The fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) – the highest-level decision-making body on the environment – takes place on 22 and 23 February 2021. The first session of a two-step UNEA will bring together Member States to tackle urgent matters, including the approval of UNEP’s new Medium-Term Strategy, its programme and its budget. A leadership dialogue will be convened on the contribution of the environment to sustainable development and to building a resilient and inclusive post-pandemic world.
UNEP’s Medium-Term Strategy outlines a trajectory for UNEP to strengthen the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda during the period 2022‒2025. The Strategy sets out a vision for UNEP’s role in delivering the promises of the 2030 Agenda and the promises made to Member States through the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) and its outcome document, “The Future We Want”. The three environmental crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution are at the heart of the MTS.