22 September 2016: During the 22nd Senior Officials Meeting (SOM 22) of the UN Environment Management Group (EMG), participants considered EMG’s progress and future activities related to environmental sustainability, UN system support in delivering on the environmental dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and EMG’s strategic role in that regard.

SOM 22 took place on 22 September 2016, preceded by a technical segment on 21 September. Both meetings convened at UN Headquarters in New York, US, on the sidelines of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

During the meeting, officials decided to conclude the work of the issue management group (IMG) on the sound management of chemicals, which has completed its mandate. They also decided to invite the IMG on tackling e-waste, established following SOM 21 in September 2015, to implement the tasks outlined in its terms of reference (ToRs) and report on progress to SOM 23.

Officials also decided to revise the interim guide on ‘Advancing the Environmental and Social Sustainability Framework in the UN System’ based on lessons learned from its application to UN entities during its pilot phase, and to develop options for enhancing communication and knowledge sharing on environmental and social sustainability issues among the UN agencies.

On peer review of environmental profiles of UN organizations, SOM 22 welcomed the finalization of the draft peer review report of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the interest expressed by other UN entities to take part to the review process, and considered developing guidelines and documenting good practices in this regard.

On the consultative process on a System-Wide Framework of Strategies on the Environment for the UN System (SWFS), officials welcomed the SWFS launched at a special event during the second session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-2) on 25 May 2016, with officials noting that the environmental dimension should be looked at in the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, not in an isolated way. The SOM also decided to extend the consultative process to support follow up to the SWFS, and requested the process to report on its progress at SOM 23 for submission to UNEA-3.

SOM 22 invited EMG members to finalize a paper related to supporting the implementation of the environmental dimension of the SDGs and identifying linkages between the SDGs and existing international environmental goals and processes. It also decided to extend the mandate of the EMG Task Team on Maximizing the Effectiveness of the EMG for another year, to allow it to prepare a proposal on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report on maximizing the effectiveness of the EMG in the context of the 2030 Agenda. This report was considered by UNEA-2, which requested the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to report on its implementation at UNEA-3, which will convene in late 2017.

In addition to agreeing on EMG’s work streams, SOM participants exchanged views on: UN system-wide cooperation for supporting UN Member States in implementing the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda; responding to the Agenda, in particular its environmental dimensions, in the management of the UN system’s programmes, operations and facilities; and the role and contribution of the EMG in supporting the UN system in these functions.

Participants stressed the importance for the UN system to come together to support the 2030 Agenda’s implementation. Many remarked that the environment is reflected throughout the 2030 Agenda, and outlined the important role of the EMG as a common forum within the UN system to discuss environmental sustainability, including best practices, synergies, challenges and interconnectedness.

They also said the EMG could constitute a relevant platform to share data and indicators among UN entities, and to report coherently and consistently on environmental sustainability at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).

Officials highlighted the need to ensure implementation “on the ground,” for example by strengthening linkages between the EMG, the UN Development Group (UNDG) and UN Country Teams (UNCTs). They noted the limited human resources dedicated to the EMG Secretariat, and requested it to prepare, in collaboration with EMG members, a proposal for streamlining EMG processes on internal sustainability to maximize effectiveness.

The EMG is a UN System-wide coordination body on environment and human settlements established through UNGA resolution A/RES/53/242. The Group is chaired by the UNEP Executive Director, and its membership consists of UN specialized agencies, programmes and organs, including the secretariats of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). [UN EMG Website] [SOM 22 Website] [IISD RS Story on ‘System-Wide Framework of Strategies on the Environment] [Report on ‘Maximizing the effectiveness of the EMG in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development] [Advancing the Environmental and Social Sustainability Framework in the UN System: Interim Guide]