The United Nations Environment Assembly is the world’s highest-level decision-making body for matters related to the environment. It sets priorities for global environmental policies and international environmental law. Understanding these challenges and preserving and rehabilitating our environment is at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

History of the UN Environment Assembly

In 2012, at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, world leaders adopted an outcome document entitled “The Future We Want”. Subparagraph 88 (a) provided for universal membership in the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as well as other measures to strengthen its governance as well as its responsive and accountability to Member States. Subsequently, the 54-member Governing Council was renamed the United Nations Environment Assembly, with all 193 Member States as its members. 

Roles and functions of the Environment Assembly

The UNEP Governing Council, in its decision 27/2 , decided that the Environment Assembly would set the global environmental agenda; provide overarching policy guidance and define policy responses to address emerging environmental challenges; undertake policy review, dialogue and the exchange of experiences; set the strategic guidance on the future direction of UNEP; and foster partnerships for achieving environmental goals and resource mobilization.

UNEA Bureau

During the final meeting of a regular session, the Environment Assembly elects a president, eight vice‑presidents and a rapporteur from among its members (rule 18 of the rules of procedure). These officers constitute the Bureau of the Environment Assembly and assist the President with the general conduct of the Assembly’s business. In electing its officers, the Environment Assembly ensures that each of the five regional groups of States Members of the United Nations is represented by two members of the Bureau. The Bureau is usually elected by acclamation. Bureau members are elected in their personal capacity and cannot delegate this role to anyone else.

Roles and Functions of UNEA President

The President of the Environment Assembly is the guardian of the rules of procedure and, with the assistance of the other Bureau members, is responsible for the general conduct of the business of the Assembly. The Environment Assembly mandates the President to convene formal plenary meetings, informal meetings and the meetings of the committee of the whole, including working groups on resolutions.

The participants of the UN Environment Assembly

Committee of Permanent Representatives

The Committee of Permanent Representatives is an intersessional subsidiary organ of the United Nations Environment Assembly that regularly reviews the implementation of the outcomes of the Assembly; guides the development of the programme of work and budget and monitors its implementation; and provides oversight regarding the work of the secretariat. All regular meetings of the Committee, including those of the Open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives, as well as the subcommittee meetings, are open to participation by representatives of accredited major groups and stakeholders.

Intergovernmental organizations and multilateral environmental agreements

The General Assembly, in section IV, paragraph 5 of its resolution 2997 (XXVII) of 15 December 1972, invited … intergovernmental … organizations that have an interest in the field of the environment to lend their full support and collaboration to the United Nations with a view to achieving the largest possible degree of cooperation and coordination”.

Rule 69 of the rules of procedure of the United Nations Environment Assembly provides that “… the intergovernmental organizations referred to in section IV, paragraph 5, of General Assembly resolution 2997 (XXVII) which are designated for this purpose by the United Nations Environment Assembly, may participate, without the right to vote, in the deliberations of the United Nations Environment Assembly and its subsidiary organs, if any, upon the invitation of the President of Chairperson, as the case may be, on questions within the scope of their activities.

You can learn more about UNEP accreditation for IGOs and MEAs here.

Major Groups and Stakeholders

Recognizing Major Groups and Stakeholders General Council decision SS.VII/5 of 2002, states that “civil society encompasses nine major groups: farmers, women, scientific and technological community, children and youth, indigenous people and their communities, workers and trade unions, business and industry, non-governmental organizations.” The General Assembly resolution 2997 (XXVII) section IV, paragraph 5 invites intergovernmental and non governmental organizations that have an interest in the field of the environment to lend their full support and collaboration to achieve the largest possible degree of cooperation and coordination on environmental matters, especially in policymaking and implementation.

Rule #70 of Rules of Procedure of the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme defines major groups' role in the Assembly and subsidiary organs. Although participation of the civil society does not come with voting rights on the decisions of the Assembly nor its subsidiary organs, they may present written and oral interventions.

UNEP accreditation for Major Groups and Stakeholders enables them to participate in the sessions of UNEA as well as its subsidiary organs. 

Preparatory processes

Regional Ministerial Environment forums  

Regional Ministerial Environmental Forums are an important space for political dialogue and collaboration on environmental matters at the regional levels. They serve as a platform for the Member States to contribute regional perspectives to the upcoming session of UNEA.  

The Regional Ministerial Environment Forums take place during the inter-sessional period of UNEA and are organized by UNEP Regional Offices.

Regional consultative meetings

Regional consultative meetings take place at least once during the period between sessions of the Environment Assembly and are organized by the UNEP regional offices in close cooperation with the regional facilitators elected by the major groups. The regional consultative meetings bring together UNEP-accredited representatives of the major groups and stakeholders from each region, but non‑accredited and new actors can also be invited to participate in the discussions as they prepare for the session of the Environment Assembly.

During the regional consultative meetings, joint positions are developed and challenges relevant to the region are discussed. These statements and positions are summarized in an information document and shared, in advance of the session of the Environment Assembly, with the Bureau of the Environment Assembly, Member States and all stakeholders. The regional consultative meetings also provide opportunities for the development of participants’ capacities and for the planning of partnerships and cooperation with UNEP, including engagement with the respective UNEP regional offices.

Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR)

The Open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR) is the intersessional subsidiary body of UNEA. The OECPR serves as a preparatory meeting of the UNEA agenda and pre-negotiates and deliberates the content and wording of proposed resolutions, declarations and decisions for endorsement and approval by the Assembly.  Comprising of all accredited representatives to the Committee of Permanent Representatives, the OECPR prepares for the meetings of UNEA.  

Since UNEA-3, OECPR meetings have been held on a back-to-back arrangement with the UNEA sessions to minimize on costs and travel logistics. OECPRs that have been held include:

Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum (GMGSF)

The Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum is an event organized by the major groups and stakeholders with the assistance of the secretariat. Sessions of the Forum serve to prepare the contributions of the major groups and stakeholders to the work of the Environment Assembly. The Forum session is traditionally held a few days before each session of the Assembly.

The Forum session allows the major groups and stakeholders to discuss the theme of the upcoming session of the Environment Assembly and to coordinate their input and their statements. Their contributions focus on the draft resolutions and decisions submitted by Member States for consideration and possible adoption by the Environment Assembly. The organizers of the Forum session may also invite representatives of Member States to participate as observers and to engage in dialogue with the major groups. The Forum session is also open to organizations that are not accredited by UNEP.

A highlight of each session of the Forum is the open dialogue with the Executive Director of UNEP, which was initiated to facilitate interaction on any topic that the major groups and stakeholders might wish to raise.

UNEA Sessions

UNEA sessions since 2014 have been organized as five-day events, including the high-level segment that continues to attract heads of state and governments. The first three days of the 5-day UNEA are dominated by plenaries, national and regional statements, and the work of The Committee of the Whole. The last two days are dedicated to the High-Level Segment where heads of state and government participate.

Theme

Each session of the Environment Assembly has a theme, which is chosen following broad consultations with Member States and a wide cross-section of stakeholders and endorsed by the Bureau at least one year ahead of the session. The consultations take place under the auspices of the Presidency of the Environment Assembly and are initiated on the basis of a document prepared by the secretariat. 

Themes of previous sessions of the Environment Assembly: 

  • First session (2014): “Sustainable development goals and the post-2015 development agenda, including sustainable consumption and production” and “Illegal trade in wildlife”. 
  • Second session (2016): “Delivering on the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. 
  • Third session (2017): “Towards a pollution-free planet”. 
  • Fourth session (2019): “Innovative solutions for environmental challenges and sustainable consumption and production”. 
  • Fifth session (2021 and 2022): “Strengthening actions for nature to achieve the sustainable development goals”. 
  • First special session (2022): “Strengthening UNEP for the implementation of the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.
  • Sixth session (2024): "Effective, inclusive and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution".

Meetings of the Committee of the Whole

At the opening plenary of the session, the Environment Assembly may choose to establish a committee of the whole (in accordance with rule 61); elect the chair and rapporteur of the committee; and allocate to the committee agenda items on which there are draft resolutions and decisions that still require negotiation and finalization, according to the latest versions submitted by the Chair of the Committee of Permanent Representatives as the outcome of the meeting of the Open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives that usually takes place immediately prior to a regular session of the Environment Assembly.

The committee of the whole holds both formal plenary meetings and informal meetings of a drafting group, which it establishes, with the aim of reaching consensus on the outstanding draft resolutions and decisions. Representatives of the major groups and stakeholders may observe the proceedings of the committee of the whole and may be invited to make interventions at the discretion of the Chair (rule 70). The committee of the whole approves draft resolutions and decisions and submits them to the Environment Assembly for adoption. It also adopts its own report and submits it to the Environment Assembly for consideration.

Side Events

Official side events related to the theme of the given Assembly session are part of that session. Environment Assembly side events are organized by Member States, the UNEP secretariat, observers and major groups and stakeholders. They may take place in person or virtually for a duration of 60 to 90 minutes, usually during the lunch break and in the evenings, when there are no plenary meetings. Detailed programmes for official side events are made available on the website of the Environment Assembly. The secretariat issues a call for side events at least five months in advance of a session of the Environment Assembly. Member States and relevant stakeholders are invited to submit proposals for side events using a specific template. The selection process is led by the secretariat, with a proposed list of side events presented, by the Executive Director of UNEP, to the Bureau of the Environment Assembly for approval.

Associated Events

Each UNEA feature other associated activities including events, booths and exhibitions to complement the main sessions and official side events of the Assembly. They provide a platform for diverse stakeholders to convene related events in support of the theme. In doing so, additional conversations, ideas and solutions are showcased on a global stage.

Green Room

The Green Room is an events space that is traditionally reserved for the sole use of the major groups and stakeholders for the period of the meeting of the Open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives and the session of the Environment Assembly, which are held back to back. It is used for briefing sessions, information events, bilateral discussions, meetings, planning sessions and press or multi-stakeholder events, including side events organized by the major groups and stakeholders themselves.

For more information on the UN Environment Assembly, please refer to the Handbook for delegates to the United Nations Environment Assembly