Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 27 January – 2 February 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 | UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen providing closing remarks at the GEN@25 High-Level Panel, culminating the Geneva Environment Network’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, at the International Environment House on 20 January 2025. © UNEP GEN

One United Environment Family at GEN@25

Last week, hundreds of diplomats, leading voices and experts gathered at the International Environment House to conclude the celebration of 25 years of the Geneva Environment Network. The GEN@25 Environment Forum featured over fifty organizations and secretariats, showcasing how international Geneva creates synergies, drives innovation and boosts ambition to advance environmental action. It also included an exhibition on the making of the International Environment House and the network. The celebration culminated with a high-level panel reflecting on “Multilateralism Looking at the Future – Protecting the Environment with Humanity at the Center”.

On that occasion, the Swiss State Secretary for the Environment, Katrin Schneeberger, highlighted that “Multilateralism remains our most powerful tool for addressing global environmental challenges, uniting us to protect our planet while keeping humanity at the heart of our efforts.” The United Nations Environment Programme Executive Director, Inger Andersen, stressed “Because the triple planetary crisis is one crisis. Because action on the triple planetary crisis is action on human health, prosperity, equity and peace. And because the triple planetary crisis, despite all our efforts, is intensifying. To weave this tapestry, we must unite. And to unite, we must work to overcome the fragmentation of the environmental movement that has taken place over the last 50 or so years… This is why working on environmental policy coherence and synergies is so important. Because it is when we reach for synergistic coherence that we are the strongest.”

Heartfelt thanks to all those who participated, engaged and supported the success of this event and GEN’s past 25 years of serving the environmental community, as well as to the numerous partners in international Geneva and beyond who contribute to make Geneva a global hub for environmental governance. → Revisit the messages shared during the opening of the GEN@25 Environment Forum and during the High-Level Panel and find photos of the event on GEN Flickr Account.

Preparations for Upcoming CITES Standing Committee

This week, a briefing on the 78th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES SC78), organized within the framework of the Geneva Environment Network, will unpack the agenda of the CITES SC78 meeting, to be held in Geneva from 3 to 8 February 2025. Parties to the Convention and observer organizations will convene at the Geneva International Conference Center to review strategic, policy and species-specific matters affecting the implementation of the Convention. This will be the last meeting before the 20th meeting of the CITES Conference of the Parties (CITES CoP20), to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in November 2025, and some of the draft resolutions and decisions to be tabled for adoption at CoP20 will be discussed.

→ Join us in person at the International Environment House 2 or online on Webex, on Tuesday 28 January, at 10:00 CET.

Trade and Biodiversity: Reflecting on Outcomes of the UN Biodiversity Conference

This week, the briefing “Achieving Biodiversity Goals Through Trade: Building on Progress Made at UN Biodiversity Conference COP16“, organized by UN Trade and Development and the Geneva Environment Network, will reflect on the importance of trade to achieve the biodiversity goals building on the outcomes of the first segment of the UN Biodiversity Conference COP16, suspended in Cali, Colombia, in October 2024, and reconvening from 25 to 27 February 2025 in Rome, Italy.

While international trade has often been associated with environmental degradation, it also offers immense potential for conservation. With 55 per cent of global GDP — around USD$58 trillion — directly dependent on nature, trade policies must align with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to halt biodiversity loss, restore ecosystems, and support sustainable development.

The event will open with the high-level panel on progress made at COP16 and its importance in addressing the triple planetary crisis, as well as how trade policies and trade instruments can contribute to achieving global biodiversity goals. The second panel, on the theme, “Focused Discussion on COP16 Outcomes and Opportunities to Foster Sustainable Trade” will provide technical insights into the key outcomes of COP16. Panelists will explore the trade implications of these outcomes, identify potential opportunities to enhance sustainable trade practices and outline actionable steps for the future. The event will conclude with an interactive Q&A session, offering participants the chance to engage directly with the experts.

→ Register and join us in person at Palais des Nations, Room XXVII or online, on Tuesday 28 January, at 14:30 CET.

