23 May 2016: The second UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-2) of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) opened on 23 May 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya, to address the overarching theme of ‘Delivering on the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.’ The UNEA-2 outcome will include a global call to action to address critical environmental challenges, which will be conveyed to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) set to meet in July 2016 in New York, US.

On the first three days, delegates will finalize work on more than 20 draft resolutions in preparation for the Ministerial Segment, taking place on 26-27 May. Among the highly anticipated outcomes of the meeting are proposed resolutions on: illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products; management of chemicals and waste, including marine plastic debris and microplastics; protection of the environment in areas affected by armed conflict; the roles of UNEP and UNEA in delivering on the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement on climate change; and the interface between human health and the environment, which is also the focus of the UNEA-2 Ministerial Segment.

UNEA-2 will also discuss and approve the UNEP Medium-Term Strategy for 2018-2021 and its Programme of Work for 2018-2019.

A large number of events will take place in parallel to UNEA-2, including ‘Green Room’ side events, the first Sustainable Innovations Expo at UNEA, and two symposia on mobilizing resources for sustainable investments, and environment and displacement.

UNEA-2 was preceded by the inaugural UNEA Science-Policy Forum on 19-20 May, which convened more than 250 representatives from the science and policy-making communities to discuss “current and frontier issues of human interaction with the environment.” The meeting included a launch of GEO-6 regional assessments and explored diverse themes linked to strengthening the science-policy interface in line with UNEA’s role as the global authority on the environment. Delivering on the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was also a focus.

In addition, the 16th session of the Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum (GMGSF-16) convened from 21-22 May 2016, to prepare stakeholders’ input to UNEA-2. The meeting held interactive plenary and parallel panel discussions addressing: the status of negotiations and expected outcome of UNEA; the main UNEA themes and the role of Major Groups and Stakeholders in multi-stakeholder partnerships, policy making and the application of the rule of law in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and how to transform the GMGSF into a true and unique, global, multi-stakeholder forum in line with UNEA’s strengthened mandate.

Speaking to GMGSF-16, Ibrahim Thiaw, UNEP Deputy Executive Director, noted the high level of interest in the Assembly and associated events, with more than 2,000 high-level delegates expected to attend. Observing that more than US$200 billion in resources from poor countries is lost annually due to illegal trade in wildlife and other environmental crimes, he said a strong Ministerial statement on this issue will be one of the most important outcomes of UNEA-2. [IISD RS Coverage of UNEA-2] [UNEA-2 Website] [UN Press Release] [UNEP Press Release]