Fourth Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific

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Introduction

The fourth session of the Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific will take place both on-site and virtually from 5 to 7 October 2021, organized jointly by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The high-level segment of the Forum will be convened both on-site and virtually: at the Senior Officials’ Meeting on 6 October, followed by the Ministerial Segment on 7 October at the Suwon Convention Center, Suwon City, Republic of Korea.

Other events, including the Asia-Pacific Youth Environment Assembly (2-3 October), the Asia Pacific Major Group and Stakeholders Forum and the Asia-Pacific Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment (parallel events, 5 October) will take place virtually during the Forum.

The Forum serves as a platform for the Member States and other stakeholders to contribute regional perspectives to the resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) to be held from 28 February to 2 March 2022 as well as to the Special Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly to mark the 50^th anniversary of UNEP on 3-4 March 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Forum will focus on UNEA-5’s theme: Strengthening Actions for Nature to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. At the Forum, Member States will:

• Review progress on implementation of UNEA resolutions in Asia and the Pacific.
• Review progress of regional forums and platforms where UNEP is the secretariat, including Asia Pacific Clean Asia Partnership, Asia Pacific Adaptation Network, and Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia.
• Identify priorities and engagement with Major Groups and Stakeholders in Asia-Pacific.
• Identify priorities and emerging issues from the region to be reflected in preparations for the UNEA-5.2.
• Provide regional inputs to the UNEA-5.2 theme and its draft outcome documents.
• Regional Inputs to the Special Session of United Nations Environment Assembly to mark the 50th anniversary of UNEP.
• Discuss challenges and opportunities to strengthen the regional environmental agenda for delivering the sustainable development goals and regional commitments to international agreements; and 
• The Forum is also an occasion for UNEP partners, UN agencies, private sector representatives, scientists, academia, and civil society to bring their perspectives and ideas to achieve the environmental dimension of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Background

In the first session of the Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific held in May 2015, Member States requested the Executive Director of UNEP to hold regular sessions of the Forum, convening every two years.

The 2nd Session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-2) of UNEP in May 2016 adopted Resolution No. 2/2 ‘Role and functions of the regional forums of ministers of environment and environment authorities’ in which it requested the Executive Director, within the mandate of UNEP to support and to facilitate convening and/or strengthening the existing regional forums of ministers of environment and environment authorities.

The second session of the Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific was held in September 2017 in Bangkok under the theme ‘Towards a resource-efficient and pollution-free Asia-Pacific’ and provided regional inputs into the third UN Environment Assembly.

The third session of the Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific was held in Singapore in January 2019. This was the first Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific to be held outside of Bangkok and was co-hosted by Singapore’s Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and UNEP. The third Forum was focused on the theme ‘Innovative solutions for environmental challenges and sustainable consumption and production and provided regional inputs to the Fourth session of the UN Environment Assembly.

Schedule

Tentative Programme Agenda

Resources

Agenda

• Draft Provisional Agenda
• Draft Annotated Agenda
• Final Programme Agenda

Background Documents

• Discussion Document for Agenda Item 2: Review of the implementation in Asia and the Pacific of the resolutions adopted by the United Nations Environment Assembly and secretarial functions
• Discussion Document Agenda Item 3a: Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific
• Discussion Document for Agenda Item 3b: Regional input to the second session of the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly outcome (Resolution Guidelines)
• Discussion Document for Agenda Item 3c: Zero Draft Ministerial Declaration for the second session of the 5th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2)
• Discussion Document for Agenda Item 6: Leadership Dialogue on Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific
• Discussion Document for Agenda Item 7: Multistakeholder’s Dialogue on the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP@50 celebration)

Reference Documents

• Making Peace with Nature: A scientific blueprint to tackle the climate, biodiversity and pollution emergencies
• Looking ahead to the resumed UN Environment Assembly in 2022 – Message from online UNEA-5, Nairobi 22 – 23 February 2021
• UNEA-5 LEADERSHIP DIALOGUE: Contribution of the environmental dimension of sustainable development to building a resilient and inclusive post-pandemic world
• Frequently asked questions - The Environment Fund
• Information note for participants attending on-site
• Information note for participants attending virtually
• Speakers Guideline
• IISD's Summary Report of the Fourth Forum and relevant events (2-7 October 2021)
• List of Participants

Presentations

• UNEP Presentation for Agenda Item 2 - Review of the implementation in Asia and the Pacific of the resolutions adopted by the United Nations Environment Assembly and secretarial functions
• UNEP Presentation for Agenda Item 3 - Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific

Chair's Summary

• Chair's Summary of the Senior Officials Meeting
• Chair's Summary of the Ministerial Segment

