Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 26 May – 1 June 2025

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

Image of the week | Panel getting ready for the International Biodiversity Day Celebration 2025 “Multilateral Geneva Creating Interlinkages and Driving Transformative Change in Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development” presenting key findings of the two landmark scientific reports launched by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) in December 2024. IPBES Chair, David Obura, and IPCC Chair, Jim Skea, joined the panel online, showcasing the importance of aligning scientific themes, methodologies and processes, unlocking synergies to address the triple planetary crises, thus one month before the establishment of a science-policy panel to address pollution. © GEN, Palais des Nations, 22 May 2025.

Environment @ 59th session of the Human Rights Council | Ongoing Preparations

The environment is high on the agenda of the 59th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC59), taking place from 16 June to 11 July 2025, at Palais des Nations. Core themes of this session include:

The promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change is the usual main environmental theme of the Council’s June sessions, with the UN Special Rapporteur on climate change and human rights, Elisa Morgera’s, annual report to the Council, “The imperative of defossilizing our economies”.
Other interlinkages between climate change and human rights remain prominent in this session of the Council:
- The UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter, will report on interlinkages between poverty, climate change and social protection.
- The UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Paula Gaviria Betancur, will focus on internal displacement in the context of organized criminal activity, including its interactions with other drivers of forced displacement, including disasters and climate change.
- The annual panel discussion on the adverse impacts of climate change on human rights will highlight facilitating just transitions in the context of addressing adverse impacts of climate change on the full realization of human rights.
The rights to water and sanitation will be in focus in this session of the Council, as it holds a panel discussion on the matter with a particular focus on mainstreaming the human rights of safe drinking water and sanitation into the upcoming 2026 United Nations Water Conference.
The rights of Indigenous Peoples will be tackled as the Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity, Cecilia M. Bailliet, will aim to understand Indigenous concepts and practices of solidarity and to what extent they enjoy the right to express solidarity with other tribes and groups, as well as with the environment.
A draft resolution on sea level rise is under consideration by the Dominican Republic and other Member States to be tabled at HRC59 or HRC60.
Various side events addressing environmental issues are being planned by Member States and stakeholders.

→ Regular updates on key environmental issues at HRC59, side events, and further resources will be made available on our dedicated HRC59 and the environment update.

To develop more synergies among stakeholders and a better outreach on the environmental agenda of HRC59, including the activities taking place in parallel to the Council’s session, the Geneva Environment Network, the Geneva Climate Change Consultation Group (GeCCco), and partners are convening an information-sharing session. This event will discuss and share information on planned environment-related activities at and around HRC59, such as in-person and online events, publications or exhibitions, among others, and exchange on possible synergies. They will feed the GEN page on HRC59 which will provide an updated calendar of these environment-related events. → Share your activities and events, register to join the event taking place in person at the International Environment House 1 or online on Tuesday, 27 May 2025, from 10:00 to 11:00 CEST.

Other news relevant to the human rights and environment agenda include:

UN Ocean Conference: “Human rights must be at the heart of ocean governance,” urges UN expert | OHCHR | 20 May 2025
The UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, Astrid Puentes Riaño, urged world leaders to anchor ocean policy in human rights. Ahead of the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) taking place in Nice, France, from 9 to 13 June, she highlights, “Human rights cannot be an afterthought. Human rights must be the core of ocean governance and of every ocean pledge.”
The Dominican Republic must seize momentum to structurally improve waste management: UN expert | OHCHR | 22 May 2025
Ninety-five percent of waste is still deposited in open dumps in the Dominican Republic, said Marcos Orellana, the UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, in a statement at the conclusion of an official visit to the Dominican Republic, acknowledging that recent government and legislative measures were paving the way for better waste management in the future.
Human rights should be at the core of Singapore’s future sustainability efforts, including on climate: UN expert | OHCHR | 23 May 2025
Singapore plays a key role in climate action, international law and the environment on the multilateral arena, Astrid Puentes Riaño, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to a healthy environment, said in a statement at the end of an official visit to the country, urging Singapore to consider an ecosystem and human rights -based approach that further includes natural solutions and ancestral knowledge.

