UNEA-6 highlighted the importance of cooperation with multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) with a full day, 28 February 2024, devoted to the discussion. This had an opening plenary meeting and two consecutive high-level dialogues, with a view to enhancing the relationship with MEAs by strengthening convergence of actions and sharing of experiences, while also increasing visibility of the MEAs. The discussion was supported by a note by the secretariat (UNEP/EA.6/INF/6). 

 

Opening plenary of the MEA day [2nd plenary meeting]

The opening plenary of the MEA day was held on 28 February 2024 from 9 to 10 am EAT in Conference Room 1, with the following seating protocol. It considered the following agenda item:

Agenda item 10. Cooperation with Multilateral Environmental Agreements

Opening Plenary List of Speakers

  • H.E. Leila Benali, President of UNEA-6 and Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development of Morocco
  • Ms. Inger Andersen, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNEP
  • H.E Mr Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment, People’s Republic of China – President of the 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
  • Mr. Cheikh Ndiaye Sylla, COP 12 President of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
  • Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
  • Dr. Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary, Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
  • Dr. Donald Cooper, Director of the Transparency Division, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
  • Dr. Susan Gardner, Director, Ecosystems Division, UNEP

 

Statements delivered during the opening plenary of the MEA day are available on the Statements page.

MEA High-level Dialogues

The two high-level dialogues focused on two broad programmatic areas:

The outcomes of the two dialogues were presented at the last plenary meeting of UNEA-6 on 1 March 2024. 

Participation in the MEA Day

Participation in the MEA Day was open to all UNEA participants.

In addition to UNEP administered global and regional MEA Secretariats, the invitation to effectively participate in UNEA-6, including the MEA Day, was extended to the two non-UNEP administered Rio Conventions, namely the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Invitation were also extended to the five non-UNEP administered MEA Secretariats of the Liaison Group of Biodiversity related Conventions and others as appropriate.

More details on the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Day can be found in the note on the supplementary agenda item entitled “Cooperation with Multilateral Environmental Agreements,” presented at the 163rd Meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives, held on 31 October 2023.

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