Newsletter 23 Mar 2026
Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 23 – 29 March 2026
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. The Geneva Environment Network is not responsible for the content of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site. Stay tuned and follow us on X (Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky, Youtube, and WhatsApp, or visit our website regularly for additional updates.
This newsletter is dedicated to the memory of Marie‑Pierre Meganck, the former environmental focal point of the Permanent Mission of France. The Geneva Environment Network community mourns the loss of a committed and proactive delegate, deeply engaged in numerous environmental processes, and a valued, hardworking colleague.
Image of the week | Annual meeting of environmental organizations with the City and Canton of Geneva, for a presentation and exchange on environmental priorities and actions with Mayor Alfonso Gomez and Geneva State Counsellor Nicolas Walder. © UNEP GEN, Palais Anna et Jean-Gabriel Eynard, 19 March 2026.
Ocean Governance Updates | Spotlight on Women’s Leadership
More that two months after the entry into force of the High Seas Treaty or BBNJ Agreement — formally the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction — ocean issues remain high on the global environmental agenda as delegates and stakeholders continue to set the foundations for a substantive first meeting of the Conference of the Parties and prepare for other important milestones, including the UN Biodiversity Conference in Yerevan, Armenia.
To mark International Women’s Month, a high-level event at Palais des Nations will bring together representatives of States, international organizations, and partner institutions to introduce the Women Ocean Guardians Initiative and its Voluntary Commitment “Actioning Ocean Conservation and Sustainable Blue Economies through Women’s Leadership”. The event includes a dialogue on inclusive ocean governance, gender equality, and sustainable blue economies.
Launched at the United Nations Ocean Conference in June 2025, the Women Ocean Guardians Initiative is a global public–private coalition that seeks to place women at the forefront of ocean conservation and the sustainable use of marine resources within decision-making processes. The Initiative is supported by partners including the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Conservation International (CI), and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), as well as a growing number of governments and international organizations. To date, seven governments— Germany, Australia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, the United Kingdom, and Seychelles — have endorsed the Voluntary Commitment, and the coalition remains open to additional members.→ Register on Indico to attend the event taking place on 25 March 2026 from 16:00 to 17:00 CET at the Palais des Nations Building H Auditorium. The event will be followed by a reception.
This week, the third and expected final session of the Preparatory Commission for the Entry into Force of the BBNJ Agreement and the Convening of the 1st Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement (BBNJ PrepCom III) will begin at the UN Headquarters in New York and is expected to conclude on 2 April 2026. In a letter dated 4 March 2026, the Co-Chairs of the Preparatory Commission, H.E. Amb. Janine Coye-Felson of Belize and Adam McCarthy of Australia, shared some insights into their approach to the organization of work and observations on the items on the programme of work that delegations may wish to consider while preparing for the session. Host countries’ offers for the secretariat to be established under article 50 of the Agreement came from Belgium (Brussels), Chile (Valparaíso) and China (Xiamen). → Read more at:
- Consult all documents, follow the Earth Negotiations Bulletin coverage and the Opening Plenary and other sessions live on UNTV
- High Seas Alliance Briefings and Position Statement for PrepCom III
- IUCN at BBNJ PrepComIII
- U.N. Meeting Will Help Map Out Future of the High Seas Treaty | Pew | 18 March 2026
- Operationalizing the High Seas Agreement: Ongoing developments and next steps | IDDRI | 17 March 2026
Last week, the first part of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Council concluded two weeks of negotiations in Kingston, Jamaica, advancing discussion on the draft regulations for the commercial exploitation of deep-sea minerals. Member States raised major unresolved issues around environmental safeguards, liability, inspection and compliance procedures, and benefit‑sharing mechanisms. Several governments emphasized that significant scientific, environmental, and governance gaps must be addressed before any exploitation can be considered. Delegations also supported the ISA Legal and Technical Commission’s ongoing inquiry into potential contractor non‑compliance, following indications that an ISA contractor may have breached obligations under UNCLOS. The Council adopted a decision requesting the Commission to continue the inquiry, noting concerns about attempts to pursue unilateral deep‑sea mining outside the ISA system. The session underscored broad agreement that exploitation cannot commence until a credible regulatory framework is complete, while revealing persistent divisions on the conditions required before mining could begin. → Read more at:
- Earth Negotiations Bulletin Summary Report
- ISA Council Ends Without Mining Code Amid Industry Compliance Concerns | Deep Sea Conservation Coalition | 19 March 2026
- No code, no permits: ISA deep-sea mining talks end in stalemate | Oceanographic | 20 March 2026
Additional news include:
- Aligning measurement to protect oceans, glaciers and polar systems | ISO | 19 March 2026
Call to Reset Global Water Agenda
With World Water Day observed on Sunday 22 March, as highlighted in last week’s newsletter, various events this week are moving forward the global water action agenda in Geneva and beyond.
The recent flagship report Global Water Bankruptcy: Living Beyond Our Hydrological Means in the Post-Crisis Era published by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), states that the world has entered the era of “water bankruptcy”, a persistent post-crisis condition in which long-term water use has exceeded renewable inflows and safe depletion limits, degrading water systems beyond realistic recovery. Crucially, the report frames water not only as a growing source of risk, but also as a strategic opportunity in a fragmented world. It argues that serious investment in water can unlock progress across climate, biodiversity, land, food, and health, and serve as a practical platform for cooperation within and between societies.
