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Newsletter 26 Jan 2026

Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 26 January – 1 February 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, and Youtube, or visit our website regularly for additional updates.

Image of the week | A winter view of Lake Geneva shrouded in fog, defined by MétéoSuisse as a natural phenomenon occurring when water vapor condenses in the layer of air closest to the ground, reducing visibility to less than one kilometer. On 1st February, MétéoSuisse welcomes its new director, Stefan Uhlenbrook, formerly the Director of the Hydrology, Water and Cryosphere Branch of WMO. Wishing him every success in his new role!

Environment @ 61st Session of the Human Rights Council | Ongoing Preparations

The 61st Regular Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC61) is taking place in Geneva from 23 February to 31 March 2026. With the environment high on the agenda at this session of the Council, core themes of this session include:

  • The right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is the usual main environmental theme of the Council’s March sessions, with the annual report to the HRC of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to a healthy environment, Astrid Puentes Riaño, on “Protecting Clean Air” (A/HRC/61/47).
  • A global analytical study (A/HRC/61/36) by the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the implementation of a human rights-based approach into the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, in line with the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity, will be presented in this session of the Council.
  • The UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, Alexandra Xanthaki, will present her report (A/HRC/61/49) exploring synergies and challenges in ensuring both cultural rights and the conservation of nature at the same time, clarifying how cultural rights – protecting identities, values and ways of life – are important to the field of nature conservation and vice versa.
  • The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Michael Fakhri, in presenting his report to the Council (A/HRC/61/51), will examine the interlinkages between land rights and the right to food, with a particular focus on the voices, experiences, and insights of civil society actors working on the ground, including small-scale food producers, Indigenous Peoples, fishers, pastoralists, and youth.
  • Other topics that tackle environmental issues include:
    • The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, will present her final report to the Human Rights Council, “Raising their voices: HRDs respond to the human rights crisis” (A/HRC/61/40) that aims to provide a platform for human rights defenders to comment on the state of the international framework designed to protect and support them and to reflect on whether it is meeting that goal.
    • The Advisory Committee is presenting a report on the impact of disinformation on the enjoyment and realization of human rights (A/HRC/61/68) that aims to identify, among others, how human rights are impacted the most by disinformation, including on matters on the environment and climate, how forms of disinformation are considered particularly problematic for human rights, and how some measures to counter disinformation negatively impact human rights’ enjoyment.

→ Regular updates on key environmental issues at HRC61, side events, and further resources will be made available on our dedicated HRC61 and the environment update.

To strengthen coordination among stakeholders and enhance outreach on the environmental agenda of HRC61, the Geneva Environment Network and its partners are convening an information-sharing session focused on activities and events related to the environment. This event will provide a platform to discuss and share information on planned environment-related activities at and around HRC61, such as in-person and online events, publications or exhibitions, among others, and exchange on opportunities for synergies and collaboration. Insights gathered during the session will feed the GEN page on HRC61 which will serve as a central hub offering an up‑to‑date calendar of all environment‑related activities of HRC61. → Register to participate in-person at the International Environment House I or online via Webex on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, from 10:00 to 11:00 CET. Share as well information on your activity!

Just Transition | Decent Work and Social Justice in the NDCs 3.0

Advancing a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all is essential for achieving climate goals while creating decent work, promoting social justice, reducing inequalities and supporting sustainable development and poverty eradication. Just transition features in many countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and in global processes such as UNFCCC and its UAE Just Transition Work Programme. This momentum has been further strengthened by the endorsement of the ILO Guidelines for a Just Transition towards Environmentally Sustainable Economies and Societies for All by 187 ILO Member States at the International Labour Conference in 2023. Over the past two years, the ILO, working as part of the UN system and in collaboration with the NDC Partnership, has intensified its support to countries to integrate just transition into NDCs, through both global research and country-level policy advice, helping around thirty Member States develop integrated policies and programmes in 2024–2025 to advance decent work and social justice in the ecological transition.

This week, ILO is convening the dialogue “Advancing Decent Work and Social Justice in the NDCs 3.0 for a Just Ecological Transition,” jointly organized with the Geneva Environment Network, with financial support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Leading experts will share perspectives on the integration of just transition in the new generation of NDCs and reflect on how their implementation can foster decent work creation and social justice, grounded in social dialogue. Simultaneous interpretation will be available in English, French and Spanish. → Register on Forms to attend in person the event taking place in the ILO Building, Room II on 28 January 2026 from 10:00 – 12:00 CET or follow the livestream on YouTube. Coffee and tea will be served from 9:30 CET.

