Summary
The second meeting of the Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR-2) to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) opened today at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, Kenya. Following messages from UN General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner, around 25 Member States and regional groups made statements. Addressing the meeting in a video message, UN General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft described UNEA-2 as a key intergovernmental checkpoint on the road to 2030, and highlighted its role in integrating the environmental dimension across all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner noted Member States’ support for UNEP's role in the global sustainable development architecture, and emphasized that the organization has demonstrated efficiency and effectiveness.
Delegates adopted the agenda and organization of work, and appointed Chairs for the week’s discussion on the five “clusters” of draft resolution text.
In the afternoon, delegates considered policy matters contained in a series of 12 reports on the work of UNEP. Among various issues, they addressed: expectations for the sixth Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6) report and expert report on marine plastic debris and microplastics; UNEP support for air quality issues in the Asia-Pacific region; the need for a long-term plan for UNEP-Live as a tool for policy makers; and ways to meet the cost of implementing the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
They also discussed: the programme performance review; the Medium-Term Strategy, Programme of Work and budget; and changes to the UNEA cycle.
A reception took place in the evening, hosted by the Netherlands and Romania.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports from OECPR-2. In addition, IISD Reporting Services, has published a summary and analysis from OECPR-2 in HTML and PDF formats. Available in ENB Mobile at: http://enb.iisd.mobi/unep-oecpr2016/.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
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Opening Plenary
L-R: Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UNEP; Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UNEP; Julia Pataki, CPR Chair; Jorge Laguna-Celis, Secretary of Governing Bodies, UNEP; and Corinna Enders, Rapporteur
Julia Pataki, CPR Chair
Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UNEP
Bibiana Jones, Argentina, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China
Abdelilah Benryane, Morocco, speaking on behalf of the African Group
Frans Makken, the Netherlands,
speaking on behalf of the EU
N.K.G.K. Nemmawatta, Sri Lanka
Amina J. Mohammed, Minister of the Environment, Nigeria
Tita Korvenoja, Finland
Mahmoud Talaat, Egypt
Erasmo Martínez, Mexico
Tobias Glucksman, US
Sibylle Vermont, Switzerland
Delegates raise their placards to be added to the speakers list
Afternoon Plenary
Plenary continues in the afternoon
Solveig Crompton, Norway
Naohito Watanabe, Japan
Norine Kennedy, Business and
Industry Major Group
Yunus Arikan, Local Authorities
Major Group
Deepak Dhital, Nepal
L-R: Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UNEP; Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UNEP; Julia Pataki, CPR Chair
Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UNEP
Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, UNEP
Evening Reception
Delegates enjoy the reception hosted by the Netherlands and Romania
Delegates from the African region
Delegates from Lebanon and the Netherlands
Around the Venue
Delegates outside plenary
Delegates meet informally before the start of plenary
Jorge Laguna-Celis, Secretary of Governing Bodies, UNEP,
greets members of the Chinese delegation
Delegates from Latin America greet each other
Bayani V. Mangibin, the Philippines, speaks with a delegate
Members of the US delegation
Representatives of Major Groups and Stakeholders
Abdullah K. Tawlah, Saudi Arabia, speaks with delegates
Around the UNEP grounds
Posters from the UNFCCC 'Act Now!' initiative