To present the key findings of the report and examine their implications for international policy and governance, UNU-INWEH is convening with the Geneva Environment Network a stakeholder briefing and dialogue with Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of UNU-INWEH, and recipient of the 2026 laureate of the Stockholm Water Prize, the most prestigious water award and often described as the ‘Nobel Prize of Water’. Recognized for his “unique combination of groundbreaking research on water resources management with policy, diplomacy and global outreach, often under personal risk and political complexity,” Professor Madani’s selection is also a historic milestone for the global water community, being the youngest laureate in the prize’s history, well as being the first UN official and the first former politician to receive the honor. → Register to participate in-person on Thursday 26 March 2026, from 14:00 to 15:30 CET, at the International Environment House II or online via Webex.
Other events taking place this week around Geneva and abroad include:
- The 22nd Meeting of the Group of Friends on Water and Peace, taking place on 27 March 2026, from 13:00 to 14:30 CET at Palais des Nations, Room VII, will also explore the findings of the UNU-INWEH report and its implications for cooperation and peace.
- Local Leadership on Water Resilience | Global Cities Hub – Geneva & UN-Habitat | 23 March 2026, 12:00 – 13:00 CET | Villa Rigot & Online, Zoom
- The 43rd UN-Water meeting convenes from 24 to 25 March 2026 in Rome, Italy, hosted by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The meeting will focus on the continued implementation of the UN System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation and on preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference. The UN-Water meeting will be followed by a one-day workshop on 26 March to discuss the concept papers for the 2026 UN Water Conference. → Follow the Earth Negotiations Bulletin live coverage.
- Environment, war and peace: what challenges for water governance? | 24 March 2026 | 18:15 – 19:30 CET | UNIL, Anthropole 1129 | University of Lausanne
- Until 15 April 2026, the exhibition “Des glaciers aux Bains des Pâquis: l’eau du Léman, un bien précieux à protéger” will celebrate the importance of water in shaping the landscape and providing a habitat for numerous species of plants and animals. The exhibition is dedicated to its underwater ecosystem, with this fascinating and fragile world revealed to the public through the images of photographer Michel Roggo.
Recent reports and news include:
- Gender Justice is Water Justice: World Water Day Statement | UN Special Rapporteur on human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, Pedro Arrojo Agudo | 22 March 2026
- UN-Water Policy Brief: Towards a Human Rights-Based Approach to Water, Sanitation and Environmental Action | UN Water | 18 March 2026
- ‘They called me a water terrorist’: exiled Iranian scientist wins global prize | Rachel Salvidge | The Guardian | 18 March 2026
- Advancing gender equality through water data | UNESCO | 17 March 2026
The UN World Water Development Report 2026 “Water for all people: Equal rights and opportunities” – published by UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water – highlights that the global water crisis is aggravated by gender inequalities and the persistent lack of sex-disaggregated water data. - Environment: Water’s Dire Reckoning | Sheheryar Khan | Dawn.com | 15 March 2026
World Meteorological Day | Observing Today, Protecting Tomorrow
World Meteorological Day is celebrated each year on 23 March, marking the anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention that established the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1950. The day highlights the vital role that National Meteorological and Hydrological Services play in safeguarding society and supporting wellbeing, and is commemorated worldwide through a variety of activities. The theme for 2026 “Observing today, protecting tomorrow“, underscores the importance of the immense and often invisible observing and prediction system coordinated by WMO. These systems form the backbone of our economies and serve as the central nervous system of early warning mechanisms that have saved millions of lives.
WMO will host a World Meteorological Day Ceremony on 23 March 2026 from 15:00 CET. The doors of the World Meteorological Organization’s Headquarters will be open to diplomatic representatives, staff, partners, United Nations agencies, students and other guests for a dedicated event, and will feature the Launch of the WMO State of the Global Climate 2025 report and an interactive exhibition led by the WMO Youth team. The event will be livestreamed in six UN official languages.
Advancing Human Rights and Environment Agenda
The human rights and environment agenda continues to be high on the agenda of International Geneva, with various key moments taking place this week:
HRC61 | As the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC61) continues this week in Geneva, various draft resolutions that address environmental issues, although not their primary focus, have been submitted for deliberations at the Council. Events of particular interest this week include:
- 40th Anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development | HRC61 Side Event | 23 March 2026 | 14:00 – 15:00 CET | Palais des Nations, Concordia 1 | International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations
- Financing for the Sustainable Development Goals: Need for a Human Rights Approach | HRC61 Side Event | 25 March 2026 | 15:00 – 16:00 CET | Palais des Nations, Concordia 1 | Sikh Human Rights Group
- Business and Human Rights | HRC61 Side Event | 27 March 2026 | 15:00 – 16:00 CET | Palais des Nations, Room XI | Egypt Peace for Development and Human Rights
- Decisions and conclusions | 27 – 31 March 2026 | 11:15 CET onwards | Palais des Nations, Assembly Hall
→ Consult regular updates on key environmental issues at HRC61, side events, and further resources available on our dedicated HRC61 and the environment update.
Civic Space and Participation | Ensuring civil society engagement and participation in multilateral spaces also remain high on the agenda:
- Last week, at the HRC61 side event on “Safeguarding Civil Society Space at the United Nations“, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Geneva Office have launched a publication analyzing the importance of civil society participation in the UN human rights system. In the discussion panelists underscored how civil society participation goes into the heart of credibility of UN’s work, placing voices and survivors of human rights violations are placed at the center: “Civil society is the cohesive force that maintains the ambition of the UN, preserving the vitality of the multilateral system itself.”
