Half Time Analysis on Conflict and the Environment from UNEA-2

May 25, 2016 | Doug Weir
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Governments, international organisations and civil society are meeting in Nairobi this week for the second meeting of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-2). The environmental causes and consequences of armed conflicts are on the agenda and with UNEA-2 approaching its halfway point this blog examines who’s been saying what and what the expected outcomes might be.

Prior the formal opening of UNEA-2 on Monday, 260 civil society representatives had met for two days to discuss the agenda for the week ahead and to try to reach common positions on the resolutions and wider policy issues, such as UNEA’s stakeholder engagement policy and the environmental dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals. The TRWN updated attendees on the two draft resolutions on conflict and the negotiations to date.

Two resolutions have been tabled on conflict and the environment, a general text from Ukraine and a text focusing on Gaza that was tabled by Morocco. Both resolutions, which were subject to negotiations prior to UNEA-2, were formally submitted to the plenary meeting of the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday.