Strong EU presence at UN Environment Assembly "Innovative Solutions for Environmental Challenges and Sustainable Consumption and Production" in Kenya, 11-15 March

A strong EU i Delegation will participate at the fourth meeting of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), the highest level decision-making body on the environment. The UN Environment Assembly meets every two years to set priorities for global environmental policies. This year it will focus on the Sustainable Consumption and Production, and takes place at UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi from 11-15 March, bringing together environment ministers, civil society and business from UN Member States. The event opened against the tragic backdrop of the Ethiopian Airlines crash.

Commissioner Vella i said: "This UNEA will be like no other, as we mourn the devastating loss of so many tireless defenders of the global environment in a tragic Ethiopian Airlines crash on the eve of the conference. Our homage must be the redoubling of our efforts in honour of their memory. At UNEA and in all international fora, the core EU objective remains the delivery of the SDGs. For that to happen, there are no better ingredients than a more efficient use and management of natural resources, and a switch to a more circular economy. The EU remains strongly committed to a new deal for nature, an ambitious post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, and a coherent approach to chemicals and waste beyond 2020. We must continue to fight deforestation and all its drivers, and deliver a robust strategy for the oceans, preserving blue growth and tackling the sources of marine litter."

The European Union has submitted three draft resolutions on priority issues: Sustainable consumption and production and its linkages with the circular economy. The EU will seek to consolidate the acceptance of the concept of Circular Economy as one of the key policies to address the pressing sustainable development challenges of our era based on a strong environmental and economic narrative.

In the context of these negotiations the EU is also keen to have UNEA recognise and support the International Resource Panel (IRP), a leading authority on the use and management of natural resources. In particular, the EU expects UNEA to give the International Resource Panel a mandate to report regularly on its work to the United Nations Environment Assembly. Such a mandate would allow the IRP to continue its work to define the concept of the “safe operating space” for natural resource use.

The second resolution concerns the sound management of chemicals and waste to emphasise the urgency and priority of action required; and the third one deforestation, linked to an upcoming Communication from the Commission.

On 13 March the EU is organising a side event on sustainable finance together with UN Environment, to help promote the circular economy in the global context.