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Newsletter 08 Jun 2026

Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 8 – 14 June 2026

The Geneva Environment Network’s weekly newsletter includes the latest information on the global environmental agenda, main events, job vacancies, as well as other useful resources and updates. The Geneva Environment Network is not responsible for the content of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site. Stay tuned and follow us on X (Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky, Youtube, and WhatsApp, or visit our website regularly for additional updates.

Image of the week | The annual Geneva World Environment Day Celebration hosted at the International Environment House on 5 June 2026, underscored how Multilateral Geneva is driving collective Climate Action. As the planet sends urgent signals, Geneva is stepping up with coordinated, global responses.

Translating the Right to a Healthy Environment into Action

The recognition of the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment marked a significant milestone in global efforts to address interconnected environmental and human rights challenges. As governments, international organizations, and civil society work to translate this right into concrete action, attention is increasingly focused on how it can be effectively integrated into policy and practice. From the development of a Common Approach for implementation, to strengthening support for environmental human rights defenders, and shaping discussions at the Human Rights Council, these efforts reflect a growing momentum to ensure that environmental protection and human rights are addressed together, in a practical and impactful way.

Consultations on the Common Approach to Implementing the Right to Healthy Environment

The UN Environment Management Group‘s (EMG) Issue Management Group on Human Rights and the Environment (IMG) serves as coordination mechanism for UN agencies, supporting a more coherent, consistent and rights-based approach to environmental and human rights issues across the UN system. Established in 2020 and co-led by OHCHR, UNEP and UNDP, the IMG works to further integrate the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment into the work of the United Nations. In this context, the IMG is currently developing a Common Approach for UN agencies on the Implementation of the Right to A Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment in international, regional and national programming.

As part of this process, the IMG members, with the support of the Geneva Environment Network, are holding consultations to present the initial development process of the Common Approach and gather early feedback. Specifically, the IMG would welcome views on how the Right to Healthy Environment could be more effectively streamlined in practical terms into UN agency programming and outcomes.
→ Join the consultation exclusively open to Civil Society Organizations at the International Environment House and online on 10 June 2026. Two sessions are proposed, from 10:00 to 11:30 CEST and from 14:00 to 15:30 CEST. Register on Indico to attend in-person or online. A separate consultation for Member States took place on 29 May.

Protecting Environmental Human Rights Defenders

Environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs) are individuals and groups working to promote, protect, and advance the realization of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Yet, according to Global Witness, hundreds of defenders are threatened, harassed, arrested, or killed every year for speaking out against environmental harm and defending their communities.

Last week, environmental human-rights defenders, whistle-blowers, institutional representatives and policymakers from across Europe gathered in Strasbourg for the first-ever European Forum on environmental human rights defenders. The Council of Europe organized the forum together with major European and international partners, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for human rights (OHCHR), the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), and the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on environmental defenders under the Aarhus Convention, in cooperation with UNECE Aarhus Convention secretariat, several Human Rights Council special-procedure mandate holders, and civil-society organizations active in Europe. The forum was developed in consultation with the defenders themselves, including activists who may not formally identify as environmental human-rights defenders. → Read more at:

On World Environment Day, the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) launched the Environmental Human Rights Advocacy Pathway — a free, self-paced toolkit designed to help environmental human rights defenders navigate UN and regional mechanisms to defend the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, as part of its e-learning space, the ISHR Academy.

Preparing for the 62nd Session of the Human Rights Council

The 62nd Regular Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC62) is starting next week in Geneva, with the environment high on the agenda. With the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and climate change reporting to this session, various events will address climate change. → Regular updates on key environmental issues at HRC62, side events, and further resources are available on our dedicated HRC62 and the environment update.

Advancing Chemicals and Waste Governance | Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions June Meetings in Geneva

In preparations for the meetings of the subsidiary bodies of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions taking place in Geneva in June 2026, a briefing organized within the framework of the Geneva Environment Network will take place on Thursday, 11 June 2026 from 10:00 CEST at the International Environment House. → Register on Indico to participate in person or on Webex to attend online.

The compliance committees of the three conventions will convene at the International Environment House from 16 to 21 June 2026:

Each committee will meet independently to advance its work on strengthening implementation and compliance across the conventions. A joint session on 19 June 2026 will address issues of common interest, including shared activities, operational practices, and coordination processes.

The fifteenth meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG15) of the Basel Convention – one of the subsidiary bodies of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention –  will convene from Tuesday, 23 June to Friday, 26 June 2026, at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG), with pre-meetings, including Bureau and regional meetings, taking place on Monday, 22 June. The OEWG is expected to advance key items within its work programme, focusing on a range of priority areas. These include efforts to improve the functioning of the prior informed consent procedure, as well as the development of technical guidelines addressing Persistent Organic Pollutants, e-waste, waste lead-acid batteries, used and waste pneumatic tyres, and mercury. Additional topics of focus include plastic waste, used textiles and textile waste, and the provision of greater legal clarity. Furthermore, the OEWG will support activities under the Basel Convention Partnership Programme and strengthen cooperation with the World Customs Organization and the International Maritime Organization.

Climate Action | From Geneva to Bonn and Beyond

With global temperatures at near-record levels and El Niño set to return, governments, businesses, communities, and individuals across the world marked World Environment Day on Friday 5 June, sounding the alarm on the need to urgently address climate change. This year, Azerbaijan hosted the official commemoration of World Environment Day, while in Geneva, the annual celebration “Multilateral Geneva Driving Collective Climate Action” brought together representatives from the presidencies of the recent UN Climate Change Conferences and the upcoming Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, alongside key Geneva-based institutions leading climate efforts. The event highlighted a clear message: the planet is sending urgent signals, and Geneva is responding through coordinated, multilateral action.

This week, all eyes are on Bonn, Germany, where the Bonn Climate Change Conference or June Climate meetings are convening, from 8 to 18 June 2026. The sixty-fourth session of the Subsidiary Bodies under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (SB64) is a key moment to advance technical work, ahead of COP31, to be held in November. Numerous experts from international Geneva are attending the meetings, addressing topics ranging from mitigation to adaptation and finance to technology, capacity-building, including the operationalization of the just transition mechanism agreed at COP30. → Follow the live coverage of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin and read more at:

In a joint letter issued last month, the COP31 President‑Designate (H.E. Murat Kurum, Türkiye) and President of Negotiations (H.E. Chris Bowen MP, Australia) set out a shared vision for an inclusive, transparent, and action‑oriented COP31 in Antalya, emphasizing strengthened multilateral cooperation to accelerate implementation of the Paris Agreement. They highlight climate action as a driver of economic resilience, energy security, and sustainable growth, and stress that COP31 will focus on delivering concrete outcomes across key areas such as clean energy, adaptation, climate finance, and resilient infrastructure. Built on an innovative Türkiye–Australia partnership model, the conference aims to prioritize consensus, stakeholder engagement, and support for vulnerable countries—particularly through enhanced finance, adaptation efforts, and implementation of national climate plans — while reinforcing global momentum to keep the 1.5°C target within reach and translate commitments into measurable progress.

The COP 31, COP 30 and COP 29 Presidencies have launched a call for contributions to the Belém Mission to 1.5, developed under the Global Mutirão Decision to boost ambition and implementation of climate action. The initiative aims to accelerate the delivery of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and national adaptation plans (NAPs) by strengthening international cooperation, mobilizing investment, and supporting practical implementation. Parties, observers and other interested stakeholders are welcome to submit inputs by 30 June 2026.

Other recent news include:

Advancing Towards INC‑5.4: Key Updates and Momentum on the Global Plastics Treaty

The path towards the fourth 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-5.4) continues to progress. Recent updates include:

  • The Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee invited Member States and observers to save the date for INC-5.4, within the period of 13 to 24 March 2027, noting that its duration is still to be confirmed. The Secretariat also invited Members of the Committee interested in hosting INC-5.4 to come forward by the end of June 2026, as initially discussed by the INC Bureau at its meeting of 23 April 2026.
  • The Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, H.E. Amb. Julio Cordano of Chile shared a Note on the informal in-person meeting of Heads of Delegation to the INC, to be held from 30 June to 3 July 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya. In the Note, the Chair:
    • Outlines the objectives, proposed outcomes, format and how delegations could work together,  stressing “the informal meeting will adopt a “Pamoja–Umoja” approach anchored in the Swahili concepts of “togetherness” and “unity” to guide its structure and tone.”
    • Proposes to undertake the work through four Clusters of pre-determined sets of topics, selected on the basis of the criteria and objectives outlined in his third letter sent on 16 April 2026. To support each of the four Clusters, the Chair will designate two co-facilitators, totalling eight co-facilitators for the duration of the informal meeting.

