A dedicated Multilateral Environmental Agreements Day (MEAs Day) convened on Wednesday, 10 December 2025

The day featured an opening plenary session followed by two consecutive high-level dialogues. These engagements provided a compelling platform to highlight cooperation between UNEP and MEAs as well as among MEAs – celebrating success stories, championing integrated solutions, and inspiring greater collective environmental action. The day is convened under the agenda item “Cooperation with multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs)”, as endorsed in UNEA decision 6/7.

  • Concept note: PDF

  • Guidance note: PDF

 

Opening plenary of the MEAs Day [2nd plenary meeting]

The opening plenary of the MEAs Day was held on 10 December 2025 from 10 am to 10.30 am EAT in Conference Room 1. This was presided over by His Excellency Abdullah Bin Ali Al-Amri, Chair of the Environment Authority of Oman and President of UNEA-7, followed by a statement by the UNEP Executive Director and high-level introductory remarks from Presidents of the Conferences of the Parties of the MEAs.

Opening Plenary List of Speakers

  • Ms. Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director
  • H.E. Mr. Bojan Kumer, Minister of Environment, Climate and Energy of Slovenia, delivering the statement of the President of the 23rd meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (Barcelona Convention)
  • H.E. Mr. Mansour Hilal Almushaiti Alanazi, Vice Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Saudi Arabia
  • H. E. Mr. André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, Vice-Minister for Climate Energy and Environment of Brazil and President of the 30th session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (video message)
  • Mr. Joswa Aoudou, Director of Standards and Compliance, Ministry of Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development of Cameroon, and President of the 13th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, delivering a statement of the Presidents of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions.
  • Ms Daniela Durán González, Head of the Office of International Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia
  • Ms. Jeanne-Marie Huddleston, Director General, Multilateral Affairs and Climate Change at the Environment and Climate Change Canada, to deliver the statement of the Executive Body of the Air Convention of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

MEAs high-level dialogues

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

MEAs Dialogue 1

MEAs Dialogue 1

“Signed, Sealed, Delivered?” - Turbocharging MEAs implementation through whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches

Wednesday, 10 December 2025 10:30 to 13:00 EAT.

MEAs Dialogue 2

MEAs Dialogue 2

“Keeping the Promise” - Boosting SDGs implementation through the MEAs

Wednesday, 10 December 2025 15:00 to 17:00 EAT.

High-level Discussion on the conclusions 

The MEAs Day concluded with a moderated high-level plenary discussion highlighting the conclusions and key outcomes of the day. The session reflected on proposed solutions, shared insights, and suggested areas for future action. The moderated discussion on the conclusions was held on 10 December 2025 from 5 to 6 pm EAT in Conference Room 1. 

A summary of these discussions — including the main messages and recommendations for action — were presented during the closing plenary on Friday 12 December, and captured in the official proceedings report of UNEA-7.

Concept note: PDF 

List of Speakers - High-Level Discussion on the conclusions

  • Ms. Ligia Noronha, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the UNEP New York Office (Moderator)
  • H.E. Mr. Batbaatar Bat, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia
  • H.E. Mr. Hambardzum Matevosyan, Minister of Environment of the Republic of Armenia
  • Dr. Izabella Teixeira, Co-Chair, International Resource Panel (IRP)
  • Dr. David Obura, Chair, Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
  • Mr. Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
  • Ms. Chizuru Aoki, Head of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Division of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements

Participation in the MEAs Day

Participation in the MEAs Day was open to all Member States and observers, including MEA Secretariats, intergovernmental/international organizations, relevant UN entities and specialized agencies and related organizations, as well as accredited Major Groups and Stakeholders participating to UNEA-7. The MEAs Day featured broad participation from the MEAs, including the UNEP administered global and regional MEA Secretariats and other UNEP-hosted global entities including the Science-Policy Panels, as well as non-UNEP administered global and regional MEAs.

Seating plan for the MEA day

 

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