Initially, the Open-Ended Meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR) reviewed proposed resolutions from various countries, ultimately forwarding 19 draft resolutions to the COW for further negotiations and adoption by the Assembly.
The COW organized its work into five clusters:
- Abating Pollution and Promoting Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste
- Halting and Reversing the Loss of Nature while Restoring Ecosystems
- International Environmental Governance
- Addressing Root Causes of the Triple Planetary Crisis
- Procedural, Budgetary, and Administrative Matters
By February 29, 2024, the COW had withdrawn four draft resolutions, provisionally endorsed 12 draft resolutions and two draft decisions, and submitted these for adoption by the Environment Assembly on March 1, 2024.
Three draft resolutions required additional consideration through informal consultations among parties with differing views. Ultimately, all dissenting parties agreed, allowing for the adoption of the final texts during the Assembly session.
The successful adoption of these resolutions and the Ministerial Declaration marks a significant step toward reinforcing global commitments to environmental sustainability and collaborative action.
President of the UNEA-6 and Minister of Energy and Sustainable Development of Morocco, H.E. Leila Benali
The 15 resolutions and two decisions adopted by delegates are:
- Circularity of a resilient, low-carbon sugar cane agro-industry
- Amendments to the Instrument for the Establishment of the Restructured Global Environment Facility
- Enhancing the role and viability of regional forums of environment ministers and United Nations Environment Programme regional offices in achieving multilateral cooperation in tackling environmental challenges
- Promoting synergies, cooperation or collaboration for national implementation of multilateral environmental agreements and other relevant environmental instruments.
- Environmental aspects of minerals and metals
- Fostering national action to address global environmental challenges through increased cooperation between the United Nations Environment Assembly, the United Nations Environment Programme and multilateral environmental agreements
- Combating sand and dust storms
- Promoting sustainable lifestyles
- Sound management of chemicals and waste
- Promoting regional cooperation on air pollution to improve air quality globally
- Highly hazardous pesticides
- Environmental assistance and recovery in areas affected by armed conflict
- Effective and inclusive solutions for strengthening water policies to achieve sustainable development in the context of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
- Strengthening international efforts to combat desertification and land degradation, restore degraded land, promote land conservation and sustainable land management, contribute to land degradation neutrality and enhance drought resilience.
- Strengthening ocean efforts to tackle climate change, marine biodiversity loss and pollution.
- Decision on the Management of trust funds and earmarked contributions
- Decision on the provisional agenda, dates and venue of the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly
Download the resolutions and decisions here (https://www.unep.org/environmentassembly/unea6/outcomes)
