23 October 2014: Held from 21-23 October 2014, in Berlin, Germany, the Global Intergovernmental and Multi-stakeholder Meeting for the sixth edition of the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6) report endorsed the guiding framework for the report and took what it describes as the necessary preparatory steps for a scientifically robust process.

The meeting gathered policymakers, scientists and stakeholder groups’ representatives from around the world. Participants endorsed the report’s guiding framework and methodologies, and approved the process for transparent engagement of authors and contributors. They gave importance to capacity building in all facets of the assessment process, and to incorporating local and indigenous knowledge, in addition to using state-of-the-art technical analyses.

GEO-6 is expected to be launched in mid-2017. Building upon regional assessment processes, the report aims to create a comprehensive picture of environmental factors contributing to human well-being, accompanied by an analysis of policies leading to greater attainment of global environmental objectives and goals. Online Communities of Practice will be used to engage a wide range of participants and enrich the knowledge base for assessment in the GEO-6 process. [UNEP News Release][GEO Website]