Road to Punta Del Este | CWP SPP OEWG 3.2 & GFC OEWG 1

In less than a month, all eyes will be on Punta del Este, Uruguay, where important negotiations to accelerate action on chemicals, waste and ending pollution will be convening. The resumed third session of the Ad hoc open-ended working group on a science-policy panel on chemicals, waste and pollution prevention (OEWG 3.2) will take place from 15 to 18 June 2025 in Punta del Este, Uruguay, at the Convention and Exhibition Center back to back with the Intergovernmental Meeting for the purpose of considering the establishment of the science-policy panel, and with the first meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG 1) for the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC), to be held in the same venue from 24 to 27 June 2025.

In preparation for the meetings, the Geneva Environment Network is hosting various events on the Road to Punta del Este:

Outcomes on the Strengthened Action on Chemicals and Wastes | At the 2025 meetings of the Conferences of the Parties (COPs) to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, that took place from 28 April to 9 May 2025 in Geneva, governments from 180 countries adopted a series of bold decisions to advance the sound management of chemicals and wastes, protect human health, safeguard the environment and biodiversity and contribute to tackling climate change. Taking place in the run-up to the Punta del Este meetings and other major negotiations aiming at beating pollution, this briefing will present outcomes of the recently concluded 2025 meetings of the COPs. → Register to attend in person at the International Environment House or on Webex to participate online on 28 May 2025 from 10:00 to 11:30 CEST.

Briefing on the Preparations for the Resumed 3rd Session of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on a Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution Prevention | Road to OEWG 3.2 Series | This briefing will provide updates on the preparations for OEWG 3.2 and close the “Road to OEWG 3.2 Series”. → Register and join us on Webex on Thursday 29 May 2025 from 14:00 to 15:30 CEST.

Briefing on the first meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group for the Global Framework on Chemicals | Last week, the latest information on the preparations for the OEWG meeting and other important moments taking place in parallel to the meeting was shared at a special briefing. → Watch the recording and find the highlights

Other events taking place on the Road to Punta del Este include:

From Participation to Partnership: Strengthening Youth and Civil Society Roles in the Future Science-Policy Panel | The Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP are organizing an online event bringing together youth, civil society actors, and key stakeholders to reflect on progress, showcase contributions, and shape inclusive pathways for engagement in the Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution Prevention’s formation and long-term functioning. → Register and join on Webex on 27 May 2025 from 15:00 CEST.
Gender Action Plan of the Global Framework on Chemicals | 30 May 2025 | 14:00 CEST

Environment @ 78th World Health Assembly

The Seventy-eight World Health Assembly (WHA78), held under the theme “One World for Health”, continues this week in Geneva and is expected to conclude on 27 May 2025.

On 20 May 2025, the Assembly made history by formally adopting by consensus the world’s first Pandemic Agreement. This landmark decision culminates more than three years of intensive negotiations launched by governments in response to the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and driven by the goal of making the world safer from – and more equitable in response to – future pandemics. → Read the WHO press release.

This week, the environment is high on the agenda of the Assembly on Monday 26 May, with:

Antimicrobial resistance
The impact of chemicals, waste and pollution on human health
Updated road map for an enhanced global response to the adverse health effects of air pollution
Climate and health and the finalization of the Draft Global Action Plan on Climate Change and Health. The Global Plan is a non-binding technical text, and its costing is already contemplated in the General Programme of Work, with no additional expenses needed from the Organization or Member States, representing less than 1% of WHO’s overall budget.

Other related news include:

The double threat of diabetes and antimicrobial resistance | Manne-Goehler, Jennifer et al. | The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology | 23 May 2025
WHO-WMO Climate and Health Programme is strengthened | WMO | 21 May 2025
The AMR Equation: Where Innovation Meets Urgency | Health Diplomacy Alliance Hosts High-Level Discussion on Cross-Sectoral Collaboration to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance at WHA78 | Health Diplomacy Alliance | 19 May 2025

Countdown for World Environment Day and Plastic Treaty Negotiation

Next week, a global audience across continents will observe 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. Save the date for the Geneva World Environment Day Celebration taking place at the International Environment House in the morning of 5 June 2025, where leading experts will highlight how the international Geneva multilateral diplomacy system is collectively taking action to tackle plastic pollution. → Register to attend in person.

