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Newsletter 08 Sep 2025

Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 8 – 14 September 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 | International Experts on Endocrine Disruptors (EDCs) convened in Geneva last week for an expert consultation and a workshop. Several participants joined the panel of the event Road to UNGA & UNEA | Global Governance on Endocrine Disruptors: From Science to Policy. Following the session, panellists posed for a group photograph. © UNEP/GEN, International Environment House, 1 September 2025

Environment @ 60th Session of the Human Rights Council

The 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC60), kicks off this week in Geneva with an opening addressed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, who will provide a global update on the state of human rights. With more than 100 reports, 34 draft proposals (decisions and resolutions), and 5 panel discussions to tackle, HRC60 will consider various topics related to the environment over four-and-a-half week of deliberations. Contributions to the global environmental agenda in this session will include:

  • The implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes is the usual main environmental theme of the Council’s September sessions, with the annual report to the HRC of the UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, Marcos Orellana, on “Guidelines on access to justice and effective remedies in the context of toxics” (A/HRC/60/34).
  • The Geneva Toxic Free Talks, taking place at Palais des Nations and online in parallel to HRC60, will reflect on the challenges posed by the production, use, and dissemination of toxics and on how Geneva contributes to bringing together the actors working in reversing the toxic tide. Highlighting the work of the UN Special Rapporteur and of organizations in the struggle for the right to live in a toxic-free environment, topics that this edition of the talks aim to tackle will include: the toxic impact of military activities, guidelines for effective remedies against toxic harm, country visits and tackling toxics on the ground, corporate responsibilities facing toxics, and the right to be toxic-free and the challenges ahead.
  • The UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, Pedro Arrojo Agudo, will present his report to the Council, highlighting the water-energy nexus (A/HRC/60/30). The report argues that a just and sustainable energy future is inseparable from a just and sustainable water future; both must advance together to uphold human rights for all.
  • Following Human Rights Council resolution 56/8 entitled “Human rights and climate change”, the UN Secretary-General is presenting a synthesis report (A/HRC/60/52) on opportunities, best practices, actionable solutions, challenges and barriers relevant to a just transition and the full realization of human rights for all people.
  • As climate change and human rights continue to remain at the forefront of the Council’s agenda, various events taking place within the framework of the Geneva Rights and Climate Talks are also taking place in this session. A moment to reflect on the challenges posed by the impacts of climate change and the intertwined human rights implications, this edition of the talks will tackle topics including: sea-level rise and human rights, environmental human rights defenders and climate change, and Climate Change COP30, human rights, and the Global South.
  • The annual half-day panel discussion on the rights of Indigenous Peoples in this session will be tackling the rights of Indigenous Peoples in the context of a just transition to sustainable energy systems, including in relation to critical minerals.
  • The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Albert K. Barume, dedicates his annual report to the Human Rights Council to the theme “Recognition of Indigenous Peoples”.
  • The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development, Surya Deva, in his report to the Council (A/HRC/60/25) focuses on the mutually reinforcing nexus between gender equality and the right to development, including matters related to climate change and environmental issues.
  • A thematic study to be presented to HRC60 (A/HRC/60/95) by the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development examines how the right to development principles can be effectively incorporated into established and emerging climate policies to promote climate justice and bolster responses to the climate crisis.
  • The UN Independent Expert on promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, George Katrougalos, will present his report to the Council (A/HRC/60/31) that identifies major geopolitical trends and structural drivers of the North-South divide. The report identifies the nexus of climate injustice, environmental degradation, and depletion of natural resources, as well as the interplay of the debt and climate crises.
  • The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Vitit Muntarbhorn, will present his report to the Council (A/HRC/60/86), focusing on the link between natural resources and human rights in Cambodia from the angle of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
  • The Human Rights Council Advisory Committee is presenting their report to the Council (A/HRC/60/63), addresses the full life cycle of new and emerging technologies in the military domain. In the report, the Advisory Committee highlights that as these technologies evolve, addressing their environmental and human rights impacts is essential.
  • Following the resolution by the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/RES/58/3), a biennial panel discussion on the impact of unilateral coercive measures and overcompliance on the right to food and food security will be held in this session.
  • The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances is presenting its thematic study to the Council (A/HRC/60/35/Add.5) on enforced disappearances in the context of the defence of land, environment and natural resources.
  • The Working Group on the Rights of Peasants and other People Working in Rural Areas will be presenting its report to the Council (A/HRC/60/33).
  • Various resolutions that address the environment are expected to be tabled at this session of the Council including on sea-level rise and human rights, on human rights and Indigenous Peoples, and the renewal of the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Events of particular interest this week include:

→ Consult regular updates on key environmental issues at HRC60, side events, and further resources available on our dedicated HRC60 and the environment update.

