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Newsletter 09 Feb 2026

Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 9 – 15 February 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 | Snapshots of events that took place in Geneva from 2 to 7 February 2026. UNEP Executive Director, Inger Andersen, welcoming Osvaldo Alvarez of Chile, the newly elected chair of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution, and the Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Develop an International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution, Johanna Lissinger-Peitz of Sweden, passing the gavel to the new elected Chair, H.E. Amb. Julio Cordano of Chile.

Navigating the 2026 Chemicals and Waste Negotiations

The year 2026 is another pivotal and intensive period for the international chemicals and waste agenda, with major meetings and negotiations taking place throughout the year, including:

To support Member States and stakeholders in navigating the collective efforts driving progress in global chemicals and waste governance and the milestones ahead, a dedicated Chemicals and Waste Negotiations Briefing, organized within the framework of the Geneva Environment Network, will take place this week. The briefing will review the outcomes of the negotiations related to chemicals and waste that took place in 2025 and in early 2026, and will present the latest information on the major conferences scheduled in 2026, as well as a follow-up on resolutions adopted at the UN Environment Assembly. → Register to attend on Indico to attend in person at the International Environment House and or on Webex to participate online on 12 February 2026 from 10:00 CET.

Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution Plenary Session Adjourned

The first session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution was adjourned on Friday, 6 February, at 20:44 CET. Earlier in the week, the Plenary elected the Chair, Osvaldo Alvarez from Chile, and eight of the ten Bureau members. The Bureau has been entrusted to select the venue, dates, and agenda for the resumed session to complete deliberations on the Rules of Procedure and the Trust Fund. Decisions on the location of the Secretariat and intersessional work remain pending. Côte d’Ivoire and the United States joined the Panel during the week, bringing the Panel’s membership to 129.

With a 50-fold increase in the production of chemicals since 1950, projected to triple again by 2050 relative to 2010, and various million deaths each year from chemical or pollution exposure, scientists and civil society representatives left the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG) disappointed by the limited progress. Reports and reactions include:

Plastics Treaty Process Elects New Chair

The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Develop an International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution, including in the Marine Environment, held a one-day resumed session (INC-5.3) at CICG to address the election of officers, including its new Chair, H.E. Ambassador Julio Cordano of Chile, who began his tenure by outlining the members’ shared vision:

Planet pollution is a planetary problem that affects everyone: every country, every community, and every individual. If we don’t take concerted action, it will get much worse in the coming decades. A treaty is therefore urgently needed to organize this concerted action, to bring us together among this comon task, taking into consideration that each country will have different starting points, and will have different needs and different priorities.

He added, “I feel very encouraged by this joint vision that I can attest. I am sure that it will be the cornerstone of the success that lies ahead of us”. The meeting was adjourned at 19:12 CET. Reports and reactions include:

Several studies and articles were published in the run-up to INC-5.3, including the report “Effective international environmental negotiation processes | Lessons from the process to develop a plastics treaty from INC1 through INC5.2“, which summarizes the findings and recommendations of the research conducted by the Global Plastics Policy Centre at the University of Portsmouth. It examined the factors that have shaped or limited progress in the plastics treaty negotiations so far, and identified enablers of effective international decision-making. The report includes recommendations to maximise the effectiveness of the INC process following INC5.3, and how lessons from the INC process could also inform the design and conduct of future multilateral environmental agreement negotiation processes.

Other articles and reports published ahead of the meeting include:

Advancing the Human Rights and Environment Agenda

The environment and human rights remain high on the agenda in International Geneva, with various updates and moments taking place this week.

HRC61 | In preparation for the upcoming 61st session of the Human Rights Council (HRC61) to convene in Geneva from 23 February to 31 March 2026, an organizational meeting is taking place on 9 February 2026 at Palais des Nations, Assembly Hall to allow Member States to announce any initiatives they intend to take during the upcoming session and raise any procedural issues. In this session of the Council, various environment-related resolutions are expected to be tabled, including on the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders. → Consult the livestream on UN Web TV

→ Regular updates on key environmental issues at HRC61, side events, and further resources will be made available on our dedicated HRC61 and the environment update.

