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The sixth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) was held from 26 February to 1 March 2024 at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme: Effective, inclusive and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. UNEA-6 adopted a ministerial declaration, 15 resolutions and two decisions, aimed at halting the progression of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. Member States and active stakeholders negotiated these outcomes in the span of two weeks, starting with an open-ended preparatory meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives held from 19 to 23 February 2024.
A comprehensive list of all UNEA-6 outcomes is available on the UNEA-6 website.
Ministerial Declaration
The Ministerial Declaration of UNEA-6 advances the collective resolve to tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, committing the world’s ministers to cooperate for effective, inclusive and sustainable solutions for the planet under a reinvigorated environmental multilateral system.
Decisions
In the decision, Member States agree to hold the seventh session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) from 8 to 12 December 2025 in Nairobi. The decision also sets out a provisional agenda for UNEA-7 and requests the Executive Director of UNEP to prepare a proposal for a new Programme of Work and Medium-Term Strategy for UNEP for approval by Member States at the session.
Management of trust funds and earmarked contributions
In the decision, Member States approve the establishment of five new trust funds and the extension of trust funds listed in the decision until December 31, 2030. The decision also agrees that the extension of trust funds is an administrative matter that falls under the delegation of the Executive Director and will, from the seventh session of the UN Environment Assembly, no longer require a decision by Member States.
Resolutions
Circularity of a resilient, low-carbon sugar cane agro-industry
This resolution invites Member States with a sugar cane agro-industry to integrate low-carbon, climate resilient circular economy approaches into their national and regional strategies and action plans; and help mobilize means of implementation from all sources and promote resilient sustainable consumption and production patterns, especially by micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in developing countries. It requests UNEP to continue to collect information and conduct further analysis on circular economy approaches in the sugar cane agro-industry.
Amendments to the Instrument for the establishment of Restructured Global Environment Facility (GEF)
This resolution implements a decision of the Seventh Assembly of the Global Environment Facility adopted in August 2023 to approve the amendment to the instrument of GEF; and requests UNEP to consider ways of enhancing its capacity and role as an implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility.
Enhancing the role of regional forums of environment ministers and UNEP regional offices
This resolution requests UNEP to enhance the role of regional forums of ministers of the environment and environment authorities, including by introducing a new item on the agendas of future annual subcommittee meetings of the Committee of Permanent Representatives, and invites Member States to enhance collaboration between regional forums of environment ministers and UNEP.
Promoting synergies for national implementation of Multilateral Environment Agreements
This resolution encourages Member States to promote synergies, cooperation and collaboration for the implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and other relevant environmental instruments and to enhance collaboration when implementing their commitments under the Agreements; enhance knowledge and understanding of potential co-benefits and increase efforts to collect and share best practices, and requests UNEP to assist Member States in these efforts.
Environmental aspects of minerals and metals
This resolution encourages Member States and stakeholders to align the extraction and management of minerals and metals with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and promote sustainable consumption and production. It requests UNEP to establish a digital knowledge hub to compile environmental best practices of minerals and metals, develop capacity-building opportunities on the environmental aspects of minerals, and support enhanced cooperation among Member States on the policy, technological, technical and scientific aspects of metals.
This resolution requests UNEP to strengthen capacity building to facilitate effective implementation of MEAs and develop an analysis of case studies of lessons learned from implementation of the MEAs and strengthen cooperation between UNEP and UN Country Team. The resolution also encourages Member States to promote the implementation of MEAs through the establishment of coordinated approaches, structured communications channels and convening of national focal points.
Combating Sand and Dust Storms
This resolution requests UNEP to support Member States in addressing the challenges of sand and dust storms and invites Member States to build capacity on research, modelling and early warning systems and enhance sharing of best practices and promote cooperation. The resolution also requests Member States and regional development banks to contribute financial resources to this effort.
Promoting sustainable lifestyles
This resolution encourages Member States to empower citizens to make informed choices about sustainable lifestyles by fostering public and private collaboration and by setting up education and awareness-raising initiatives. It requests UNEP to support Member States in the development and implementation of national and regional action plans to promote sustainable lifestyles or integrate sustainable lifestyles into existing actions plans. The resolution also requests UNEP to undertake inclusive regional dialogues on sustainable lifestyle practices in partnership with UN Regional Commissions.
Sound management of chemicals and waste
This resolution requests UNEP’s support for the Global Framework on Chemicals. It encourages all stakeholders to provide further resources to the Global Framework on Chemicals Fund, and invites the UN General Assembly to acknowledge the Global Framework’s strategic objectives at its 79th session.
Promoting regional cooperation on air pollution to improve air quality globally
This resolution encourages Member States to accelerate efforts to improve air quality globally, including by setting national ambient air quality standards. It requests UNEP to form and facilitate an air quality network and provide an updated global online platform for information sharing. Regional and subregional cooperation bodies and initiatives, as well as financing institutions, are invited to implement regional solutions to air pollution, particularly in developing countries.
This resolution encourages measures to phase out highly hazardous pesticides in agriculture and to promote the transition to alternatives. Member States and other stakeholders are invited to cooperate to prevent illegal trafficking in highly hazardous pesticides and join the Global Alliance on Highly Hazardous Pesticides under the Global Framework on Chemicals.
Environmental assistance and recovery in areas affected by armed conflict
This resolution requests UNEP, with the oversight of the Committee of the Permanent Representatives, to report to UNEA on UNEP’s provision of environmental assistance and recovery in areas affected by armed conflicts, and identify and develop technical guidance —including new and emerging practices—on the collection of data on environmental damage associated with armed conflicts.
Effective and inclusive solutions for strengthening water policies
This resolution calls upon Member States and members of specialized agencies to implement integrated water resources management at all levels; adopt coherent responses across sectors, taking into account the interlinkages of water, ecosystems, energy, food security and nutrition; mainstream the protection, conservation, restoration and sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems into policies; enhance water quality and quantity data collection and monitoring for evidence-based decision making and implement disaster-risk-informed water resource management; and promote integrated water resources management in areas of agriculture and large water-consuming industries and encourage investment to address the water crisis.
Strengthening efforts to combat desertification and land degradation
This resolution requests the strengthening of international efforts to combat desertification and land degradation, restore degraded land, promote land conservation and sustainable land management, contribute to land degradation neutrality, and enhance drought resilience. It calls on Member States to apply and align their national policies, programmes, plans and processes with the 2018 Strategic Framework of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, contribute to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and move from reactive to proactive drought management.
Strengthening ocean and seas governance
This resolution urges Member States to adopt, ratify and implement relevant regional seas conventions, protocols and action plans and act decisively to improve the health, productivity and resilience of the ocean as well as undertake legal reforms tackling ship-source marine pollution crimes and marine waste disposal legislation, and end illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