Preventing Disinformation in Environmental Policy Making

Disinformation is increasingly shaping public debates and influencing environmental policy decisions, undermining efforts to address urgent global challenges driven by the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature loss and pollution. The UN General Assembly raised concerns in 2021 about the spread of disinformation, prompting UN‑wide efforts to strengthen international cooperation. The UN Secretary‑General’s report Countering disinformation for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms outlines its impacts, and the Human Rights Council will review further analysis from its advisory committee at its 61st session, including effects on environmental and climate‑related rights (A/HRC/61/68). Misinformation and disinformation also rank among the world’s top global risks, with the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2026 – one of the five most significant threats for the year, second in the two‑year outlook and fourth over a ten‑year horizon.

The upcoming event “Challenges and Solutions to Prevent Disinformation in Environmental Policy Making,” co‑convened by the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, the Center for International Environmental Law, and the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty and the Geneva Environment Network on 30 January 2026, from 11:00 to 12:30 CET, will highlight how false and misleading information undermines environmental policy and public understanding. The session will present concrete examples of disinformation tactics across the triple planetary crisis, and explore practical strategies to counter these challenges, including policies on conflict‑of‑interest, enhanced transparency, and evidence‑based decision‑making. → Register to join in person at the International Environment House 1 or join online on Webex

Early Warning and Environmental Response in Technological and Natech Disasters

Technological disasters, including those triggered by natural hazards (Natech events), continue to pose significant risks to people, the environment and economies. Their effects can have local, national, regional or transboundary implications. The increasingly frequent and severe impacts of climate change are increasing Natech risks. While preventive measures remain essential, these and other events demonstrate that preparedness and effective response capacities are equally critical to mitigating consequences when disasters occur. The international community has acknowledged this need, committing to strengthen multi-hazard, multi-risk management and to implement and develop related mechanisms, standards and tools.

This week, a United Nations Global Seminar on Early Warning, Pollution Remediation and Environmental Liability: Preparedness and Response in Case of Technological and Natech Disasters will facilitate an exchange of information and expertise on early warning and industrial accident notification systems, pollution remediation tools and environmental liability schemes, with a particular focus on technological and Natech disasters. Its main objective is to increase knowledge of authorities, operators and the public on ways to enhance preparedness for and response to such events. The seminar is co-organized by international organizations working to support member States on early warning and industrial accident notification systems, environmental liability frameworks and pollution remediation measures, within the context of technological and Natech disasters. These include the UNECE, specifically the secretariats of the Industrial Accidents Convention, the Water Convention, the Aarhus Convention and its Protocol on Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers, UNDRR and WMO. → Read more in the concept note and consult the programme. Register by 27 January 2026 for the event taking place on 29 and 30 January 2026 and follow the UNECE and GEN coverage of the event on social media.

Eve of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution First Plenary

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP), established in June 2025 in Punta del Este, aims to strengthen the science‑policy interface by assessing scientific knowledge, identifying evidence‑based policy options, and catalyzing solutions to global challenges related to chemicals, waste, and pollution. The Panel will hold its first Plenary session (ISP‑CWP P1) from 2 to 6 February 2026 at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG), preceded by regional and stakeholder meetings on Sunday 1 February. At ISP‑CWP P1, members are expected to adopt the rules of procedure, the work programme, and plans for potential intersessional work.

To prepare and follow the upcoming first plenary session of the ISP-CWP:

High-Level Preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference, as World Enters Era of ‘Global Water Bankruptcy’

The 2026 UN Water Conference, co-hosted by Senegal and the United Arab Emirates, will be held from 2 to 4 December 2026 in the United Arab Emirates. To support its effective preparations, a High-level Preparatory Meeting, is convening on 26 and 27 January 2026 in Dakar, Senegal. The event will bring together global water stakeholders to lay the groundwork for the 2026 UN Water Conference and launch discussions on the six interactive dialogues. The meeting will take place back-to-back with the resumed negotiations for a joint management agreement of the Senegal–Mauritania Aquifer Basin, shared by four West African countries and key for water security and climate resilience. The talks, to be held on 28 – 29 January 2026, aim to finalize a draft agreement for adoption ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference. Geneva-based experts and organizations, including UNDRR, UNECE, UNITAR, UN-Water, WHO, IUCN, and the Convention on Wetlands will be in Dakar to contribute with their expertise.