Additional news include:

  • Financing circularity to end plastic pollution | Inger Andersen | 4 June 2026
    UNEP Executive Director, Inger Andersen, stresses that waste management alone is insufficient and calls for prevention, reuse, redesign, and stronger financial flows to support a circular plastics economy.
  • Plastic Pollution and Biodiversity: a Global Overview | WEF | 5 June 2026
    Every year, an estimated 130 million tonnes of plastic waste are unmanaged or improperly discarded, polluting soils, waterways and seas. While efforts continue to promote a circular economy and pursue a global plastics treaty, far less attention has focused on how plastic pollution affects biodiversity and the ecosystem services that underpin economies and human well-being. This report addresses that gap. 
  • Five things you need to know about ocean plastics | UN News | 6 June 2026
    From surgical gloves to water bottles, shopping bags and chewing gum, every part of our daily lives includes plastic. They epitomize convenience – their durability makes our dependence on them inextricable, but it also stifles the environment.
  • A Data Driven Call to Action on Plastics Pollution | CDP | 4 June 2026
    This report shows the progress companies have made on transparency around plastics and underscores a clear message: more needs to be done to transition to a circular economy.

Reimagining a New Relationship with Our Ocean | World Oceans Day 2026

World Oceans Day, celebrated on 8 June, is an opportunity to highlight both the vital benefits humanity derives from the ocean and our shared responsibility to use its resources sustainably. In 2026, the Day is observed under the theme “Reimagine. Beyond The World We Know, a New Relationship With Our Ocean.” It underscores a pivotal shift: after having treated the ocean as something vast, distant, and separate for too long, humanity has chosen to govern a significant part of our shared ocean together. The entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement is not the end of negotiation but the beginning of a transformation that no treaty alone can complete. ‘Reimagine‘ asks us to close that distance together — moving from passive inheritors of the ocean’s generosity to active guardians of its future. To govern not just beyond our borders but beyond our blind spots, beyond the habits of taking, operating in silos, and the belief that the way things have been is the way they must remain.

To mark World Oceans Day, a range of initiatives and events are taking place around the world, including:

  • Launch of the Third World Ocean Assessment | 8 June 2026, 18:45 CEST | UN HQ
    The assessment provides up‑to‑date insights on ocean health, highlighting the cumulative impacts of climate change, pollution, and human activity on marine ecosystems. These pressures are driving widespread biodiversity loss and threatening fisheries, coastal protection, and human well‑being. Based on contributions from nearly 600 experts across 86 countries, it is the only global integrated review covering environmental, economic, and social dimensions of the ocean. → Read more in the press advisory and in the UN News article of 6 June and UN News article of 7 June
  • Fourth edition of the World Biodiversity Forum (WBF) | 14 – 19 June 2026 | Davos, Switzerland
    Under the theme Leading Transformation Together, the Forum brings together diverse stakeholders to advance equitable, science-based solutions to biodiversity loss. With over 130 sessions and nearly 800 presentations, the Forum fosters collaboration across sectors and generations to address the root causes of environmental crises. It emphasizes the need for biodiversity-positive, just, and inclusive approaches, while calling for stronger support to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework beyond government action. → Learn more in the full programme
  • 11th Our Ocean Conference | 16 to 18 June 2026, with pre-conference events from 14 June | Mombasa, Kenya
    Major global conference on ocean action, finance, and governance. The event was introduced by the Permanent Representative of Kenya to the UN in Geneva at the event Life Below Water – SDG 14: Challenges Faced by Coastal Countries and Small Island Developing States.

