The online meeting of the fifth UN environment conference recently closed in Nairobi, Kenya. The theme of this conference is "strengthen the protection of nature and realize sustainable development". More than 1500 delegates from more than 150 countries and environment ministers from more than 60 countries attended the meeting. Delegates called on governments to adopt expert advice to prevent the loss of more wildlife and natural resources around the world.

"This conference is a good start for the upcoming global summit on climate and biodiversity." Lotewaneng, President of the conference and Minister of environment of Norway, said in his closing speech.

"Environmental diplomacy" will continue to play a positive role

As the world's highest level environmental decision-making body, the United Nations Environment Conference is held every two years to stimulate global collective action to deal with climate change, pollution, ecosystem degradation and other challenges.

However, novel coronavirus pneumonia is a major difference between the fifth sessions of the United Nations Conference on environment (UNEA-5) and the Member States and stakeholders. The United Nations Environment Conference (CN) was decided in October 8, 2020 to take two steps. The first phase of the meeting was held on February 22, 2021 -23. The process has been revised and streamlined to focus on emergency and procedural decision-making. Substantive matters requiring in-depth negotiation will be postponed to the resumed session in February 2022, when all personnel will attend the meeting on site, and the specific form will be agreed at a later stage.

Although the meeting time line has been lengthened, the efficiency of the conference has not been reduced. The conference considered and approved the medium-term strategy for 2022-2025 and the work plan and budget for 2022-2023 of the United Nations Environment Programme.

At the meeting, delegates from all countries once again affirmed the key role of "environmental diplomacy" in dealing with the triple crisis of climate change, environmental pollution and biodiversity loss. The meeting held that whether the future society can resist the climate crisis and the spread of deadly pathogens depends on policy and regulatory reform, adequate funding, and the use of technology and innovative means.

Novel coronavirus pneumonia is a new year of human disease. "2020 is a year worth reflecting. Human beings have experienced many challenges such as the spread of the new crown pneumonia, and the worsening of the climate, nature and pollution crisis. In 2021, all countries and regions must take strong actions to turn the crisis around. The recovery of nature is very important for the survival of the earth and human beings. Global leaders should accelerate the implementation of commitments made in global initiatives such as the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. " The executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, inger Arnold, said during the meeting.

Delegates focus on "climate ambition" and "plastic pollution"

In addition to the difference in the form and time of the meeting, the other difference is that this session has set "nature" as the core of the agenda. The conference focuses on how to promote the realization of sustainable development goals through the "nature oriented" approach, while ensuring that "nature" occupies a leading position in the economic recovery plans of countries after the cowid-19 epidemic.

During the meeting, Roberto Cingolani, the representative of the Italian Ministry of environment, stressed the role of "3P" principle in coping with the current crisis. "3P" means "people, planet, prosperity". At the same time, he said that Italy is actively discussing and promoting agenda 2030 and will take advantage of the opportunity of CO hosting the 26th session of the conference of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change (COP 26) to root the concept and principle of sustainable development in more land.

It is reported that the previous decision on the extension of cop 26 was reached by the presidium of the conference of the parties, the host country, the United Kingdom and the partner of this conference, Italy. Earlier, the UK Department of Commerce, energy and industry strategy announced that during the meeting, the UK and Italy will take the opportunity to hold the G7 and G20 chairmanship respectively in 2021 to boost the global climate ambitions.

Although the climate agenda for 2020 has been delayed, many countries have taken positive actions to solve the problem of plastic pollution, and successively formulated and issued the ban and restriction orders.

On January 1 last year, France passed part of the ban on plastic products in the law on promoting green growth through energy transformation, planning a road map for the total ban on disposable plastic products. On January 16, China issued the "opinions on Further Strengthening the control of plastic pollution", banning and restricting the production, sale and use of some plastic products nationwide. On March 11, the European Commission adopted a new version of the action plan for circular economy, which sets mandatory requirements on the plastic recycling content and waste reduction measures of key products such as packaging, building materials and vehicles. On July 1, Japan began to implement the provision of paid plastic bags.

In this regard, she expressed her satisfaction and appreciation for the ban on the import, production, sale and use of plastic bags in many African countries. The level of economic development in some areas of Africa is different from that in developed countries, but the determination to eliminate plastic pollution has never lagged behind, which is admirable.

Pakistan hosts World Environment Day 2021

During the intense meeting, there was also a bright spot "official publicity". On February 23 local time, at the side meeting of the general assembly, Pakistan announced that it would cooperate with the United Nations Environment Programme to hold the 2021 world environment day.

"Pakistan has shown remarkable leadership in actively restoring its forest ecosystem. Thank Pakistan for taking on the responsibility of hosting World Environment Day 2021, and for leading all countries to implement the UN Decade initiative to restore damaged ecosystems together. " He said.

Data show that the UN "decade" initiative aims to repair degraded and damaged ecosystems on a large scale to cope with the climate crisis, prevent the extinction of millions of animal and plant species, and enhance food security, water supply and human livelihoods. The implementation period of the initiative is 2021-2030.

As the host country of the upcoming environment day, Pakistan has shown its sincerity. It is reported that Pakistan has launched the "protected areas initiative", developing 15 star model protected areas nationwide, covering more than 7300 square kilometers of land, and creating more than 5500 green jobs.

"Pakistan is fully committed to addressing climate change and actively playing a leading role. For example, we launched the" 10 billion tree afforestation project ", which is committed to restoring and improving more than 1 million hectares of forests nationwide." Malik Amin Aslam, Pakistan's minister of climate change, said, "we are honored to host this year's world environment day and are willing to support and give full impetus to global ecological restoration efforts."

It is worth noting that in addition to the fifth UN Environment Conference, there will be more environmental conferences in 2021. The World Conservation Congress, the 2021 food system summit, the UN Ocean Conference, the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) and the 15th Conference of the parties to the Convention on biological diversity (COP 15) sponsored by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) are also worth looking forward to after the severe winter of the epidemic.

Source: China Environment News