Major Groups and Stakeholders Consultations during the Act #ForNature virtual preparatory forum for UNEA-5, 7-10 June 2020, Oslo, Norway

Join us on June 7th to have a say in the virtual consultation of Major Groups and stakeholders, a preparatory meeting to ensure an impactful outcome from the Fifth Session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) taking place next year. Register your interest here.

2020 marks the beginning of the decade of action. This super year for nature was derailed by the COVID-19 outbreak, but the urgency to act #forNature has not diminished. How can we strengthen actions for nature to achieve the sustainable development goals in light of this global pandemic?

The consultation will center around the following themes:

• Health and Environment: What a post-pandemic recovery looks like
• Tackling Ocean Pollution
• Ecosystem Restoration, Biodiversity, and Development
• Involvement and Implementation

The output of the consultation will be handed over to the Bureau of the UNEA and the Committee of Permanent Representatives.

The consultation is the first event of the week-long Oslo Act #forNature Global Forum that includes Townhalls and the Preparatory Retreat for the UNEA Bureau. Check out the website for more information about the Oslo Act #forNature Global Forum and The International Consultation of Major Groups and Stakeholders.

For any questions or suggestions, please contact Ingrid Rostad from ForUM Norway (ingrid[at]forumfor.no) or the representative of your Major Group in the Major Groups Facilitating Committee.

The MGS consultation will be followed by so called “Global Townhalls” on June 8 to 10, with the following themes:

• Townhall 1: Healthy ecosystems for healthy people: limiting the impact and future emergence of zoonotic diseases
• Townhall 2: Adapt to Thrive: transformational change for nature and business
• Townhall 3. Turning the Tide on Marine Plastics: How UNEA-5 can be a turning point
• Townhall 4. Connecting People and Nature:  transforming the global food system
• Townhall 5. Youth Voices for Nature: Environmental Governance in the Time of Covid-19 ( organized by the Children and Youth Major Group)

Please note that the themes of Townhall 1 – 4 are very close to the subthemes of UNEA 5 which has the overall theme “Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”.

Townhalls 1, 2, 3 and 4 are organized by UNEP, while Townhall 5 is organized by the Children and Youth Major Groups which will also organize its  own preparatory meetings prior to June 7 (for more information please contact: Yugratna Srivastava (yugratn[at]@gmail.com) and/or Teresa  Oberhauser (Teresa.oberhauser[at]posteo.net). We are encouraging all Major Groups to consider to organize similar preparatory consultations themselves, e.g. by Major Group, or by region.

To participate in the townhalls, kindly register here

One June 9 and 10, the Bureau of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to UNEP (CPR) and the UNEA Bureau will meet for a retreat. Prior to that, on June 9, there will be a joint virtual session of representatives of MGS and the UNEA and CPR Bureaus, allowing for Major Groups to share the outcomes of the consultations on June 7 with member states.

We are looking forward to your active participation in the preparations for the consultations and the consultations itself. Please stay healthy!