While global efforts accelerate ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference, discussions around water increase and signal a need for change, as evidenced by a recent article by the Geneva Water Hub arguing for the need to reframe global water governance towards one that places governance, law, accountability and peace at the center of water discussions. Recently released reports have also drawn attention to the stark global situation of water resources, including:

  • The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU – INWEH) flagship report Global Water Bankruptcy: Living Beyond Our Hydrological Means in the Post-Crisis Era, launched last week, argues that the world has entered a new stage as more and more river basins and aquifers are losing the ability to return to their historical “normal.” Droughts, shortages, and pollution episodes that once looked like temporary shocks are becoming chronic in many places, signaling a post-crisis condition the report calls water bankruptcy. As stressed by UNU – INWEH Director and report lead author Kaveh Madani, “many regions are living beyond their hydrological means, and many critical water systems are already bankrupt,” as terms such as “water stressed” and “water crisis” fail to reflect today’s reality in many places: a post-crisis condition marked by irreversible losses of natural water capital and an inability to bounce back to historic baselines. → Read more in the UNU – INWEH press release and in the UN News dedicated article
  • A new interactive water security atlas, available on the Watershed Investigations website, shows which of the largest 100 cities have been drying or getting wetter over two decade, with 39 of these sitting in regions of “extremely high water stress”, where water withdrawals for public water supply and industry are close to exceeding available supplies, often caused by poor management of water resources exacerbated by climate breakdown. → Read more in The Guardian’s article

Celebrating the International Day of Clean Energy

The International Day of Clean Energy, observed on 26 January was established by the General Assembly in 2023 (resolution A/77/327) as a call to raise awareness and mobilize action for a just and inclusive transition to clean energy for the benefit of people and the planet. The date also marks the founding of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in 2009, created to support countries in their energy transitions, serve as a platform for international cooperation, and provide data and analyses on clean energy technology, innovation, policy, finance and investment. Clean energy is central to both ensuring no one is left behind and protecting the planet: lack of access to reliable, clean energy limits education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, particularly in developing regions that still depend on polluting fossil fuels, while transitioning away from oil, coal, and gas is essential to addressing climate change, given their significant contribution to global emissions.

The celebration takes place following recent updates on the global clean‑energy landscape, including:

  • The European Electricity Review 2026 finds that in 2025, the EU took an enormous step forward towards a clean power system backed by wind and solar as for the first time, wind and solar produced more electricity than fossil fuels in the EU. Homegrown renewables remained nearly half of EU power, as record-breaking solar worked in tandem with wind.
  • A new analysis conducted for Carbon Brief reports that coal power generation fell in both China and India in 2025, the first simultaneous drop in half a century, after each nation added record amounts of clean energy. The fall in 2025 indicates that both countries now have the preconditions in place for peaking coal-fired power. These shifts have international implications, as the power sectors of these two countries drove 93% of the rise in global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from 2015-2024.
  • The recently launched third edition of the WMO–IRENA Climate-driven Global Renewable Energy Resources and Energy Demand Review finds that climate variability and long-term climate change are increasingly shaping the performance and reliability of renewable energy systems worldwide. From extreme heat driving rapid growth in energy demand to hydropower being particularly exposed to rainfall variability, the report stresses that climate-informed planning and forecasting are essential.

Organizations in International Geneva and beyond are taking action toward a transition to sustainable energy for a cleaner future. → Find out more on the Transition to Sustainable Energy and the Role of Geneva

Celebrating Wetlands Day in Geneva

World Wetlands Day, celebrated each year on 2 February, marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) on 2 February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. “Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage” is the theme for World Wetlands Day 2026. The global campaign spotlights the timeless role of traditional knowledge in sustaining wetland ecosystems and preserving cultural identity. To celebrate the day in Geneva, various outdoor activities are organized on the eve of the official celebration. → Learn more about the day, the importance of wetlands and celebrations around the world on our event page

Join free activities proposed by the Canton of Geneva and numerous partners on 1 February to celebrate World Wetlands Day and discover underwater forests full of surprises (some require registration):

