Next Events

Briefing on the Basel Convention - April 2010

The briefing will focus on the Seventh session of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention (OEWG 7) that will be held in Geneva from 10 to 14 May 2010 and the “Country-led Initiative” (CLI).

World Environment Day - 4 & 5 June 2010

Events at the International Environment House and at the Palais des Nations. Our colleagues from UNOG plan to open their parc to the public. Several events will be planned in the area.

Previous Events

Briefing on UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum Special Session - 29 December 2010

The simultaneous extraordinary meetings of the Conferences of the Parties (ExCOPs) to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions will be held in Bali, Indonesia, at the Bali International Convention Centre in, Nusa Dua, from 22 to 24 February 2010, in coordination with the eleventh special session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF) of the United Nations Environment Programme which will be held at the same venue from 24 to 26 February 2010. Documents available: Briefing Agenda; ExCOPs presentation; and GC/GMEF Special Session presentation.

10th anniversary of the Geneva Environment Network - 1-3 December 2009

The 10th anniversary of the Geneva Environment Network was celebrated on Tuesday 1 December, with the presence of UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner. A breakfast (8h30-10h) was organized at the International Environment House. Click here for the agenda... or the pictures of the event.

Briefing on UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum Special Session - 30 October 2009

Under the overarching theme “Environment in the multilateral system” three topics that are high up on the international agenda will be addressed during the next UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF) Special Session, to be held in Bali in February 2010. The opportunity will also be taken to address relevant issues emerging from the Extraordinary COPs of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, also to be held in Bali.

Seminar - Access to information and justice in environmental law: current situation and opportunities provided by theAarhus Convention - 2 October 2009

Switzerland is preparing to ratify the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters. In this context, the day will be devoted to presenting the three “pillars” of the Convention, the monitoring mechanism and the issues underlying this international instrument. In the second part, interventions will be intended to analyse the impact of the Convention on the Swiss practice in disseminating (spontaneously and on request) environmental information and on the rights accorded to residents living near installations harmful for environment. Finally, the day will conclude with an overview of the right of appeal of environmental protection organizations. Full programme on the ADE website.

Climate Week - 22-24 September 2009

A Freeze was organized Place du Molard for the UN campaign to Copenaghe www.sealthedeal2009.org.

Briefing on the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions - 24 September 2009

In 2008 and 2009, the Conferences of the Parties the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions adopted the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Joint Working Group on enhancing cooperation and coordination among the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions. This briefing was chaired by the Executive Secretaries of the Conventions, senior UNEP officials and representatives from the Indonesian and Swiss Governments.

Film projection "The End of the Line" - 25 September 2009

UNEP, in collaboration with WWF, OCEANA and the State of Geneva, showed the film “The End of the Line” on September 25, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. This public premiere in Geneva will take place in the Arditi-Wilsdorf Auditorium (Plainpalais).
“The End of the Line” is the first major documentary feature film revealing the impact of overfishing on our oceans. The film aims to bring the overfishing crisis to a wider audience and ask critical questions about what is really happening in our oceans and what can be done about it. The film will be preceded by a discussion with Charles Clover, author of “The End of the Line”, as well as with high-level representatives from UNEP and WTO delegations, and the State of Geneva.

Roundtable - Financial crisis and the green economy - 23 August 2009

In the context of environmental diplomacy, the collapse and government bail-out of the financial system raises a series of questions and issues, both in terms of the immediate causes and consequences of the financial problems, and in the possibilities opened up to move in the direction of a "green economy" as a combined solution for the economy, human well-being and the environment. For more information click here.

Film projection - HOME - 7 June 2009

For the closure of the festival, on Sunday 7 June, the State of Geneva and UNEP invite you to join them at 8pm for the film projection "Home" at the Auditorium Arditi-Wilsdorf, 1 avenued du Mail (bus and tram stop Cirque). The film from Yann Arthus Bertrand, UNEP Goodwill Ambassador, illustrates the beauty of our planet and the urgent need to sustain it.

Roundtable - Your Planet Needs You-UNite to Combat Climate Change - 5 June 2009

The theme for World Environment Day (WED) 2009 was 'Your Planet Needs You-UNite to Combat Climate Change'. It reflects the urgency for nations to agree on a new deal at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen some 180 days later in the year, and the links with overcoming poverty and improved management of forests. A special roundtable will be organized at the University of Geneva.

Launch - Global Assessment Report (GAR) on Disaster Risk Reduction - 29 May 2009

The first Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction is a collective effort of the ISDR partnership, including UNDP, the World Bank, UNEP, WMO, UNESCO, the ProVention Consortium, regional intergovernmental and technical institutions, national governments, civil society networks, academic/scientific institutions and many other specific contributors. The Report says global disaster risk is increasing worldwide due to unsafe cities and the combined impact of environmental destruction and climate change which jeopardize the lives of hundreds of millions of people.
For more information click here.

Lecture - The Ecological Footprint: Achieving Systems Change - 18 May 2009

IUCN in partnership with UNEP, are pleased to invite you to a lecture on the Ecological Footprint by Mathis Wackernagel, Executive Director of Global Footprint Network (www.footprintnetwork.org), an international non-profit think-tank dedicated to making ecological limits central to decision-making everywhere.
For more information click here.

Sustainable Water Use and Management: Leadership for Positive Change - 26 March 2009

On the occasion of the World Water Day, the Geneva Institute for Water, Environment and Health (GIWEH), in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), will hold the first of GIWEH’s Water Series symposiums on 26 March 2009 at the International Environment House, devoted to Sustainable Water Use and Management: Leadership for Positive Change.
click here for more information.

Briefing on the 25th Session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum of UNEP - 11 March 2009

The 25th Session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum of UNEP (GC25/GMEF), convened in Nairobi from 16 to 20 February 2009, was attended by representatives of 147 countries, including 110 ministers and Secretaries of State and 192 representatives of major groups and stakeholders. The Council adopted some milestone decisions, such as the one on Mercury. An interactive dialogue took place during the ministerial consultations on the following two separate but related themes: Globalization and the Environment - Global Crisis: National Chaos? and International Governance and United Nations Reform - IEG: Help or Hindrance?
For more information click here.

Addressing the Risks and Opportunities of Bioenergy - 10 December 2008

There is an increasing interest in modern bioenergy and the potential opportunities it offers to both developing and industrialised countries. These include increased energy security, GHG emission reductions and sustainable agricultural and rural development. However, bioenergy is not free from risks and drawbacks and recent scientific opinion and public attention has focused on some of them, particularly those associated with liquid biofuels for transportation.

The objective of this roundtable was to bring together key stakeholders to discuss the sustainability of bioenergy development projects, how to improve related policies and to better manage the risks and opportunities for climate change mitigation, energy security and economic and social development. click here for Presentations.

Human Rights and Environment Brown-bag lunch - 02 December 2008

The 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), on December 10th of this year, is a good occasion to review the recent developments concerning the relations between human rights and environment. click here for more information.

Briefing on the outcome of the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the
Convention on Biological Diversity - 8 September 2008

The briefing focused on the outcome of the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the preparation of the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD, to be held in Nagoya, Japan in 2010. click here for Presentation.

Exposures to Mercury: Valuable Lessons for Human Health and the Environment - 8 August 2008

UNEP together with WHO has launched a guidance document entitled “Identifying Populations at Risk from Mercury Exposure”. The document is intended to assist countries concerned about the potential national impacts of mercury pollution to identify specific populations or subpopulations that may be at risk. It aims to provide guidance on estimating exposures to mercury through biomonitoring as well as exposures to methylmercury using data on dietary fish intake. click here for Presentation.