African Group

On the last day of the second Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR-2) meeting at UN Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi, delegates met in parallel sessions to discuss resolution text. Clusters 1 and 2 met all morning, with Cluster 1 continuing through lunchtime. Cluster 1 addressed proposals on the organization of regional forums, implementing the Paris Climate Agreement, and the role of UNEP in the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway to facilitate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while Cluster 2 discussed sustainable consumption and production (SCP) and food waste. During lunchtime, Cluster 3 conducted the first reading of a resolution for sustainable management of coral reefs. Delegates convened in plenary in the afternoon, where UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) President Oyun Saanjasuren briefed delegates on arrangements to finalize the agenda for ministers when they meet at UNEA-2 in May. UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner briefed delegates on preparations for UNEA-2, highlighting the organization of 26 side events and two symposia. In their closing statements, regional groups and Member States expressed appreciation for the constructive discussions. The meeting closed at 4.52 pm. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports from OECPR-2. In addition, IISD Reporting Services, has published a summary and analysis from OECPR-2 in HTML and PDF formats. Available in ENB Mobile at: http://enb.iisd.mobi/unep-oecpr2016/. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Cluster 1 Delegates gather to discuss matters related to Cluster 1 Cluster 1 Chair Pedro Escosteguy Cardoso, Brazil Jill Hanna, EU Rosemary Paterson, New Zealand Yu Hai, China Chung Haeseung, Regional Representative for Asia Pacific Cluster 2 Delegates gather to discuss matters related to Cluster 2 Cluster 2 Chair John Moreti, Botswana Karen Molenaar, EU Juan José Campuzano, Mexico Yuki Takahashi, Japan Hazri Hassan, Singapore Cluster 3 Delegates gather to discuss matters related to Cluster 3 Cluster 3 Chair Corinna Enders, Germany Yoshi Iskandar, Indonesia Ingeborg Mork-Knutsen, Norway Nalaka Mahesh Prematilake, Sri Lanka Matthias Maier, EU Closing Plenary Delegates gather for the closing plenary Julia Pataki, CPR Chair Oyun Sanjaasuren, UNEA President Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UNEP Kelebert Nkomani, Zimbabwe, speaking on behalf of the African Group Bibiana Jones, Argentina, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Li Haisheng, China Abdulmonem Annan, Syria Raza Bashir Tarar, Pakistan, speaking on behalf of Asia Pacific States Anthony Andanje, Kenya Abdelmoneim Mabrouk, Sudan, speaking on behalf of the Arab League Tobias Glucksman, US Brian Aberi, speaking on behalf of the Major Groups and Stakeholders OECPR-2 family photo Around the Venue Delegates meet informally before the start of the Cluster discussions Members of the EU meet Raúl Rodríguez Ramos, Cuba; Marcela Nicodemos, Brazil; and Konrad Paulsen, Chile Delegates between sessions A delegate reads the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) UNEP Secretariat distribute a revised version of the text Jorge Laguna-Celis, Secretary of Governing Bodies, UNEP (right), speaks with delegates Delegates meet before the final plenary Oyun Sanjaasuren, UNEA President, with Damdin Davgadorj, Mongolia Report writers documenting the meeting ENB Team covering the OECPR-2 meeting: Cleo Verkuijl; Tallash Kantai; Annelies van Gaalen; Delia Paul; Richard de Ferranti; Wangu Mwangi; and Kiara Worth