- This week, the International Service for Human Rights is organizing the webinar, “UN80 Initiative: Implications of the UN reform for national and regional human rights NGOs”. The webinar will explain what the reform process means and how it may affect NGOs and human rights defenders engaging with UN human rights mechanisms. → Join the webinar sessions on 24 March, 15:00 – 17:00 CET (for Americas and Africa) or on 26 March, 9:00 – 11:00 CET (for Europe and Asia).
Upcoming Deadlines for Calls for Submissions | Various deadlines are fast approaching for calls for submissions relevant to the environment and human rights agenda:
- Equal participation in political and public affairs | The OHCHR is preparing a follow-up report on equal participation in political and public affairs, focused on good practices and challenges that States face when using the guidelines on the effective implementation of the right to participate in public affairs, including in international organizations. → The deadline for submission is on 27 March 2026.
- Planning and the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment | In her upcoming thematic report to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, Astrid Puentes Riaño, aims to help States advance on the understanding of planning tools and processes, and how these can enable management of the environment, both related to land and marine ecosystems. → The deadline for submission is on 30 March 2026.
- Find a selection of additional call for submissions for Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, Treaty Bodies, Subsidiary Bodies and Office of the High Commissioner in our dedicated update.
Other relevant news include:
- A UN Committee Election Could Worsen Civil Society Access to the World Body | Maithili Pai and Francisco Pérez | PassBlue | 18 March 2026
- High Commissioner Türk on People, Power and Society in the Age of AI | OHCHR | 18 March 2026
- War, mining and disinformation threaten fundamental right to healthy environment: UN expert Astrid Puentes Riaño | Paula Dupraz-Dobias | Geneva Solutions | 16 March 2026
- Experto de Naciones Unidas insta a México a impulsar urgentemente acciones de justicia ambiental en materia de sustancias tóxicas | OHCHR | 20 March 2026
Santiago Network | Advancing Action on Loss and Damage
The Sixth Advisory Board meeting of the Santiago Network – catalyzing technical assistance from organizations, bodies, networks and experts to support developing countries in averting, minimizing, and addressing loss and damage caused by climate change – is taking place in Geneva from 24 to 26 March 2026, with an informal members-only meeting on 23 March 2026.
Last week, The Loss & Damage Collaboration published the Loss and Damage Response Toolkit, a practical and user-friendly guide to help stakeholders access and provide support to address loss and damage caused by the adverse effects of climate change. This resource provides an accessible guide to the key institutions under the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement — including the Warsaw International Mechanism and its Executive Committee and Santiago Network, and the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage — and explains how stakeholders can engage with them to access policy guidance, technical assistance, and financial support.
Advancing Sustainable Trade | Environmental Priorities at WTO MC14
Numerous experts and diplomats from International Geneva are joining the World Trade Organization’s 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), taking place this week from 26 to 29 March 2026 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Ministers from across the world are gathering for the Conference chaired by H.E. Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, Cameroon’s Minister of Trade, to address the challenges and opportunities facing the multilateral trading system and to take action on the future work of the WTO. Defined by WTO DG Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as a ‘Turning Point Ministerial‘, MC14 aims to demonstrate that the WTO is “up to the job of taking criticism seriously and using this to reposition itself.” Central to the discussion will be the WTO Reform – the repositioning of the organization in the face of growing pressure from geopolitical fragmentation, climate change, technological transformation, and renewed state intervention in economies. Meanwhile, last week, WTO members participating in the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD) unveiled a package of outcome documents showcasing progress achieved over the past five years and highlighting the group’s substantive analytical work across several workstreams since MC13. Members also expressed their readiness to shift towards priority areas and deliver concrete actions after MC14. The environmental and sustainability dimensions of trade will be featured in discussions on green industrial policies, agriculture and cotton, among others, and in various key moments, including:
- High-Level Event on the Partenariat pour le Coton (PPC) to advance transformation across the cotton–textile–garment value chain on the eve of MC14 | Palais des Congrès | 25 March 2026
- WTO-ITC High-Level Event on Women and Trade | Palais des Congrès | 25 March 2026
Will also spotlight innovation across areas like climate resilience, food systems, fintech, healthcare and digital inclusion. - Special attention will be given to the entry into force of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies with a dedicated ceremony in Cameroon, where more members are expected to deposit their instruments of acceptance.
- Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate 3rd Ministerial meeting | 27 March 2026
Bringing together over 60 Ministers from various regions, development levels, climate vulnerabilities and trade circumstances, in the margins of MC14. - IISD Trade and Sustainability Hub | Hilton | 26-28 March 2026
Resources to prepare for MC14 and activities of Geneva actors present in Yaoundé include:
- World Trade Organization: MC14 briefing notes
- Sustainable Development and the WTO Reform Agenda: A Call to Action for Ministers at MC14 | TESS Forum | 23 March 2026
Ahead of MC14, a diverse group of leading stakeholders from business, civil society, and research communities, in a joint message, urges Ministers to seize MC14 as a critical opportunity to put sustainable development firmly at the heart of ongoing WTO reform discussions. - Participants launch MC14 environmental sustainability package, chart new phase of action | WTO | 19 March 2026
- Coordinators of Plastics Dialogue ready ministerial statement and other outcomes for MC14 | WTO | 6 March 2026
- International Institute for Sustainable Development: Inside MC14 | Trade and Sustainability Review, March 2026
- Forum on Trade, Environment & SDGs: TESS at MC14
- International Trade Center | ITC @ the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14)
- South Centre | MC14 in Yaoundé: Consider, Endorse or Finalize? Mixed Procedural Signals in the WTO Reform Package
Advancing Global Action on Plastic Pollution
The Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, Julio Cordano, has been communicating with Member States and Observers on how he intends to move forward with the negotiation, providing regular written updates (letters or reflection notes) to support transparency and guide Member States. The Chair released a second letter on 16 March 2026. Important updates include:
- The Chair is convening a series of informal webinars with Observers starting this week, to share information on the INC process and provide a space for interested observer organizations to share their reflections and views with the Chair. The first edition takes place on Tuesday 24 March 2026, from 14:30-16:00 EAT (12:30-14:00 CET).
- The Chair will hold regular virtual informal Heads of Delegation (HOD) meetings every 4–6 weeks in a HOD+2 format to maintain information flow and coordinated progress. The next informal online HOD meeting will take place on 30 April 2026 from 14:00-16:00 EAT (13:00-15:00 CET).
- An in‑person HOD meeting will take place from 30 June–3 July 2026 at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, Kenya. It will be preceded by regional consultations on 29 June 2026. A second in‑person meeting will tentatively take place in early October 2026, subject to resources, to support additional solution‑oriented discussions.
- INC‑5.4 recommended for late 2026 or early 2027 as a ten‑day meeting to ensure meaningful progress.
- Informal reference document to be developed after the Nairobi meeting, compiling all negotiation components, options, and brackets to support discussions — without proposing new solutions.
Stakeholders’ resources released recently include:
- The Plastic Detox documentary examines plastic products and fertility | Food Packaging Forum | 16 March 2026
- Open Letter to Plastics Treaty Delegates | IPEN | 10 March 2026
- 44+ Plastic Pollution Statistics | Omni Calculator | 10 March 2026
- Paper as one part of the solution to flexible packaging pollution | Ellen MacArthur Foundation | 9 March 2026
- Coordinators of Plastics Dialogue ready ministerial statement and other outcomes for MC14 | WTO | 6 March 2026
- Plastics Diplomacy Brief – March 2026 | Dan Gocher | March 2026
- Plastic chemicals and particles leaching from ready meals | Food Packaging Forum | 27 February 2026
War in the Middle East | Environmental and Food‑System Impacts
The crisis in the Middle East continues, with strikes and counter-strikes reported across the region, driving civilian casualties, displacement and rising humanitarian needs. The UN Secretary General reaffirmed his call for peace, underscoring that “It’s time for the force of the law to prevail over the law of force. It’s time for diplomacy to prevail over war.” Recent articles note that fertilizer shortages and higher energy prices threaten crop yields, while remittance losses and potential shifts to biofuel production could amplify food price volatility, particularly in Africa, Asia, and other import-dependent regions. Read more at:
- War in the Middle East: Iran nuclear facility hit as equivalent of ‘one classroom of children’ killed, wounded daily in Lebanon | UN News | 21 March 2026
- Don’t lock in future fossil fuel insecurity in response to the Iran war | Grace Alexander | CEOBS | 18 March 2026
- Update on escalating conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean Region | WHO | 17 March 2026
- Activating land and multimodal transport routes in the Gulf with UN TIR Convention can help ease trade pressures | UNECE | 17 March 2026
- War in Iran: IRU launches road transport information hub | IRU | 17 March 2026
- War-driven energy price spikes highlight value of renewables: UN climate chief | UN News | 16 March 2026
- The Middle East and Global Energy Markets | IEA
- Global Agrifood Implications of the 2026 Conflict in the Middle East – Impacts on energy and fertilizer trade, and food security | FAO | 15 March 2026
- When energy crises hit the food system | Biovision | 13 March 2026
Learning Opportunities in Geneva
Academic institutions and research centers in Geneva offer a vast array of courses to learn about key environmental topics and discover international Geneva, including the Geneva Summer Schools, organized by the University of Geneva. Of the over 15 courses organized, some address important environmental challenges and offer a space to reflect on their potential solution. These include:
- Microplastics: From Environmental Impact to Policy, Innovation, and Public Awareness | 15 – 19 June 2026 | University of Geneva | Application deadline for a 4EU+ scholarship: 31 March 2026 or 15 April 2026
- Sustainability Practices & Indigenous Knowledge | 15 – 19 June 2026 | University of Geneva | Application deadline for a waiver: 15 March 2026 or without waiver: 15 April 2026
- Leadership for Sustainability Transition | Geneva Summer School 2026 | 15 – 19 June 2026 | University of Geneva | Application Deadline for a waiver: 15 March 2026, or without waiver: 15 April 2026
- Science & Policy for Environmental Action | 22 – 26 June 2026 | University of Geneva | Application Deadline: 15 April 2026
