2nd Global Session UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment
Summary Highlights
8-10 March 2019 | UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya
Highlights for Sunday, 10 March 2019
On Sunday, 10 March, discussion sessions took place throughout the day, organized under the six thematic streams of the Forum. Some topics addressed included:
- early warning for decision making;
- alternatives to plastics – current challenges and future vision;
- innovative technologies and approaches in monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
- sustainable water and waste management in developing cities;
- avoidance of global warming through clean and efficient cooling innovations;
- Sustainability Research and Innovation 2020;
- new hotspot analysis tools for decision making on sustainable consumption and production;
- Third Pole: A call for action to combat climate impacts in fragile ecosystems;
- solving the broken nitrogen cycle; and
- driving transformative innovation through sustainable chemistry.
During a special session hosted by UNEA-4 President Siim Kiisler and dubbed “The GreenTech Startup Marathon,” nine startup companies pitched their ideas on ground-breaking innovations to address global environmental challenges. After three judges - in a “Dragon’s Den” style setting - put questions to all the competitors, they announced that they had all met their criteria, many were outstanding and the top three, in no rank order, were BoxPower, Planet Heroes, and Algramo. The judges also noted that reusable containers are a good idea for reducing ocean pollution and that eco-crowdfunding can potentially be transformative.
The 2nd UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment concluded with an overview of messages and recommendations from thematic discussions over its two days. In closing remarks, Satya Tripathi, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the UNEP New York Office, described the Forum as unique, “because it is focused on making people’s lives better.” He called for drawing inspiration from farmers in India who are taking risks to protect the planet. Jian Liu, Chief Scientist, UNEP, reflected that the Forum had transformed from “a platform to an incubator,” noting that the level of ambition to use data for action was high. He reminded participants of the need for collective leadership moving forward.
During the closing session, delegates also observed a minute of silence to honor passengers who lost their lives in the Ethiopian Airlines crash on Sunday, 10 March, some of whom were enroute to attend the opening of UNEA-4 in Nairobi.
The event closed with a reception, where delegates watched Chinese artist Jiahuang Chang create a painting dedicated to the work of the Forum.
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IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage and a summary report from the 2nd Global Session of the UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment. The summary report is now available in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon
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Highlights for Saturday, 9 March 2019
The official opening of the UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment took place on Saturday, 9 March 2019. The opening ceremony included welcome statements by: Joyce Msuya, UNEP Deputy Executive Director; Xie Zhenhua, Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs, China; Siim Kiisler, UNEA-4 President; and Keriako Tobiko, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Forestry, Kenya.
HRH Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands discussed the launch of a new initiative by the Society of Entrepreneurs and Ecology (SEE) to voluntarily ban the use of rhino-based products across the Society's members.
During high-level panel discussions, speakers highlighted diverse issues touching on the themes of: innovation for a low-carbon future and the role of non-state actors; accelerating clean energy for all; innovative finance for a green planet; artificial intelligence for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and green technology startups leading the “fourth industrial revolution”.
Throughout the day, more than 20 sessions convened, organized around four parallel thematic streams. Amongst other topics, the sessions explored:
- transforming development with planetary data and artificial intelligence;
- messages from the Sixth Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6) on the environmental and health impacts of energy, waste and food systems;
- making trade a positive force in the world;
- the contribution of new policies and technologies in combating lead;
- putting the world on a safe path to meet the challenge of limiting global warming to 1.5°C";
- earth observations and the role of citizen science;
- the role of South-South Cooperation in attaining clean and affordable energy in Africa;
- innovation in the energy sector and the future of sustainability;
- the climate challenge and non-state actors; and
- advancing environmental rights in business.
In the evening, HRH Princess Laurentien and the SEE hosted a reception to mark the launch of the SEE initiative.
+ Visit the web coverage for Saturday, 9 March 2019
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage and a summary report from the 2nd Global Session of the UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment. The summary report is now available in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page
Highlights for Friday, 8 March 2019
On Friday, 8 March, closed consultations took place prior to the official opening of the second global session of the UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment. The Forum will feed into the fourth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4), which is due to convene from 11-15 March 2019 on the theme, “Innovative solutions for environmental challenges and sustainable consumption and production.”
In the morning, participants took part in closed consultations around three focal areas of the Forum: Big Data and Earth Observations; the Green Startup Initiative; and Citizen Science. Among other things, delegates:
- reviewed a draft declaration for the Citizen Science Global Partnership;
- outlined challenges and opportunities for Green Startup Initiatives and how the Forum can help enable green innovation; and
- provided input for a proposed white paper on building a global digital platform for the environment.
The closed consultations concluded with a dialogue between leaders from the science, policy, civil society and business communities that included an exchange with UNEA-4 President Siim Kiisler, Minister of Environment of Estonia.
+ Visit the web coverage for Friday, 8 March 2019
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage and a summary report from the 2nd Global Session of the UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment. The summary report is now available in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page
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Resources for the 2nd Global Session of the UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment
- Website and Documents for the 2nd Global Session of the UN Science-Policy-Business Forum
- UNEP Website for the 2nd Global Session of the UN Science-Policy-Business Forum
- Briefing Note on the 2nd Global Session of the UN Science-Policy-Business Forum
- UNEA-4 Website
IISD ENB/ENB+ Meeting Coverage
- Economics of Ecosystems & Biodiversity for Agriculture and Food (TEEBAgriFood) Global Symposium 2019, 25-27 February 2019, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya
- 17th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, 18-22 February 2019, FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy
- 3rd Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific, 23-25 January 2019, Singapore
- Negotiation of the Summary for Policy Makers of the 6th Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6), 21-24 January 2019, UNEP Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya
- 1st Substantive Session of the Ad Hoc Open Ended Working Group Towards a Global Pact for the Environment, 14-18 January 2019, UN Office at Nairobi, Kenya
- 55th Meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council and GEF Council Consultation Meeting with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), 17-20 December 2018, Washington, DC, US
- Katowice Climate Change Conference - December 2018, 2-15 December 2018, Katowice, Poland
- Sustainable Blue Economy Conference, 26-28 November 2018, Nairobi, Kenya
- 2018 UN Biodiversity Conference, 14-29 November 2018, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
- 3rd Annual Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum), 5-6 June 2018, UN Headquarters, New York
IISD Resources
- SDG - A Mailing List for News on Sustainable Development Policy
- SDG Update Newsletter - A compilation of news, commentary and upcoming events published on the SDG Knowledge Hub
- SDG Knowledge Hub - An Online Resource Center for News and Commentary Regarding the Implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)