European Union

Highlights for Monday, 27 May 2019 Delegates gather for the start of the first UN-Habitat Assembly On Monday, the inaugural UN-Habitat Assembly (UNHA 1) started its deliberations at the UN Office at Nairobi (UNON), Kenya. Delegates elected Martha Delgado Peralta, Mexico, as President of the Assembly, as well as regional Vice-Presidents, members of the Executive Board, and other officers, and adopted the meeting’s agenda and rules of procedure. In his opening address, Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya, emphasized that the world “is currently ill-prepared to plan effectively for rapid urbanization,” urging for international cooperation to fulfill UN-Habitat’s mandate. Participants also listened to opening statements by, inter alia: UN Secretary-General António Guterres, via video; Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Acting Director-General, UNON, and UN-Habitat Executive Director; UN-Habitat Assembly President Delgado; Joyce Msuya, Acting Executive Director, UN Environment Programme; and Ridwan Kamil, Governor of West Java Province, Indonesia.The UN-Habitat Assembly heard reports from Fernando Coimbra, Brazil, Chair of the Committee of Permanent Representatives, as well as from Executive Director Sharif on UN-Habitat activities, including on progress in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Throughout the day, several platforms were opened, including the Urban Solutions Expo, the City Stage, and the Youth Tent. Delegates also attended two special events, including a ministerial roundtable on infrastructure, cities and local action to mobilize commitments for the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit, and a women’s event on promoting inter-generational leadership for sustainable urbanization.Twenty-two side events took place during the day focusing on, inter alia: planning for climate action, including modern, low carbon, and inclusive public transport; innovative financing and engagement strategies for urban development, as well as efforts to close the infrastructure gap; regional and national sustainable urban initiatives; integration of migrants in urban areas; community-driven data, local participation, and multi-stakeholder partnerships for innovative inclusive cities at the local, national and international levels; and promoting spatial equality and justice. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and also produced a summary report from the 1st Session of the UN-Habitat Assembly, which is available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Opening Plenary View of the dais during the opening plenary Plenary opens with a number of musical performances UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif congratulates Martha Delgado Peralta, Mexico, on her election as the President of UNHA 1 UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif Martha Delgado Peralta, UNHA 1 President Shipra Narang-Suri, Urban Planning and Design Branch, UN-Habitat Joyce Msuya, Acting Executive Director, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya Emma Stevens, Indigenous Youth Representative Ridwan Kamil, Governor of West Java Province, Indonesia Sona Jobarteh, UN-Habitat’s Goodwill Ambassador Moderator James Ohayo, UN-Habitat Delegates stand as plenary is filled to capacity Special Events Throughout the Day Susannah Price, Head of Communications Branch, UN-Habitat Secretariat; Martha Delgado Peralta, UNHA 1 President; and UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif, speak during the UN-Habitat Assembly Opening Press Conference Young Women to Women - Promoting Inter-generational Leadership for Sustainable Urbanization Ministerial Roundtable on Infrastructure, Cities and Local Action: Mobilizing commitments for the UN Secretary-General's Climate Action Summit 2019 Afternoon Plenary View of the dais during the afternoon plenary Fernando Coimbra, Chair, Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR), UN-Habitat Lori Dando, US Permanent Representative to the UN in Nairobi Delegates applaud the election of various officers Elias Guia Lopez, Spain Wallis Goelen, EU Celestine Ketcha Courtès, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Cameroon Russom Beyene, Eritrea, speaking on behalf of the African Group Vladimir Yakushev, Minister of Construction and Housing, Russian Federation Hazem Shabat, Palestine, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Abdou Karim Fofana, Minister of Urban Planning, Housing, and Public Health, Senegal Around the Venue Delegates speak informally before the start of plenary President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya, arrives at the venue President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya, visits various exhibitions around the venue UN Security around the venue UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif; Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, Fiji; and Martha Delgado Peralta, UNHA 1 President, during the Ministerial Roundtable Shipra Narang-Suri, Urban Planning and Design Branch, UN-Habitat (far right) helps delegates play a game of Minecraft to redesign green spaces around the UN Offices in Nairobi, demonstrating innovative ways of engaging people in urban design and planning The Urban Solutions Expo aimed at promoting innovative and sustainable solutions for the challenges faced by cities and communities Delegates discuss new ideas at one of the information booths

Highlights for Wednesday, 22 May 2019 The Co-Chairs discuss amendments to the draft text. The third and final session of the Ad Hoc Open Ended Working Group completed its work in the early hours of Thursday morning, having agreed a set of recommendations to the United Nations General Assembly. In closing remarks, Co-Chair Francisco António Duarte Lopes, Portugal, conceded that the outcome was a “weak result but consensual” which can and will be built upon. The continuing process is expected to culminate in a political declaration and a UN high level meeting in 2022, marking fifty years since the UN Conference on the Human Environment, at which UNEP was created. Just after 1.00 am on 23 May, the OEWG agreed to recommend to the UN General Assembly: Objectives guiding the recommendations (on: environmental protection; upholding commitments under international environmental law; strengthening international environmental law; full implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the outcome of the Rio+20 Conference in 2012, “The Future We Want”; and not undermining existing relevant instruments). Substantive recommendations (on the role of UNEP/UNEA; international environmental law and means of implementation; principles; information sharing by the scientific, technical, and technological communities; policy coherence among multilateral environmental agreements and collaboration; implementation of environmental law at the national level; mainstreaming the environment; stakeholder engagement; Montevideo Programme V; and UN system-wide coordination). The final day was punctuated by a series of informal consultations conducted by Co-Chairs Duarte Lopes and Mudallali. Delegates struggled to agree on a number of key elements in the draft recommendations drawn up in a series of drafts. The difficulties emerged in a few of the substantive recommendations and in section three, on considerations of further work. On the substance, there was significant disagreement on: The link between efforts to enhance implementation of international environmental law and provision of means of implementation. Recognition of the role of discussions on principles of international environmental law for enhancing implementation, and the ongoing but separate work of the International Law Commission. Some delegates linked these issues to section three of the Co-Chairs’ draft dealing with recommendations to the United Nations General Assembly on how the OEWG’s substantive recommendations are to be taken forward. At a late evening plenary, hours after the meeting had been scheduled to end, the Co-Chairs were forced to suspend proceedings and re-engage with delegations over differences – notably between the European Union and the United States – over the aim of next steps and the role of the United Nations Environment Assembly. The EU proposed a UN high-level meeting, to agree on a political declaration, while the US saw no need for specifying this, saying UNEA would define the next steps in the process, which could be simply making the substantive recommendations agreed tonight available to states. On means of implementation, Egypt, supported by Argentina, Ecuador, India, El Salvador, Morocco, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Uganda, noted that this part of the Co-Chair’s recommendations no longer referred to “increasing” support and “building on” AAAA and the 2030 Agenda. Brazil noted the linkage with principles. The final elements of agreement focused on operational recommendations to the UN General Assembly on considerations of further work: Circulate the above-mentioned recommendations and make them available to State Members of the UN and members of Specialized Agencies and the governing bodies of MEAs for their consideration and action, as appropriate; and Forward these recommendations to the United Nations Environment Assembly for its consideration and prepare, at its fifth session in February 2021, a political declaration for a UN high level meeting, subject to voluntary funding, in the context of the commemoration of the creation of UNEP by the UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm 1972), with a view to strengthening the implementation of international environmental law and international environmental governance, in line with paragraph 88 of the “Future we Want.” To read the final document, please click here IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report from the 3rd Substantive Session of the Ad Hoc Open Ended Working Group Towards a Global Pact for the Environment. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Natalia Mroz For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Co-Chair Amal Mudallali, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lebanon Jamil Ahmad, Director, New York Office, UNEP The delegation from India discusses the draft text. Delegates review the text during the discussions. Marcus Davies, Canada Erasmo Martinez, Mexico Inside the conference room. Patrick Luna, Brazil, Kerri Holland, United States, Fernando Coimbra, Brazil Patrick Luna, Brazil, talks to Co-Chair Francisco António Duarte Lopes, Permanent Representative of Portugal  Solveig Crompton, Norway, confers with Co-Chair Amal Mudallali Haibado Ismael, Djibouti, Alexandra Lutz, CliMates, and Kadidja Amin Mohamed, Djibouti Ana Barreira, Instituto Internacional de Derecho y Medio Ambiente Wael Aboulmagd, Egypt, and Andres Cordova, Ecuador Delegates review the text. Delegates in discussion Arno Kreilhuber, UNEP, and Elizabeth Mrema, Director, Law Division, UNEP A delegate reviews the draft text. Delegates work on reaching a consensus during the break. The Secretariat distributes the proposed text. Delegates study the draft text. Delegates share a light moment. Delegates from Ireland in discussion Informal morning breakout session, moderated by Norway and Colombia L-R: Delegates Solveig Crompton, Norway, and Elizabeth Taylor, Colombia, co-facilitate informal discussions. Kangayatkarasu Nagulendran, Malaysia Delegates from the Russian Federation confer during the session. Jean Kenfack, Cameroon Kathryn Youel Page, United States Martin Gronda, Argentina Around the Venue Latin American delegations pose for a group photo. The delegation from Cameroon Delegates pose for a group photo. Co-Chair Amal Mudallali with delegate Elizabether Taylor, Colombia Panelists and delegates pose for a photo.