- Education in Emergencies | 22 – 26 June 2026 | UNIGE, Save the Children, IHEID, Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies | Application Deadline: 15 April 2026
- International Law & International Humanitarian Law | 22 June – 10 July 2026 | University of Geneva | Application Deadline: 15 April 2026
- Strategic Foresight Summer School: Navigating Uncertainty for Decision-Makers | 29 June – 3 July 2026 | University of Geneva | Application Deadline: 15 April 2026
- Global Health: Advocacy and Diplomacy in Action | 29 June – 3 July 2026 | University of Geneva | Application deadline: 15 April 2026
Other courses taking place in Geneva or organized by Geneva institutions for which application deadlines are approaching include:
- Mobiliser la pensée systémique pour devenir acteur et actrice de la transition – Écologie, société, économie: Comprendre les changements en cours pour mieux y trouver sa place | 10 – 12 June 2026 | Uni Carl-Vogt | Institute for Environmental Sciences of the University of Geneva | Application Deadline: 30 April 2026
- Water Governance: Frameworks and Negotiations | 22 June – 3 July 2026 | Institute for Environmental Sciences of the University of Geneva, Geneva Water Hub | Registration Deadline: 28 March 2026
- The United Nations Chemicals and Waste Management Study Programme | 13 – 17 July 2026 | UNITAR | Application Deadline: 29 June 2026
More Happening Abroad
Fifteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP15) | CMS COP15 is convening from 23 to 29 March 2026 in Campo Grande, Brazil, under the slogan “Connecting Nature to Sustain Life”, highlighting the vital role of ecological connectivity for conserving ecosystems, which are crucial both for migratory species and human well-being. CMS COP15 is expected to deliver a Ministerial Declaration with key commitments for migratory species conservation, reviewing and approving proposals on species at risk to the CMS Appendices, and advance new concerted actions, action plans and other conservation measures to address the most pressing needs and threats, among others. → Access all documents, follow the livestream on Youtube and the Earth Negotiations Bulletin live coverage.
Additional resources on CMS COP15 include:
- IUCN position paper
- WWF position paper
- Defending the Ocean’s Hidden Highways: The Deep Sea at CMS COP15
- Ahead of COP15, CMS Issues Update to State of the World’s Migratory Species | IISD | 11 March 2026
Enjoying a Green Spring in Geneva
This week, Europe will shift to summer time on Sunday, 29 March, while Earth Hour 2026 will be observed on Saturday, 28 March at 8:30 p.m. local time, marking its 20th anniversary. With warmer days returning to Geneva, various events taking place around Geneva offer opportunities to enjoy a green spring, including:
- Interactif: découvrez où fleurissent les cerisiers dans votre ville | Tribune de Genève
Discover where to admire the beautiful cherry trees around Geneva and why this ephemeral show begins earlier every year. - Équinoxe de printemps en musique | 24 March 2026 | Musée d’ethnographie de Genève
For the spring equinox, the MEG presents a live sound creation on vinyl records. Amandine Casadamont and Madeleine Leclair will perform using vinyl from their respective collections – seemingly distant but perfectly resonant – blending world music traditions with experimental, concrete, and ambient sounds. - Afterwork Engagé! Edition printemps | 24 March 2026 | One Planet Lab, Impact Hub, Maison de l’Avenir | Maison de l’Avenir
This is an informal and simple gathering, open to anyone involved in sustainability or wishing to get involved! - Rencontres aquatiques, à la découverte des poissons du Léman | 24 March 2026 | Espace Léman | ASL
Discover the fish of Lake Geneva. Guided by a specialist, the session explores their physical traits, lifestyles, and ecological roles, offering a friendly and interactive introduction to the lake’s underwater world. - Créatures électroniques – atelier d’upcycling et de soudure | 25 March 2026 | Bibliothèque de la Cité
In this two-afternoon workshop, participants will build creatures from recycled electronic components. They will learn basic soldering techniques and give names to their creations, while exploring how living beings are named and classified. - Plantes et sorcellerie | 25 March 2026 | Jardin botanique de Genève
Since ancient times, many plants have been associated with magical and spiritual rituals. From soothing uses to divination, a wide range of plants—from parsley to nightshade—have found their way into legends. During this guided tour, you will have the opportunity to discover some of those that grow in our garden. - Nage de Nuit | 25 March 2026 | Bains des Pâquis
Come and share the pleasure of swimming in cold water at night, in an atmosphere like no other! Les Bains offers food and drink to warm you up, and lifeguards are on hand to help. - Acceleration Days 2026 | Heading towards 3ºC: How do we step up together? | 25 March 2026 | Climate Action Accelerator | Maison de la Paix
This annual event will bring together key organizations supporting vulnerable populations to address the growing risks of global warming. It aims to strengthen climate action, showcase effective initiatives, and encourage collaboration to reduce emissions and adapt to the climate crisis. - Agronomie, fertilité des sols et perspectives en agriculture | 25 March 2026 | Société des Arts | Palais de l’Athénée
Sarah Singla, an agricultural engineer, has been a farmer practicing conservation agriculture since 1980. She will explain in a practical and educational way how agriculture lies at the heart of solutions to the global challenges we face. - Rencontre Calim : Santé & Alimentation | 25 March 2026 | Calim | Maison de l’Avenir
The Rencontres Calim are group training sessions focused on topics related to the food system. The March session will explore the connection between health and nutrition. - Marcher La Ville – Mission Genève Durable : la « Théorie du Donut » comme boussole | 26 March 2026 | Salle des anniversaires, Maison du Quartier de la Jonction
Reserve your spot for a participatory and playful workshop on the “Doughnut Theory.” Through interactive activities and a team game, explore how Geneva can align with planetary boundaries while ensuring social foundations. The session continues with an exploratory walk in the neighborhood, discovering local initiatives engaged in this approach and deepening understanding of urban biodiversity challenges. - Chroniques du garage #4: Ce qui nous relie – regards sur le quotidien | 26 March 2026 | Territoire Nations