Relevant news and updates include:

Updates on Global Governance to Address Antimicrobial Resistance | AMR

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) ranks among the top 10 threats to global health, yet, action to address this looming crisis is often too slow. Last year, the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance marked a positive step towards the right direction, with global leaders approving a political declaration, committing to a clear set of targets and actions, including reducing the estimated 4.95 million human deaths associated with bacterial AMR annually by 10% by 2030. A recent article published in The Milbank Quarterly Journal proposes nine adaptable strategies for AMR governance, drawing insights from environmental governance.

To advance action, key meetings are taking place this week and ongoing consultations include:

Road to the UN Environment Assembly

In three months, the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) – the world’s highest decision-making body on the environment – will convene in Nairobi, Kenya. Member States, stakeholders, and experts are currently engaged in preparatory activities to ensure a productive and impactful Assembly, to be held under the theme “Advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet”. Various Member States follow UNEP and UNEA through their Permanent Mission in Geneva. Recent events and news include:

Updates on Global Governance to Address Climate Change

Climate change will be high on the international environmental agenda in the coming weeks, as the UN Climate Change Conference COP30 in Belém, Brazil, one of the most awaited moments each year, is now just two months away.

Key upcoming moments on the climate agenda include:

  • The Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) taking place from 8 to 10 September 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
  • The President of the COP30, H.E. Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, will be in Geneva next week, 0n 17 September 2025, for a series of important meetings, and will speak at public events, including a Briefing on COP30 jointly organized with WMO and a session of the WTO Public Forum.
  • The Global Ethical Stocktake (GES) – an initiative jointly launched by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and UN Secretary-General António Guterres – inspired by the Paris Agreement’s Global Stocktake, brings together social, cultural, spiritual, business, scientific, and political leaders through six intercontinental dialogues (Oceania and New York GES are planned for 15 and 19 September), as well as independent, society-led events (one in Geneva on 14 October, in the margins of the Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law). The Global Ethical Stocktake Circle aims to deliver a set of civil society contributions to COP30 to accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement and limit the increase in the planet’s average temperature.
  • The UN General Assembly Climate Summit to be held on 24 September 2025 in New York, USA.

Against the backdrop of these key moments, important updates on climate change governance and climate change impacts include:

  • In a message to Parties and Observer States, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell urged them to submit their Nationally Determined Contributions, NDCs 3.0, as soon as possible. Submissions sent by the end of September will be included in the 2025 NDC Synthesis Report, to be published prior to COP 30 in Belem and provide an important update of progress thus far. The message also encourages Heads of State and Government to take up the invitation to announce and showcase their NDC targets at the UNGA Climate Summit. The UN Environment Programme recently released a policy brief ‘Advancing NDC implementation: Insights from UNEP’s NDC Action Project‘ to inform the NDC 3.0 process.
  • Addressing the high-level opening of the Global Transparency Forum held in Songdo, Republic of Korea, from 3 to 5 September 2025, the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary stressed the importance of transparency in enabling ambitious climate policies, unlocking access to climate finance, and accelerating progress toward development goals. He highlighted that to date, more than 100 nations have submitted their first Biennial Transparency Reports – or BTRs. The BTR synthesis report will be released ahead of COP30, providing an early picture of implementation progress by countries across mitigation, adaptation, and support. → Read UNEP article on climate transparency
  • The Presidency of COP30 has presented its seventh letter to the international community, this time directed to business and the wider private sector, stressing their role in shaping a new climate economy and calling them to join the global mobilization towards a more prosperous, resilient and sustainable future.
  • A recent article published on the Inter Press Service explores the evolutionary progress of the UN Climate Convention and the possibility of clustering the UNFCCC and the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, the Montreal Protocol, and subsequent amendments as the UN Reform around UN80 opens the opportunity for significant reform.

