The UN General Assembly decided by consensus to convene an international event marking the 50th anniversary of the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment and the creation of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The meeting will take place in Stockholm, Sweden, from 2-3 June 2022.

The 1972 conference was the UN’s first major conference on international environment issues, and took place in Stockholm, Sweden. The outcome resulted in the creation of UNEP, which is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.

The delegations of Kenya and Sweden to the UN tabled the draft resolution (document A/75/L.88) on convening the meeting, titled ‘Stockholm+50: a healthy planet for the prosperity of all — our responsibility, our opportunity.’ The aims of the meeting include to:

• Accelerate the implementation of the SDGs in the context of the Decade of Action;
• Promote sustainable recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
• Help redefine humankind’s relationship with nature and create conditions for prosperity within planetary boundaries.

The Government of Sweden will assume the costs of the meeting, with the support of Kenya.

During the UNGA meeting to adopt the resolution, the Group of 77 developing countries and China (G-77/China) noted its understanding that the Stockholm+50 meeting is “not expected to redefine, renegotiate or mandate new mechanisms or new commitments, nor go beyond the provisions of multilateral environmental agreements.” 

Negotiating a modalities resolution is the expected next step, to enable governments to determine the exact focus and structure of the meeting. [UN meeting summary] [Government of Sweden press release]