Once a year, the Civil Society Unit together with all six Regional Offices convenes Regional Consultative Meetings (RCM) to facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues on issues pertinent to the UN Environment.
The Consultative Meetings, which are often times organized back to back with Environmental Fora or Economic Commissions meetings or other relevant environmental consultations will provide an opportunity for Major Groups and Stakeholders to provide their inputs into the Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum (GMGSF) which will precede the UN Environment Assembly. The meetings also serve as a capacity-building and networking exercise for Major Groups and Stakeholders in the regions as they constitute a platform for Regional Offices to engage with civil society partners.
One of the main outcomes of the Regional Consultative meetings is the compilation of statements and recommendations by Major Groups and Stakeholders for consideration by the United Nations Environment Assembly. Regional priorities, challenges and observations, are integrated into these statements, which will also provide regional perspectives on the Assembly’s theme. The outcome of the dialogues, which is usually in the form of a statement or key messages, will be shared as an informational document with the governing body of UN Environment and Ministers, and discussed at the high-level segment of UNEA.