  • A lagoon full of life in the heart of the city — Eaux‑Vives Public Beach
    • Dragonflies and aquatic plants | Faune Genève | 9:00–11:00 CET
      A booth to test your dragonfly knowledge and discover the Dragonfly Atlas of the Geneva Basin, the latest in a series of reference books on Geneva’s nature.
    • Siberian ducks and plant‑eating ducks | Natural History Museum of Geneva | 10:00–16:00 CET
      A booth with ornithologists from the Museum to discuss migrations and the diets of certain ducks—some coming from very far away!
    • The great importance of small waterbodies | Canton of Geneva | 10:00 CET
      A look back at the restoration of Geneva’s wetlands—from the Eaux‑Vives lagoon to more discreet urban, agricultural, or forest sites—vital for amphibians and many others.
    • Floating ecosystems — a new refuge for aquatic biodiversity? | 11:00–15:00 CET | Floradeau & HEPIA
      Discover the tiny, astonishing life forms inhabiting the lake and an extraordinary “living raft” that could transform our urban waterbodies.
    • Ducks fighting over aquatic plants! | Pro Natura Geneva | 13:00 CET (1st visit) & 15:30 CET (2nd visit)
      Red‑crested pochards offer aquatic plants to their partners—but other ducks, like the gadwall (the “snatcher”!), swoop in to steal them…
    • Interlinked destinies of lake plant meadows and birds | ASL, Groupe des Jeunes de Nos Oiseaux et Groupe ornithologique du bassin genevois | 13:00-15:00 CET & 15:30-17:30 CET
      With declining nutrient levels in Lake Geneva and the arrival of the quagga mussel, the composition of the plant meadows in Geneva’s harbor has been greatly altered. Discover these little‑known plants and their role in the Lake Geneva ecosystem, as well as the wintering birds.
    • Exhibition: Underwater lake meadows | ASL | 14:00–17:00 CET
      An invitation to dive into the little‑known, fascinating world of underwater lake “forests” and learn why they matter.
  • Other sites to discover
    • Pointe à la Bise reedbed | Pro Natura Geneva | 10:00–16:00 CET
      Discover reedbed birds and pond micro‑organisms, and explore the interactions linking all these living beings
    • Ducks and the Rade’s plant meadows | La Libellule | Pavillon Plantamour | 13:00–17:00 CET
      Geneva’s harbor and the Rhône are important biodiversity sites. A naturalist will introduce you to the birdlife of the Rade.

Upcoming Deadlines Relevant for the Environment

With the environment high on the agenda of International Geneva and beyond, international processes, negotiations, and fora regularly call for inputs in preparation for future reports and guidelines, for people to support their process or to register to attend upcoming sessions. A dedicated update lists calls for submissions related to the environment. Additional updates also list those related to Human Rights Mechanisms and ongoing contests launched by our partners. Deadlines not to be missed during the coming weeks include:

  • The UN Special Rapporteur on climate change and human rights, Elisa Morgera, in her upcoming report to the Council in 2026, will seek to synthesize and analyze a varied body of evidence of the actual and potential contributions of transforming food systems to climate change mitigation, adaptation, prevention and responses to loss and damage, and human rights protection, taking an integrated approach to land- and ocean-based food systems. The deadline for submission is 30 January 2026. → Submit your input
  • The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is preparing a second report addressing the challenges and barriers to the full realization and enjoyment of the human rights of the people of the Marshall Islands, stemming from the State’s nuclear legacy. The deadline for submission is 31 January 2026. → Submit your input
  • Call for information on contributions to the generation of new knowledge in response to identified knowledge gaps in the IPBES assessments. Governments, organizations and individuals can submit and share information on their contributions to addressing the knowledge and data gaps identified in completed IPBES assessments by 31 January 2026.→ Submit your input
  • World Wildlife Day 2026 | Each year on 3 March, the world comes together to celebrate World Wildlife Day, honoring the incredible diversity of life on Earth and the vital connections between people and nature. The 2026 theme, “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods,” highlights the essential role these plants play in global health, traditional knowledge, and sustainable economies.
    • The International Youth Art contest is open to youth artists aged 4-18 using traditional art medium. All entries must be submitted electronically via uploading on IFAW’s website by 1 February 2026. Finalists and winning entries will be presented at the official World Wildlife Day event on 3 March 2026. 
    • In partnership with CITES, the United Nations, UNDP, and IFAW, Jackson Wild joins this global celebration through the World Wildlife Day Film Showcase and invites anyone with a relevant film (of any length) to reach out to scarlett@jacksonwild.org for more details. Deadline to submit is 2 February 2026.
  • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is seeking expert reviewers on the First-Order Draft (FOD) of the 2027 Methodology Report on Inventories for Short-lived Climate Forcers. The report produced by the Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (TFI) will provide guidance on measuring anthropogenic emissions from key short-lived climate-forcing substances, including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and others, which significantly contribute to global and regional air quality and climate change. The online registration process is open for prospective expert reviewers via the IPCC website. Registration will close on 13 February 2026.