The fourth event of the Territoire Nations offers a meeting focused on the elements that connect urban life. It includes a lunchtime visit and discussion to explore the area from a new perspective, followed by an afterwork at Garage Braillard featuring a presentation of photographs by Alex Hanimann. - Remise des prix Rustine dorée & Pneu crevé | 26 March 2026 | Impact Hub
Geneva’s Bikeable awards highlight the city’s best and worst cycling infrastructure. The winners—Golden Patch for the best and Flat Tire for the worst—will be announced to promote good practices and address problem areas. - Le réveil des archives sonores du MEG – Musique de Bornéo et des Forêts | 16 March 2026 | Bibliothèque de la Cité
This performance aims to bring to life sound recordings made in Bornéo and other forest environments, which are threatened and preserved by indigenous communities. To bring them to life, Madelaine Leclair improvises a live sound montage using vinyl records of music and sounds recorded in Borneo, Southeast Asia, and the Amazon, revealing the acoustic richness of these environments. - Exposition Photographique – Lia Darjes. Plates I-XXXI | Until 27 March 2026 | Maison de l’enfance et de l’adolescence
The exhibition showcases staged still-life scenes made from the remains of shared meals, photographed automatically to capture unexpected animal visits. It explores the quiet relationship between humans and animals and highlights the beauty of everyday, shared environments. - Promenade poétique : balad sur la rive gauche | 28 March 2026 | Cité Séniors | Jardin Anglais
Explore Geneva’s left bank through the poetic and visual lens of Givre d’été. Strolling between the blue lake, shaded parks, and old city streets, this walk invites a fresh perspective on familiar places, blending everyday beauty with poetry and photography for a unique, dreamlike experience. - Marcher La Ville – La ville, entre nature et pollution | 28 March 2026 | La libellule | Préau couvert de l’Ecole des Cropettes
Starting from Parc des Cropettes, the walk passes through the Grottes district and Pâquis district before following the lake to Pavillon Plantamour. Participants will observe urban and lake birds, city wild plants, and the survival of trees, while also discussing pollution especially plastic, that threatens the lake ecosystem and drinking water. - Fabrique ta lampe solaire | 28 March 2026 | Bibliothèque des Minoteries
This workshop will teach how to build a wooden flashlight together that uses solar energy to light up your adventurous nights. You will learn how to solder and assemble a simple electric circuit. - Mutations synthétiques | 28 March 2026 | Bibliothèque de Saint-Jean
It is no longer a secret that our planet is suffering from our excessive consumption of plastic and other non-recyclable materials. This workshop explores, through generative AI, the emergence of hybrid insects resulting from these excesses. Between ecological speculation and visual fiction, it questions the metamorphoses of living beings and matter in the Anthropocene era. - 5e édition de la foire d’échange de graines | 28 March 2026 | 1203 Graines | 24 Avenue des Tilleuls
Come and learn more about urban agriculture: discover how to harvest flower and vegetable seeds, exchange harvested seeds and tips with fellow gardeners, and learn about environmentally friendly practices in the city. It’s also an opportunity to ask professional gardeners your questions! - Les journées européennes des métiers d’art : concevoir des planches d’herbier | 29 March 2026 | Jardin botanique de Genève
The herbarium at the Jardin Botanique de Genève, one of the largest in the world, serves as a true library of biodiversity. Continuously evolving, the collection grows each year with new specimens mounted by preparators using the same traditional techniques that have been practiced since the 16th century. - BiblioWeekend au Jardin Botanique de Genève | 29 March 2026 | Jardin botanique de Genève
Throughout the afternoon, librarians will offer a variety of plant-themed games designed for groups or solo play, as well as coloring activities and puzzles for all ages. - L’herbier de Jean-Jacques Rousseau | 29 March 2026 | Jardin botanique de Genève
The botanical garden acquired at auction a rare herbarium created by the philosopher and writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778). As part of the exhibition dedicated to this herbarium, come learn about the story of this exceptional work, created more than 200 years ago and preserved at the Botanical Garden of Geneva. - Lecture musicale le sorcier vert | 29 March 2026 | Bibliothèque des la Cité
Inspired by the incredible challenge undertaken by the famous photographer Sebastião Salgado – to restore the Mata Atlântica forest of his childhood, ravaged by drought and intensive livestock farming – this luminous text is a tribute to determination, boldness, and solidarity. - BiblioWeekend 2026 : atelier de fabrication de jouets en bois | 29 March 2026 | Musée d’Ethnographie de Genève
For this edition of BiblioWeekend dedicated to the theme of “Playing”, the library invites you to a workshop on making wooden toys. Children and adults alike can use their own hands to create a unique wooden toy to take home. - Rez:urgence – Iris Leroyer | Until 29 March 2026 | Centre culturel du manoir de Cologny
Rez:urgence examines today’s urgent ecological, social, and philosophical challenges, exploring the tipping points where life balances between collapse and resurgence. The exhibition is part of Iris Leroyer’s Opus Carbone project, at the intersection of art and ecology. Rez:urgence invites visitors to share a collective experience of emergence at the heart of imbalance. - Libre comme le Rhône – de Robert Hainard | Until 29 March 2026 | Quartier Libre
The exhibition invites visitors to travel back in time along the river, from the last wild landscapes before the major developments of the Rhône to the major energy decisions taken during the 20th century, right up to the emergence of environmental awareness. - Festival du Film Vert | Until 1 April 2026 | Various Locations
The Green Film Festival is the main documentary festival in French-speaking Switzerland dedicated to ecology and the environment. - Biodiversité en péril | Until 29 April 2026 | Bibliothèque de Saint-Jean
Public Eye’s regional groups, supported by the NGOs Public Eye and Swissaid, organized a traveling exhibition offering an overview of the evolution of seeds over the centuries, their importance in various local cultures, and the threats posed to them by the seed industry.
