back to the World Environment Day Dialogue (10:30-12:00 CEST) building momentum towards the resumed negotiation session in Geneva to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. → Register and join us in person at the International Environment House in the morning of Thursday 5 June 2025.

Find more suggestions and resources to celebrate World Environment Day in Geneva and abroad on our dedicated page. Other events organized in Geneva include:

During last week’s Executive Briefing on Plastic Pollution INC-5.2, Switzerland Ambassador for the Environment, the Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, and its Executive Secretary provided latest updates on the upcoming session:

  • The deadline for registration to attend INC-5.2 for Member States of the United Nations or Members of its Specialized Agencies and Regional Economic Integration Organizations has been extended to 30 June 2025, 23:59 EAT (22:59 CEST). The deadline for observer organizations remains 6 June 2025. There will be no on-site registration.
  • Delegates from eligible countries designated to receive financial support are requested to submit an additional application for funding following the additional Indico link and the process described in the letter of the Executive Secretary, dated 3 March 2025, no later than the extended final deadline of 15 June 2025, 23:59 EAT.
  • To attend INC-5.2, representatives from the permanent missions in Geneva must be included as part of their national delegation and registered through the Indico registration portal.
  • A Ministerial segment will take place towards the end of the negotiations, with ministers joining from 12 August until the end of the session on 15 August 2025.
  • A Multistakeholder Forum will be held on 4 August 2025.
  • A Swiss Reception will be held on 5 August 2025.
  • A ministerial event at the margins of the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice will take place on 10 June from 13:00 to 14:30 CEST.

Additional news:

Other events this week:

Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025 | Every Day counts, Act for Resilience Today

The eighth session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction — the global multi-stakeholder forum to review progress on the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction — organized by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and hosted by the Government of Switzerland is convening from 2 to 6 June 2025 at the Geneva International Conference Center. The event will consist of preparatory days on 2 and 3 June and official days from 4 to 6 June 2025 and will gather stakeholders in various fora, high-level dialogues and ministerial roundtables.

The overall theme of this year’s Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, ‘Every Day counts, Act for Resilience Today’ embodies an urgency to course correct the trajectory of progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework goals, as articulated in the midterm review. With two years having elapsed since the midterm review of 2023 and five years remaining until 2030, there is a final window to accelerate action.

Resources recently released to prepare for the meeting include:

Heat Action Day 2025 | Recognizing and Responding to Heat Stroke

On 2 June 2025, to mark Heat Action Day 2025 dedicated to “recognizing and responding to heat stroke”, the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre will release a new report, elevating the voices of those hardest hit by the effects of heat. The report also include the latest figures on the growing health toll of extreme heat, and how this could be prevented.

The Global Cities hub organized last week in collaboration with UNDRR and IFRC the event “Heat resilience starts at the local level“, spotlighting how the phenomenon of extreme heat needs to be examined through an urban lens and how cities, often bearing the brunt of climate change, are pioneering solutions to extreme heat. Featuring three women leaders in climate resilience—from science to city governance and gender-responsive economic strategies—the event underscored the urgent need for data-driven, inclusive, collaborative and actionable urban heat adaptation.

113th Session of the International Labour Conference

The 113th Session of the International Labour Conference — the supreme deliberative and decision-making body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) — kicks off in Geneva this week and is expected to conclude on 13 June 2025. At the 2025 session of the Conference, Government, employer and worker delegates from the ILO’s 187 Member States will address important world of work matters such as possible new international standards on the protection of workers against biological hazards in the working environment, decent work in the platform economy and innovative approaches to promoting transitions from the informal to the formal economy. → Watch the plenaries livestream and read more in ILO Press Release

Countdown to the 59th Session of the Human Rights Council

In preparation for the upcoming 59th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC59) to convene in Geneva from 16 June to 11 July, an organizational meeting is taking place on 2 June 2025, from 15:00 onwards at Palais des Nations, Room XX to allow Member States to announce any initiatives they intend to take during the upcoming session and raise any procedural issues. → With the environment high on the agenda, consult regular updates on key environmental issues at HRC59, side events, and further resources available on our dedicated HRC59 and the environment update. Rewatch as well the information session on environment-related activities at HRC59.

Environmental Outcomes of the 78th World Health Assembly

The Seventy-eight World Health Assembly (WHA78) concluded last week in Geneva, with Member States adopting historic measures to make the world safer and healthier, as praised by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, highlighting their commitment. To advance the global health and environmental agenda, the assembly also adopted significant decisions alongside the adoption of the pandemic treaty, including:

Third UN Ocean Conference in Nice | Conserve and Sustainably Use the Ocean

The 2025 UN Ocean Conference — the high-level 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development — co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, officially starts in Nice, France, on 9 June 2025, under the theme “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.” The Conference and its preparatory events will assess challenges and opportunities relating to, as well as actions taken towards, the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14, and will build on the previous UN Ocean Conferences, hosted by Sweden and Fiji in 2017 in New York and by Portugal and Kenya in 2022 in Lisbon. Among expected outcomes, the Conference shall adopt, by consensus a brief, concise, action-oriented and intergovernmentally agreed declaration “Our Ocean, Our Future: United for Urgent Action” referred to as the “Nice Ocean Action Plan”. Highly engaged in the process, numerous organizations and experts from International Geneva will be present at the conference and contribute with their expertise. → UNOC3 preparations, from Geneva to Nice