Plastic-related events taking place this week include:

Executive Briefing on Plastic Pollution INC-5.2 | 27 May 2025 | 13:00 – 14:00 CESTThis Executive Briefing, open to Permanent Representatives of the Member States of the United Nations in Geneva, will feature ongoing preparations for the upcoming INC-5.2, taking place in Geneva from 5 to 15 August 2025.
GPML World Environment Day Webinar: Pre-Launch of the Global Plastics Hub | Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter (GPML) | 29 May 2025 | 14:00 – 15:30 CEST
The Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter (GPML) will host as part of the celebration of World Environment Day an online pre-launch event for the rebranded Digital Platform which will be henceforth be known as the Global Plastics Hub a one-stop global hub for sharing knowledge and data, guiding countries in evidence-based policymaking, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, showcasing 2,800 resources and 80 global indicators across the plastic lifecycle, helping countries identify gaps, monitor trends, and design effective strategies.
Webinar: Unlocking Private Investment through EPR | WBG & UNITAR | 29 May 2025 | 14:00 – 15:30 CEST
This second session in the Knowledge Sharing Series on EPR in the Plastics Sector, organized by the World Bank Group, and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), with support from PROBLUE will showcase how Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) can unlock private investment for sustainable plastic waste solutions in emerging and developed markets.

Updates on WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies

With the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference taking place in two weeks in Nice, France, momentum is building for the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies to enter into force, contributing to achieving Sustainable Development Goal target 14.6 on ending harmful fisheries subsidies:

With Georgia and Lesotho‘s recent ratifications, only 12 more ratifications are needed for its entry into force.
WTO Fish Fund Steering Committee agreed at its meeting on 19 May 2025 to open the first Call for Proposals to receive funding for project grants intended to support the implementation of the Agreement once it enters into force.
Urging parliamentarians to take action, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala recently stated, “We are on the verge of a major milestone,” with the Agreement not only preserving deteriorating fish stocks, but also people’s livelihoods and food security.
Concluding a series of small groups and thematic meetings held in the past weeks, the Negotiating Group on Rules will gather for a Focused Thematic Session on Regional Fisheries Management Organizations/Arrangements on 27 May 2025.

Preserving Our Glaciers

This week, state representatives and experts will meet from 29 to 31 May 2025 in Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan, for the High-Level International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation, co-sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and held to highlight the vital role of glaciers in maintaining global ecological balance and addressing water-related challenges. With high participation from international organizations and academia, the Conference will support the implementation of UN resolutions on the “International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025” and the “Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences, 2025–2034”, by mobilizing resources and fostering international cooperation. It seeks to strengthen global partnerships among governments, scientists, civil society, and other stakeholders, with a focus on enhancing transboundary collaboration to preserve glaciers and their socio-economic benefits. The Conference is of interest for various organisations and multilateral processes in Geneva fostering cooperation to address the unprecedented rates of mountain glacier melting.

Update on Natural Hazards and Resilience to Disasters Ahead of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

Ahead of the 8th Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP25), to take place from 2 to 6 June in Geneva, updates on the status and impact of natural hazards remind of the importance of monitoring, early warning to save lives and reduce disasters risks.

The World Meteorological Organization reported that the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s National Weather Service had predicted above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year. The outlook for the 2025 hurricane season was a 60 per cent change for an above-average season, including three to five major hurricanes of category three or above. The season is expected to be above normal due to a confluence of factors such as continued ENSO-neutral conditions, warmer than average ocean temperatures, forecasts for weak wind shear, and the potential for higher activity from the West African Monsoon, a primary starting point for Atlantic hurricanes. Early warnings by the WMO community and improved disaster risk management have dramatically reduced fatalities, but economic losses are rising.
This week, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction will launch its Global Assessment Report 2025: “Resilience Pays: Financing and Investing for our Future”, which demonstrates that the cost of disasters has been underestimated. The direct costs of disasters had doubled in the last 20 years to around 200 billion United States dollars per year, but the report estimated that, factoring in indirect costs, the real cost of disasters was around 2,3 trillion per year. The tragedy was that most of these costs were preventable. The report analyses how we could better align financing systems and better use public and private investment to reduce the burden on disasters on governments. → Join the virtual launch on 27 May 2025 from 15:00 CEST.
The Platform on Disaster Displacement released a Policy Brief – Disaster Displacement and Disaster Risk Reduction, which informs discussions at GP25 on disaster displacement. It outlines recent developments, challenges, and tools for integrating human mobility into national and regional DRR strategies. It also highlights opportunities for coordinated action across policy frameworks to reduce displacement risk and support durable solutions. → Read the Key Messages and Proposed Commitments for the 2025 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Call for Submissions and Contests | Upcoming Deadlines

