My mission to Europe began with the opening of the European Union Green week in Utrecht. Like many cities growing rapidly, people are concerned about keeping cities healthy and making sure they are enjoyable places to stay, live and work in for everyone. Discussions during the week focused on addressing challenges such as climate change, air pollution and the depletion of natural resources.
The Dutch National Programme on the Circular Economy is an ambitious plan aiming to use 50 percent less primary resources than are currently used. I presented our work on circular to senior staff across ministries and identified potential areas of collaboration with UN Environment.
We also discussed the Rabobank-UN Environment partnership on protecting forests and sustainable agriculture. In my meeting with Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, we agreed to hold a joint event in Brussels to share the European Union’s roadmap for oceans. I was delighted to learn about new proposals to further increase percentage of funding for the environment in the EU budget.
In Berlin, I held meetings with the Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature, Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany, the largest contributor to the Environment Fund. I was keen to speak to the government and share our work on the environmental dimensions of security. Good to hear about the country’s plans to develop a phase-out plan for coal, and to reiterate our long standing cooperation on the Partnership for Action on Green Economy and the Bonn Challenge.
At the invitation of Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation, I spoke at the World Health Assembly in Geneva. At the Assembly, the World Health Organisation provided important updates on research on the health impacts of pollution. I made a presentation on the links between pollution and climate change, and the need for enhanced cooperation.
My mission to Russia aimed to increase global engagement with Russia on environmental issues. In particular, I was delighted to designate Russian ice hockey legend, Slava Fetisov, as UN Environment Patron for the Artic. Together we announced the "last ice hockey game in the Arctic", in spring 2019. The event will draw attention to the Artic, one of the earth’s most fragile ecosystems, disproportionally affected by climate change and warming at twice the average rate of the rest of the planet. In meetings with Minister Dmitry Kobylkin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, I provided an overview of this initiative, and other areas of cooperation with UN Environment including on marine pollution, waste management and protected areas.
