Due to the restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Member States decided to organize the fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) in two parts.

  1. The first part (UNEA-5.1) was held virtually from Nairobi, Kenya, on 22 and 23 February 2021, with a revised and streamlined agenda that focused on urgent and procedural decisions. 
  2. The resumed session of UNEA-5 (UNEA-5.2) took place in Nairobi, Kenya, on 28 February – 2 March 2022, to consider the remaining substantive matters related to the agenda, as well as a Ministerial Declaration

The overall theme for UNEA-5 was “Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” highlighting the pivotal role nature plays in our lives and in social, economic and environmental sustainable development. 

UNEA-5 was an opportunity for Member States to share best practices for sustainability. It aimed to create momentum for governments to build on and catalyze impact on multilateral environmental efforts to protect and restore the natural world on which our economies and societies depend. 

Immediately after UNEA-5.2, the Assembly convened a Special Session of the Assembly from 3 - 4 March 2022, devoted to the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the creation of UN Environment Programme in 1972 (UNEP@50)