Berlin, 19 February 2019 – The mining sector, if carefully managed, presents enormous opportunities for advancing sustainable development, particularly in low-income countries, the International Resource Panel says in its latest report. The Panel calls for an international mineral agency – or a global treaty – to address priorities of transformation and economic diversification, along with concerns about security of supply.

Washington, D.C. 6 March 2019 – UN Environment has teamed up with the nonprofit REVERB to engage music fans to take action for the environment on tours across several countries this year. Harnessing the power of live music and working with artists committed to doing their part to tackle pressing environmental issues, the partnership will encourage individual actions at concerts and beyond.

• The size of the global chemical industry exceeded US$5 trillion in 2017 and is projected to double by 2030.
• The benefits of action to minimize the adverse impacts of chemicals have been estimated in the high tens of billions of United States dollars annually.
• International treaties and voluntary instruments have reduced the risks of some chemicals and wastes, but progress has been uneven and implementation gaps remain.

Nairobi, 11 March, 2019 – The global fight against plastic pollution comes into sharp focus at the Fourth UN Environment Assembly this month in Nairobi, Kenya, with the launch of three reports each addressing different aspects of, and solutions for, the growing impact of plastics on the world’s marine environments.

Geneva, 11 May 2019 – Decisions on plastic waste have been reached today in Geneva, as approximately 180 governments adopted a raft of decisions aimed at protecting human health and the environment from the harmful effects of hazardous chemicals and waste.

Agra, Uttar Pradesh, June 3, 2019 – Kickstarting the World Environment Day celebrations in India, a comprehensive action plan to control air pollution was launched in Agra, one of India’s most polluted cities and home to the majestic Taj Mahal.

• Air pollution causes nearly 5,000 premature deaths in group of cities.
• On average, people living in the Western Balkan cities studied lose up to 1.3 years of life to air pollution.
• The main sources of particulate matter emissions are thermal power plants that use lignite coal and household heating.

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 4 June 2019 – Air pollution is directly responsible for up to

New Delhi, 5 July 2019 – India has formally joined the Climate & Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), becoming the 65^th country to join the partnership, following through on a commitment made by the country’s newly-appointed Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar, during last month’s World Environment Day celebrations.

Trinidad and Tobago, 27 August 2019 – Caribbean Island States signalled their commitment to achieving a pollution-free future today, with representatives of nine Caribbean nations gathering to launch the Implementing Sustainable Low and Non-Chemical Development in Small Island Developing States (ISLANDS) programme in Port of Spain.

New York, September 22, 2019 – A meeting of ministers and high-level representatives of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) today agreed to accelerate efforts to significantly reduce short-lived climate pollutants by the end of the next decade in order to put the world on a “pathway that rapidly reduces warming in the near term and maximizes development, health, environmental, and food security benefits”.