Invitation to nominate candidates for the UNECE Joint Expert Group on Water & Industrial Accidents | The JEG – a joint group under the Industrial Accidents Convention and the Water Convention – was established in 1998 to assist countries in taking and implementing measures aimed at strengthening the prevention of and preparedness for accidental water pollution in a transboundary context. Parties to the Water and Industrial Accidents Conventions, non-Parties and other stakeholders are encouraged to nominate or renominate their national experts for the JEG membership in the biennium 2025–2026. The (re)nominations of JEG members should be communicated by the national Focal Points to the secretariat of the Water Convention, keeping the secretariat of the Industrial Accidents Convention in copy (email to: water.convention@un.org, cc: ece-teia.conv@un.org) with the subject line ‘JEG nomination’. For national Focal Points wishing to be nominated as JEG members themselves, the email should be sent by a superior (e.g. the head of a division). The deadline for submission of (re)nominations is set to 31 May 2025.
Updating the Global Action Plan on AMR | The Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on AMR has opened participation in a survey as part of the formal consultation process for updating the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (GAP-AMR). This initiative is in response to the call by Member States via the Political Declaration on AMR adopted by the 79th United Nations General Assembly in 2024. The survey may be completed individually, as a Member State / Group of Member States, association, organization, or other collective body by 31 May 2025.
Call for further requests, inputs and suggestions for additional elements of the rolling work programme of IPBES up to 2030 | The Plenary, in its decision IPBES-10/1, requested the Executive Secretary to issue a call for further requests, inputs and suggestions regarding the work programme. Information on currently ongoing assessments and other work is available on the IPBES website. Requests, inputs and suggestions should be submitted, using the submission form by 31 May 2025.
Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development Study on “Climate Finance: Vulnerability and Responsibility” | The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 45/6, welcomed the first report (A/HRC/45/29) of the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development, and requested it to implement the recommendations contained therein, including the preparation and submission to the Council thematic studies in the discharge of Expert Mechanism’s mandate. At its 8th session, the EMRTD outlined the thematic studies that it planned to submit to the Human Rights Council during the 2024-2026 cycle, including a study on “Climate Finance: Vulnerability and Responsibility”. This study complements the one on climate justice and just transition by further exploring and analyzing the various processes, initiatives, and practices that contribute to adequately financing climate transition and development at different levels. The study will also examine, through examples and best practices, the implementation of mechanisms enshrined in the Kyoto Protocol under the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities.” Special attention will be given to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement concerning the carbon market. → Submit your input by 30 May 2025.

Enjoying a Green Spring in Geneva

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

Un million d’arbres plantés | Filière agronomie HEPIA | 27 May 2025
How do you ensure a 100% survival rate for newly planted trees? Julien Kauer, HEPIA alumnus and founder of EMAUA, shares insights from his reforestation work in Kenya, where biodiversity and resilience go hand in hand. Free public talk hosted by HEPIA’s Agronomy department.
Petit marché aux plantes | Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques | 29 May 2025
Browse a vibrant selection of local plants, from heirloom veggies to aromatic herbs, at this spring market in the Botanical Garden. Get expert tips from gardeners, enjoy a kid-friendly potting workshop, and discover organic treats like homemade honey.
Fête du Printemps à la Jonction | Maison de Quartier de la Jonction | 29 May 2025
The 46th edition of the Spring Festival awaits you with many surprises!
Art et évolution | Conservatory and Botanical Garden | Until 31 May 2025
Showcasing artistic interpretations of evolutionary concepts by school groups, the exhibition features their creative works alongside reflections on their learning process. Explore this unique blend of science and art in the passage under Route de Lausanne.
Espace de lectures. Des histoires qui prennent soin de l’environnement | Musée d’ethnographie de Genève (MEG) | 1 June 2025
A welcoming reading space invites children and families to discover stories that explore our relationship with the environment. Through tales carefully selected by MEG librarians, this event encourages reflection on everyday actions and their impact on the planet, blending imagination with ecological awareness.
Cycle: Des rendez-vous pour réfléchir et agir | Musée d’ethnographie de Genève (MEG) | 1 June 2025
Join a full day of activities exploring how music and art can contribute to environmental sustainability. Through interactive workshops, children’s discovery tours, discussions, and film screenings, this event invites everyone to reflect on climate urgency and explore creative, practical tools for action. Organised as part of MEG’s “Des rendez-vous pour réfléchir et agir” series, the day highlights diverse voices: artists, Indigenous representatives, and environmental experts, showing how everyday gestures and cultural practices can shape a more sustainable future.
Devenir Jardinier planétaire La Préséance du vivant | Fondation Pavillon Sicli | Until 8 June 2025
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.
Dialogues insolites entre le Muséum d’histoire naturelle de Genève et le Conservatoire botanique de Genève | Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques | Until 29 June 2025
Discover the fascinating interactions between the plant and animal worlds through a unique exhibition showcasing historical specimens and scientific connections. Learn how creatures like the sphinx moth, tattooed armadillo, and Darwin’s orchid have contributed to scientific advancements, and explore the legacy of renowned Geneva naturalists.
Notre Biodiversité: Jeu de memory | Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques | Until 30 November 2025
Explore Geneva’s Municipal Biodiversity Strategy through a fun and educational memory game. In this interactive activity, visitors match “before-and-after” images representing actions that help protect biodiversity, both individually and institutionally. Each successful match reveals key insights into how we can make a difference.
Accès à l’eau et consignes de baignade | Republic et Canton de Genève
Consult the interactive nature and terroir map showing public access to the water, as well as walking routes along the lake and waterways. The platform also showcases the richness of Geneva’s terroir. Plan your bathing and gastronomic outings with the interactive nature and terroir map.

