28 March 2014: The Open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR) to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) convened for the first time, in preparation for the first UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) of UNEP in June 2014. Delegates did not approve any draft decisions, but will continue inter-sessional work to finalize several areas, including UNEP’s Programme of Work, budget, and a draft stakeholder engagement policy.

Composed of all accredited Permanent Representatives to UNEP, the CPR is the subsidiary intersessional entity of the UNEA, which serves as UNEP’s new governing body. The OECPR convened at UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, from 24-28 March 2014, with participation of over 300 delegates from 96 countries, including 51 participants from Major Groups and stakeholders. The session addressed: implementation of the programmes of work and budgets for 2012-2013 and 2016-17, policy matters, including the science-policy interface, and chemicals and waste, and UNEA rules of procedure, among other matters.

UNEA’s first session will include a two-day ministerial segment, during which two thematic debates will take place, on: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the post-2015 development agenda; and illegal trade in wildlife. Delegates agreed that the outcome of the ministerial debates will be a Chair’s summary.

The decision to create UNEA originated from the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), which agreed to strengthen UNEP as the world’s leading environmental authority. The UN General Assembly (UNGA) approved the creation of UNEA in 2013, reflecting the participation of all 193 UN member states in UNEP’s governing body.

Addressing the plenary during the OECPR, UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said Rio+20 had bestowed a level of legitimacy upon UNEA far beyond the oversight functions of UNEP’s former Governing Council. [IISD RS Meeting Coverage] [UNEP Press Release on UNGA Decision] [UNEA Website] [CPR Webpage]