Delegates at the Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR-2) discussed the proposed outcome of the ministerial High-Level Segment of the Second UN Environment Assembly of the UN Environment Programme (UNEA-2) in the morning, while Cluster 2 discussed a resolution on sustainable consumption and production (SCP). In the afternoon, Cluster 3 discussed resolutions on marine plastic debris and microplastics, and on the International Environment Forum for Basin Organizations. Cluster 5 addressed the UNEP Medium-Term Strategy (MTS), Programme of Work (PoW) and budget. In the evening, Cluster 1 discussed promoting the effective implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement, and the roles of UNEP and UNEA in delivering on the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, while Cluster 4 conducted a second reading of resolutions dealing with natural capital and conflict-affected areas. Negotiations continued late into the night. A side event on “Guidelines for Integrated Waste Management Framework Legislation” took place at lunchtime, convened by UNEP. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports from OECPR-2. In addition, IISD Reporting Services, has published a summary and analysis from OECPR-2 in HTML and PDF formats. Available in ENB Mobile at: http://enb.iisd.mobi/unep-oecpr2016/. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Discussion of UNEA-2 High-Level Segment Outcome L-R: Jorge Laguna-Celis, Secretary of Governing Bodies, UNEP; Julia Pataki, CPR Chair; and Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UNEP Julia Pataki, CPR Chair Herman Sips, EU Joel Hansen, US Raúl Rodríguez Ramos, Cuba Sherif Dawoud, Egypt Clara Cerqueira, Brazil Yingxian Xia, China Kennedy Samaneka, Zimbabwe, speaking on behalf of the African Group Miak Aw Hui Min, Singapore Eduardo Sánchez, Mexico Cluster 1 Delegates gather to discuss matters related to Cluster 1 Cluster 1 Chair Pedro Escosteguy Cardoso, Brazil Majid Shafie-Pour, Iran Bibiana Jones, Argentina, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Cluster 2 Delegates gather to discuss matters related to Cluster 2 Cluster 2 Chair John Moreti, Botswana Ayelén María Ghersi, Argentina Timothy Epp, US Hussein Roshdy, Egypt Iván Mendoza Benítez, Colombia Cluster 3 Delegates gather to discuss matters related to Cluster 3 Cluster 3 Chair Corinna Enders, Germany Ingeborg Mork-Knutsen, Norway Sylvie Côté, Canada Cluster 4 Delegates gather to discuss matters related to Cluster 4 Ntesang Molemele, Botswana Mphatso Kamanga, Malawi Nathan Ndoboli, Uganda Cluster 5 Amendments are made to the negotiating text in Cluster 5 Cluster 5 Chair Raza Bashir Tarar, Pakistan Wilson Sumner, US Ruth Kitonyi, Kenya Abdullah K. Tawlah, Saudi Arabia UNEP Side Event: Guidelines for Integrated Waste Management Framework Legislation Panel speakers for the event (L-R): Marcello Cousillas, Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment, Uruguay; Christine Akello, National Environment Management Authority, Uganda; Oyun Sanjaasuren, UNEA President; Naohito Watanabe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan; and Sumitra Amatya, National Planning Commission, Nepal Oyun Sanjaasuren, UNEA President Naohito Watanabe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan Moderator Mahesh Pradhan, UNEP Masa Nagai, UNEP Surendra Shrestha, UNEP Around the Venue Major Groups and Stakeholders strategy meeting Delegates between sessions Delegates from Nigeria Delegates from the Children and Youth Major Group Cluster 1 Chair Pedro Escosteguy Cardoso and Marcela Nicodemos, Brazil, speak with delegates Delegates from the Asia region meet informally Masa Nagai and Surendra Shrestha, UNEP Fiona Fraser and Alex Surace, Australia Delegates from the EU Oyun Sanjaasuren, UNEA President, with Naohito Watanabe, Japan The UNEP grounds at night

The second meeting of the Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR-2) to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) opened today at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, Kenya. Following messages from UN General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner, around 25 Member States and regional groups made statements. Addressing the meeting in a video message, UN General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft described UNEA-2 as a key intergovernmental checkpoint on the road to 2030, and highlighted its role in integrating the environmental dimension across all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner noted Member States’ support for UNEP's role in the global sustainable development architecture, and emphasized that the organization has demonstrated efficiency and effectiveness. Delegates adopted the agenda and organization of work, and appointed Chairs for the week’s discussion on the five “clusters” of draft resolution text. In the afternoon, delegates considered policy matters contained in a series of 12 reports on the work of UNEP. Among various issues, they addressed: expectations for the sixth Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6) report and expert report on marine plastic debris and microplastics; UNEP support for air quality issues in the Asia-Pacific region; the need for a long-term plan for UNEP-Live as a tool for policy makers; and ways to meet the cost of implementing the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They also discussed: the programme performance review; the Medium-Term Strategy, Programme of Work and budget; and changes to the UNEA cycle. A reception took place in the evening, hosted by the Netherlands and Romania. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports from OECPR-2. In addition, IISD Reporting Services, has published a summary and analysis from OECPR-2 in HTML and PDF formats. Available in ENB Mobile at: http://enb.iisd.mobi/unep-oecpr2016/. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Opening Plenary L-R: Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UNEP; Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UNEP; Julia Pataki, CPR Chair; Jorge Laguna-Celis, Secretary of Governing Bodies, UNEP; and Corinna Enders, Rapporteur Julia Pataki, CPR Chair Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UNEP Bibiana Jones, Argentina, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Abdelilah Benryane, Morocco, speaking on behalf of the African Group Frans Makken, the Netherlands, speaking on behalf of the EU N.K.G.K. Nemmawatta, Sri Lanka Amina J. Mohammed, Minister of the Environment, Nigeria Tita Korvenoja, Finland Mahmoud Talaat, Egypt Erasmo Martínez, Mexico Tobias Glucksman, US Sibylle Vermont, Switzerland Delegates raise their placards to be added to the speakers list Afternoon Plenary Plenary continues in the afternoon Solveig Crompton, Norway Naohito Watanabe, Japan Norine Kennedy, Business and Industry Major Group Yunus Arikan, Local Authorities Major Group Deepak Dhital, Nepal L-R: Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UNEP; Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UNEP; Julia Pataki, CPR Chair Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UNEP Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, UNEP Evening Reception Delegates enjoy the reception hosted by the Netherlands and Romania Delegates from the African region Delegates from Lebanon and the Netherlands Around the Venue Delegates outside plenary Delegates meet informally before the start of plenary Jorge Laguna-Celis, Secretary of Governing Bodies, UNEP, greets members of the Chinese delegation Delegates from Latin America greet each other Bayani V. Mangibin, the Philippines, speaks with a delegate Members of the US delegation Representatives of Major Groups and Stakeholders Abdullah K. Tawlah, Saudi Arabia, speaks with delegates Around the UNEP grounds Posters from the UNFCCC 'Act Now!' initiative