Environmental Cost of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) encompasses technologies that can process information and imitate human thinking. As underscored by the United Nations Environment Programme, AI can be a powerful tool for monitoring the environment, and helping governments, businesses and individuals make more planet-friendly choices, among other applications, but it can also be problematic for the environment. AI technologies rely on data centres that consume vast amounts of natural resources, such as water and land, electronics, fuelling the need for rare earth elements, which are often mined in environmentally destructive ways and produce hazardous electronic waste.

Last month, in his first Encyclical Letter “Magnifica Humanitas” on Safeguarding The Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV refers to AI as “a valuable tool that requires vigilance”, noting that “the gains in efficiency and the potential to improve certain services are clear, yet rapidly and uncritically adopting them exposes us to a range of risks, including the tendency to overlook the environmental impact. Current AI systems require enormous amounts of energy and water, significantly influencing carbon dioxide emissions, and place heavy demands on natural resources. As their complexity increases, especially in the case of large language models, the need for computing power and storage capacity grows too, which requires an extensive network of machines, cables, data centres and energy-intensive infrastructure. For this reason, it is essential to develop more sustainable technological solutions that reduce environmental impact and help protect our common home.”

Last week, a new report “Environmental Cost of AI’s Energy Use: Carbon, Water and Land Footprints,” issued by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) stressed that the environmental costs of AI and data centres cannot be understood through carbon emissions alone. The authors quantify the carbon, water and land footprints of AI’s electricity use across the globe and highlight the big differences between these footprints in the world’s 20 largest data centre hubs. By 2030, the global data centres powering AI are projected to consume 945 terawatt-hours of electricity. This is nearly triple the combined annual electricity use of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nigeria — countries collectively home to more than 650 million people. Their associated water footprint will equal the basic annual domestic water needs of all 1.3 billion people in Sub-Saharan Africa, and their land footprint will exceed 14,500 square kilometres, roughly twice the Jakarta metropolitan area, home to more than 32 million people. → Read more in the UN News dedicated article

The report calls for a responsible AI ecosystem built on six principles: transparency; efficiency by design; equity and environmental justice; lifecycle responsibility; global cooperation; and sustainable use. Practical recommendations are directed at each major group of stakeholders:

  • Governments should integrate AI infrastructure into energy planning, water governance, and land-use permitting, and require standardized environmental footprint reporting.
  • Industry and AI developers should treat model selection, default outputs, and routing decisions as footprint determinants, and improve efficiency by design.
  • Users and deploying organizations should adopt fit-for-purpose use — selecting the lightest model and lowest-energy format that meets the task.
  • Data centre operators and utilities should treat siting and energy procurement as environmental footprint decisions and apply cumulative impact assessment.
  • Investors should treat electricity, carbon, water, and land footprints as material risks in AI infrastructure portfolios.
  • Communities and civil society should be involved early in data centre siting decisions, with enforceable transparency and grievance mechanisms.
  • International institutions should support harmonized measurement standards, reduce incentives for cross-border burden shifting, and build compute capacity in excluded regions.

Outcomes of the 71st Council and 8th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility Council

The 71st Council of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) concluded on 3 June, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with landmark decisions that will boost international environmental finance through 2030. The Council meeting was followed by the eighth GEF Assembly, GEF’s highest governing body. Meeting alongside the Council for the Least Developed Countries Fund and Special Climate Change Fund (LDCF/SCCF) and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF), the three governing bodies together approved $232.5 million in new environmental financing across 24 projects and programs in 22 countries. In addition, representatives of the GEF’s 186 participant countries:

  • Endorsed the programming directions and policy recommendations for the $3.9 billion ninth replenishment (GEF-9),
  • Acknowledged $200 million in smaller-sized projects that have moved forward with GEF Interim CEO approval since the beginning of the year, including support for countries’ national implementation plans under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, and work to address mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining under the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
  • Endorsed the GEF-9 programming directions for the period from July 2026 to June 2030. The replenishment establishes a programming level of $3.9 billion.
  • GEF-9 will allocate $100 million to an Indigenous Peoples and local communities Conservation Initiative. The initiative provides dedicated and direct funding to Indigenous-led organizations and contributes to their strengthening to enable their participation in GEF projects as executing agencies and funding intermediaries to enhance access.

