The sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) drew to a close on Friday, 1 March 2024. More than 5,600 delegates– representing 190 countries – participated in UNEA-6 which focused on effective, inclusive, and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
The Assembly adopted 15 resolutions aimed at addressing some of the planet’s most-pressing environmental challenges, including climate change, pollution and desertification. UNEA-6 also adopted a ministerial declaration which reaffirms Member States’ commitment to tackle global environmental challenges and crises and 2 decisions.
Five of the 15 UNEA-6 resolutions relate to the work of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions:
- UNEP/EA.6/L.7 - Promoting synergies, cooperation or collaboration for national implementation of multilateral environmental agreements and other relevant environmental instruments
- UNEP/EA.6/L.8 - Environmental aspects of minerals and metals
- UNEP/EA.6/L.9 - Fostering national action to address global environmental challenges through increased cooperation between the United Nations Environment Assembly, the United Nations Environment Programme and multilateral environmental agreements
- UNEP/EA.6/L.12 - Sound management of chemicals and waste
- UNEP/EA.6/L.14 - Highly hazardous pesticides
A key highlight of the UNEA-6 was also the first-ever day devoted to showcasing Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). The successful experience of MEAs shows that Parties are working together to help forge a sustainable future and have helped protect endangered species, limit chemical and waste pollution, and repair the hole in the ozone layer, among other things.
The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions were represented during the MEAs day through the voices of Ms. Maya Berci, President of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention, Mr. Iftikhar-ul-Hassan Shah Gilani, President of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention, and Mr. Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions.
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Ms. Maya Berci, President of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (left) with Mr. Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (middle) and Mr. Iftikhar-ul-Hassan Shah Gilani, President of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention (right)
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Mr. Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, at the opening of the MEAs Day
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Maya Berci, President of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention (second from the right) taking part in the MEAs High-Level Dialogue on strengthening the science-policy interface for effective implementation of environmental commitments.
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Beyond the formal UNEA-6 programme, Ms Berci and the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions engaged in more than 12 side events addressing a variety of issues ranging from the life-cycle of metals and minerals, cooperation among MEA compliance committees, to linkages between pollution and climate change and biodiversity loss.
Find the programme of BRS engagements at UNEA-6 including recordings of side events.
The seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) will take place on 8-12 December 2025.
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