Highlights and images for 18 January 2019

Highlights for Friday, 18 January 2019

During the last day of the first substantive session of the Ad hoc Open-Ended Working Group (AHWG), discussion focused on the agenda for the second substantive session. The Co-Chairs presented a revised agenda, including the agenda item “discussion of possible options to address possible gaps in international environmental law (IEL) and environment-related instruments.” A proposal to split this agenda item into two parts, i.e. discussion of possible gaps followed by discussion of possible options, did not reach consensus. As a compromise, delegates agreed to add the words “as appropriate” to the end of the agenda item, and to reflect the split in the annotations to the agenda. Delegates agreed that the second substantive session will be held from 18-20 March 2019. Discussion also focused on the inter-sessional process ahead, with several delegations supporting the creation of a synthesis report of submissions. The Co-Chairs reiterated their request for inputs to be submitted by 20 February 2019. In the afternoon, the Co-Chairs presented an oral summary of the week’s discussions. They noted the session’s constructive, open and transparent and inclusive discussion, with agreement that the work should not undermine existing instruments, bodies and processes; and how some delegations underlined the importance of conducting work on a consensus basis with a view to a pragmatic outcome. In closing remarks the Co-Chairs thanked delegates and all participants. Co-Chair Francisco António Duarte Lopes, closed the meeting at 4:01 pm. Please return to this site on 21 January for the Earth Negotiations Bulletin summary and analysis of the first substantive session of the Ad hoc Open-Ended Working Group

IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, povided daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report from the 1st Substantive Session of the Ad Hoc Open Ended Working Group Towards a Global Pact for the Environment.

Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis

For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page.

View of the dais during the morning session

Lori Dando, US

Co-Chair Francisco António Duarte Lopes, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Portugal, gaveling the meeting to a close.

Abdu al-Sharif, Saudi Arabia

Martin Gronda, Argentina

Nassira Rheyati, Morocco

Amal Mudallali, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lebanon, and Jamil Ahmad, UN Environment (UNEP)

Ado Lohmus, Estonia, and Carl Daniel, US
 

From L-R: Carl Daniel, US; Luciano Donadio Linares, Argentina; and Martin Gronda, Argentina

Wael Aboulmagd, Egypt, and Abdullah Tawlah, Saudi Arabia

Delegates conferring during a break.

Victoria Sulimani, Sierra Leone

Haibo Gou, China

Sebastian König, Switzerland

Marcelo Cousillas, Uruguay

Peter Pitrez, Portugal, and Marek Rohr-Garztecki, Poland

Atsushi Iwasaki, Japan

Melissa Cotterill, Australia

Delegates from Equatorial Guinea and Ethiopia

Mariline Diara, Senegal

Yacouba Savadogo, Burkina Faso

Kevin Khng, Singapore

Samuel Victor Makwe, Nigeria

Around the venue