24 September 2015 New York City, US
21st Senior Officials Meeting of the EMG

The 21st senior officials meeting of the Environmental Management Group (EMG) (SOM-21) will be held in conjunction with the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and the UN Sustainable Development Summit 2015. The meeting is intended to provide an opportunity to strategize and come up with a common message on how the UN system intends to support countries in achieving the environmental sustainability dimension of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are expected to be adopted at the Summit. In a note regarding the Meeting, Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director and EMG Chair, proposed that the EMG discuss, among other things: UN system wide strategies so that the UN system can contribute to the environmental sustainability dimension of the SDGs; maximizing the EMG's effectiveness to be fit for purpose in the context of the post-2015 development agenda; and the EMG's role in coordinating UN system wide support for implementing the SDGs, including monitoring and reviewing progress of the environmental dimension. He also proposed the following modalities for the meeting's organization, including a technical preparatory segment and a senior officials segment, with the technical segment expected to meet twice prior to SOM-21 on 9 September by audio conference and on 21 September in person in New York. Also in preparation for SOM-21, the second mid-term technical segment meeting of senior EMG officials convened on 6 May 2015, with the aim of providing an update on progress made by the EMG since SOM20, and initiating a discussion on strategic and possible future issues for consideration and inclusion in the EMG 2016-2017 Programme of Work. SOM-21 will be hosted by the UN Development Programme (UNDP). The meeting will be devoted to a strategic dialogue conducted through two panel discussions moderated by designated senior officials. This will based on the follow up and implementation of the environmental dimension of the SDGs and role and contribution of the EMG with the following issues being addressed specifically: 1. Main implementation challenges associated with responding to the Environmental Sustainability dimensions; 2. How effectively handle the nexus issues that cut across institutional boundaries (such as environment and health; environment and land management; environment and energy, etc.); 3. A System Wide Framework of Strategies on the Environment to enhance coherence in the UN system in responding to the SDGs; and 4. Role and contribution of the EMG in the follow up of the post-2015 development agenda and ways of maximizing its effectiveness.  

date: 24 September 2015  
venue: UN Headquarters  
location: New York City, US  
contact: EMG Secretariat  
phone: (+41) 22-917-8693  
fax: (+41) 22-917-8024  
e-mail: emg@unep.org  
www: http://www.unemg.org/emg-senior-officials-meetings/21st-senior-officials-meeting-som21-2015
 http://www.unemg.org/images/emgdocs/SOMMeetings/2015/Invitation%20-SOM21.pdf  

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