In a move to strengthen global environmental cooperation in increasingly challenging geopolitical circumstances, the European Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, met with the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Inger Andersen, in Brussels on Friday (27 March).

This high-level dialogue aims to align strategic priorities between the European Commission and UNEP during a critical period for environmental multilateralism.

The discussions centred on advancing a competitive circular economy, enhancing water resilience, leveraging digital solutions, and increasing climate and environmental security.

Collaboration between the Commission and UNEP will be crucial in addressing the intertwined planetary crises of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. These global challenges require cohesive global responses, with multilateral fora playing a pivotal role in fostering global consensus, as shown by the recent success of the resumed Convention on Biological Diversity COP16 session in Rome. 

The meeting underscored the importance of finalising UNEA-mandated processes, including the forthcoming negotiations on an international legally binding agreement on plastic pollution and the Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution.

In the runup to the Seventh United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), this year to be held in December under the theme ‘Sustainable Solutions for a Resilient Planet’, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to building strong coalitions and achieving high ambition outcomes in global environmental processes, which can contribute to competitiveness, security and resilience.

Both the Commission and UNEP agreed that the core of their cooperation framework should focus on joint actions to address the root causes and emerging challenges of environmental sustainability.

They remain committed to accelerating progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through integrated actions that unlock finance, transform industries and economies, and deliver a healthy planet, healthy people, and sustainable prosperity. This also includes advancing goals such as poverty reduction, reducing inequality, protecting the most vulnerable, and restoring ecosystems.

At the dialogue, the Commission and UNEP welcomed the finalisation of the 4th Programme Cooperation Agreement. Under the agreement, the Commission commits €21.5 million for implementing globally agreed environmental commitments and building capacities around the world to address environmental challenges through multilateral efforts.

A pivotal component of the cooperation is the science-policy interface, emphasising the crucial role of data in guiding environmental policy and practice.

The meeting also facilitated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the European Environment Agency (EEA) and UNEP, further solidifying their partnership.

Commissioner Roswall said:

“The world needs stronger international cooperation in the current challenging geopolitical context. The EU will continue to work closely with international partners like UNEP to champion environmental cooperation that bridges geopolitical divides, forge multilateral partnerships and strengthen the global protection of ecosystems.”

UNEP Executive Director Andersen added:

“EU leadership is already delivering important progress to tackle the triple planetary crisis and safeguard environmental multilateralism. This leadership is an investment into Europe’s future that will help secure healthy, resilient economies, clean air, new jobs and many more benefits for all Europeans. UNEP looks forward to continuing our close work and partnership with the EU to go even further, even faster, to deliver global environment goals.”

Background

The dialogue builds on well-established collaboration between the different services of the European Commission, the European External Action Service and UNEP, at policy and programmatic levels, in support of solutions through environmental multilateralism.

To date, cooperation between the Commission and UNEP covers a wide range of activities, programmes, and projects in areas such as biodiversity, sustainable consumption and production, climate change, water resources, sound chemicals and waste management, environmental monitoring and assessment, and strengthening environment governance at the global, regional and national levels.

The Commission has provided support to both UNEP directly and to the budgets of Multilateral Environmental Agreements for which UNEP provides the secretariat.