To build momentum towards the conference, various key events will take place this week:

  • One Ocean Science Congress | French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and French national institute for ocean science and technology (Ifremer) 4-6 June 2025 | Nice
  • Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Coalition Summit | 7 June 2025 | Nice
  • Blue Economy and Finance Forum | 7 and 8 June 2025 | Monaco
  • World Oceans Day 2025, celebrated on 8 June, is the occasion to raise awareness of the benefits humankind derives from the ocean and our individual and collective duty to use its resources sustainably. In 2025, World Oceans Day will be celebrated under the theme “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us” as in the face of increasingly daunting challenges, the act of wondering serves to remind us that we are part of something bigger. It wakes us up to our inherent connection to the earth and to each other, expands our understanding of what is possible, empowers innovation and prioritizes decision-making for collective well-being. The official celebration will take place in Nice with the raising of the World Oceans Day flag, marking a moment of global unity and momentum for the ocean, setting the stage for the UN Ocean Conference in Nice.
  • Becoming Nature Positive: Transitioning to a Safe and Just Future | Book Launch | Published by Routledge, the book is a panoramic overview of what Nature Positive is, how it came to be, and how it can be delivered by society, finance and governments. An inspiring and informative read on the quest to make Nature Positive a reality across the world, co-authored by a wide range of leaders in the global nature space. → Join the online launch event on 4 and 5 June 2025

Additional news on the UN Ocean Conference include:

Developments on advancing collective action to address the depletion of marine fish stocks globally include:

Our Glaciers Are Dying

While the world was about to meet for the High-level Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation, hosted by the Government of Tajikistan and supported by variety of United Nations agencies, a gigantic avalanche of ice, mud and debris buried a large part of the Swiss village of Blatten in the Lötschental valley, in Canton Valais, after the Birch Glacier collapsed on 28 May 2025. This disaster triggered numerous reactions all around the world, including:

The International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation, held from 29 to 31 May in Tajikistan’s capital, highlighted the ways in which glacier retreat threatens lives and livelihoods worldwide. Every +0.1°C of global warming leads to ~2% more glacier ice loss. A new study with ETH Zurich, finds that if global warming exceeds the Paris Climate Agreement targets, the non-polar glacier mass will diminish significantly. However, if warming is limited to 1.5°C, at least 54 per cent could be preserved — more than twice as much ice as in a 2.7°C scenario. → Read more in ETH Zurich press release

“Our glaciers are dying,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo at the Conference. “The death of a glacier means much more than the loss of ice. It is a mortal blow to our ecosystems, economies, and social fabric,” she added. The World Meteorological Organization released its Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update (2025-2029) projecting that global temperatures are expected to continue at or near record levels in the next five years, increasing climate risks and impacts on societies, economies and sustainable development. It stresses that every additional fraction of a degree of warming drives more harmful heatwaves, extreme rainfall events, intense droughts, melting of ice sheets, sea ice, and glaciers, heating of the ocean, and rising sea levels. → Read more in WMO press release

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed called for urgent action to protect water-related ecosystems in remarks to the Conference. “At current rates, many glaciers may not survive this century, reshaping landscapes, ecosystems, livelihoods and water security on a global scale,” she warned. → Read UN News article.

Celebrating World Bicycle Day Riding

World Bicycle Day – celebrated each year on 3 June since 2018, aims to advance the use of the bicycle as a means of fostering sustainable development, strengthening education, promoting health, preventing disease, promoting tolerance, mutual understanding and respect, and facilitating social inclusion and a culture of peace. Being a simple, affordable, clean, and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation, the bicycle contributes to cleaner air and less congestion and makes education, health care and other social services more accessible to the most vulnerable populations. A sustainable transport system that promotes economic growth, reduces inequalities while bolstering the fight against climate change is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. → Find suggestions for biking routes and activities taking place around Geneva on our World Bicycle Day page.

To mark this special occasion, the Permanent Representation of Belgium in Geneva, the United Nations Office at Geneva, the World Health Organization and the Union Cycliste Internationale invite you to join a short (and easy) celebration ride in Geneva on Tuesday, 3 June 2025 from 9:30 to 9:45 CEST. An escorted bicycle convoy will travel from the United Nations Prégny gate to the Broken Chair, where pictures will be taken with all participants. → Read more

It is also to be highlighted that Geneva has been recently selected as the host city for Velo-city 2028, the world’s leading conference for cycling planning and promotion. Taking place from 13-16 June 2028, the event will bring together policymakers, researchers, advocates, and industry leaders for a dynamic exchange on the future of cycling in a city renowned for its commitment to sustainable, cross-border mobility. → Read press release

Enjoying a Green Spring in Geneva

This week, the UN Secretariat, schools and a few international organizations will enjoy a long weekend on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha and the Pentecost Monday holiday. Consult our Green Spring in Geneva page for ideas of activities to do both outdoors and indoors, including:

  • Qui a peur des plantes carnivores? | 4 June 2025 | Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques
    Enter the mysterious world of carnivorous plants in this playful workshop designed for curious young minds. Through hands-on discovery, children will learn how these intriguing species thrive in wet environments and feast on unsuspecting insects. Part of the Ateliers verts series at the Geneva Botanical Gardens, this session blends fun, science, and sensory exploration amidst the garden’s living collections.
  • Atelier p’tits chefs – Petits potagers, grandes idées | 4 June 2025 | Swiss Food Academy
    Before the summer holidays, budding young gardeners aged 6 to 12 are invited to get their hands dirty and their imaginations blooming! Guided by permaculture experts from Genève Cultive, children will explore the world of urban gardening and learn how to create vibrant, fragrant mini-gardens filled with flowers, herbs, and heirloom vegetables. From discovering companion planting to understanding what makes certain species thrive together, this green workshop is a celebration of biodiversity in the heart of the city.
  • Le dessin pour mieux observer le Léman | 4 June 2025 | Association pour la sauvegarde du Léman
    At sunrise on the shores of Lake Geneva, sharpen your senses and pencils in this outdoor sketching workshop guided by Delia Meyer from Dessin Nomade. Through quiet observation and artistic interpretation, participants will explore the delicate interplay of lake life, capturing the mood, movement, and biodiversity of the Léman. This creative session encourages both personal reflection and attention to natural details through drawing.
  • Balade botanique au parc des Bastions : histoire, arbres et patrimoine en plein cœur de Genève | 5 June 2025 | Parc des Bastions
    Rediscover Geneva through a guided botanical and historical walk in the city’s oldest public park, the Parc des Bastions. Forest engineer Roger Beer, a specialist in remarkable trees, and a local heritage guide will lead you through a journey exploring over 200 tree species and the rich legacy of this iconic green space. From its origins as a social promenade to its role as Geneva’s first botanical garden, this visit offers a unique blend of natural wonders and urban history.
  • Transition et sobriété numérique | 6 June 2025 | Bibliothèque de la Servette
    As our digital footprint expands, so do the environmental and human costs behind our devices, energy consumption, mining pollution, climate impact, and resource depletion. Is it possible to reimagine technology as a tool for sustainability rather than destruction? This free evening talk explores the paradoxes of digital progress and offers practical, accessible ways for everyone to reduce the negative impacts of technology on society and the planet.
  • Lucioles, des lumières dans la nuit | 6 June 2025 | Pépinière Jacquet à Satigny
    Step into the enchanting world of fireflies during this magical evening adventure for families with children aged 7 and up. Before the night glows to life, discover the fascinating insects that thrive in Geneva’s meadows.
  • Visite du Centre de Sauvegarde pour la Faune suisse | 7 June 2025 | Centre de sauvegarde pour la faune Suisse
    What happens to injured or unwell wild animals? This educational visit explores the ARBOR Wildlife Rescue Centre and discovers how small creatures are cared for and rehabilitated. Through up-close encounters and guided explanations, young participants will learn about the needs of rescued animals and the steps taken to get them back on their paws, or wings! A hands-on experience that encourages empathy, curiosity, and respect for wildlife.
  • Cistude, la tortue suisse | 7 June 2025 | Réserve naturelle du Moulin de Vert
    Explore the last wild refuge of Switzerland’s only native turtle, the European pond turtle, in the serene setting of the Moulin de Vert nature reserve. This family outing offers a rare chance to observe this elusive species in its natural habitat. Expect a gentle hike, rich with discovery, and come prepared for a morning immersed in nature.
  • A la découverte des vestiges archéologiques du parc la Grange | 7 June 2025 | Ville de Genève
    Uncover the hidden layers of Geneva’s history during this guided outdoor walk through the iconic Parc La Grange. Led by an archaeologist and a garden historian, the tour reveals the park’s rich geological and cultural past: from ancient Rhône glacier moraines to Roman remains, and 19th-century rock gardens to alpine lakes. Discover how stones, both natural and carved, tell the evolving story of this beloved green space.
  • Visite de la rocaille du parc des Eaux-Vives | 7 June 2025 | Ville de Genève
    Step into the surprising world of an alpine garden recreated on the shores of Lake Geneva in the late 19th century. What appears to be a natural landscape is actually a meticulously crafted scene, shaped by the artistry of historical rock builders and gardeners. During this guided 45-minute tour, discover the secrets behind this artificial marvel and learn about the recent restoration efforts. A unique opportunity to explore the hidden heritage of Geneva’s botanical history. 
  • Devenir Jardinier planétaire La Préséance du vivant | Until 8 June 2025 | Fondation Pavillon Sicli
    Discover how to rethink our place in the living world through this immersive exhibition by Gilles Clément and Coloco. Set in the transforming PAV district, it explores climate and ecological challenges, urban renaturation, and the fragile balance of ecosystems. Talks, workshops, and school activities accompany the exhibition to inspire action for the planet.

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