Highlights for Tuesday, 21 May 2019 Delegates submitted a series of proposed changes to the Co-Chairs "zero draft" issued on Tuesday. One year on from the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of Resolution 72/277 (“Towards a Global Pact for the Environment”) and the establishment of the open-ended working group (OEWG), delegations prepared to intensify informal negotiations at the UN Office at Nairobi. Delegations at the third substantive session of the OEWG prepared for late night informal negotiations on some of the recommendations to UNGA that will help define the pathway, the prospects and the promise of a high-level outcome. On the second day of the OEWG session, Co-Chairs Franciso António Duarte Lopes, Portugal, and Amal Mudallali, Lebanon, presented a revised version of their non-paper (25 April 2019) on recommendations to the UNGA on objectives, substantive recommendations, and the modalities for passing them on to UNGA. The new zero draft had been posted Monday evening (20 May 2019), on the basis of that day’s deliberations and submissions to the Co-Chairs, and is organised in three sections: Guiding objectives; Substantive recommendations; and Recommendations to UNGA in support of taking forward the substantive recommendations. The third and defining section on the shape of recommendations on modalities to UNGA remained in brackets. It was these options, including the adoption of an international instrument at a high-level UN conference and the establishment of a preparatory committee to make substantive recommendations to UNGA during the first half of 2020 on elements of an international instrument, which were the subject of intensive rounds of negotiations on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Proposals on the table range from a recommendation that UNGA adopt a resolution to consider an international instrument at a UN conference at Heads of State or government level by 2021--possibly marking the historic 50th anniversary of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment--to inviting UNGA to simply circulate recommendations to States and make them available to Secretariats of MEAs. The Co-Chairs' zero drafts are available here. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report from the 3rd Substantive Session of the Ad Hoc Open Ended Working Group Towards a Global Pact for the Environment. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Natalia Mroz For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Co-Chairs Francisco António Duarte Lopes, Permanent Representative of Portugal and Amal Mudallali, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lebanon, and Jamil Ahmad, Director, New York Office, UNEP Co-Chair Francisco António Duarte Lopes greets a delegate before the start of the meeting Delegates review the draft recommendations before the start of the discussion Shard, India Akram Mirzakhani, Iran Helge Elisabeth Zeitler, European Union Abdullah Tawlah, Saudi Arabia, speaks to Andrew Neustaetter, US, and members of the US delegation Fany Beatriz Ramos Quispe, Bolivia A delegate from the NGO sector takes notes. Frances Reupena, Samoa Delegates in discussion Ather Aljarboa, Saudi Arabia Delegates confer during the break. Delegates review the draft text during the discussion. Delegates from Morocco discuss the draft text. Co-Chair Amal Mudallali, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lebanon A comment from the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Delegates from the NGO sector in discussion. Working on revisions to the zero text NGO caucus meeting Leida Rijnhout, Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future Paulo Magalhaes, Instituto Internacional de Derecho y Medio Ambiente Janice Cox and Sabine Lennkh, World Animal Net Alexandra Lutz, CliMates Informal evening break out session, moderated by Norway and Colombia L-R: Delegates Solveig Crompton, Norway, and Elizabeth Taylor, Colombia, co-facilitate informal discussions. The breakout room during the informal discussions Around the Venue European delegates pose for a group photo. Viviana Tinoco Monge and Marta Juarez, delegates from Costa Rica Inside the conference room