Excellencies,
Warm greetings from a very cold Montreal where intense negotiations are underway at the Convention of Biological Diversity’s COP15 to land an ambitious post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. COP15 matters because it is clear that we need a ground-breaking agreement to halt and reverse the degradation of the natural world. As the UN Secretary-General has emphasized to the parties here in Montreal – an ambitious framework is a peace pact with nature, one that ensures that we pass on a better, greener, bluer, and more sustainable world to our children. This is one that requires - as stated by the Chairs of the Convention’s Open-Ended Working Group on the post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework - “unity, flexibility and compromise.” I look forward to reporting back to this Committee on the outcomes of this important COP in the hope that I will be the bearer of good news on an ambitious, measurable, and well-resourced post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. And, most importantly, that we make a commitment to implement it.
Excellencies, 2022 will be remembered as one of the most important years for environmental multilateralism, with several consequential COPs completed and or underway. Perhaps the most visible was the 27th climate COP hosted in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. A key achievement of COP27 was the landmark decision to create a Loss and Damage Fund, something unimaginable only a few months ago. There is much to watch in this space in the next years including how exactly the Fund will be operationalized and how it will be resourced. Nevertheless, it remains a historic victory for the G77, the Alliance of Small Island States and many other countries that consistently remind us of the critical need to deliver climate justice. The formal COP27 outcome - or ‘cover decision’ - maintained key elements of the Glasgow Pact and also delivered some important building blocks including a call to accelerate clean and just energy transitions and reform of the multilateral development banks.
Yet it is clear that COP27 did not get nearly as far as we had hoped, especially in terms of mitigation. Emissions are still going up and very few G7 or G20 members made credible steps this year to begin the significant emissions cuts required. There is still significant frustration on the sluggish pace of decarbonization. We also did not see much progress to deliver the long-delayed promise of US$ 100 billion a year in climate finance for developing countries. Key aspects of the Glasgow Pact – such as a doubling of adaptation finance to US$40 billion annually – have not been implemented by developed countries.
On our side, I am pleased to report that the UNEP team on the ground played a very visible and active role in Sharm el-Sheik,–leading expert discussions on methane, corals, peatlands to climate technology, and delivering the science that speaks to the urgency of the climate crisis such as UNEP’s Emissions and Adaptation Gap Reports which found mention in the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan.
Following COP27, I am pleased to report that the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution successfully kickstarted these global negotiations in Punta del Este in Uruguay. As you are aware, this is a direct consequence of an agreement reached by Member States at UNEA-5.2 earlier this year. More than 1400 delegates joined in-person and online. This high level of participation demonstrated keen interest in the plastic pollution negotiations and signalled the expectations for an ambitious and comprehensive agreement. I am encouraged to report that the committee requested the secretariat to prepare a document with potential options for elements towards an international legally binding instrument, based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastics, to be considered at INC-2. I was also pleased to see the level of engagement of stakeholders in Punta del Este. This stakeholder involvement will strengthen the collective might of our actions in developing the instrument. My deep thanks to the government of Uruguay for their leadership and for guiding us to a strong start in Punta del Este.
These negotiations are just one of the many outcomes of a remarkable UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, wherein member states delivered a successful package of ambitious resolutions, significantly contributing to elevating the environmental agenda and the results we will report on in the years ahead. And I am pleased to report that implementation of all other resolutions continues apace.
Rounding of a busy quarter of COP activity, we also saw the successful conclusion of CITES COP 19 held in Panama. Representatives of more than 160 countries adopted proposals to regulate international trade in more than 500 new species. The COP also agreed to prohibit international trade in several species while relaxing trade restrictions on species of reptiles, birds, and mammals, reflecting success in their conservation. The COP also considered the role that CITES may play in reducing the risk of zoonotic disease, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The widespread engagement demonstrates the continued importance of CITES to safeguard the planet’s wealth of species and to ensuring that international trade in wildlife is sustainable, legal, and traceable.
