The over 5,600 delegates, representing 190 countries, delivered 15 resolutions to boost multilateral efforts to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature loss and pollution.
The week-long Assembly was held at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi, and focused on effective, inclusive, and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
The UNEA-6 resolutions helped advance the work of member states on the management of metals, mineral resources, chemicals, and waste; on environmental assistance and recovery in areas impacted by armed conflict, on integrated water resource management in the domestic sector, agriculture and industry to tackle water stress, on sustainable lifestyles, on rehabilitation of degraded lands and waters.
The 2024 Assembly also held its first Multilateral Environmental Agreements Day, dedicated to the international agreements addressing the most pressing environmental issues of global or regional concern, which are critical instruments of international environmental governance and international environmental law.
A Ministerial Declaration on the closing day affirmed member states commitment to slow climate change, restore and protect biodiversity, create a pollution-free world, and confront issues of desertification, land and soil degradation, drought and deforestation by taking effective, inclusive, and sustainable multilateral actions.
UNEP Executive director Inger Andersen said the negotiations were not always easy as member states did not always agree.
“But that is the nature of multilateralism, and indeed of life. What matters is how we disagree. We do so respectfully, and then we seek to overcome our differences. Even in disagreement, we search for commonality. UNEA-6 has opened important conversations, not all of which have landed, but I am sure they will continue in the spirit of finding solutions that work for people and the planet,” Inger said.
She notes that the spirit of multilateralism, true inclusive multilateralism, was evident throughout the vibrant Assembly.
“In the engagement of youth, and I really wish to thank the youth, some of whom bared their souls at this Assembly pleading for the shifts they need. The spirit of multilateralism was evident in the engagement of civil society, indigenous peoples, international organisations, scientists and the private sector.”
The 15 resolutions and two decisions cover important aspects of the triple planetary crisis.
The resolution on water calls for an integrated approach to water resources management in agriculture and industry and scale-up means of implementation, especially in developing countries.
The resolution on air pollution focuses on enhancing national air quality monitoring, capacity building, and coordinating efforts to develop and implement air quality action plans and policies.
The resolution on land degradation calls on member states to promote land conservation and sustainable land management, contribute to land degradation neutrality, and enhance drought resilience.
The resolution on ocean and sea governance calls for the necessity to strengthen the ocean science-policy interface and to continue cooperation and coordination on marine issues among all relevant to deliver coherently on Sustainable Development Goal 14.
The resolution on governance aims at promoting synergies in implementing MEAs by strengthening capacity-building initiatives, enhancing cooperation with UN Country Teams, providing assistance to reporting processes, and mobilising resources.
The Ministerial Declaration reflects the great urgency of the environmental planetary crisis, and the differentiated impact and threats of the multiple environmental challenges we face.
UNEA 6 President Leila Benali challenged governments to push for more and reinvent partnerships with key stakeholders to implement the mandates.
"We need to continue to partner with civil society, continue to guide and empower our creative youth, and also with the private sector and philanthropies."