UPR52 Pre-session | The 52nd session of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR52) is scheduled to take place from 4 May to 15 May 2026. A unique process that involves a peer-to-peer periodic review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States, the UPR provides an opportunity for all States to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations, including matters on human rights and the environment, in their countries and to overcome challenges to the enjoyment of human rights. The pre-session for UPR52 takes place from 10 to 13 February 2026 at Palais des Nations, Room XII. Held a month ahead the UPR session, a pre-session is a meeting organized by UPR Info on the human rights situation on the States that will be reviewed at the UPR Working Group. The pre-session serves to provide first-hand experience from grassroots and national voices to bring their knowledge and expertise to the attention of the international community. → Register for the UPR Info Pre-session 52.

Defending environmental defenders | Following the judgments of the Norwegian Supreme Court on 18 December 2025 imposing harsh criminal sanctions on four environmental defenders following their participation in peaceful environmental protest, the UN Special Rapporteur on environmental defenders under the Aarhus Convention, Michel Forst, has published a public statement to express his deep concern on this recent development. Given the vital importance of the right to peaceful protest to a healthy democracy, he states that the direction taken by the Norwegian Supreme Court is a matter of deep concern. “When peaceful environmental protesters are sentenced to prison and ordered to pay crushing monetary sanctions, this must sound the alarm for any member of the public in Norway who cares about the environment and maintaining a safe civic space.”

Country Visits of UN Special Rapporteurs | Various environment-related UN Special Rapporteurs are holding country visits this week.

  • The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, Astrid Puentes Riaño, will conduct a country visit to Ireland from 9 to 20 February 2026. During her visit, Puentes Riaño will examine both substantive and procedural elements of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment in the country.
  • The UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, is conducting a country visit to Egypt from 8 to 17 February 2026. During the visit, Arrojo-Agudo will examine the enjoyment of human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation in the country, including key dimensions of these rights: availability, accessibility, affordability, quality and safety, and acceptability. He will also assess water governance, the impacts of climate change on water resources, and challenges faced by communities in vulnerable situations.

Deadlines | Various deadlines for calls for submissions and registrations are also fast approaching:

  • The Working Group on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas is preparing a thematic report to be presented at HRC63 to clarify the content and scope of the right to seeds, assess challenges and good practices in its implementation, and formulate recommendations to States and other actors to ensure that seed governance frameworks are consistent with human rights, biodiversity conservation and food sovereignty. → The deadline for submission is 19 February 2026.
  • The Working Group on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas, is preparing its fourth thematic report to the UN General Assembly, addressing Peasant Territories of Sea and Land. This report analyses how the impairment of rights based on land, water, and forests affects the dignity, stability, and livelihoods of peasants and rural workers. → The deadline for submission is 19 February 2026.
  • The Working Group on Business and Human Rights is working on a report on Corporate Governance, Business and Human Rights that will consider how the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights has been and should be applied in relation to corporate governance, through consideration of States duties to prevent human rights abuses, the corporate responsibility to respect human rights, and access to effective remedies. Its particular focus will be on director’s duties and the responsibilities of senior executive governance of large businesses (as these impact significantly on small and medium-sized businesses). → The deadline for submission is 20 February 2026.
  • To inform her thematic report to 81st session of the UN General Assembly, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is seeking inputs for her report on planning processes and tools for the advancement of the protection of the right to a healthy environment, including experiences and proposals that enable climate action, biodiversity protection, and the reduction of toxic pollution while protecting human rights. The Special Rapporteur aims to help States advance on the understanding of planning tools and processes, and how these planning processes and tools can enable management of the environment, both related to land and marine ecosystems. → The deadline for submission is 30 March 2026.

Spotlight on Disinformation

Disinformation, recognized as one of the world’s most severe global risks, is increasingly undermining evidence-based policy-making, weakening public trust in science and institutions, and delaying action on the triple planetary crisis. A new update on this topic explores the impacts of disinformation on environmental policy-making, highlighting international initiatives to strengthen information integrity, and examining the role of International Geneva in advancing global responses. This new resource builds on the insights from the recent event, “Challenges and Solutions to Prevent Disinformation in Environmental Policy Making.” Addressing misinformation is on the agenda of various discussions in international Geneva. Recent updates include:

  • In the upcoming HRC61 session, the Advisory Committee of the Human Rights Council is presenting a report on the impact of disinformation on the enjoyment and realization of human rights (A/HRC/61/68). The report includes recommendations on environmental disinformation. The Advisory Committee is scheduled to present the report on 11 March 2026.
  • The briefing “The Pollution Playbook: How industry blocks regulation of toxic chemicals,” issued last week by Corporate Europe and the Center for International Environmental Law, highlights that despite increasing evidence of hazardous chemicals in the environment and in human bodies, there are many regulatory gaps. Through four case studies, it documents deceptive tactics, including industry‑backed articles used to bolster corporate claims and efforts to sideline independent peer‑reviewed science, illustrating how front groups and disinformation undermine protections for health and the environment.

→ Consult the update exploring the impacts of disinformation on environmental policy-making and human rights, highlighting international initiatives to strengthen information integrity, providing tools and resources to help identify and counter disinformation in the environmental space, examining the role of International Geneva in advancing global responses.

Outcomes of the WHO Executive Board

The 158th session of the WHO Executive Board (EB158) took place last week. WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, in his opening speech, reflected on 2025 as a year of strong contrasts, marked by major accomplishments, including the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, the growing of the WHO Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health to more than 100 countries, the endorsement of an updated Global Road Map on Air Pollution and Health, while also being one of the most difficult years in WHO’s history due to significant funding cuts that forced workforce reductions and mirrored broader disruptions across international organizations and national health systems. Articles on the session capturing points of interest for the environmental community include:

  • Intellectual Property Dispute Stalls WHO Decision on Global AMR Strategy | Health Policy Watch | 4 February 2026
    A dispute over technology transfer rights pushed the WHO to delay its Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) for further informal talks. Instead, the Executive Board approved a compromise drafted by Nepal and Ethiopia on Wednesday to reopen negotiations on intellectual property, specifically regarding “voluntary and mutually agreed technology transfers.”
  • Tedros Expresses Confidence That Pandemic Talks Will Meet ‘Absolute Deadline’ | Health Policy Watch | 5 February 2026
    WHO Director General expressed confidence that member states would agree on the last outstanding part of the Pandemic Agreement by the “absolute deadline” of May at the body’s Executive Board meeting on Wednesday. Member states only have two more weeks of formal negotiations before the deadline – with the next round starting on Monday.

IPBES Business and Biodiversity Report Launch

The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) will launch its first-ever ‘fast-track’ assessment report – the methodological assessment of the impact and dependence of business on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people (known as the “Business and Biodiversity Report”) – on Monday, 9 February 2026, at 14:00 CET, in Manchester, United Kingdom. This new IPBES assessment was approved last week at the twelfth session of the IPBES Plenary (#IPBES12, 3-8 February 2026). Developed over nearly three years by 80 of the world’s leading experts from science and the private sector, as well as from Indigenous Peoples and local communities, the Report aims to provide information and options that can be used by businesses and financial institutions to drive better outcomes for biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people.

Call for Submissions and Registrations

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:

  • Registration for experts to serve as Expert Reviewers on the First-Order Draft (FOD) of the 2027 Methodology Report on Inventories for Short-lived Climate Forcers | The report produced by the IPCC Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (TFI) will provide guidance on measuring anthropogenic emissions from key short-lived climate-forcing substances, including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and others, which significantly contribute to global and regional air quality and climate change. An online registration process has been developed and is open for prospective expert reviewers via the IPCC website. Registration will close on 13 February 2026.
  • International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant Emerging Researcher Award Nominations | The Executive Committee of the 17th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP 2026) is accepting nominations for its Emerging Researcher Award in Mercury as a Global Pollutant. The Awardee shall have the opportunity to make a short presentation at the Opening Ceremony to advertise their work, with a full presentation to be made later during an identified Oral Session at the 17th ICMGP. Find more information on the selection criteria and submit nominations by 15 February 2026.
  • International Day of Forests Photo Contest: Celebrating How Forests Contribute to Economic Prosperity | To celebrate the International Day of Forests on 21 March, and the vital connection between forests and economies, everyone is invited to submit photos that highlight how forests contribute to economic prosperity. In 2026, seven winners will be selected from each of the six regions of the world, and a seventh image that captures the important role of forests in regulating water resources to mark World Water Day, which is celebrated on 22 March.→ Learn more and submit photos by 15 February 2026, 12:00 CET.
  • Call for Expressions of Interest to Host World Environment Day 2027 or 2028 | UNEP is inviting Member States to submit Expressions of Interest to host the global observance of World Environment Day in 2027 or 2028. Host countries are expected to organize and fund in-country events—ranging from policy forums to public campaigns—and to contribute to UNEP’s global outreach effort. Full details of the call, including host country responsibilities, are available here. Completed Expressions of Interest form may please be submitted no later than 16 February 2026 to Daniel Cooney, UNEP Communication Director, at daniel.cooney@un.org
  • Third GEO Mountains Small Call 2026-2027 | The Global Network on Observations and Information in Mountain Environments (GEO Mountains) with the support from the Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation (SDC) via the Adaptation at Altitude Programme, launched its third Small Grants Call (2026-2027) for projects that focus on addressing mountain monitoring, data, and information, with priority given to projects in the following five mountain regions: Andes, Central Asia, East Africa, South Caucasus, and Hindu Kush Himalaya. Proposals must be submitted via the online form by 20 February 2026, 23:59 CET.