Moving from the negotiating table to climate impacts on the ground – just a few weeks ago I was humbled to travel to Garissa in Northern Kenya to join the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya and the UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya as the UN launched a flash appeal to tackle the terrible drought in the country which is expected to impact more than 4 million people by 2023. The persistent drought in the Horn of Africa is a powerful reminder of the devastating impact that climate change is having on people’s livelihoods and ecosystems. And let me emphasize that UNEP, as part of the wider UN family, is deeply committed to supporting the Government of Kenya and UN partners as together we seek to support people suffering the tragic impacts of climate change.
As we seek to deepen our response to the triple planetary crisis – the crisis of climate change, crisis of biodiversity loss, and the crisis of pollution and waste – we at UNEP are steadfast in our resolve to sharpen action in the solutions space, from the science we deliver, to the actions we recommend for developing and least developed countries. At the global level, I was pleased to see therefore that discussions on the shape and form of UNEP’s flagship Global Environmental Outlook are aligned with this approach, identifying a triple solutions pathway focused on energy, food, and waste. At the regional and country level, for example, a few weeks ago, UNEP along with a host of banking institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean launched the Climate Financial Risk Center in Latin America and the Caribbean, a regional hub designed to support central banks and financial regulators in identifying, managing, and disclosing climate-related financial risks.
On the Environment Fund, as we approach the end of year 2022, the income to date stands at 78 per cent of the budget or US$78 million. Our estimate is that in terms of total collection we will close the year at approx. US$81 million. Whilst this represents an increase from last year’s collection, the figure would have been higher had it not been for the significant negative impact of exchange rate variations on the contributions (made in currencies other than US dollars). UNEP is very grateful to the 74 Member States that have contributed, half of which have provided their full share. I should add that at least 13 Member States have made a come back to the list of contributors this year, representing all the UN regions and this is very welcome! While we continue to aspire to ensure universality in contributions to the Environment Fund, the increases in contributors and total income are demonstrations of the growing support of Member States to the work of UNEP to address the triple planetary crisis.
On geographical diversity, UNEP continues to strengthen and implement our four-point plan as outlined in UNEA resolution 5/26. Improving our geographical diversity is a long-term goal to ensure that our workforce is diverse and reflects the international character of our organization. Our success in achieving gender parity is testimony to our commitment to address all imbalances in our workforce. I’m pleased to see early results from our strong push on geographical diversity and we are seeing an uptick in the selection of candidates from less represented regional groups. In my statement to the Annual Sub Committee I outlined to you the many measures we are taking to strengthen internal direction on recruitment. I am pleased that we are complimenting those efforts with a dedicated outreach plan aimed at attracting more talented professionals to apply to positions in UNEP. We have worked with Divisions, Regional Offices, UN working groups and external institutions to reach potential candidates. At a recent event, we specifically targeted students at academic institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean. I look forward to updating you on further progress next year.
To close my statement on a year-end note of inspiration. UNEP recently announced the 2022 Champions of the Earth. This year, the UN’s highest environmental honour recognizes stalwarts of global efforts to prevent, halt and reverse ecosystem degradation across the world. The five laureates honoured include a wildlife biologist from India, a not-for-profit involved in helping people in Beirut with a massive clean-up following the tragic explosion in 2020; a women’s rights activist from Cameroon; a wildlife conservationist from Peru; and a world-renowned economist who led a landmark report to illustrate the devastating impacts of economic growth on the natural world. A record 2000 nominations were received for this years’ Prize which serves as an important reminder that there is no shortage of remarkable and inspiring people and organizations on the frontlines of the battle to save the natural world.
With these words I end with my sincere thanks for all your efforts. This has no doubt been a complex year for environmental governance, but one which the fifth UN Environment Assembly led decisively from the start, demonstrating that it is indeed possible to find common ground for the environment, complimented by UNEP@50, Stockholm+50 and a host of other multilateral environmental governance meetings. Our ask now is to dig deeper into the solutions on hand, so that we can enable the transformative shifts necessary for people and planet.
Thank you.