Advancing the Human Rights and Environment Agenda

The human rights and environment remain high on the agenda of international Geneva in 2025. → Learn more about how Geneva advances the human rights and environment agenda in our dedicated update.

This week, activities and closing deadlines include:

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is holding an informal virtual consultation to inform the upcoming report of the Secretary-General on just transition and human rights, pursuant to resolution 56/8 of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) and to be submitted at its 60th session. The Secretary-General’s synthesis report will focus on opportunities, best practices, actionable solutions, challenges and barriers relevant to a just transition and the full realization of human rights for all people. Gathering inputs from stakeholders, the informal consultation will be held virtually, in two identical sessions to accommodate different time zones: on 29 January 2025, from 9:00 to 10:30 CET and 30 January 2025, from 17:00-18:30 CET.
The UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), with the support of the European Investment Bank (EIB), is launching the Human Rights Resource Kit for financial institutions — a comprehensive, step-by-step tool designed to help financial institutions to align with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). → Join the virtual launch taking place on 28 January 2025, from 13:00 to 14:00 CET.
Various human rights bodies preparing environment-related reports for the Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly are inviting States, interested individuals, organizations and businesses to submit inputs. The calls for submissions ending this week include:
- The right of Indigenous Peoples to their traditional economies | Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples | 31 January 2025
- Indigenous Peoples right to data, including data collection and disaggregation | Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples | 31 January 2025

In less than a month, the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC58) will open in Geneva. To unpack the environmental agenda of the meeting, the Geneva Environment Network and its partners are convening an information-sharing session to discuss and share information on planned environment-related activities at and around HRC58, such as in person and online events, publications or exhibitions, among others, and exchange on possible synergies. → Save the date for 6 February 2025 from 10:00 to 11:00 CET, register to participate in-person at the International Environment House 1 or online via Webex, and share information on your activity!

Connecting Local and Regional Governments

The Global Cities Hub (GCH), the thematic platform of International Geneva connecting cities and local and regional governments (LRGs) to International Geneva’s ecosystem, is kickstarting the year with a session exploring how LRGs can actively engage in some important upcoming multilateral processes, on Wednesday 29 January, at 14:00 CET. The GCH, turning five this year, envisages a world in which LRGs are recognized as full-fledged actors in multilateral governance and actively strengthen its overall effectiveness to respond more effectively to global challenges.

A recent announcement on how a multilateral body is engaging with cities is the announcement last week at the 64th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of the addition of 31 new cities to the Wetland City Accreditation scheme. The Wetland City Accreditation scheme encourages cities in close proximity to and dependent on wetlands, especially Wetlands of International Importance, to highlight and strengthen a positive relationship with these valuable ecosystems.

Celebrating Wetlands Day

Every 2 February, we celebrate World Wetlands Day, which marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. This year, the day is celebrated under the theme “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future”, underscoring the urgency of bold action to protect these natural habitats for the welfare of all people – and so future generations can continue to benefit from all that wetlands provide.

As the headquarters of the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention and of various international and non-governmental organizations active in nature protection, the Geneva region is an important hub of expertise and action for wetland conservation. Activities in Geneva to celebrate the day include guided tours, observation posts, and other events aimed at reconnecting people with nature and raising awareness of the importance of wetlands to our lives through the ecosystem services they provide. → Find more information about #WorldWetlandsDay and related activities

Reflections on Achieving Sustainable Lifestyle Changes

The Green Earth Action Foundation is holding a Climate Action Conversation Series, exploring various dimensions of climate action. The third episode of the series “How to Achieve Sustainable Lifestyle Changes: Simple Changes, Big Impact”, taking place this week, brings together expert speakers to share actionable strategies for adopting sustainable habits that fit seamlessly into modern life. Learn practical solutions for reducing waste, rethinking consumption, and creating eco-friendly spaces—all while networking with a community of eco-conscious individuals. Discover how small, intentional changes can lead to significant environmental benefits and help build a healthier planet for future generations. → Join on Zoom the event on 30 January 2025 from 11:00 to 12:30 CET.