Continue 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 to enjoy a Green Winter in Geneva include:

  • Winter-themed natural cosmetics discovery workshop for adults | 9 February 2026 | Espace de quartier des Eaux-Vives
    During this workshop, spread over three sessions, you will make several essential winter cosmetics using natural and organic ingredients that are gentle on the skin and eco-friendly.
  • Lémanscope: presentation of results | 10 February 2026 | Rolex Learning Center, EPFL
    The results of the “Lémanscope” project, a collaboration between EPFL, ASL, EAWAG, and UNIL will be in an event featuring a presentation of key findings, a roundtable discussion with water and environmental experts, and discussions with the public.
  • On the trail of the fox, Panda Club Outing WWF Geneva | 11 February 2026 | Bois de la Bâtie
    Have you ever spotted this reddish animal with the bushy tail? Would you like to learn more about its habits? During this afternoon, you’ll discover where the fox lives, what it eats, and how it survives the winter.
  • We Care About What You Care About: Using Reason-Specific Interventions to Encourage Sustainable Choices | 12 February 2026 | UniMail
    A study of consumers’ mental representation of sustainable behavior across seven situations to understand why they behave (un)sustainably will be presented, sharing the results which offer promising opportunities for developing more effective interventions by examining mental representations of the target behavior.
  • Chanter le Léman | 13 February 2026 | Espace Léman
    Join this one-hour vocal workshop about Lake Geneva in a warm and playful atmosphere.
  • Wintering birds, Panda Club Outing WWF Geneva | 14 February 2026 | Plage des Eaux-Vives
    Is it a duck, a coot, or a goosander? Come and observe the birds that settle on Lake Geneva during the winter. Equipped with binoculars, we’ll head out to spot the different species of waterbirds that spend the winter here and learn to recognize them better.
  • Quelle éducation pour habiter le monde de demain ? | 15 February 2026 | Maison de l’avenir
    A family workshop for parents and children to explore how we can live more sustainably on tomorrow’s planet. How can we support our children in the ecological transition and give them the tools to better inhabit the world of the future? This workshop is designed as a time for exploration, discussion, play, and collective creativity.
  • Festival Antigel | Until 28 February 2026 | Various locations
    Since 2011, Antigel has turned Geneva into a bold playground for cultural and artistic exploration. Blending emerging and iconic artists with unexpected venues, the festival celebrates the diversity of the Canton of Geneva. More than a festival, Antigel is weeks of artistic, sporting, and community experiences, driven by innovation and the belief that culture can spark societal change.
  • Libre comme le Rhône – de Robert Hainard | Until 29 March 2026 | Quartier Libre
    The exhibition invites visitors to travel back in time along the river, from the last wild landscapes before the major developments of the Rhône to the major energy decisions taken during the 20th century, right up to the emergence of environmental awareness.
  • Exhibition “Quel froid!” | Until 30 August 2026 | Maison Tavel
    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. 

What (Else) to Read Next?