What (Else) to Read Next?
- Linear Governance in an Exponential World. What Environmental Treaties Can Teach Us About Governing AI | David Jensen | 22 March 2026
This article examines what global environmental governance can offer the emerging Global Dialogue on AI Governance, arguing that governance models built for linear change no longer match today’s exponential context. It traces how environmental governance has evolved, identifies similar patterns already appearing in AI governance, and highlights the risk of repeating familiar gaps between ambition and implementation. It then outlines five shifts needed to close this emerging governance gap, before considering the 2027 AI Summit and the role International Geneva could play in shaping more effective institutional responses. - Tajikistan joins UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents | UNECE | 18 March 2026
Tajikistan has joined the UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents, becoming the forty-third Party to this treaty. By joining, Tajikistan gains access to practical tools, peer expertise and cross-border cooperation mechanisms that help ensure economic expansion is matched with modern safety standards, safeguarding people, ecosystems and the country’s long-term competitiveness.
- What Does the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on Climate Change Mean for Climate Adaptation? | Jeffrey Qi | IISD | 17 March 2026
This policy brief outlines what the Advisory Opinion means for climate change adaptation. It examines how adaptation obligations arise from treaty law and customary international law as set out by the court, and what implications they have for adaptation policy-makers and practitioners in terms of national adaptation planning processes and compliance with international laws.
- 50 Investible Opportunities for a New Nature Economy | WEF | 17 March 2026
From precision agriculture to battery recycling to bio-based materials, new ways of doing business are delivering both long-term resilience and short-term gains. Financial institutions are also realizing the green economy can compete on returns. This report highlights 50+ investible opportunities already generating cost-savings or revenues for businesses across the real economy.
- Achieving climate targets is possible while limiting “critical minerals” rush. But responsible political leadership is crucial, says new report | Greenpeace International | 16 March 2026
‘Beyond Extraction: Pathways for a 1.5°C-aligned Energy Transition with Less Minerals’, was commissioned by Greenpeace International, and authored by academics at the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) in Australia. Using different 1.5°C-compatible energy scenarios to explore pathways toward mineral sufficiency and efficiency, the report shows how Earth’s minerals can be administered for a clean renewable energy transformation that protects vital Earth support systems from terrestrial or deep sea mining of so-called ‘critical minerals’. → Press release in French - Special Report: Reimagining Multilateralism and the Role of International Geneva – Issues and Options for the Adaptation of a Global Hub | Achim Wennmann and Prathit Singh | Geneva Policy Outlook | 16 March 2026
The report reflects on how International Geneva can adapt to shifting global orders and continue to serve as a meaningful hub for diplomacy, cooperation, and innovation in global governance. The report examines the structural and strategic challenges facing Geneva’s multilateral ecosystem, including financial austerity, declining political support for international cooperation, and the rise of more transactional geopolitics. - Safe disposal of unused medicines — A One Health Approach for National Systems | UNEP | March 2026
Pharmaceuticals are essential for human and animal health; however, their release into the environment, particularly through sources such as the improper disposal of unused medicines, poses serious risks, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR), endocrine disruption and toxicity. This report addresses such challenges by proposing a comprehensive, systematic and multisectoral framework with a stepwise approach to strengthening national systems for the safe disposal of unused human and veterinary medicines within a One Health approach. - Synergies between circularity, life-cycle approaches and the objectives of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions | BRS Conventions | March 2026
This information explores the synergies between the provisions and objectives of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions with circular economy and life-cycle approaches. It includes a non-exhaustive list of potential policy interventions to advance the objectives of the conventions and circular economy approaches.
- Boundless Innovation, Within Planetary Boundaries: A Call for Sufficiency-Driven Innovation | Emanuele Di Francesco, Mathias Schluep | World Resources Forum Association | March 2026
A good life for all within planetary boundaries is arguably the central challenge of our times, demanding “boundless innovation and creativity”, as put forward in this timely WRF Position Paper. It argues for a shift in current innovation efforts, from a focus on producing market goods more efficiently towards reconfiguring wider provisioning systems and thus lowering baseline demand and enabling absolute reductions in resource use.