Other events on climate change taking place this week include:

Melting Glaciers

In the face of the aggravating situation of glaciers melting globally, experts and scientists continue monitoring the situation and advancing action:

  • A team of researchers and students from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich dyed the stream of meltwater pink on the Rhône glacier in Switzerland. The idea is to create a visual aid that helps them better monitor the water’s rate of flow. This glacier has lost around 60 per cent of its volume since 1850 and, like most such alpine features, is threatened by rising temperatures. → Watch The Weather Channel Deutschland’s dedicated video
  • From pushing forward action at the UN General Assembly that led to the establishment of 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, to hosting the High-Level International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation in May 2025, and to the development of a regional strategy to enhance national capacities for glacier monitoring towards the creation of a comprehensive inventory of the region’s glaciers, Central Asia has been leading regional and international action on glaciers preservation in past years. International actors and projects in the region, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, have been “empowering scientists and policymakers to turn data into action for climate resilience.” A new UNEP Atlas of Environmental Change for  Tajikistan highlights how climate change is putting pressure on Tajikistan’s water resources, making transboundary cooperation crucial. → Read UNEP Press Release
  • A research team of the University of Waterloo, Canada, found that the Devon Ice Cap in Nunavut (Canadian Arctic) experienced a decrease in the amount of refrozen glacial meltwater in its firn layer. This was caused by the cooler-than-average summer air temperatures the region experienced in 2021. As air temperature and glacier melt are closely related, the research shows how the firn layer is affected by climate change.
  • Rapid melting of glaciers in the Eastern Himalayas in Arunachal Pradesh has raised concerns, with a record 1.5 metre melting of ice. More than 400 glacial lakes within India are showing worrying expansion trends and demand vigorous monitoring for disaster purposes, the Central Water Commission (CWC) revealed in its latest monitoring report.
  • Iceberg calving, another natural process increasing probably because of human-induced climate change. In recent weeks, enormous chunks – about 400 sq km in their own right – of the so-called ‘Megaberg’ known as A23a have broken off while smaller chips, many still large enough to threaten ships, litter the sea around it, due to warmer waters and could disappear within weeks.

Plastics Treaty Updates

“Despite the deep complexities, it is clear the world wants an end to plastic pollution”, stressed last week the UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen in her opening speech to the 12th Annual Subcommittee meeting of the CPR. Almost a month has passed since talks on the instrument to end plastic pollution adjourned in Geneva with countries agreeing to reconvene at a later date. Many analyses on what did not allow the adoption of a plastics treaty and on the next steps for the negotiations and the crucially important intersessional period continue to emerge, including in the past days:

Enjoying the Last Weeks of a Green Summer

This week, Geneva celebrates the Jeûne genevois — a public holiday, observed this year by the UN, that falls on the Thursday after the first Sunday in September. Its origins trace back to the first recorded fast in Geneva, held in early October 1567, following the repression of Protestants from Lyon. From 1640, fasting was seen as a moral and religious observance, evolving into an annual tradition initiated by the reformed cantons. You can enjoy the celebration by eating or preparing the typical prune tart and through the plenty of indoor and outdoor activities to do in Geneva and its surroundings, suggested in our Green Summer update.