Press Release

• Asia Pacific Environment Ministers commit to bolstering actions for nature to realize the Sustainable Development Goals

Asia Pacific Major Groups and Stakeholders' Forum

Watch Major Groups and Other Stakeholders' Vision for UNEP

Statement from Asia Pacific People's Forum/MGS Forum for the Fourth Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific and UNEA 5.2

The Asia Pacific Major Group and Stakeholders’ Forum will be held virtually prior to the Government Senior Officials and the Ministerial Segment of the 4th Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific scheduled on 4-7 October 2021. The Forum is intended to provide a platform for major groups and stakeholders and social movements to organize their positions and strategic inputs and ensure that voices of marginalized sectors and grassroots are included in the outcome of the 4th Forum of Ministers. The outcome of the Major Group and Stakeholders’ Forum will also be submitted at the Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum to be held in February 2022 in Nairobi prior to the 2nd session of the 5th UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2).

Participation of civil society and constituency organizations, representing all 9 Major Groups and Other Stakeholders (Women; Children and Youth; Indigenous Peoples; Non-Governmental Organizations; Local Authorities; Workers and Trade Unions; Business and Industry; Scientific and Technological Community; Farmers; Fisherfolks and etc.) as well as other constituencies (Urban Poor; Older Persons; LGBTIQ) is an integral component of the Asia-Pacific Forum of Ministers of Environment from its inception, especially in highlighting critical voices from the grassroots.

Objectives

The Major Group and Stakeholders' Forum will aim to:

• To enable major groups and stakeholders and grassroots representatives to prepare their collective views and positions on the UNEA-5.2 Theme "Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals."
• To ensure that the voice and views of major groups and stakeholders and grassroots movement in the region are shaped at the government senior officials and ministerial segment and reflected in the outcome of the Fourth Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific.
• To provide opportunities for major groups and stakeholders and grassroots representatives from across the region also to deliberate and provide inputs to UNEA-5.2 Outcome (draft resolutions and draft ministerial declaration) as well as UNEA@50 celebration.

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Discussion Document

Programme

Asia Pacific Regional Youth Environment Forum

Inputs from the Asia Pacific Regional Youth Environment Forum to the Fourth Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific

The First Asia Pacific Regional Youth Environment Forum will take place virtually on 2-3 October 2021, in the lead up to the Fourth Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific, UNEA-5.2 and UNEP@50. This Forum has been organised and run by youth and for youth, led by the Children and Youth Major Group of UNEP. The Forum will serve as a platform for youth dialogue, contributing to knowledge exchange and capacity building of youth participating at UNEA-5.2 and the Fourth Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific. Additionally, the Forum will ensure regional youth inputs and perspectives are presented to the Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific, as well as the Global Youth Environment Assembly to be held in February 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya. The Forum will focus on UNEA-5.2's theme: "Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals".

In February 2021, the Global Youth Environment Assembly provided a self-organized space for the training and capacity building of youth participating at UNEA-5.1, with thousands of children and youth from over 170 countries engaged in critical conversations and dialogues, in different thematic and regional contexts. Following its success, the Asia Pacific Regional Youth Forum (APRYF) will be another historical event to amplify youth voices from Asia Pacific, engage youth in environmental decision-making processes and hear unique issues facing youth in environmental governance and enhance youth engagement in the lead up to UNEA-5.2.

• Draft Agenda
• Concept Note

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Asia Pacific Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment

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Programme

In 2017, prior to the third Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, UNEP established the UN Science Policy Business Forum on the Environment as a platform to promote innovation and collective leadership for the environment. With over 2000 members and contributors representing the science community, governments, private sector and civil society at large, this platform enables science, policy and private sector actors to engage in a high-level governance discussions on challenges and emerging issues for the planet, as well as opportunities for public and private sector actors to jointly harness solutions for sustainability.

More than a series of one-off meetings, the UN Science Policy Business Forum on the Environment is quickly becoming an incubator of innovation and joint initiatives and an accelerator for circular economy.

The aim of the Asia Pacific Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment is to explore the potential of this successful model in the regional context, unleashing the power of the potential synergies between different sectors in a dynamic region that is destined to play a pivotal role in our transition to more sustainable modes of living.

Major global environmental assessment reports released recently, including the 6th Global Environment Outlook, the IPCC and IPBES are all unanimous in highlighting the mounting scientific evidence indicating the ever-increasing pressures on the Earth’s ecosystems and their life-supporting services. UNEP's Medium-Term Strategy for 2022–2025, approved by all member states, highlights the recognition of the existence of three planetary crises – climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution – which put us at risk of irreversibly changing our relationship with the natural world.

