Highlights and images for 20 May 2019

Highlights for Monday, 20 May 2019

The third and final substantive session of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) established by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 72/277 (“Towards a Global Pact for the Environment”) convened in plenary in the morning and afternoon, before breaking out for informal discussions. In plenary, delegates were invited to respond to a non-paper prepared by Co-Chairs Amal Mudallali, Lebanon, and Francisco António Duarte Lopes, Portugal, which had been circulated in April. The non-paper has three sections:
1. Elements related to the objectives informing the recommendations of the OEWG;

2. Elements related to the substantive recommendations of the OEWG; and

3. Elements related to the process.
Differences mainly emerged in response to "Elements related to the process", including references to “the adoption of an international instrument at a high-level UN conference”, establishing a “preparatory committee” ahead of the 73rd session of the UNGA in 2020, a timeline, and open “negotiations.” In mid-afternoon, having noted the wide range of opinions, including assertions that no consensus exists on a new international instrument, whether binding or non-binding, the Co-Chairs mandated two delegates, Elizabeth Taylor, Colombia, and Solveig Crompton, Norway, to co-facilitate informal discussions on section three of the non-paper. Delegations welcomed the informal setting for discussions, with some noting that the format had come late in the process; and took the opportunity to detail the rationale behind their positions on the merits of the section. The Co-Chairs also undertook to prepare a “zero text” for Tuesday on sections one and two. To read the Co-Chairs’ non-paper, please click here.

IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report from the 3rd Substantive Session of the Ad Hoc Open Ended Working Group Towards a Global Pact for the Environment.

Photos by IISD/ENB | Natalia Mroz

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Elizabeth Mrema, Director, Law Division, UNEP

Co-Chair Amal Mudallali, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lebanon

Video message from María Fernanda Espinosa, President of the General Assembly

Jamil Ahmad, Director, New York Office, UNEP

A delegate takes a photo of the dias.

A delegate takes notes.

Kathryn Youel Page, United States

Dimitry Maksimychev, Russian Federation

Troy Torrington, Guyana

Meriem El Hilali, Morocco

Kevin Khng, Singapore

Delegates from the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the session

Delegates confer during the session.

Fernando Coimbra, Brazil

A delegate examines event materials

Delegates discuss during the break

Shanchita Haque, Bangladesh

Elizabeth Taylor Jay, Colombia

Raoul Renard, International Chamber of Commerce

Alexandra Lutz, CliMates

Side event on the Montevideo Programme for the development and periodic review of environmental law, hosted by the US and Uruguay

Fazeela Ahmed Shaheem, Maldives

Delegates listen to the presentation.

Informal evening break out session, moderated by Finland and Colombia

Around the Venue