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 for Green Winter in Geneva include:

Les Pollutions qui menacent le Léman | 29 January 2025 | Espace Léman
Association pour la sauvegarde du Léman offers family activities to learn about pollution affecting Lake Geneva and its impacts on the environment and biodiversity.
Art Genève | 30 January – 2 February 2025 | 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.
Atelier avec Cyril Dion : Raconter la transition écologique et sociale | 31 January 2025 | Uni Mail
The workshop will focus on three themes: current stories, new narratives and our needs in relation to climate challenges.
Le monde fascinant des chauves-souris | 1 February 2025 | Bibliothèque municipale de la Cité
As part of the Unusual Dialogues exhibition, curator of mammalogy Manuel Ruedi will share the fascinating world of bats.
Cycle: Des rendez-vous pour réfléchir et agir | 2 February 2025 | Musée d’Ethnographie
Through this series of “think and act” events, the Museum takes a closer look at the issues surrounding the climate emergency through the prism of MEG’s specific characteristics.
Geneva Lux Festival | Until 2 February 2025 | City of Geneva
For the eleventh edition, the public will be able to discover 24 luminous works, including 15 new ones! The main theme will be myths and legends. Young and old alike will be able to cross the Jardin Anglais and be surprised by astonishing articulated and glittering creatures, get lost in a magical forest or observe a local version of the Loch Ness monster on the water…
Plus léger que l’air | Until 2 February 2025 | Fondation Baur – Musée des arts d’Extrême-Orient
As part of the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Japan, the exhibition celebrates the lightness of Japanese culture embodied in Michiko Uehara’s textile artistry.
La Banquise | Until 6 April 2025 | Quai Gustave-Ador
Discover the wood-fired saunas, Mongolian rest yurts and axe throwing in the winter sports and recreational space on the Eaux-Vives merchant quay.

What (Else) to Read Next?

Reducing disaster risks to deliver a resilient future | UNDRR | 24 January 2025
The Pact for the Future offers multiple entry points for advancing disaster risk reduction (DRR) and resilience-building efforts to accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development alongside the Sendai Framework, and framing global development beyond 2030.
What Donald Trump’s Presidency Means for Plastic Pollution | Sustainability Magazine | 23 January 2025
Now, amidst the upheaval brought about by the executive orders signed by US President Donald Trump following his inauguration, sustainability practitioners are uncertain about the future of international policy on plastic production and plastic pollution.
At Davos, Guterres slams backsliding on climate commitments | UN News | 22 January 2025
Likening fossil fuel addiction to Frankenstein’s monster – “sparing nothing and no one” – the Secretary-General noted the irony that 13 of the world’s biggest ports for oil supertankers are set to be overwhelmed by rising sea levels, a consequence of rising temperatures and sea ice melt, caused overwhelmingly by burning coal, crude oil and natural gas.
100 tonnes de plastiques entrent dans le Léman chaque année | Association pour la sauvegarde du Léman | 22 January 2025
L’association pour la sauvegarde du Léman a mandaté le bureau EA – Earth Action pour développer, avec la contribution de l’expertise de l’ASL, un modèle de prédiction de la pollution plastique dans le Léman, ainsi que des scénarios visant à la réduire à l’horizon 2040. La modélisation a démontré que près de 100 tonnes de plastiques parviennent chaque année dans le Léman, principalement via les eaux de ruissellement sur les sols imperméables (83%).
UNESCO and WMO Launch the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025 | WMO | 21 January 2025
UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have officially launched the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation on January 21st, 2025, marking a crucial milestone in global efforts to protect these essential water towers that provide freshwater to over 2 billion people worldwide.
Davos 2025: Special address by Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa | WEF | 21 January 2025
“As minerals extraction accelerates to match the needs of the energy transition, the countries and local communities that are endowed with these rich resources must be the ones that benefit most. At the moment, they don’t benefit much because the benefit flows out of their own countries to other locales in the world.”
Trump orders US to quit Paris Agreement and pause all foreign climate finance | Climate Home News | 21 January 2025
On his first day in office, US President Donald Trump officially began the one-year process of leaving the 2015 Paris climate agreement and announced a pause on all government aid funding for 90 days pending a review of the aid programme’s policy goals.