This is especially true in Asia and the Pacific. The Global Environment Outlook 6 (GEO-6) Regional Assessment for Asia and the Pacific and the GEO-6 for Industry in Asia Pacific both highlighted the centrality of the regions’ unrelenting industrial development since the 1970s as a driving force in the economic growth of the region and increased prosperity for millions. This prosperity, however, has brought with itself the challenges of industrial development and rapid urbanization, which are often environmental in nature. These challenges are reconfirmed by the Asia Pacific Sustainable Development Goals Progress Report 2021: the region has fallen short of the 2020 milestone for the 2030 Agenda, notably on the environmental dimension, and is likely to miss most environmental targets by 2030 if it stays on its current trajectory.

During the first session of the Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific held in May 2015, Member States requested UNEP to hold regular sessions of the Forum, convening every two years, to provide regional inputs to the United Nations Environment Assembly as a preparatory process. In this context, the First Session of the Asia Pacific Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment is scheduled on 5 October, prior to the fourth session of the Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific, which will be held in on 6-7 October 2021, to inform and enrich the Ministerial Segment’s dialogue on regional policies and emerging issues related to the theme of the 5th UN Environment Assembly, on ‘Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals', in the current context of COVID-19 pandemic.

Messages from the Asia Pacific Science-Policy-Business Forum

The First Session of Asia-Pacific Science-Policy-Business Forum for Environment is expected to generate a summary brief report Messages from the Asia Pacific Science-Policy-Business Forum, which will be based both on the expert-generated insight contained in the two background documents and on the lively multi-sector discussion that the format of the Forum encourages. The messages of the Forum are expected to highlight concrete science-based solutions and approaches resulting from the exchange between eminent scientists, industry and business leaders, experienced policy makers and civil society representatives, as well as to identify ways in which the private sector can be encouraged to be part of solutions.

The Asia-Pacific Science-Policy-Business Forum for Environment will be organized under the global framework of UN Science-Policy- Business Forum on the Environment, led by UNEP Science Division, with guidance from Governance Consortium.

Objective and Theme

The Asia-Pacific Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment is a platform aiming to catalyze a more dynamic interface between science, policy, business and society for science-based solutions towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific.

The Theme of the Asia-Pacific Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment 2021 is “Integrated Solutions #ForNature: Towards Transformative Action in Asia Pacific”, and will consist of a high-level Opening Roundtable and two deep-dive thematic sessions:

• Opening Roundtable - Actions for nature in a post-COVID world: towards a healthy rebound for people, nature and economies
• Mitigation of emerging zoonoses in Asia and the Pacific, and
• Knowledge & data for combating marine litter in Asia and the Pacific

Participants

The Forum will bring together high level participation from the region, including Ministers and high level governmental officials, scientists from regional and national academic institutions and policy think-tanks, industry and business leaders, media, practitioners, youth and civil society representatives, Non-Governmental Organizations and local communities. An invitation will be extended to all participants registered to the fourth session of the Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific.

Panel dialogue and interaction with participants

The two thematic sessions will provide opportunities and adequate time to participants to discuss knowledge and data gaps, policy challenges and solutions-oriented approaches in broad context of regional policies and emerging issues related to the theme of the 5th UN Environment Assembly, on “Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”. This process will enable participants to take inspiration from the issues – experience and solutions – presented by Panelists during the two thematic sessions, sparking the interactions and exchanges among participants with diverse backgrounds that is the essential part of effective environmental governance, policy making and implementation.

The thematic sessions will also provide an opportunity to both public sector representatives and business leaders to showcase their experience, forward thinking and vision on technologies and innovative solutions for One Health Approach, nature integrity, and marine sustainability in the region and globe.

Media

• Making Peace With Nature
• World Environment Day 2021
• How can we restore a better way of life after the pandemic?
• The next wave - how to beat future pandemics
• Why 50 years of UNEP shows it's possible to save the planet
• Climate, Biodiversity Loss & Pollution: Alarming report on Earth's triple environmental emergencies
• What is ecosystem restoration?
• UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration: 10 years to heal the planet
• IPBES Regional Assessment of Asia-Pacific
• IPBES Assessment of Land Degradation and Restoration
• IPBES Global Assessment Animations
• Measuring Progress: Environment and the SDGs
• How your country can contribute to a better planet?
• A world unleaded - Eliminating lead in petrol
• Major Groups and Other Stakeholders' Vision for UNEP

Recorded sessions

• Opening of the Senior Officials Meeting, 6 October 2021
• Ministerial Segment, 7 October 2021