Since 1982, the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) environmental law activities have been organized and coordinated through a series of 10-year programmes known as the Montevideo Programme for the Development and Periodic Review of Environmental Law. The Programme has guided the efforts of the international community in developing environmental law that transforms science-based policies into action-oriented rules and standards of conduct, and it has helped conceive several multilateral environment agreements.

The fifth iteration of this programme (“Montevideo Programme V”) was approved by the UN Environment Assembly in 2019. The first segment of the global meeting of the national focal points charged with setting key arrangements and strategic guidance for Montevideo Programme V was held virtually in 2021, and a second, in-person segment convened in Nairobi, Kenya.

A key focus for the resumed meeting was deciding on priority areas for Programme implementation. The online segment agreed to start work on legal responses to address the air pollution crisis. Other priority areas up for discussion included:

• legal responses to combat the climate crisis;
• legal responses to combat the biodiversity crisis;
• legal responses to strengthen frameworks on environmental crime and environmental liability;
• strengthening information and data exchange, and raising awareness of environmental law;
• public participation, access to information, and access to justice
• environmental law and the three pillars of the UN Charter; and
• strengthening education and training in environmental law.

The resumed meeting also discussed arrangements for partnerships and stakeholder engagement for implementation of the Programme, including guidance on:

• key objectives of a partnership and stakeholder engagement strategy;
• princples to consider in developing a partnership strategy under the Programme;
• elements that should be included in a partnership strategy under the Programme;
• how priority areas for Programme implementation relate to the development of a partnership and stakeholder engagement strategy; and
• good practices for partnership engagement, which can inform a partnership strategy under the Programme.

The First Global Meeting of National Focal Points was originally scheduled for March 2020 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but repeated delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in splitting the meeting into two parts: the first segment was held virtually 2-4 June 2021, with the second segment held in person, with virtual participation possible for those unable to travel due to COVID-related restrictions, from 6-9 June 2022 in Nairobi.

IISD, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided daily digital updates, as well as a summary report following the closure of the resumed First Global Meeting of National Focal Points for Montevideo Programme V. The summary report became available on Sunday, 12 June 2022.