United Nations Environment

The United Nations Environment is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

As part of Australia’s commitment to environment cooperation, the department participates in the biannual meeting of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). The Assembly is the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment, and enjoys universal membership of all United Nations Member States.

The second session of UNEA was held in Nairobi, Kenya on 23-27 May 2016. Over 2,500 delegates from 174 countries attended the meeting to discuss global environmental challenges including 123 ministerial-level participants, 230 business participants and 400 from accredited stakeholders. The overarching theme of the second session was delivering on the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The meeting culminated in Governments agreeing to 25 landmark global resolutions giving strategic direction to UNEP, including three resolutions co-sponsored by Australia on oceans and seas, marine plastic litter and microplastics, and sustainable coral reef management.

The third session of UNEA (UNEA3) was held in Nairobi, Kenya on 4-6 December 2017, under the theme of ‘Towards a Pollution Free Planet’. The Assembly drew more than 4,300 delegates from over 170 countries, including over 700 stakeholder representatives and 94 intergovernmental organisations. UNEA3 delivered commitments to end the pollution of air, land, waterways and oceans, and safely manage chemicals and waste, including a long-term programme of action. The Assembly endorsed a political declaration and 13 resolutions, including an Australian co-sponsored resolution on marine litter and microplastics, to support these goals.