The 4th UN Environment Assembly approved the 6th Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6). GEO-6 is the most extensive GEO ever attempted, both in its scope and in the number of participants. This UNEA will also start the process toward GEO-7, setting the parameters for participation. It is crucial that UNEA-4 directs the UN Environment to ensure that the Major Groups and Stakeholders have defined and expanded roles in GEO-7.

Initially, the role of the Major Groups in GEO was limited. This started to change during the 1st UN Environment Assembly, where civil society representatives workedwith the UN Environment Chief Scientist Jaqueline McGlade requesting the Major Groups be permitted to participate in GEO-6. These representatives intervened a number of times in support of the proposed GEO-6 process on behalf of the Major Group Science and Technology as they have also done at the previous three Assemblies.

Lifestyle Changes based on Values and Ethics – The Role of Faith in promoting Sustainable Consumption and Innovative Technology

The event, Faith for Earth was graced by the presence of Ms. Inger Andersen, Executive Director designate of UNEP. It was an interesting event as various individuals representing various faiths in the world (CYNESA, Brahma Kumaris, the Anglican Church and the Islamic Relief Worldwide) composed the panel.

It was a great incite on how individuals should live in harmony with nature. First, our faith leaders are accessible and so the churches, mosques and even temples are and have been here for longer; they are ready to listen to the cries and criticisms of the youth in matters of addressing climatic issues. In addition, it is essential that faith be involved in policy making in environmental issues, and facilitation of behavioral changes as much as it may be difficulty to change old habits.

By allowing waste streams to be reduced, reused and recycled, the circular economy is an opportunity to safeguard resources, create jobs and protect ecosystems. This is particularly relevant for African cities which will experience an eight-fold increase of resource consumption by 2050.

In his opening statement, the President of the 4th UN Environment Assembly, Mr. Siim Kiisler, said that he saw Major Groups and Stakeholders as partners to UNEA and that he had tried to increase the role of the civil society, both during the preparation for UNEA-4 and during the Assembly itself. The ensuing dialogue with the audience lasted over an hour and included the following issues:

Stakeholder involvement in the Global Environment Outlook (GEO) process; the challenges related to the implementation of the UNEA resolutions; the opportunity for reflection created by the impending 50th anniversary of the

1972 Stockholm Conference; the role of human rights at UNEA; the lack of political ambition with regard to chemicals and waste; the opportunities generated by economic incentives; the governance of geoengineering; and the possibility of an international governance reform of agriculture.

UN Environment Chief Scientist Dr. Jian Liu Meets with the Major Groups on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. The Major Groups had the opportunity to meet with the UN Environment Chief Scientist Dr. Jian Liu. The audience asked questions about the following topics:

• progress with the Global Environment Outlook (GEO) resolution;

• inclusion of local and indigenous knowledge in science and knowledge systems;

• the relationship between the UN Environment Science Division and divisions working on social issues; selection of priorities for the Science Division; and

• lessons learnt from the most recent Science-Policy-Business Forum.

The Green Tent is the Civil Society Platform at UNEA-4. The Youth Cafe UNEA Monitor is covering some of the green tent events throughout the week of the Assembly.

Best Practices to Build Capacity in Advancing Sustainable Development through Sustainable Consumption and Production – A Session with the Business and Industry Major Group.

On Monday, March 11, 2019, the newly elected UN Environment Executive Director Inger Andersen met with the Major Group Leads and Regional Representatives to UN Environment.

Previous UN Environment Assemblies and other international bodies have taken up the issue of plastic pollution, especially marine plastic litter and microplastics, recognizing it as an increasingly serious issue, which requires an urgent global response. The case against plastic has been gaining strength in the last few years

The closing session of the 2nd Science Policy Business Forum on March 10, 2019, moderated by Axel Threlfall of Reuters, offered highlights from presentations and discussions that had taken place during the two days of the Forum. Speakers from industry, education and civil society were invited to give two-minute overviews of various thematic topics.

For UNEA-4, Switzerland has proposed a resolution on geoengineering, the large-scale technological manipulation of the Earth’s oceans, soils, biosphere and atmosphere to counteract, dilute or delay some symptoms and impacts of climate change. Members of the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG), a negotiating bloc in the UNFCCC consisting of South Korea, Mexico, Liechtenstein, Monaco and Georgia, co-sponsored the resolution with a few other member-states including Burkina Faso, Federated States of Micronesia, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Montenegro and New Zealand.