The Act #ForNature Global Online Forum took place on 7-10 June, 2020, brought together citizens, government and non-governmental organizations, businesses and scientific institutions from around the globe to engage in a series of open and inclusive discussions across a diverse range of topics from healthy ecosystems and marine plastics to global food systems, youth and more. It was built on the momentum created by World Environment Day on 5 June–a day that recognizes global change requires a global community; inspires positive change; and calls for collective, worldwide environmental action. The forum paved way for a successful UNEA-5, by building a compelling case for transformational change for nature and people in the context of the post Covid-19 world.
The online forum was led byUNEA Presidentand Norwegian Minister of Climate and Environment, Sveinung Rotevatn and UN Under Secretary-General and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director, Inger Andersen.
The Sessions
Major Groups and Stakeholders Consultation (Partly Closed Meeting)
Sun Jun 7th 10:00am - 8:30pm
Facilitated by the Norwegian Forum for Development and Environment, this meeting brought together representatives of Major Groups and Stakeholders to discuss the theme of UNEA 5 and related sub-themes, prepare their views and positions, including for presenting them to member states.
Global online Opening Townhall - Working with the Environment to Protect People in a Post-Covid World (Open meeting)
Mon Jun 8th 9:00am - 10:00am
This opening session “Working with the Environment to Protect People in a post-Covid world” compromised of introductory remarks made by H.E. Mr. Sveinung Rotevatn, President of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) and Minister of Climate and Environment of Norway and Ms. Inger Andersen, Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), providing insights on the upcoming session fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly, whose theme is “Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals
Healthy ecosystems for healthy people: limiting the impact and future emergence of zoonotic diseases (Open meeting)
Mon Jun 8th 10:00am - 12:00pm
Objective of the Townhall:
The objective of the Townhall was to bring together key leaders and expert voices in order to provide an insight into the critical role played by ecosystem health in both understanding the origins of the COVID-19 crisis and successfully rebuilding a post-pandemic world. It aimed to explore actions recognizing nature’s contribution to public health and to highlight how investment in science and nature could limit the impact and emergence of zoonotic diseases.
Adapt to Thrive: Transformational Change for Nature and Business (Open Meeting)
Mon Jun 8th 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Objective of the Townhall:
- Present the GEO for Business Brief entitled “Adapt to Thrive: What Transformational Change Means for Business” and discuss how nature plays a role in this transformation.
- Discuss with Member States the actions that Government could take to support business transformation.
- Introduce the Global Environment Outlook for Business process.
- Highlight the findings of the sixth Global Environment Outlook.
Turning the Tide on Marine Plastics: How UNEA-5 can be a turning point (Open meeting)
Mon Jun 8th 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Objective of the Townhall:
This Townhall organized by the Global Partnership on Marine Litter in collaboration with the UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment addressed the following question: What actions should UNEA 5 take on marine plastic litter, and how can technology, finance and initiatives by stakeholders contribute to robust policy action in support of the ambition to eliminate all discharge of litter into the ocean in the long-term?
Connecting People and Nature: Transforming the global food systems (Open Meeting)
Tue Jun 9th 10:00am - 12:00pm
Objective of the Townhall:
To build awareness and political momentum amongst the world’s Environment Ministries for a ‘transformation of our food systems with nature at its centre’, to ensure the topic is prioritized by Member States at the next UN Environment Assembly in February 2021.
Youth Voices for Nature: Environmental Governance in the Time of Covid-19 (Open Meeting)
Wed Jun 10th 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Objectives of the Town Hall:
● Consider how environmental governance will look in times of COVID19 and its recovery, taking into account the reinforced conviction of young people to hold their governments accountable for steering economic reconstruction after COVID-19 according to environmental guidelines.
● Outline the thematic priorities of young people for UNEA-5 and their expectations when it comes to broader and structural involvement of children and youth in political processes in the lead up to Stockholm+50.