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Newsletter 09 Mar 2026

Environment: What’s Up in GENeva | 9 – 15 March 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 | Speakers at the closing of the traditional Geneva World Wildlife Day Celebration posed for a group photo following an event that brought together experts and Member States to highlight the vital role of medicinal and aromatic plants in sustaining human health, cultural heritage and local livelihoods, and in advancing the collaborative action needed to ensure their conservation and sustainable use for future generations, as also featured in the dedicated UN News article. © UNEP/GEN, International Environment House, 3 March 2026

Advancing the Right to a Healthy Environment @ HRC61

Advancing the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment continues to be high on the agenda this week at the 61st session of the Human Rights Council (HRC61). On Friday 6 March, during the first part of the interactive dialogue on the report, “Priority actions towards breathing clean air, protecting public health and ensuring a healthy environment” (A/HRC/61/47), the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to a healthy environment, Astrid Puentes Riaño, underscored that though air pollution is one of the greatest threats to public health globally, it is a crisis with a clear solution (read press release). She highlights:

Clean air is a substantial element of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. It is not a legal or symbolic recognition. Literally, our lives, health and dignity depend on the quality of the air we breathe… I am encouraging you all to act because clean air is a part of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, and not a privilege.

Various moments taking place this week that advance the right to a healthy environment include:

Other events of particular interest this week include:

→ Consult regular updates on key environmental issues at HRC61, side events, and further resources available on our dedicated HRC61 and the environment update.

Relevant news include:

Environment @ Geneva International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights

The environment features highly at the 24th edition of the Geneva International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights (FIFDH) as it continues this week with various films, exhibitions and conferences:

  • Wittenoom: Poisoned Land, Ignored Crime | Film & Panel Discussion | 9 March 2026 | 19:30 CET | Espace Pitoëff – Théâtre
    Global dependence on extractive resources has often tied Western prosperity to environmental harm borne by local communities. How can the right to a healthy environment be protected in the face of such powerful economic interests? The European premier of the film, YURLU | COUNTRY, will be followed by a panel discussion with a Banjima leader, the film director, a human rights lawyer, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
  • Water geopolitics in the age of AI | Panel Discussion | 11 March 2026 | 18:30 CET | Espace Pitoëff – Librairie
    Water has become a major geopolitical issue. Artificial intelligence is emerging as a key tool for its management. Will the future see strengthened cooperation and climate justice, or an enhanced, unjust status quo? This discussion explores whether AI can serve as a tool for water diplomacy and conflict prevention, or whether it risks reinforcing power imbalances between technologically advanced states.     
  • Returning to the Wild to Save Humanity? | Panel Discussion | 13 March 2026 | 18:30 CET | Espace Pitoëff – Librairie 
    The sixth mass extinction is driven by human activity, which also means humans bear responsibility for repair. Around the world, scientists and practitioners are moving beyond conservation to restore ecosystems by reintroducing species. The session will feature a video message from Kris Tompkins, followed by a discussion on two years of field reporting on rewilding and biodiversity protection efforts. 
  • Climate, non-violence put to the test of urgency | Film & Panel Discussion | 14 March 2026 | 13:30 CET | Espace Pitoëff – Grande Salle
    As the climate crisis deepens and political responses fall short, civil disobedience is on the rise. Is violence best understood as a moral failing or as the result of power relations that continue to fuel the climate crisis? The film, The System, will be followed by a panel discussion on “What kinds of political responses are possible in a social order shaped by these overlapping forms of violence, and capable of meeting the scale of the climate emergency?”
  • Meat in the Crisis of the Living World | Film & Panel Discussion | 15 March 2026 | | 11:00 CET | Espace Pitoëff – Théâtre
    Meat plays a central role in our diets and economies, yet its climate impact is substantial. Why have behaviours changed so little despite mounting data, images and warnings? The film, The Last Pig, will be followed by a panel discussion on meat consumption, the climate emergency, and opening up new political and social perspectives?
  • Oya – Clima Yaakaar” | Exhibition | 6 – 15 March 2026 | Espace Pitoëff – Librairie
    Oya is an artistic initiative combining music, contemporary African dance, and photography to draw attention to the health consequences of climate change for the most vulnerable populations. Oya means “Let’s go” in several Nigerian languages, while Yaakaar means “Hope” in Wolof.

The FIFDH Impact Days continue this week as NGOs, filmmakers, impact practitioners, and funders gather to find joint strategies around common human rights themes, including on the environment. The 8th edition of Impact Days featured documentary projects, with the goal of working with filmmakers to refine their impact goals, and facilitate partnerships within the vast ecosystem of organizations, policymakers and funders active around International Geneva. Environment-related highlights in the program include:

Environment @ Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks 2026

Following a first week of rich online discussions, the 2026 edition of the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks (HNPW) – a large humanitarian event held every year since 2015, providing a collaborative space for humanitarian networks, partnerships, practitioners and experts to meet and address key humanitarian issues – continues with its face-to-face segment from 10 to 12 March 2026 at the Geneva International Conference Center (CICG), featuring a newly introduced Community Day on Wednesday, 11 March.

The HNPW inter-network collaboration covers Areas of Common Concern (AOCC) to improve humanitarian preparedness and response, which include climate crisis. The session will also feature the annual meeting of the Environment in Humanitarian Action Network (EHAN) on 10 March, focusing on environmental sustainability topics that are relevant to humanitarians.

→ Consult our dedicated page for an outlook on the environment-related activities @ HNPW, featuring this week 15 sessions exploring how the humanitarian sector can adapt to a rapidly intensifying climate crisis by integrating climate data, locally led resilience, greener operations, and anticipatory action into humanitarian practice. Across the agenda, sessions will explore how climate change is reshaping crises, how communities can be better supported through resilience and financing models, and how tools like earth observation, agroecology, and climate‑informed preparedness can strengthen humanitarian response.

Women’s Month | Rights, Justice and Action for All Women and Girls

Events marking International Women’s Day, celebrated each year on 8 March, continue this week, with some stakeholders also extending the celebration into a full Women’s Month. These moments provide valuable opportunities to reflect on this year’s theme – “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls” – to take stock of progress toward gender equality, to call for renewed action, and to recognize the vital contributions of women in addressing global challenges.  Discussions proposed by Geneva stakeholders to continue the conversation this week include:

Recent publications and articles looking at the role of Women include:

  • Gender dimensions of the critical minerals boom | UN Trade and Development | 4 March 2026
    A new report by UN Trade and Development examines women’s roles in cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and nickel mining in Indonesia – two pivotal suppliers in global mineral supply chains. UNCTAD calls for a dual strategy: integrating gender considerations into mining laws and value-chain policies, while improving working conditions and social protection for women already active in artisanal mining.  
  • Twelve women carrying the flame for climate action despite the headwinds | Reuters | 5 March 2026
    The 12 women in this year’s Trailblazing Women in Climate list, which Reuters Events publishes to celebrate ‌International Women’s Day, remain resolutely positive despite the headwinds of a turbulent year. The full report by is available online.
  • Cinq Lauréates engagées pour la planète | Le Temps | 2 March 2026
    De Sumatra à la Sierra Leone, en passant par l’Amazonie et les montagnes chinoises, les cinq Lauréates de l’édition 2026 des Rolex Awards interviennent sur des fronts très différents: protection des pollinisateurs, surveillance des virus émergents, préservation de forêts et d’espèces menacées. 

This week, all eyes are also on the world’s leading intergovernmental body dedicated to promoting equality between women and men and advancing the rights of women and girls: the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), convening on the other side of the Atlantic. From 9–19 March, governments, civil society, and partners are gathering at United Nations Headquarters in New York for the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) — the UN’s largest annual forum focused on gender equality and women’s rights.