Register for Upcoming GEN Events

As the first month of the year comes to a close, the environmental agenda in International Geneva begins picking up speed. Upcoming briefings organized or co-organized by the Geneva Environment Network for which registration is open include:

Enjoying a Green Winter in Geneva

During the cold winter days, Geneva offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy your free time indoors or in heated outdoors. This week, suggestions to enjoy a Green Winter in Geneva include:

  • Various outdoor activities are organized on 1st February, the eve of World Wetlands Day 2026
  • Children’s cosmetics workshop: making fruity cream | 28 January 2026 | Espace de quartier Eaux-Vives
    During this workshop, children will make their own fruity cream, with a smooth and soft texture, that nourishes and protects the skin against the winter cold. A 100% natural cosmetic to use without moderation. 
  • Honoring Borneo’s forest | 29 January 2026 | Bibliothèque de la Cité
    The tropical rainforest of Borneo is home to many animal and plant species. The preservation and regeneration of tropical rainforests play a central role in the fight against climate change. This a meeting organized as part of the exhibition, Sauvages – behind the scenes of Claude Barras’ film, in collaboration with the Bruno Manser Fund. 
  • Art Genève | 29 January – 1 February 2026 | Palexpo 
    Visit the exhibition of 80 modern and contemporary art galleries, music performances, and conferences shedding light on current events in the world of contemporary art. 
  • Sauvages by Claude Barras in a film concert | 31 January 2026 | Salle Frank-Martin
    Those who have already seen Claude Barras’ animated film “Sauvages” will remember the melodious sounds of the Borneo forest. To make this forest immersion feel authentic, improvised percussion and bird songs will be adding to the sounds that have been already recorded.
  •  Ouvre ton téléphone | 31 January 2026 | Bibliothèque des Minoteries 
    Discover the inside of a smartphone, its components, and why they are so difficult to repair. Do you have any old phones lying around in your drawers? Bring them to your local municipal library and put them in the noOPS – No Obsolescence Programme Switzerland phone collection box. 
  • Festival TEV 5ème édition | Until 31 January 2026 | Saint Julien en Genevois 
    What better way to grasp environmental challenges than to immerse yourself in the topic? Conferences, film screenings, and other thematic workshops will take place around the Citizen Environmental Transition.
  • Les minéeraux, magie aux mille facettes | 1 February 2026 | Musée d’histoire des sciences
    Rubies, beryl, amethyst, garnets and even copper, iron oxide, gypsum, and clays: whether for their beauty, their value, or their usefulness, minerals have exerted a major influence on the history of humankind. As part of the “Stories of the Earth” series, geologists from Animuse will share their passion in the main hall of the museum.
  • Geneva Lux Festival | Until 1 February 2026 | City of Geneva
    Geneva Lux is a free light festival that has been illuminating the city of Geneva for twelve years during winter. It attracts a diverse audience of locals, families, commuters, and tourists. This year’s edition expands into the Old Town, featuring around twenty artworks and performances. New site-specific creations offer a unique immersive experience. 
  • Peindre pour honorer la terre | From 1 February – April 12 2026 | Musée Rath
    Aboriginal artists give thanks to the earth that nourishes them and allows them to live. With their paintings, they express their gratitude to nature: each color, each shape evokes a landscape, a plant, an animal, or an ancestral being. Come and discover their world!
  • Give us Back the Beauty, Exhibition by Bernard Garo | Until 6 February 2026 | Galerie Renaissance
    This exhibition brings together recent paintings on paper, works created on 19th-century Dufour topographic maps, and large-scale photographic compositions capturing glaciers in transition. Together, they trace a visual and emotional cartography of the planet’s changing ice — from serenity and energy to fragmentation and disappearance.
  • Mineral Echo | Until 7 February 2026 | Théâtre du Grütli
    Based on testimonies from female mountaineers, this performance weaves a dialogue between mountaineering, feminism, and ecology. Two women, bound by a fragile solidarity, set out to place a memorial plaque to commemorate a glacier that has just disappeared.
  • 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. This exhibition shows how, in a small cantonal area, electricity needs, landscape transformations, and the desire to protect nature have intertwined.
  • Exhibition “Quel froid!” | Until 30 August 2026 | Maison Tavel
    Explores the theme of winter in Geneva and beyond, bringing together traditions, artists’ perspectives, and visual archives. Visitors are guided through popular practices, urban scenes, and majestic landscapes, from Lake Geneva to the Alps. 

