Frequently asked questions

The sixth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) was held from 26 February to 1 March 2024 at the UN Environment Programme headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya (decision 5/4 of 2 March 2022). 

The overall theme for UNEA-6 was “Effective, inclusive and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.” 

The United Nations Environment Assembly is the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment. It addresses the critical environmental challenges facing the world today.  

The Assembly has a universal membership of all 193 Member States. Through its resolutions and calls to action, the Assembly provides leadership and catalyzes intergovernmental action on the environment. 

It sets the global environmental agenda, provides overarching policy guidance, and defines policy responses to address emerging environmental challenges. It undertakes policy review, dialogue and the exchange of experiences, sets the strategic guidance on the future direction of UNEP, and fosters partnerships for achieving environmental goals and resource mobilization. 

OECPR-6 stands for the sixth Open-Ended Meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives. It served as a preparatory meeting of the UNEA agenda and pre-negotiated and deliberated the content and wording of proposed resolutions, declarations and decisions for endorsement and approval by the Assembly. 

In accordance with paragraph 10 of Governing Council decision 27/2 of 23 February 2013 and decision 5/4 of 2 March 2022, the sixth meeting of the Open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives took place from 19 to 23 February 2024, back-to-back with UNEA-6.

All participants to the sixth meeting of the OECPR (OECPR-6) and the sixth session of UNEA (UNEA-6) needed to register online in order to attend. The registration form was the same for both meetings. Participants could choose to attend either or both meetings when registering.

Registration was only open for:

• 193 States Members of the United Nations
• members of specialized agencies which are not members of the UN Environment Assembly [Cook Islands, Holy See, Niue, State of Palestine]
• accredited intergovernmental organizations and multilateral environmental agreements as well as regional economic integration organization [European Union]
• specialized agencies and related organizations and the United Nations bodies and entities
• Accredited international non-governmental organizations

If you didn’t fall under any of the categories mentioned above, you could not register to attend unless you were an invited guest of a delegation.

UNEA-6 highlighted the importance of cooperation with multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) with a full day dedicated on 28 February 2024. This day had an opening plenary meeting and two consecutive high-level dialogues, with a view to enhancing the relationship with the MEAs by strengthening convergence of actions and sharing of experiences, while also increasing their visibility.

The aim of the proposed agenda item was to facilitate MEA contributions to and participation in the Assembly and promote coherence between the resolutions and the decisions of the governing bodies of the MEAs.

In addition, MEA Day provided an opportunity for dialogue among MEAs and with Member States, with a view to enhancing effective environmental governance.

For more information, visit Multilateral Environmental Agreements Day.

The UNEA-6 meetings were webcast in all six UN languages through UN WebTV. Related press conferences and events might be webcast online in English only through other platforms such as the YouTube channel of UNEP.

A live programme and a mobile app were made available to share updates on how to follow the different events.

Yes, official side events were convened in-person and virtually over the five days of UNEA-6 - during lunch breaks and in the evenings. 

More information on official side events can be found online.

Full information about the programme of UNEA-6 was available on the UNEA-6 website in our programme page. The UNEA-6 Mobile App could be downloaded on your phone, giving you access to session schedules, announcements, maps, and real-time updates right at your fingertips.

All meetings of UNEA-6 formal plenary meetings and informal meetings (high-level dialogues, leadership dialogues and multi-stakeholder dialogue), as well as the meetings of the Committee of the Whole, took place in-person.

These meetings offered live webcast in all six UN official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) to allow participants as well as the general public to follow the proceedings.

Subject to the availability of funding, UNEP supported the travel of a maximum of two (2) delegates from developing countries with priority given to the Least Developed Countries and the Small Island Developing States and the travel of selected Major Groups and Stakeholders facilitators. Eligible applicants for travel support were contacted directly by the UNEP Secretariat.

All other participants were responsible for all costs related to their attendance to UNEA-6.

The Government of Kenya amended the visa regulations by introducing the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) and removed the visa requirements for all foreign nationals traveling to Kenya with effect from January 2024. All participants must have an approved eTA before the start of their journey. Delegates who successfully applied for visa before and were issued with the entry visa can use it to enter Kenya if they are within the 90 days validity period. Those yet to apply were advised to use the eTA portal and submit their online application, indicating their purpose of visit as Foreign Delegate as per the step-by-step guide provided. It was highly recommended that travellers apply as soon as they have booked their accommodation and transport tickets. All participants needed an approved eTA before the start of their journey.

Delegates were required to make their own hotel reservations for their stay in Nairobi. Nairobi has a variety of hotel options in various locations and of various star-ratings. These include global brands, regional hospitality companies and stand-alone units. In addition to conventional hotels, there is a range of guest houses, bed and breakfast facilities and Airbnb rentals. Check our list of hotels and accommodation recommended by the UN Department of Safety and Security. Delegates are advised to book accommodation close to the meeting venue to avoid any delays due to unexpected traffic jams, especially during rush hour. You find here a useful map with suggested accommodation and other services in Nairobi.