  • Overheated and underprepared: European survey finds citizens concerned about heat and ability to cope with climate change | EEA | 4 February 2026
    Europeans are very concerned about extreme heat and other impacts of climate change like wildfires according to the results of a Europe-wide survey published today. It found that many citizens were also underprepared to deal with the increasing frequency and magnitude of heatwaves, flooding, or water shortages in their own homes.
  • Joint open CSO letter: Better Regulation for everyone | EEB | 4 February 2026
    In this joint letter to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Commission Secretary-General Ilze Juhansone and Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations Maroš Šefčovič, over 50 non-governmental and civil society organisations call for the protection of evidence-based, transparent and participatory lawmaking in the revision of the Better Regulation agenda.
  • Joint statement on the renewed Quadripartite Memorandum of Understanding regarding cooperation on One Health until 2030 | FAO, UNEP, WHO, and WOAH | 3 February 2026
    Building on longstanding cooperation and successful joint efforts – and recognizing the inherent interconnectedness of the health of humans, animals, plants, ecosystems, and the broader environment – the Quadripartite organizations remain committed to coordinated, multisectoral action to address current and emerging health challenges at the interface.
  • Extreme heat, cold, precipitation and fires mark the start of 2026 | WMO | 3 February 2026
    The importance of accurate and timely forecasts and investment in early warning systems has once again been highlighted by extreme weather which wreaked a heavy economic, environmental and human toll throughout the first weeks of 2026.
  • Deadly DRC mine disaster highlights human cost of coltan | Global Witness | 3 February 2026
    More than 200 people have been killed in a landslide in one of Rubaya’s coltan mines in the country’s east, with rescue operations still ongoing days after the incident. Global Witness is calling for businesses and governments to better consider the human cost of rare earth minerals, following the horrific mine disaster in the Democratic Republic of Congo recently.
  • Global and regional cancer burden attributable to modifiable risk factors to inform prevention | Hanna Fink, Oliver Langselius, Jérôme Vignat, Harriet Rumgay et al. | Nature Medicine | 3 February 2026
    Cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity globally, largely attributable to modifiable risks. This analysis estimated the 2022 global and national cancer burden attributable to 30 such factors, including tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, high body mass index, insufficient physical activity, smokeless tobacco and areca nut, suboptimal breastfeeding, air pollution, ultraviolet radiation, 9 infectious agents and 13 occupational exposures, to inform prevention efforts.
  • Deep Sea Mining: A New Frontier for Corporate Opacity and Undue Influence | Anti Corruption Data Collective | 3 February 2026
    The deep sea bed is among the last truly unexplored spaces on earth: an alien world of incandescent creatures that have adapted to the total darkness and bone-crushing pressure of the deep. It is also the site of a new frontier in the race for critical minerals and control over the supply chains for manufacturing everything from EV batteries to drones.
  • Countries commit to accelerating accessions to the UN Water Convention ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference | UNECE | 2 February 2026
    Countries and partners gathered at the Dakar High-Level Preparatory Meeting for the 2026 UN Water Conference have made a collective commitment to accelerate accessions to the UN Water Convention, reinforcing international momentum for transboundary water cooperation at a critical moment for multilateralism.
  • Fish Fund launches second Call for Proposals | WTO | 2 February 2026
    The WTO Fish Fund opened its second Call for Proposals on 2 February, inviting developing and least-developed country (LDC) WTO members that have ratified the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies to apply for project grants aimed at supporting their implementation of the Agreement. Eligible WTO members can submit proposals by 24 April 2026 via the application portal.
  • Boundaries, Limits, Global Threats – How Can the Impacts of Global Synthetic Pollutants Be Reduced? | Martin Scheringer, Hans Peter H.Arp, Ian T. Cousins | Environmental Science & Technology | 2 February 2026
    The paper synthesizes the historical evidence, links it to the planetary-boundaries and limits-to-growth narratives, highlight why chemical regulation repeatedly failed to prevent widespread contamination, and propose a set of pragmatic policy instruments, including targeted premarket controls.

Events

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Conference

Chemicals and Waste Negotiations Briefing 2026

12 Feb 2026 | 10:00 – 12:00

International Environment House I | Room 3 & Online | Webex

GEN, GFC, BRS, Minamata Convention, UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch

Chemicals and Pollution

SDG3 | SDG12

Jobs

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Updates

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