Theme: Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals
Nature is the planet’s life support system and upholds human welfare and our economy. Nature provides multiple solutions to challenges we face, like reducing pollution, mitigating and adapting to climate change and food security. While this is broadly recognized, we are losing nature at an alarming pace. The theme therefore calls for strengthened action to protect and restore nature and the nature-based solutions to achieve the sustainable development goals in its three complementary dimensions (social, economic and environmental).
The fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly will connect and consolidate environmental actions within the context of sustainable development and give significant impetus to more effective implementation. This fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly in 2021 will mobilize, motivate and energize member States and stakeholders into sharing and implementing successful approaches and nature based solutions that contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the eradication of poverty and the promotion of sustainable patterns of consumption and production.
The theme was decided at a joint meeting of the Bureaus of the Assembly and the Committee of Permanent Representatives on 3 December 2019, based on extensive consultations with Member States and stakeholders, led by Mr. Fernando Coimbra, Chair of the Committee of Permanent Representatives and Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Brazil to Kenya, and Ms. Elin Bergithe Rognlie, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Norway to Kenya.