UNEA-6 to consider 12 draft resolutions on its final day

The Sixth United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA-6) is set to conclude week-long deliberations on March 1, 2024 and adopt at least 12 resolutions. Nine of these resolutions are new and meant to urge member states to take actions and help tame the triple global threats of climate change, loss of biodiversity and pollution.

The draft resolutions have already been endorsed by the Committee of Whole (CoW), a critical organ in the structure of UNEA deliberations, after which they will be tabled before the UNEA-6 on March 1 for consideration and adoption.

They are among the 24 drafts that have been tabled before various committees by different actors including countries. At least five of these 24 have been withdrawn by their proponents, with the rest undergoing further deliberations.

Three of the resolutions are those dealing with administration of various funds and funding mechanisms. These include those on the Global Environmental Facility and on organising the UNEA-7 in 2025.

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As a result, different countries spent the penultimate day of UNEA-6 hosting “open-ended informal meetings”, focused on different resolutions.

Some of the countries that convened the ‘informals’ are Ukraine, Costa Rica, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands and Ethiopia. Also joining the list was the European Union.

Divided into four different clusters, some of the drafts lay emphasis on the need for “environmental multilateralism” — concerted multiple actions and approaches for ending the climate crisis by diverse actors. 

The concept has been part of the main messages by United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Inger Anderson at the event happening at UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, and part of its clarion call as well.

Among those set for adoption at the closing plenary on March 1 are the drafts on sound management of chemicals and waste, on promoting regional cooperation on air pollution to improve air quality globally and a new one on combating sand and dust storms.

Also set to be tabled for possible ratification is a draft calling for ‘fostering national action to address environmental challenges through increased cooperation between different actors’.

Ahead of possible approval by UNEA-6, the CoW has also endorsed a draft on enhancing the role and viability of regional environment ministerial forums and regional offices in achieving multilateral cooperation in tackling environmental challenges.

It has also endorsed one on ‘promoting synergies, cooperation or collaboration for national implementation of multilateral environmental agreements and other relevant environmental instruments’.

An important proposed draft is on ‘circularity of a resilient and low-carbon sugar cane agroindustry’, as is one calling for ‘behavioural changes towards sustainable lifestyles’.

An important resolution that is yet to reach the CoW for adoption and may not be part of those endorsed by UNEA-6 on March 1 is sponsored by Ukraine, calling for ‘environmental assistance and recovery in areas affected by armed conflicts’. The country is involved in armed conflict with Russia and has been exposed to risks, including that of nuclear accidents by the two-year-old invasion and subsequent war.

While the resolutions are a critical part of UNEA-6, they are not legally binding. They will act as guides to the more than 180-member countries in implementation of their various activities and plans that have a bearing on the environment and the wellbeing of the planet.

The exact final wording of the resolutions are expected during their tabling on March 1.

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