The meeting of senior government officials expert in environmental law on the midterm review of the fourth Programme for the Development and Periodic Review of Environmental Law (Montevideo Programme IV), which is being convened by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), will bring together experts in the field of environmental law from governments, as well as various organizations.

The meeting is expected to address, among other things: the midterm review of the implementation and effectiveness of the Montevideo Programme IV; emerging issues in the field of environmental law, in particular in the Montevideo Programme IV programme areas; and priority areas for action in the field of environmental law for the period up to 2020, taking into account the Montevideo Programme IV.

The mid-term review, carried out in a consultative and participatory manner, is expected to assess progress in delivering the Montevideo Programme, as well as shortcomings, gaps and expected future developments. It will also provide an opportunity to: reassess further development and implementation of environmental law in light of new developments and emerging trends; highlight opportunities for improving synergies and coherence of policies and actions across the international community in the field of environmental law; and provide a platform for sharing experiences and facilitating a coordinated approach among a range of actors to facilitate the implementation of internationally agreed environmental objectives and goals through actions in environmental law.

The outcomes of the meeting and the review will be reported to the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) at its second session in 2016.

The UNEP Governing Council (since transformed into the UNEA) adopted he Montevideo Programme IV in February 2009, as a strategy for the international law community and UNEP in formulating activities in the environmental law field for the decade commencing in 2010.

dates: 7-11 September 2015
location: Montevideo, Uruguay
e-mail: montevideo@unep.org
www: http://www.unep.org/delc/MontevideoProgramme/tabid/54416/Default.aspx
http://www.unep.org/delc/Portals/119/documents/montevideo/senior-govt-announcement.pdf