Read more at:

Updates on the Impacts of the Conflict in the Middle East

Recent reports highlight how conflict in the Middle East is reshaping environmental and economic realities: a UN News feature on World Environment Day describes how, despite war in the Strait of Hormuz, marine life persists but shows worrying signs of pollution and debris, underscoring that ecological systems transcend human conflict. Meanwhile, the injury of renowned Lebanese conservationist Mona Khalil in an Israeli strike illustrates the direct risks faced by environmental defenders and the damage to local conservation efforts. At the same time, another UN report notes that communities across crisis-affected countries such as Yemen, Lebanon and Syria are increasingly relying on renewable energy to sustain essential services like healthcare and water systems. Complementing this, UN Trade and Development warns that geopolitical disruptions — particularly in the Strait of Hormuz — are driving oil price shocks that disproportionately burden vulnerable, import‑dependent economies, threatening to deepen inequality and strain public finances worldwide. → Read more at:

More Happening Abroad

Indonesia International Environment Technology and Innovation Expo & Conference 2026 (INVIROTECH 2026) | Organized by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Indonesia in conjunction with World Environment Day 2026, INVIROTECH 2026 serves as a premier platform showcasing global and national advancements in environmental technology, green innovation, and sustainable solutions. This year’s theme, “Green Solution Technology for Climate Action,” highlights Indonesia’s commitment to accelerating climate action, advancing green investment, and strengthening international cooperation. INVIROTECH 2026 is expected to convene more than 15,000 participants, including government officials, industry leaders, researchers, investors, and international partners. The Mission would be pleased to encourage the participation of organizations, either as a visitor, speaker, or exhibitor, should the themes align with the institution’s mandate and ongoing initiatives.

Enjoying the Last Days of a Green Spring in Geneva

With the G7 Summit taking place from 15 to 17 June 2026 in Évian-les-Bains, France, its proximity to Geneva is expected to affect the Canton of Geneva and the wider Lake Geneva region. Temporary border controls and closures between Switzerland and France will be in place from 10 to 19 June. From Sunday, 14 June to Wednesday, 17 June 2026, the local authorities advise planning journeys in advance and consulting the TPG website for updated schedules and traffic information. Many organizations and institutions are also encouraging teleworking for non-essential staff.

Taking into consideration mobility and security measures in place, our recommendations to enjoy a Green Spring in Geneva this week include:

  • Les Crassulacées : génies de l’adaptation | 6 & 9 June 2026 | Jardin Botanique de Genève
    Join a gardener and a botanist as you discover the fascinating Crassulaceae family—sometimes called succulents—featuring fleshy plants with striking shapes and ingenious adaptations.
  • Les grenouilles des Evaux | 7 June 2026 | Pro Natura & la Fondation des Evaux | Parc des Evaux
    Discover the inhabitants of this unique environment and learn more about frogs, newts and dragonflies, as well as their fascinating way of life!
  • Lineage Haenyeo | 8 – 12 June 2026 | IUCN | IUCN Headquarters (Gland)
    The exhibition is to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the UNESCO inscription of JeJu Haenyeo Culture. There will also be an interactive part to this event on Thursday 11 June, also at IUCN, with an opening ceremony, a traditional dance performance, a traditional abalone porridge tasting and a guided tour of the exhibition.
  • Cyanotypes et empreintes végétales | 10 June 2026 | Jardin Botanique de Genève
    When you make a cyanotype, the white parts of a sheet of paper turn blue thanks to the sun’s rays. Anything exposed to the light turns blue, and anything covered up stays white. Come discover this ancient art form by creating plant-based prints using plants from the Botanical Garden.
  • Lunchtime conference: Summer 2026, what to do in Geneva region? | 11 June 2026 | CAGI | CAGI Grand Salon
    Discover hidden gems, practical information and leisure recommendations covering everything from outdoor and aquatic activities to scenic terraces, countryside escapes, vibrant city events and much more.
  • Parler d’écologie à nos enfants: entre vérité, espoir et résilience | 12 June 2026 | Parents d’Avenir | Maison de l’Avenir
    Faced with the climate emergency, many parents and educators feel at a loss: how can we convey the reality of the world without dampening our children’s zest for life? How can we turn eco-anxiety into a source of resilience? Parents d’Avenir is organising a special evening to break the silence and share practical tools. Far from being a top-down lecture, we’re offering a participatory format where every voice counts.
  • 3e édition de la Biennale de l’Art et de la Nature Urbaine – (re)connecting.earth | Until 14 June 2026 | (re)connecting.earth | Various Locations
    The (re)connecting.earth Biennial returns with a cross-border outdoor exhibition along the Greenway of Greater Geneva, extending to Annemasse. Through artworks, workshops, and events, this edition explores “sensitive resources” and the role of natural materials, from sand to water, in shaping our daily lives and global systems. 
  • Exhibition “Quel froid!” | Until 30 August 2026 | Maison Tavel
    This exhibition 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. 
  • Temporary Exhibition – « Jamais la nature ne nous trompe » | Until 23 December 2026 | Jardin Botanique de Genève
    Come and discover a scientific and aesthetic object that bears witness to Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s passion for nature and botany: one of his rare portable herbariums, designed to deepen knowledge of plants and awaken an interest in botany.