Strengthening Global Efforts to Address Plastic Pollution | Ministerial Statement on Plastics Pollution and Sustainable Plastics Trade

Members participating in the Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (DPP) agreed last week to the ministerial statement to be presented at the World Trade Organization 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), to be held at the end of the month in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The drafting of the Ministerial Statement was done through multiple informal meetings, hundreds of written comments and bilateral meetings with multiple delegations. For the 83 WTO members participating in the Dialogue, addressing plastics pollution remains a priority. The statement:

  • Highlights the progress made by the Dialogue over the past two years. In Yaoundé, the DPP coordinators – Australia, Barbados, China, Ecuador, Fiji and Morocco – will hold a press briefing on the morning of the first day of the Ministerial Conference, 26 March, from 09:00 to 09:30, to provide an opportunity to highlight the work of the Dialogue and the outcomes achieved since MC13. 
  • Sets out a high-level roadmap for a concrete and pragmatic work plan for the period after MC14 up to the 15th Ministerial Conference.
  • Reaffirms the commitment to continue working to reduce plastics pollution and promote more environmentally sustainable plastics trade.
  • Is complemented by five updated technical documents outlining the Dialogue’s technical work on identifying trade-related solutions to plastics pollution, available on the WTO Website.
  • Continues to welcome the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, pursuant to the United Nations Environment Assembly Resolution 5/14, without prejudice to the ongoing negotiation.

Other Geneva‑based international processes responding to the plastics crisis likewise continue to welcome and support the INC process. Following his election in Geneva last month, the new INC Chair, H.E. Ambassador Julio Cordano of Chile, addressed Members of the Committee and Observer organizations in a letter date 19 February 2026, outlining his vision to advance the mandate set out in UNEA Resolution 5/14, and highlighting key principles and next steps. The Chair recognizes that different modes of engagement may be required for specific issues where divergences remain. An informal online meeting of Heads of Delegation to the INC is scheduled on 12 March 2026, from 14:00-16:00 EAT.

Parallel discussions and continuous support towards achieving a Global Plastics Treaty continue among experts and observers to the negotiations. This week, a session hosted by the University of Portsmouth’s Global Plastics Policy Centre will present key findings and practical recommendations from the recently published research on the factors shaping progress in the negotiation. The event will feature Geneva-based experts. → Register to attend the webinar on 13 March 2026, from 14:00 to 15:30 CET

Spotlight on the Outcomes of the Second International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development | ICARRD+20

The Second International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD+20), which concluded on 28 February 2026 in Cartagena, Colombia, was referenced at various meetings held at Palais des Nations last week. At a side event convened by FIAN International, H.E. Amb. Gustavo Gallón of Colombia highlighted the conference as a milestone in the international agenda on land, soil protection, biodiversity and peace, climate action and food security, deepening commitments made 20 years ago. States signaled willingness to host the next conference within three years, opening the way for a mechanism among endorsing States to determine the next venue. Experts also echoed concerns raised at ICARRD+20 about the weakening of internationally recognized rights in the final declaration, particularly the conflation of Indigenous Peoples with undefined “local communities,” stressing that standards such as UNDRIP and UNDROP must guide follow‑up, including the envisaged ten‑year roadmap under FAO leadership and the meaningful participation of affected communities. UN Special Rapporteurs reflected on the outcomes, with Elisa Morgera underscoring the intergenerational struggle to protect “territories for life” and calling for a globalization of hope through stronger social movements, economic transformation and the right to a healthy environment, noting that “we have the legal tools, scientific knowledge and social movements — this is where the hope lies.” Special Rapporteur Michael Fakhri emphasized that land and territory must remain central in environmental negotiations to ensure a holistic approach, while Ana Maria Suárez Franco warned that “without land there is no future,” calling for a renewed, people‑centered multilateralism. As H.E. Amb. Gustavo Gallón aptly concluded, “La lucha continúa!”