Events
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Body Meeting
61st session of the Human Rights Council | HRC61
23 Feb – 31 Mar 2026
Palais des Nations, Assembly Hall
HRC
Body Meeting
Sixth meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement
23 – 28 Mar 2026
WHO Headquarters
WHO
Body Meeting
Fourth meeting of the Executive Board of the Global Framework on Chemicals Fund
23 – 25 Mar 2026
Geneva
GFC
Body Meeting
Extended EMEP SB/WGE Bureaux Meeting
23 – 25 Mar 2026
Palais des Nations | Room XI
UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
Virtual
Local Leadership on Water Resilience
23 Mar 2026 | 12:00 – 13:00
Online | Zoom
Global Cities Hub - Geneva
Virtual
International Day of Forests 2026 | Grown by Nature
23 Mar 2026 | 14:00 – 16:00
Online | Teams
UNECE
Consultation
Energy Efficiency Standards in Buildings | Expert Consultations: Revision of the Framework Guidelines
23 Mar 2026 | 14:00 – 16:00
Geneva & Online
UNECE
Virtual
Environment, Climate, Conflict and Peacebuilding (ECCP): Peace@COP31 Community Call
23 Mar 2026 | 15:00 – 16:00
Online | Zoom
ECCP
Conference
International Refugee Law, Disasters and Climate Change: Is the ICJ Advisory Opinion Right?
23 Mar 2026 | 18:15 – 19:00
Maison de la Paix | Room S11 & Online
IHEID
Conference
Vivre au temps des catastrophes | Festival du Film Vert 2026
23 Mar 2026 | 18:30
Hepia
Festival du Film Vert, HEPIA
Body Meeting
6th Advisory Board meeting of the Santiago Network
24 – 26 Mar 2026
Novotel Genève Centre
Santiago Network
Body Meeting
Joint UNECE/OECD Expert Meeting on Implementation of SEEA
24 – 26 Mar 2026
Palais des Nations | Room V
UNECE, OECD
Virtual
Combating Illegal and Counterfeit Pesticides: Strengthening National Systems, Partnerships, and Trade Controls
24 Mar 2026 | 10:00
Online | Zoom
GEF, UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO, GGKP
Virtual
Disaster Risk Reduction through Geospatial Information and Land Administration
24 Mar 2026 | 13:30 – 15:00
Online | Teams
UNECE
Virtual
UN80 Initiative: implications of the UN reform for national and regional human rights NGOs (session for Americas & Africa)
24 Mar 2026 | 15:00 – 17:00
Online
ISHR
Afterwork
Afterwork Engagé ! édition printemps
24 Mar 2026 | 17:30 – 20:00
Maison de l'Avenir
Impact Hub Geneva, One Planet Lab
Conference
Environment, war and peace: what challenges for water governance?
24 Mar 2026 | 18:15 – 19:30
University of Lausanne | Anthropole 1129
Unil
Conference
Acceleration Days 2026 | Heading towards 3ºC: How do we step up together?
25 Mar 2026 | 09:00 – 17:30
Auditorium Ivan Pictet A1B, Maison de la Paix & Online
CAA
Virtual
GEF ISLANDS FORUM + | Setting the bar for synergized SIDS knowledge on chemicals and waste
25 Mar 2026 | 14:00 – 15:00
Online | Zoom
GEF, GGKP
Conference
Women Ocean Guardians: Leading Ocean Conservation and Sustainable Blue Economies | International Women’s Month
25 Mar 2026 | 16:00 – 17:15
Palais des Nations, Building H | Auditorium
Germany, Australia, Costa Rica, Colombia, Grenada, United Kingdom, WCS, Conservation International, GEF, GFCR, GEN
Body Meeting
11th meeting of the Executive Board of the Special Programme
26 – 27 Mar 2026
Online
BRS, Minamata Convention, GFC
Virtual
EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: Insights for financial institutions
26 Mar 2026 | 11:00 – 12:00
Online | BrightTalk
UNEP FI
Conference
Cinquième Business Lunch de la Plateforme Climat de l’Économie
26 Mar 2026 | 11:30 – 14:00
Palladium
Plateforme Climat de l’Économie
Workshop
Generative Artifical Intelligence (GenAI) Conundrum
26 Mar 2026 | 14:00 – 16:00
Campus Biotech
2050Today, UNIGE, ISIT
Conference
Global Water Bankruptcy | Stakeholder Briefing and Dialogue with Prof. Kaveh Madani
26 Mar 2026 | 14:00 – 15:30
International Environment House II & Online | Webex
UNU-INWEH, GEN
Virtual
Fifth meeting of the Eliminating Mercury Skin Lightening Products project stakeholders group
26 Mar 2026 | 14:00 – 16:00
Online
UNEP Global Mercury Partnership
Workshop
Framing the outline of the Global Impact Projects | Geneva Sustainable Management Workshops
27 Mar 2026 | 09:30 – 18:00
Palais des Nations | Room XV
OSI
Conference
The 22nd Meeting of the Group of Friends on Water and Peace | Water Bankruptcy and its Implications for Cooperation and Peace
27 Mar 2026 | 13:00 – 14:30
Palais des Nations, Room VII
Slovenia, Geneva Water Hub
Jobs
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Consultant
Specialist on management and disposal of seized and confiscated live specimens of animal species
28 Mar 2026
CITES
Professional
Chargé-e de mission sensibilisation et éducation à l’environment
29 Mar 2026
J'aime ma Planète
Updates
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16 Mar 2026
World Meteorological Day
05 Jun 2026
Action for the Ocean in International Geneva
12 Aug 2026
The Water Cycle and the Role of Geneva
23 Aug 2026