Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 5 – 11 January 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 | At the event “Strengthening the Science-Policy Interface to Address the Triple Planetary Crisis“, which marked the close of a busy 2025 for the Geneva Environment Network, H.E. Ambassador Felix Wertli of Switzerland announced the establishment of an informal Group of Friends on Science. This initiative aims to ensure that science is properly reflected in negotiations, help safeguard the integrity of science and ensure that the scientific voice is heard in decision-making. The group builds on a statement defending science-based policymaking at last month’s United Nations Environment Assembly, endorsed by sixty countries. Through lightning talks, panel discussions, fireside chats and an interactive fair, this event provided opportunities to engage and exchange with leading institutions and experts working at the science and policy interface. As emphasized, “We look forward to building more bridges between science and policy to guide us towards solutions that can transform knowledge into action, and action into hope.” © UNEP/GEN, 17 December 2025.

Shaping the Global Environmental Agenda in 2026

Happy New Year!

In his 2026 New Year message, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reminded us that “It’s clear the world has the resources to lift lives, heal the planet, and secure a future of peace and justice.” This year, his call to leaders everywhere is unequivocal: “Get serious. Choose people and planet over pain.” He further emphasized last week, “We cannot predict what this new year will bring, but we do know this: The world needs the United Nations more than ever.”

Oppressive heat. Species extinctions. Pollution-choked skies. This is the future that awaits the world unless humanity takes dramatic steps to end a series of mushrooming environmental crises, according to the seventh edition of the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7), released in December 2025. The report offers a stark vision of the decades to come. But its authors say the worst forecasts can still be avoided if countries quickly take meaningful steps to address climate change, nature, land and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.

Let’s therefore make 2026 a year of action for our planet and environmental justice. After another busy year in 2025 that led to the adoption of decisions to address the triple planetary crisis, various key events for the future of our planet are scheduled to take place around the world this year. Consult our updated page on the International Environmental Negotiations Agenda for the coming months.

International environmental meetings and negotiations planned this year in Geneva include:

1 – 6 February | 1st Session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP P1) | CICG
7 February | Third part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-5.3) | CICG
27 April – 1 May | UNECE Resource Management Week | Palais des Nations
4 – 8 May | 67th meeting of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Standing Committee (SC67) | Gland
26 – 28 May | 2026 GEO Symposium and the 21st GEO Plenary | WMO HQ
22 – 26 June 2026 | Eightieth session of the Executive Council (EC‑80) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) | WMO Headquarters
23 – 26 June | 15th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention (BC OEWG-15) | CICG
13 – 23 July | 28th meeting of the CITES Plants Committee (PC28) & 34th meeting of the CITES Animals Committee (AC34) | CICG
12 – 16 October | 22nd Annual General Meeting of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF22)
2 – 6 November | 81st meeting of the CITES Standing Committee (SC81) | CICG
15 – 20 November | The Global Framework on Chemicals – First International Conference (GFC IC1) | CICG
1 – 4 December | 10th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Espoo Convention and 6th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on SEA | Palais des Nations

Other meetings and negotiations taking place in Geneva of interest for the environmental community include:

23 February – 2 April | 61st session of the Human Rights Council (HRC61) | Palais des Nations
21 – 22 April | Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE Region (RFSD 2026) | Palais des Nations
18 – 23 May | 79th World Health Assembly (WHA 79)
1 – 12 June | 114th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC 114)
15 June – 12 July | 62nd session of the Human Rights Council (HRC62) | Palais des Nations
7 September – 9 October | 63rd session of the Human Rights Council (HRC63) | Palais des Nations
12 – 16 October | 22nd Annual General Meeting of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF22) | Palais des Nations
12 – 13 October | 6th meeting of the UN Forum of Mayors | Palais des Nations
29 – 30 October | 2026 Social Forum | Palais des Nations
23 – 25 November | 15th UN Forum on Business and Human Rights | Palais des Nations

Other international meetings and negotiations planned around the world of particular interest for the global environmental agenda and international Geneva include:

19 – 23 January | World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 | Davos, Switzerland
19 – 20 January | GEF-9 Replenishment (Third Meeting) | Bonn, Germany
26 – 27 January | High-Level Preparatory Meeting for the 2026 UN Water Conference | Dakar, Senegal
3 – 8 February | 12th Session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES 12) | Manchester, United Kingdom
16 – 19 February | 6th Meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Implementation | Rome, Italy
13 – 15 February | 62nd Munich Security Conference | Munich, Germany
9 – 20 March | 31st Session of the International Seabed Authority Assembly and Council (Part I) | ISA31 | Kingston, Jamaica
23 March to 2 April | Third session of the Preparatory Commission (PrepCom III) for the entry into force of the Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction | BBNJ PrepCom III | New York, United States of America
23 – 29 March | 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals | CMS COP15 | Campo Grande, Brazil
24 – 27 March | 64th session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change | IPCC-64 | Bangkok, Thailand
24 – 25 March | 43rd Meeting of UN-Water | Rome, Italy
26 – 29 March | 14th WTO Ministerial Conference | MC14 | Youndé, Cameroon
20 – 22 April | Sustainable Buildings & Construction Summit | Lausanne, Switzerland
22 – 24 April | 4th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Escazú Agreement | Santiago, Chile
22 – 24 April | Regional Ecological Summit 2026 | Astana, Kazakhstan
28 – 29 April | First International Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels | Santa Marta, Colombia
30 May – 6 June | 71st Meeting of the GEF Council and 8th GEF Assembly | Samarkand, Uzbekistan
8 – 18 June | 64th Sessions of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies | Bonn, Germany
6 – 15 July | High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2026 | HLPF 2026 | New York, United States
13 – 17 July | 48th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer | OEWG-48 | Bangkok, Thailand
13 – 31 July | 31st Session of the International Seabed Authority Assembly and Council (Part II) | ISA31 | Kingston, Jamaica
17 – 28 August | 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification | UNCCD COP 17 | Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
8 – 22 September | 81st Session of the UN General Assembly, Opening and General Debate | UNGA 81 | New York, United States
14 – 18 September | 22nd Meeting of the Chemical Review Committee (Rotterdam Convention) | CRC-22 | Rome, Italy
21 – 25 September | 22nd Meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (Stockholm Convention) | POPRC-22 | Rome, Italy
28 September – 3 October | 70th Meeting of the International Whaling Commission | IWC70 | Hobart, Australia
19 – 30 October | 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) | Yerevan, Armenia
9 – 20 November | UN Climate Change Conference COP31 | Antalya, Türkiye
2 – 4 December | 2026 UN Water Conference | United Arab Emirates

Ongoing decades of interest for the environmental community:

Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences | 2025-2034
United Nations Decade on Combating Sand and Dust Storms | 2025–2034
International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development | 2024–2033
International Decade of Indigenous Languages | 2022-2032
United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration | 2021-2030
United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development | 2021-2030
International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” | 2018-2028

In 2026, we also celebrate thematic international years, including:

Reviews of 2025 include:

WWF in 2025: A year of progress for people and planet | WWF | 22 December 2025
Conservation in action: Our year in review | IUCN | 22 December 2025
2025 in Review: Building resilience and advancing the transition | UNEP FI | 19 December 2025
The need for WMO has never been greater | WMO | December 2025
2025 in Review | GEN | 19 December 2025

Back to School, Back to Work | Upcoming GEN Events

As we enter 2026, the Geneva Environment Network is ready to reconnect and engage on key environmental issues shaping our global agenda. Upcoming events will include:

Ahead of the First Plenary Session of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP P1), the ISP-CWP Secretariat and the Geneva Environment Network will host a briefing on the preparations to provide essential logistical updates and practical information to help participants get ready for the first plenary session, providing insights on the session’s structure, timeline, and participation modalities. This event will also feature insights from key stakeholders who will share their expectations for P1 and their visions for the Panel’s future work, providing a valuable preview of the priorities, concerns, and opportunities shaping the upcoming discussions, helping to foster a shared understanding and build momentum toward a successful and inclusive plenary session. → Register on Indico to attend in person at the International Environment House or on Webex to attend online on 14 January 2026 from 14:00 to 15:30 CET.
Human Rights and the Environment: Meeting on Activities Related to 61st Session of the Human Rights Council → Register on Indico to attend in person at the International Environment House or on Webex to attend online on 27 January 2026 from 10:00 to 11:00 CET.