What (Else) to Read Next?

  • Earth Overshoot Day 2026 falls on July 30 | Global Footprint Network | 5 June 2026
    Earth Overshoot Day now falls nearly five months before year’s end, meaning a significant share of global economic activity depends on depleting our planet’s resources. This unsustainable pattern accelerates climate disruption and grows resource scarcity, creating serious risks for those unprepared for this future.
  • What we found in the Arctic deep sea! | Greenpeace International | 4 June 2026
    Having seen all the life and beauty of these ecosystems, that reminds us a lot of underwater biodiversity-rich meadows or coral reefs, makes it even more insane to start deep-sea mining in these ecosystems, which would be totally destroyed if the industry gets its way.
  • The race to save the vanishing Caspian Sea | UNEP | 3 June 2026
    “For many people the Caspian Sea is part of who they are, their memory, their traditions and their way of life,” says Faig Mutallimov, Senior Advisor to the Office of the Representative of the President of Azerbaijan on Climate Issues. “Protecting it is our shared duty, and I believe that we should act now, collectively, responsibly, to ensure that this story continues.”
  • Albania is destroying a protected wild coast for President Trump’s son-in-law – and lying to parliament about it | Bird Life | 2 June 2026
    Heavy machinery has been tearing through one of Europe’s most ecologically important coastal habitats since late April, without permits, without an environmental impact assessment, and with the Albanian government providing false explanations to parliament. The area shelters over 70 endangered species and more than 200 bird species, including Flamingos and Dalmatian Pelicans. It sits on the Adriatic Flyway, a critical migration corridor for millions of birds traveling between Africa and Europe each year. The surrounding waters are among the last Mediterranean refuges for the Mediterranean Monk Seal, one of the world’s most endangered marine mammals, and a key nesting ground for the Loggerhead Sea Turtle. BirdLife’s Albanian Partner PPNEA has called the scale of destruction unprecedented – the worst ever recorded in Albania’s protected areas.
  • Indian teen trio named Earth Prize Global Winners for magnetic tamarind powder that removes microplastics from water | The Earth Foundation | 29 May 2026
    The Earth Prize 2026 named its Global Winners: 16-year-olds Vivaan Chhawchharia, Ariana Agarwal and Avyana Mehta from India. Their solution, Plas-Stick, is a biodegradable magnetic tamarind powder that removes microplastics from water. Notably, Plas-Stick is the first-ever Global Winner of The Earth Prize from India.
  • Australian Court allows first-ever UN expert intervention in landmark environmental case | OHCHR | 29 May 2026
    The UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, Astrid Puentes Riaño, was admitted on Tuesday by the Federal Court of Australia to intervene as amicus curiae for the first time in a case regarding the extended operating life of the North West Shelf Project (NWS), one of the world’s major Liquid Nitrogen Gas (LNG) operations centred on the Karratha Gas Plan in Western Australia.
  • Republic of Serbia to host World Environment Day 2027 | UNEP | 29 May 2026
    The Republic of Serbia will host World Environment Day 2027, the country announced today together with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), which organizes the observation of the Day annually. World Environment Day next year will take place at the same time as Serbia is hosting Expo 2027, a specialized World Expo with a theme of ‘Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All’.

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