  • European Heritage Days – Switzerland | 13–14 September 2025 | Various Locations
    On the occasion of the European Heritage Days, historic sites across Switzerland open their doors to the public. Come and discover the heritage of your region—and let yourself be surprised!
  • Riverboom | 9 September 2025 | CHC de Feuillasse, Meyrin
    Riverboom tells the odyssey of three young reporters in Afghanistan, shortly after the September 11 attacks. A story of encounters, chance, and unexpected turns, Riverboom begins when Serge calls Claude, asking him to join him on a drive to Kabul.
  • Bike Exchange at Uni Mail | 10 September 2025 | Uni-Mail
    Bring your bicycle for free small repairs—come dust it off and oil it! Cleaning, oiling, and degreasing products will be available on site. You can also sell your bike. To prevent the sale of stolen bicycles, all sellers must present a valid ID, and uniformed police officers will carry out random checks. 
  • Watercolor and Botanical Drawing Workshop | 13 September 2025 | Centre de la photographie Genève
    Create your own botanical sketchbook in the Parc des Bastions with botanical illustrator Lisa Anzellini. This small scientific and creative expedition invites participants to study plant species in the park and then create detailed sketches. With Lisa Anzellini’s expert guidance, you will learn to observe nature differently, discovering watercolor and drawing techniques inspired by scientific illustration.
  • Le feu de la Terre, une aventure humaine | Until 28 September 2025 | Exhibition Hall, UNIGE
    Since the dawn of time, volcanoes have fascinated people with their majestic silhouettes and the power of their eruptions. They hold an ambivalent place in human history — feared for their dangers yet revered for the riches they offer. Across the ages, men and women have sought to observe, understand, and tell the stories of these giants of fire, even attempting to decipher the warning signs of their fury.
  • Galerie à ciel ouvert | Until 24 October 2025 | Jardin des Nations
    An open-air gallery featuring over 40 works by Mark Henley and Carole Desheulles. This visual dialogue explores the intersection of geopolitical tensions and the resilience of the natural world.
  • BORN IN … PPM au pont de la Machine | Until 26 October 2025 | Quartier Libre SIG
    An artistic photography project by Mary-Lou Mauricio demonstrating the increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentration since the industrial revolution. Participants pose with the atmospheric CO₂ concentration (in ppm) from their year of birth, creating a powerful statement against fossil fuels and climate change.
  • Notre Biodiversité | Until 30 November 2025 | Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques
    In line with the new Municipal Biodiversity Strategy of the City of Geneva an itinerary through the heart of our garden invites us, through short texts printed on sails, to question ourselves on this burning subject and to reflect on our roles as citizens, public authorities, scientific institutions such as ours and civil society.

Happening Abroad

  • 80th session of the UNGA | The 80th ordinary session opens on 9 September 2025 and will close on 8 September 2026. Her Excellency Annalena Baerbock of Germany is the President of the General Assembly at its 80th session. The theme of the 80th session is “Better Together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights”. The General Assembly High-level Week 2025 will take place from 22 to 30 September 2025.
  • Second Africa Climate Summit | The Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) will take place from 8 to 10 September 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Guided by Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want and rooted in the principles of multilateralism, ACS2 will highlight proven Africa-led climate solutions and the continent’s bold efforts to re-green its landscapes—laying the groundwork to effectively address the impacts of climate change and greener development.

What (Else) to Read Next?

