Smart Governance for Healthy Planet and People
This update is designed to inform you about the work UN Environment and our partners are doing to advance sound environmental governance
UN Environment has worked with over 52 countries, strengthened dozens of institutions and built the capacity of over 100 law and governance professionals over the last 12 months.
POLLUTION
6.5 million people die annually as a result of poor air quality including 4.3 million due to household air pollution. The United Nations Environment Assembly will focus on pollution as its theme, providing countries with the opportunity to commit to global environmental policies that will help eliminate pollution and its threats.
Towards a Pollution Free Planet
UN Environment recently launched a Towards a Pollution-Free Planet report, that serves as a call to action to governments, businesses, local authorities, civil society and individuals to prevent and reduce pollution, and clean up the planet.
New Course - Global Framework for a Pollution Free Planet!
Are you interested in understanding the impacts of pollution on our planet, and what we need to do to do to live in a pollution-FREE-planet? If so, this is the course for you. This four hour course introduces you to the science, the current global legal framework, and the elements of a framework for action to mitigate the growing threat of pollution worldwide. Read more.....
Historic Milestone Reached in Global Fight Against Mercury Pollution
In a landmark display of international cooperation, more than 160 countries committed to tackling one of the world's greatest chemical health threats at the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The world's first environmental and health treaty in a decade saw many countries pledge political and financial support to help reduce and eliminate mercury, a heavy metal affecting the health of millions of people worldwide from Guyana and Kiribati, to Uganda and Japan. Read more...
Historic Meeting Shows World is Serious about Mercury Menace
World Unites Against Mercury Pollution
Protecting the Most Vulnerable from Mercury
Caribbean Preparatory Meeting for the Minamata Convention
First Dialogue on Environmental Diplomacy for the Africa Diplomatic Corps
Towards a Resource Efficient and Pollution Free Asia-Pacific Region
CLIMATE CHANGE
For effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, climate law-making is essential. UN Environment supports the review and reform of existing laws to enable countries to consider climate change proactively and address climate risks. We are working to help ensure that this work involves all stakeholders, as all sectors of the economy and society are at risk from climate change.
InforMEA Launches New Online Climate Change Course
The Climate Change Legal Regime course covers the causes and effect of Climate Change. It describes the mechanisms established by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and explains the key provisions and commitments established by the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. Read More...
New Law and Climate Change Toolkit Unveiled at COP23
The Law and Climate Change Toolkit is aimed at government policy makers responsible for developing laws that help implement the Paris Agreement. The toolkit contains a sequence of review questions that support policy makers in identifying possible gaps in their national laws. Where possible gaps are identified, the toolkit suggests legislative options from other countries that could help. Read more...
Africa Unites in Climate Action and Sustainable Development
African countries need to enhance their efforts in integrating climate action into sustainable development planning. Over 600 practitioners, experts and policy makers, including ministers from governments across Africa and other high level participants, met in Cotonou to take stock and align strategies on how financial resources should be mobilized to ensure sustainable development and emissions reduction on a continent-wide scale. Read more...
Nepal to Crack Down on Trade of Illegal Chemicals that Deplete the Ozone Layer
The Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology has begun work to launch a policy to control trade in chemicals used in refrigeration which are known to cause depletion of the ozone layer. Read more...
Momentum Grows to Save World’s Migratory Wildlife
World governments attending this year’s Twelfth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species collectively endorsed actions on the conservation of a wide range of migratory species, many of which are near-extinct. Read more.....
The Sustainable Future we want Depends on Ending the Indifference to Biodiversity Loss
A new opinion piece by The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Chair, Sir Bob Watson, warns that the lack of awareness of the threat posed by biodiversity loss is a shortcoming that urgently needs to be rectified.. Read more....
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services gets set to Launch 5 Landmark Assessments
- Five Forthcoming landmark science-policy assessment reports nearing completion will be launched in March 2018
- Best available evidence for decision makers to make informed decisions balancing the needs of people and nature
- Prepared by 550+ leading international experts from 100+ countries
- 3 Years in development, at a total cost of more than US$6 million. Read more....
The Oceania Region Steps-up Protection for Migratory Species
The Oceania Region has built common positions to protect migratory species, with the support of UN Environment through the Convention on Migratory Species. In popular culture, sharks are often depicted as vicious creatures determined to obliterate their prey. The reality is more complex. Though they remain predatory animals, the species are often victims too. Read more...
Plant Health and Food Security
Plants account for over 80% of the human diet. Today, due to increasing global trade and a changing climate, plant pests and diseases pose a greater threat to food security than ever before, accounting for 20 - 40% of global food production losses. Read more..
Facing the Threat of Xylella Fastidiosa Together
The bacterium Xylella fastidiosa is a serious threat to agriculture, the environment and the economy. The host range covers over 350 plant species, though this is expected to increase as the bacterium invades new territories. The bacterium was once thought to occur in the Americas, but recent outbreaks in Southern Italy, Southern France, the Balearic Islands and an isolated finding in Germany constitute a significant change to its geographical distribution and to the list of plant host species. Read more....
An Introduction to the International Plant Protection Convention Standard Setting Process
Surge in Australian Imports of Chinese Agricultural Chemicals
UN Environment Supports Final Preparations for COP 12
The 4th Regional Dialogue on Combating Trafficking of Wild Fauna and Flora
African Elephant Poaching Down, Ivory Seizures Up and Hit Record High
Protecting Food Security and the Environment, while Facilitating Trade
Heads of Biodiversity Related Conventions Gather at the Food and Agricultural Organization
HEALTH
More than 100 constitutions recognize the human right to a healthy environment. UN Environment works in partnership with human rights bodies, including The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, to identify and promote good practices and policies that make a positive impact upon human rights and health.
Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week took place from October 22nd to 28th and was marked by a range of activities that raised awareness of the health threat posed by lead poisoning and what we need to do to eliminate lead from a range of products. Read more....
Making our World more Biosafe
Seven Caribbean countries met under the UN Environment – Global Environment Facility Project for “Sustainable Capacity Building for Effective Participation in the Biosafety Clearing House” in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago from 3 to 6 October 2017, with the aim of enhancing their capacities to more effectively comply with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Read more....
ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY
Environmental Crime has become the world's fourth largest crime sector, growing at 2-3 times the rate of the global economy. INTERPOL and UN Environment estimate that natural resources worth up to US$258 billion are being stolen by criminal syndicates, depriving countries of future revenues and development opportunities. UN Environment is working with judges, prosecutors, and enforcement agencies to strengthen national capacities to respond to environmental crimes and protect environmental defenders.
Global Operation against Illegal Waste
A global operation coordinated by INTERPOL has resulted in the discovery of 1.5 million tonnes of illegal waste. UN Environment has partnered with INTERPOL to address the convergence of environmental crime with other types of crime, including fraud, tax evasion and cyber-crime. Read more...
Pollution Crime in the Spotlight: Enforcement Officers Celebrated
Enforcement officers and organizations from China, Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines and Sri Lanka were recipients of the Asia Environmental Enforcement Award for seizing around 600,000 tons of hazardous waste and chemicals. UN Environment recognizes the front-line work of enforcement officers and institutions who play crucial roles in enforcing environmental laws and safeguards. Read more...
China Imposes Ban on Trans-boundary Movement of Solid Waste
China is taking the lead in strengthening its customs initiative by banning the importation of environmentally hazardous solid waste by the end of year 2019. In support of the Basel Convention on the Control of Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (1989), China notified the World Trade Organization that it would take emergency measures to prohibit imports of 24 kinds of solid waste by the end of the year, including imports of household plastic waste, vanadium slag, unsorted waste paper and waste textile raw materials. Read more...
Combating Crimes that have Serious Impacts on the Environment: State of Knowledge on Approaches
ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS
More than 100 countries incorporate constitutional rights to a healthy environment. When states fail to recognize these environmental obligations the ensuing dangers of environmental degradation impacts on the enjoyment of human rights across the globe. UN Environment is supporting efforts to assist countries to implement these rights and to address their violations. UN Environment is also contributing to research and analyses on legal definitions to make environmental rights real for the people they are designed to protect, including environmental defenders.
The Fight for a Healthy Planet
Every week, at least three people around the world are killed defending their right to a clean and healthy environment. The environmental rights of a growing number of people are being violated as more and more communities find themselves in the path of natural resource exploitation. Read more...
China's Supreme Court in Agreement with UN Environment to Deepen Judicial Co-operation
China is increasingly becoming focused on ecological civilization and sustainable development. Recently, the Supreme Court of China signed a newly-modified environmental protection law which is much stricter in terms of anti-pollution measures and policies. Read more...
Rule of Law and Sustainable Development at China University of Political Science and Law
World Commission on Environmental Law Contributes to Law & Environment in Small States
UN Environment and Georgetown University's Global Environment & Sustainability Law Fellows Program 2018 & 2019 - Apply today!
THE GLOBAL GOALS
UN Environment is uniquely positioned to help countries establish and strengthen policy, legal and institutional measures to achieve the Sustainable Development and other global environmental goals. We provide governments with guidance, expertise and tools on environmental laws, policy and regulation, as well as assist them to meet their environmental commitments to people and planet.
French former COP 21 President named Patron of Environmental Governance
Former French Foreign Minister and President of the successful 2015 Paris Climate Change negotiations, Laurent Fabius, was designated UN Environment Patron of Environmental Governance today at the 23rd Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany. Read more...
Global Pact for the Environment
In its November 2015 report, Increasing the Effectiveness of International Environmental Law: Duties of States, Rights of Individuals, the Environmental Commission of Le Club des Juristes (CDJ) proposed the adoption of a Global Pact for the Environment to serve as a binding, universal “umbrella text” synthesizing the principles outlined in the Rio Declaration, the Earth Charter, the World Charter for Nature, and other instruments shaping environmental governance. This year, the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), hosted a one-day conference to present and discuss the blueprint for a Global Pact for the Environment. The conference offered a high-level opportunity to explore the complex legal and political challenges of the Global Pact in light of existing agreements and soft law principles on the environment, and the current global political scene. Read more...
New Phone App Provides Information on Refrigerants
In the latest technological invention by the UN Environment OzoneAction programme, a smart phone application has been invented to provide information on substances that deplete the ozone layer, including Hydrofluorocarbons, Hydrofluoro-olefins and other alternative refrigerants. The 'What Gas' application enables users to search OzoneAction's database of chemicals controlled under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Read more...
Governments and Stakeholders Strengthen Commitment to Environmental Democracy
Canada & Rwanda Urge Rapid Ratification of Kigali Amendment
In the Media
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Contact information
niamh.brannigan[a]unep.org
catherine.abuto[a]unep.org