Read more at:

Environmental Impacts of the Escalating War in the Middle East

As the UN Secretary‑General warned, we are witnessing a grave threat to international peace and security. He stressed that “all the unlawful attacks in the Middle East and beyond are causing tremendous suffering and harm to civilians throughout the region – and pose a grave risk to the global economy, particularly to the most vulnerable people. The situation could spiral beyond anyone’s control. It is time to stop the fighting and get to serious diplomatic negotiations. The stakes could not be higher”. He urged all Member States to strictly uphold their obligations under international law, including the UN Charter, to respect and protect civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law, and to ensure nuclear safety. Various UN agencies have referred to the escalating crisis as a major humanitarian emergency and communicated on the status of their ongoing operations.

Over the past week, the first analyses of the environmental impacts of the conflict have emerged. The Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS) was able to point out that several pollution incidents, placing people and ecosystems at risk of acute and chronic harm, as well as trends that could lead to substantial environmental harm as the war continues, could be observed. These include harm due to pollution from military sites and materiel, marine pollution, fossil energy infrastructure incidents and damages to nuclear facilities. Read more at:

Updates on the United Nations’ System-wide Reform | UN80

The work on the UN80 Initiative — the United Nations’ system-wide reform effort launched by the UN Secretary-General in March 2025 on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the United Nations – continues. In the Dashboard, developed as an annexe to the UN80 Initiative Action Plan, presenting the detailed work packages across the three UN80 Initiative, work package 27 (WP27), led by Inger Andersen, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director, and Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is to “undertake a thorough assessment of current arrangements and make proposals on possible structural changes and programme realignments on environmental issues”. This week, UNEP is convening a briefing provided by the Under-Secretary-General for Policy, Guy Ryder, at its headquarters in Nairobi, on Thursday, 12 March 2026. The members of WP27 include: DPPA/PBSO, IFAD/UN Water, OHCHR, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNDRR, UNESCO, UN Habitat, WHO, WMO, Regional Economic Commissions, UNCCD, CBD, BRS, Minamata Convention, MLF, DOS, DOALOS/UN Ocean, UNU. The Working Package maintain an open-door policy to other agencies wishing to contribute. → Read more in our UN80 update

Organizations of the UN System have reform processes underway and have kept their Members updated on the advancements. Recent updates on this matter include:

  • A reform process is underway at the World Trade Organization. On 5 March 2026, WTO members completed a series of meetings dedicated to advancing work, discussing a draft ministerial statement and a work plan intended to frame the scope of reform efforts following MC14. They also finalized preparations for the ministerial-level political discussion on reform to be held at MC14 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. → Read more in WTO press release
  • Budget cuts hit the underfunded UN Human Rights Office | Swissinfo | 4 March 2026
    “We are in survival mode.” Addressing diplomats gathered for his annual fundraising appeal on February 5, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk did not mince his words about the precarious financial situation of his Geneva-based organization. 

Happening Abroad | ISA31

The 1st Part of the 31st Annual Session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA31) is taking place from 9 to 19 March 2026 in Kingston, Jamaica. At ISA31, discussions on the development of the “Mining Code” — a set of rules, regulations, and procedures to govern mining of minerals in the deep seabed beyond areas of national jurisdiction under negotiations since 2014 —  will continue following a thematic approach to resolve the key outstanding matters, as decided at the previous session. The finalization of the “Mining Code” is essential for balancing the global demand for minerals with the need to protect the environment and ensure fair benefit-sharing. → For insights on the ISA31 revisit last month’s discussion held as part of the Geneva Dialogues on Mineral and Metal Resources, read the latest policy recommendations by the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition and follow the live coverage of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin.

Recent reports addressing deep-sea mining include:

  • Equity, Benefit-Sharing and Financial Architecture in the International Seabed Area | Greenpeace International | 26 February 2026
    According to this report, ISA revenue-sharing proposals would return virtually nothing to developing countries — despite the requirement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that deep-sea mining must benefit humankind as a whole. The analysis shows that the overwhelming economic value would flow to a handful of private corporations, primarily headquartered in the Global North.
  • Governance Challenges of Deep Seabed Mining | UNU-CRIS | 6 March 2026
    The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea designated the deep seabed as the “common heritage of mankind” and created the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to oversee mining rights, ensure equitable benefit-sharing, and protect the marine environment. Frustrated by regulatory delays and scientific uncertainty, corporate actors are exploiting jurisdictional gaps and partnering with non-signatory states to bypass the ISA and pursue mining outside the UNCLOS framework.