  • WMO Air Quality and Climate Bulletin highlights vicious cycle | WMO | 5 September 2025
    Released for the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies on 7 September, WMO Air Quality and Climate Bulletin examines trends and geographical distribution of air pollution in 2024 as well as progress and challenges in forecasts and warnings. It traces the complex interplay between air quality and climate, highlighting the role of aerosols in wildfires, winter fog, shipping emissions and urban pollution. It stresses the need for improved atmospheric monitoring and more integrated policies to safeguard human and environmental health and reduce agricultural and economic losses.
  • The health risks from plastics almost nobody knows about | Washington Post | 4 September 2025
    To understand how plastic chemicals are affecting human health, The Washington Post interviewed more than two dozen scientists, former regulators and industry officials, and reviewed nearly 50 academic studies on the health effects of phthalates published in the past 20 years. The investigation revealed strong evidence that the chemicals have harmful effects on babies in utero, even as they continue to be used in food, medical supplies and personal care products.
  • UN committee says Portugal kept information on lithium mine from public scrutiny | Reuters | 3 September 2025
    Portugal has breached an international treaty by preventing the public from accessing key information about Europe’s largest lithium mining project during its environmental licensing process, the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee said on Wednesday.
  • UNECE tools to help turn waste into resources | UNECE | 3 September 2025
    To move towards circularity and secondary resources is not optional. It is crucial to achieving climate goals, ensuring resource security and fostering fairer economies.
  • Borgo Laudato si’: Pope Leo XIV to launch new ecological and spiritual chapter | Vatican News | 3 September 2025
    The Management Director of the Borgo Laudato Si’ ecology project illustrates the initiative, which Pope Leo XIV officially inaugurated on Friday, explaining that it is open to everyone regardless of faith or other affiliations. 
  • Switzerland ends study on exposure to PFAS and pesticides to cut costs | Swissinfo | 2 September 2025
    The Swiss Health Study is falling victim to cost-cutting pressures. The Federal Office for Public Health has decided to discontinue the project due to the federal government’s savings measures. According to the health office, the study would have cost CHF10-12 million ($12.5-15 million) a year, meaning a total of up to CHF240 million would have been incurred over a period of 20 years.
  • Ecological status of surface waters in Europe | European Environment Agency | 2 September 2025
    The ecological status of European Union surface waters continues to decline, as reported, only 39.6% attained good status in 2021. Member States must urgently implement all measures to achieve a good ecological status to meet the Water Framework Directive’s 2027 deadline.
  • Toward Enhanced Synergies among Biodiversity Related MEAs: Addressing Fragmentation with Strategic Coordination | Hugo-Maria Schally | Inter Press Service | 2 September 2025
    This article (i) maps the mandates and legal obligations of the principal biodiversity related MEAs, (ii) analyzes governance fragmentation and financial constraints, (iii) explores political dynamics among key actors, and (iv) proposes realistic, equity centred pathways for strategic coherence, with comparisons to the more integrated chemicals and waste cluster.
  • Major announcements previewed ahead of IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 | IUCN | 1 September 2025
    Among the key announcements to be made during the Congress are: updates to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ and to the European Red List – featuring pollinators; the next IUCN World Heritage Outlook; the Winners of the WCPA International Ranger Awards 2025; and the host country for the next IUCN World Protected and Conserved Areas Congress 2027.
  • Protecting Nature Boosts Growth and Jobs, Shows New Report | World Bank | 1 September 2025
    In low-income countries alone, eight of out ten people live without healthy air, water, and land, according to the report, Reboot Development: The Economics of a Livable Planet. This poses major constraints to economic growth and opportunity. New evidence shows that the loss of forests disrupts rainfall, dries soils, and worsens droughts, costing billions of dollars. 
  • Not just resisting, but leading the fight: five women who refuse to be ignored | The Guardian | 1 September 2025
    It is increasingly women who are proving fundamental to fighting back, the stalwarts of their communities. A report published this year to mark the 25th anniversary of the International Indigenous Women’s Forum (Fimi) cites the many ways women are the key protectors of cultures and land.“Looking ahead to November’s Cop30 in the Amazon, the call is clear: the world must stop seeing Indigenous women as victims and recognise us as the strategic actors we are,” said Teresa Zapeta, executive director of Fimi.
  • Is Culture The Missing Catalyst In Nature Finance? | Forbes | 1 September 2025
    The argument rests on the idea that markets move fastest when norms shift. Culture influences attitudes, which drive behaviors, which ultimately shape demand and capital allocation. 
  • Policy practices for e-waste management: Tools for a balanced and fair circular economy – Second edition | ITU | September 2025
    Based on ITU’s experience and lessons learned in e-waste management and circular economy, the toolkit was developed for policymakers and other industry actors. It provides them with a practical and step-by-step guide in establishing an inclusive and fair e-waste management system as enhanced by the concept of extended producer responsibility (EPR).
  • Securing Minerals for the Energy Transition: Finance for Southern Africa | WEF | 29 August 2025
    Critical minerals are essential to the energy transition, powering electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and energy storage technologies. Southern Africa holds nearly 30% of the world’s reserves, including cobalt, copper, graphite, lithium, manganese and platinum-group metals, yet attracts less than 10% of global exploration financing.
  • Small Islands, Vast Ocean Resources | IISD Knowledge Hub | 27 August 2025
    While international commentary has rightly focused on the opinion’s landmark findings on the obligations for climate action, the opinion also provides legal certainty that SIDS maritime boundaries and the vast ocean resources within them are permanently secured, regardless of sea level rise. The Court also found that “once a State is established, the disappearance of one of its constituent elements would not necessarily entail the loss of its statehood” – meaning small islands remain States even if their land is subsumed.

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