What (Else) to Read Next?

  • AI promises to make weather forecasting cheaper – but is it reliable? | Geneva Solutions | 23 January 2026
    Like all forecasting systems, AI models can be wrong – especially outside the conditions they were trained for. That is why the WMO and project partners emphasize verification: testing AI forecasts against observations and existing models across different weather scenarios before they are relied on operationally.
  • Plastic, plastic everywhere | EPFL | 23 January 2026
    Plastic pollution is everywhere – including where you would least expect it, especially when it’s in tiny particle form. Today, scientists are working to measure the consequences of this contamination.
  • State of Finance for Nature 2026 | UNEP | 22 January 2026
    UNEP’s State of Finance for Nature 2026: Nature in the Red: Powering the Trillion Dollar Nature Transition Economy tracks global finance flows to Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and reveals that we are far off track in investing in nature to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. → Find out more in UNEP Press Release and UN News article For every $1 spent protecting nature, $30 goes to destroying it
  • Colombia aims to launch fossil fuel transition platform at first global conference | Climate Home News | 22 January 2026
    The event is regarded as an attempt to advance global discussions on transitioning away from fossil fuels alongside the formal UN climate negotiations. Since governments made a broad commitment to do that at the COP28 climate summit in 2023, strong opposition from petrostates has stalled progress on addressing the primary cause of global warming. Former Irish President and climate justice advocate Mary Robinson told this week’s briefing that the conference is a “necessary complement” to the UN climate regime.
  • Global Engagement in 2026: Five Areas to Watch | IISD SDG Knowledge Lab | 21 January 2026
    For many actors, 2026 isn’t just about doing more with less. It’s about fewer doing the work of many. Looking ahead at 2026, the SDG Knowledge Hub’s identifies five areas that merit close attention: responding to multilateralism in crisis; solving the triple planetary crisis; advancing on chemicals, waste, and pollution; accelerating water action; and laying the groundwork for a post-2030 sustainable development agenda.
  • IUCN launches new publication on ensuring social outcomes in forest landscape restoration | IUCN | 21 January 2026
    IUCN recently released a new policy brief titled “How to Ensure Social Outcomes in Restoration,” offering timely guidance on integrating social considerations into forest and landscape restoration practice. The publication highlights why restoration must go beyond ecological goals and explicitly support people’s wellbeing, equity and rights to achieve long-term success. 
  • Why the High Seas Treaty entering into force matters for public-private action | Kirsten Schuijt and Peter Thomson | WEF | 19 January 2026
    The High Seas Treaty also brings together private sector members such as shipping offshore energy, communications and fisheries, together with governments and scientists, to share responsibility for conserving and restoring the high seas.
  • The Effects of Climate Change on Security | NATO | 19 January 2026
    This report offers three core insights. One, climate change is a systemic problem that impacts all the items on the list of an ever-growing security agenda. Second, to properly understand the security consequences of climate change, in-depth knowledge of context-specific dynamics is required, whether the context is regional, national, or local. Three, the practices of climate security are at the intersection of science and policy. 
  • Global Trade Update (January 2026): Top trends redefining global trade in 2026 | UN Trade and Development | January 2026
    Global trade enters 2026 under mounting pressure from slower growth, geopolitical fragmentation, accelerating digital and green transitions and tighter national regulations. Together, these forces are reshaping trade flows, investment decisions and global value chains, with the greatest risks and opportunities concentrated in developing economies.

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