Enjoying the Early Arrival of Spring in Geneva

The hatching of the first leaf of a chestnut tree on Promenade de la Treille – a tradition unbroken since 1818 – has announced the arrival of Spring in Geneva on 5 March 2026. According to Laurent Koelliker, the Sautier of the Republic and Canton of Geneva, “the date of 5 March is in line with the early average of observations in recent years, when the first leaf appeared between 3 and 24 March”. The arrival of Spring will be celebrated with the First Leaf Festival (Fête de la première feuille) on Saturday, 21 March 2026, when our dedicated update on Green Spring Activities in Geneva will also be published. In the meantime, find in our suggestions to enjoy a Green Winter in Geneva 2025/2026, with ideas of activities for the week ahead, including:

  • Le Léman, l’éveil d’un peuple | 9 March 2026 | ASL | Online
    Lake Geneva, once threatened by severe pollution, was saved through collective civic and scientific action. ASL invites you to explore this story in a 1-hour interactive webinar with expert Robin Pittet, offering a chance to ask questions and engage from home. 
  • “Clean & Win” Challenge | From 9 to 20 March 2026 | Republic and State of Geneva | Online
    The goal is to save 100,000 kg of CO₂ by taking action together. In practical terms, it’s very simple! Just delete 100 MB of data, which is about 10 large emails (or files, photos, videos). To participate, simply click on the link below by Friday, 20 March 2026. Several prizes will be raffled off to thank participants,
  • Dernières nouvelles du monde des cachalots | 10 March 2026 | Dans ma Nature | Aula du Collège de Saussure, Petit-Lancy
    Since 2015, Longitude 181 has led “The Voice of the Sperm Whales”, a scientific and conservation program first launched in Mauritius to assess the health of vulnerable sperm whale populations, classified as such by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. 
  • Meeting “Shifters du Grand Genève” | 10 March 2026 | The Shifters Switzerland | 3DD Genève
    As human activities disrupt the fragile balance of Earth’s ecosystem and scientific reports have been sounding the alarm on planetary degradation for at least fifty years, states, businesses, and citizens remain caught between action and inaction. Christian Petit will discuss the paradox of “enlightened inertia”—why awareness of the issues alone is not enough to drive action. 
  • Animal care – Panda Club Outing | 11 March 2026 | WWF Geneva | Bois de la Bâtie
    Every day, the animals of the Parc Animalier du Bois de la Bâtie need to be fed, cleaned and cared for… and this afternoon, it’ll be your turn to take care of them! Through fun and games, you’ll also learn to get to know the park’s residents better—whether they have feathers, fur, or scales.
  • Festival du Film Vert – Geneva | 13 March – 1 April 2026 | Festival du Film Vert | Various Locations
    The Green Film Festival is the documentary festival in French-speaking Switzerland dedicated to ecology and the environment.
  • Breakfast Workshop – Geneva, One Planetary Health City? | 13 March 2026 | Maison de l’Avenir 
    Join an interactive planetary health workshop on Friday, March 13, in Geneva to co-design actions for 2026. Experts from UN agencies, academia, NGOs, and civil society will map existing initiatives, set key milestones, and explore forming a local think-and-act group, aiming to strengthen Geneva’s role as a hub for planetary health. 
  • Place des Nations | 13-19 March 2026 | Maxime Blondeau & 2050Today | Maison de la Paix, Petal 1
    Place des Nations is a monumental, international and travelling exhibition currently being prepared in Geneva. Inspired by the Temple of Karnak in Egypt, it will feature 50 columns, each side representing a nation. Before discovering the entire world map, a pilot version will be on display at the Geneva Graduate Institute, Petal 1,  from 13 to 19 March 2026 during opening hours (08:00-17:00 CET). 

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