For afterwork activities, visit our page “Green Winter in Geneva” featuring a selection of environment-related events, outdoor excursions, conferences, and more to help you enjoy a sustainable winter in Geneva.

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:

External review of the IPBES methodological assessment on monitoring biodiversity and natures’s contributions to people (monitoring assessment), closes on 7 January 2026. → Participate as an expert reviewer
The UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, Marcos Orellana, upcoming report to the human rights council in 2026, will address forever chemicals (PFAS) and human rights. The focus is both timely and essential as scientific studies have made clear that PFAS are widely disseminated and remain recalcitrant in the environment for decades. The scale, transboundary nature and long-term costs of contamination mean that delayed action will increase remediation costs and perpetuate avoidable risks and harms to human and environmental health. The deadline for submission is 9 January 2026. → Submit your input
The UN Secretary-General is preparing a synthesis report to be submitted to the 63rd session on on actionable pathways in mobilizing sufficient climate financing and associated challenges and opportunities in the pursuit of the full realization of human rights for all people. The deadline for submission is 16 January 2026. → Submit your input
The UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is preparing a study on the rights of Indigenous Peoples in conflict and post-conflict situations, with an aim to provide a better understanding of the provisions of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and propose concrete actions. The deadline for submission is 16 January 2026. → Submit your input
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 (from across the natural and social sciences, including Indigenous science, traditional knowledge and other knowledge systems) 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

Important conferences and meetings for which registration is recommended:

The third part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-5.3), is scheduled to take place at CICG in Geneva on 7 February 2026. Registration for INC-5.3 is open until 16 January 2026. For the informal webinars ahead of INC-5.3 with Members of the Committee or with Observers, register by 9 January 2026.
UNECE (Industrial Accidents, Water and Aarhus Conventions) in cooperation with WMO, UNDRR, the European Commission and Germany are hosting a United Nations Global Seminar on Early Warning, Pollution Remediation and Environmental Liability: Preparedness and Response in Case of Technological and Natech Disasters on 29 and 30 January 2026 at Palais des Nations and online. The seminar will bring together leading experts and practitioners from around the world showcasing mechanisms, standards and tools that provide real-life solutions to strengthening preparedness and response to technological disasters, including those triggered by natural hazards (Natech events). → Read more in the concept note and register by 27 January 2026

What (Else) to Read Next

How climate change is threatening human rights | UN News | 26 December 2025
With rising effects of climate change across the globe, the world has started recognising that climate change is not just an ecological collapse, but also a human rights crisis.
GEF approves $372 million in funding to tackle environmental challenges worldwide and gears up to new cycle of investments | GEF | 19 December 2025
New funding to implement 36 innovative programs and projects aimed at addressing urgent environmental challenges across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean. These projects span the GEF Trust Fund, the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF).
Mauritania reaffirms commitment to transboundary water cooperation and aims to join UN Water Convention by 2026 UN Water Conference | UNECE | 19 December 2025
The Islamic Republic of Mauritania has officially reiterated its intention to accede to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, better known as the United Nations Water Convention.
AI chatbots share climate disinformation and recommend climate denialists to susceptible personas | Global Witness | 18 December 2025
AI chatbots’ personalised answers risk inflaming conspiracy and misinformation, as new investigation shows climate disinformation and known denialists being recommended to conspiratorial user personas.
UN experts commend Norway decision to postpone deep-sea mining licensing | OHCHR Special Procedures | 15 December 2025
Norway’s decision to halt the issuance of any deep-sea mining licences until at least the end of 2029 and to withhold all public funds for such activities – a move endorsed by the Parliament – marks a major advance for ocean protection, environmental integrity, cultural identity and human rights.