Your excellency, Ambassador Pirkka Tapiola, Chair of the Committee of Permanent Representatives
Ambassadors, and colleagues,
Welcome to the 158th Committee of the Permanent Representatives. My greetings to those of you joining us here in-person at the UN compound, and warm greetings to Member State representatives joining us virtually in a hybrid format. The resumed session of the fifth UN Environment Assembly secured ambitious outcomes for people and planet. And you ensured that UNEP@50 was one for the history books. So, my deep thanks and appreciation to Member States for demonstrating that the “Nairobi spirit” is alive and well. For your wisdom in splitting the fifth UNEA into two segments. For your wisdom in ensuring that we continued to soldier on during the critical intersessional period. For your wisdom in continuing to provide financial support. For your wisdom and perseverance in times of “screen fatigue.” For your wisdom and determination to make UNEP@50 a moment we can all be proud of. My deep thanks to you all. Speaking at the Youth Assembly, a young activist said, “we have come with more than hope.” I believe through delivering tangible outcomes at the Assembly, we have indeed delivered on more than hope.
Through the participation, online and in-person, of 5,000 delegates, nations came together to agree on 14 resolutions and a ministerial declaration aimed at strengthening our actions for nature, and therefore, for the sustainable development goals.
All the resolutions passed at UNEA are important ingredients in our strategy to tackle the triple planetary crisis. From ending plastic pollution to advancing a circular economy and resource efficiency to the science-policy panel on chemicals, waste and pollution. From the environmental dimension of post-COVID recovery to biodiversity and health. From a multilateral definition of Nature based Solutions to animal welfare. From sustainable management of minerals and metals to the sound management of chemicals and waste. From sustainable nitrogen management to sustainable and resilient infrastructure. From the future of the Global Environment Outlook to sustainable lake management. From a resilient and inclusive post-COVID19 recovery to the principle of geographical distribution.
Through the hugely successful UNEP@50 commemoration and the political declaration, Member States issued a strong message by backing increased action on the triple planetary crisis. By reinforcing UNEP’s role as the global organization through which nations can safeguard this planet. UNEP is grateful for this trust, and we will throw everything we have at sparking the transformations needed to set our planet back on the right course.
But we know that the work of taking forward the outcomes of UNEA5.2 and of UNEP@50 is only beginning. At the end of the day, a resolution reflects a global pledge; but it is in the ensuring action that change is delivered. It is in the pursuit of action, that UNEP remains deeply committed. We will continue to follow-up on findings from a UNEP assessment of UNEA, which we will consider later today, to lay the grounds for equally successful future UNEA sessions. But as we all know, in an environment in which the demands on UNEP have been growing steadily over the last few years, full implementation of the programme of work and the resolutions requires resources.
My thanks to the 40 member states that have contributed early in the year to the Environment Fund. I am grateful that half of them have provided their full share as per the voluntary indicative scale of contributions with significant representation from developing countries and small island developing states. I am also grateful to those Member States that have indicated their commitment to fund the implementation of some of the UNEA5.2 resolutions. These are encouraging signals even as significant funding gaps remain, which if not met will impact implementation of our mandate.
In this vein of commitment, Excellencies, I am so pleased to report that UNEP has joined what we now call the “Quadripartite Alliance on One Health” joining partners WHO, FAO and the Organisation of Animal Health or OIE to strengthen the environmental dimension of the one health approach. UNEA sent a clear message: a healthy environment equals healthy people and animals. UNEP as the newest full member of the Alliance, is already doing its part as an equal partner. I look forward to updating you on our progress in the months ahead.
A quick word on looking ahead. In a few days, the Ad hoc Open-ended Working Group to prepare for the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to end plastic pollution will take place in Dakar, Senegal, in a hybrid format. This is an important first step in beginning preparatory work on the INC. Expectations are high that we will kick-start important work to develop a global instrument that lands us at a full lifecycle approach; that lands us at sustainable design of products and materials; and that lands us at scientific and technical cooperation in support of the transitions that need to happen.
Next week, we gather in Stockholm for the Stockholm+50 international meeting co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Sweden. The event will provide leaders with an opportunity to reflect on 50 years of multilateral environmental action and the urgent action needed to secure a better future on a healthy planet. My sincere appreciation to the co-hosts for the huge lift underway to make this an important moment for us. This is not a celebration. This is a time for us to come together, roll up our sleeves and take the bold action needed to steer humanity away from the path of self-destruction. This is about strengthening our understanding of the nexus of poverty, the environment and development. This is about recognizing that the environment drives development.
Also in June, Nairobi will host the fourth meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group on the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. The 4th OEWG will be an opportunity for Member States to work further on the post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and Digital Sequence Information on genetic resources, ahead of the Kunming Biodiversity COP15 later this year. Later in the month, the Ocean Conference in Lisbon, co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Portugal, aims to start a new chapter in global ocean action.
I would be remiss if I did not note that even as we move full speed ahead on a busy quarter, that we do so in terrible times. As the UN Secretary-General has noted, the armed conflict in Ukraine, which is a violation of the UN Charter, is also impacting global food, energy, and financials systems. The Global Crisis Response Group established by the Secretary-General aims to identify major risks and threats to people and the planet associated with the disruption of these systems. The Group is tasked with preparing assessments, alerts and policy recommendations for coordinated action. At the request of the Secretary-General, I co-lead the work on food with Mr. David Nabarro, Special Envoy on COVID-19 for the WHO.
The armed conflict is also having a devastating impact on Ukraine’s environment – on both green and urban areas, on industrial facilities, on sources of food and water. Even when the guns fall silent, and I hope they soon will, Ukraine will be grappling with a toxic legacy that endangers lives and livelihoods, and it is critical that every effort is made to address this. In March, the Government of Ukraine made a formal request to UNEP to assist in the mapping and assessment of the environmental damage resulting from the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. The request also asked for technical assistance to support mitigation and remediation efforts underway by the national authorities. The provision of such support is core to the services offered by UNEP under its mandate, the agreed Medium-Term Strategy and Programme of Work, and applicable UNEA resolutions, namely 2/15 (Protection of the environment in areas affected by armed conflict) and 3/1 (Pollution mitigation and control in areas affected by armed conflict or terrorism).
UNEP is supporting remote monitoring with partners to build a picture of the environmental impacts and identify solutions. We are providing ad hoc remote technical assistance and guidance upon request, including advising on methodological approaches to field assessment work. In anticipation of changes in the security situation, we have begun preparing for field assessment work including pre-identifying priority areas with the intention of undertaking initial scoping work in close collaboration with other UN agencies. At the request of the authorities in Ukraine and the United Nations Resident Coordinator, UNEP is also preparing to deploy a senior environmental affairs officer to support the UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine on the environmental dimensions of the crisis.
With these words, I end my remarks to you today. I look forward to an intense and meaningful discussion with you, as we look to a busy year ahead.