What (Else) to Read Next?

Joint Communiqué on the occasion of the State Visit of João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of Angola, to Brazil | 23 May 2025
The Presidents of Angola and Brazil have issued a joint statement (paragraph 24) calling for the negotiation of protocols to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime to tackle environmental crimes, in particular the trafficking in wild fauna and flora and illegal mining, following a State Visit of João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of Angola, to Brazil, where he met with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Biodiversity loss demands urgent global action, says UN chief | UN News | 22 May 2025
In a message marking Thursday’s International Day for Biological Diversity, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on countries to radically rethink their relationship with nature, warning that biodiversity loss is a global crisis no nation can ignore.
Legally Sound Oil and Gas Phase-outs – Shielding climate action from investor–state lawsuits | Indira Urazova, Lukas Schaugg, Greg Muttitt | IISD | 22 May 2025
To combat climate change, the world needs to start phasing out fossil fuel production. But what if investors sue? Investor–state dispute settlement (ISDS) claims allow fossil fuel companies to sue governments over phase-out policies, presenting a barrier to climate action. A recent IISD report offers guidance on how to approach fossil fuel phase-outs amid ISDS risks.
Victory for youth and environmentalists in European supranational court: oil and gas climate impacts must be counted | Greenpeace International | 21 May 2025
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Court issued its judgement in the case Greenpeace Nordic and Natur og Ungdom (Young Friends of the Earth Norway) brought against the Norwegian State. The Court confirms that under European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) law, climate assessments for new fossil fuel projects must include not only the emissions produced at the drilling site, but also those resulting from the subsequent combustion of the extracted oil and gas, wherever it takes place.
EU Court confirms Marine Protected Areas must be shielded from destructive bottom trawling | ClientEarth | 21 May 2025
Lawyers have welcomed a decisive ruling from the General Court of the European Union, confirming that Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) must be effectively safeguarded from harmful fishing practices such as bottom trawling. The court rejected a legal challenge brought by a German fishing association seeking to annul conservation measures introduced by the European Commission in several German MPAs. The ruling upholds the legal duty to ensure meaningful protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems at risk from destructive practices.
Brief of the Scientific Advisory Board on Deep-Sea Mining | Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board | 19 May 2025
This Science Brief on Deep-sea Mining (DSM) covers an introduction to the technology, a discussion of recent developments, direct and indirect risks of mining on the seabed, and key considerations. The Board highlights the importance of applying a precautionary principle, the need to develop a comprehensive scientific assessment of DSM’s impacts and to define environmental harm and preservation goals under international law. It also stresses the need for evaluating the necessity of DSM and promotion of circular economy strategies to reduce reliance on new mineral extraction.
How MSMEs can navigate global trade in an era of polycrisis | H.E. Amb. Matthew Wilson & Ratnakar Adhikari | WEF | 19 May 2025
Small businesses face major trade hurdles – from limited financing to regulatory complexity. Global initiatives are easing barriers through better trade data, targeted financial support and digital tools to help them reach new markets. With support, small businesses can compete globally and drive inclusive economic development.