The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) creates and coordinates UN environmental activities and policies and develops international environmental law. With universal membership, UNEA is also the primary international body when it comes to discussing environmental issues, particularly those that require collective global action. UNEA was established in 2012 as part of the “strengthening and upgrading” of the United Nations Environment Programme after the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. While the UN Member States are the only voting members, the UNEA meetings, which occur every other year, include the voices of thousands of representatives of governments, international organizations and civil society groups.
United Nations Environmental Assembly
Committee Mandate of the United Nations Environmental Assembly
Introduction
At the 2012 United Nations Conference for Sustainable Development, also known as Rio+20, the international community called for a strengthening and upgrading of the
United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) such that it could better execute on its mandate.1 UN Environment was created in 1972 at the UN Conference
on Human Environment in Stockholm, with leadership provided by the Governing Council of Environmental Programmes at the direction of the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA). This council led UN Environment until 2013, when the Governing Council of Environmental Programmes adopted a resolution expanding the composition
of the council to universal membership and requesting the General Assembly to change its designation to the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).2 The name
change was made official in A/RES/67/251 the same year.3
UNEA is the governing body of UN Environment and is the international community’s highest-level decision-making body on environmental matters.4 With the sessions held
in its headquarters in Nairobi Kenya, UNEA governs and sets policy for UN Environment, which works to develop environmentally friendly practices and policies
both within the United Nations (UN) system and throughout the international community.5 UN Environment has played a significant role in coordinating
environmental policy and is the official body concerned with environmental issues in the UN.6 UNEA, UN Environment, and their predecessors played a major role in the drafting
and implementation of major environmental documents such as the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Convention to Combat Desertification.7
Membership
In 2013, UNEA replaced the former Governing Council of UN Environment, which was comprised of 58 members.8 UNEA’s membership includes all UN Member States and
the UN’s permanent observers are welcomed to its sessions.9 UNEA’s universal membership helps to strengthen the role of UN Environment in international affairs and
increase the responsiveness of Member States in developing environmental policy.10 UN Environment has a Secretariat that is responsible for supporting UNEA and consists
of a rotating President, three Vice-Presidents, and a Rapporteur.11 There is also a Committee of Permanent Representatives, which is a permanent subsidiary body of
UNEA that prepares for meetings, monitors the implementation of its decisions, and provides advice to UN Environment between the sessions of the Assembly.12 The
UNEA, with a universal membership, is now composed of 193 Member States.
Reporting
UN Environment reports both to the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).13 UN Environment is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya and has six
offices dispersed globally that undertake projects on regional and local levels.14 Each office holds yearly Regional Consultation Meetings with various civil society
organizations (CSOs) and other stakeholders in order to engage in an environmental policy dialogue.15 The offices then bring any concerns or ideas from these meetings to
the next UNEA session for wider discussion.16
Current Meetings
The fifth session of the UNEA took place online and in Nairobi Kenya earlier this year. Following that most recent meeting, the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly was
followed by a special session, called UNEP@50, held in March of 2022, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of UNEP. The theme for the
special session was “Strengthening UNEP for the implementation of the environmental dimensions of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.17
1 United Nations General Assembly. “The Future We Want.” A/RES/66/288. 2012.
2 United Nations Environment Programme. “About the UN Environment Assembly.”; United Nations
Conference on the Human Environment. “Report of the United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment.” A/CONF.48/14/Rev.1. 1972.
3 Ibid.
4 United Nations Environment Programme. “UN Environment Assembly and Governing Council.”
5 United Nations Environment Programme. “About UN Environment.”
6 United Nations General Assembly. “Institutional and financial arrangements for international
environmental co-operation.” A/RES/2997(XXVII). 1972; New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade. “United Nations Handbook 2017-18.” 2017.
7 Johnson. “The First 40 Years.” 2012; Convention on Biological Diversity. “The Rio Conventions.”
8 United Nations General Assembly. “Institutional and financial arrangements for international
environmental co-operation.” A/RES/2997(XXVII). 1972
9 United Nations Environment Programme. “Directory: Committee of Permanent Representatives to the
UN Environment.” 2019
10 United Nations Environment Programme. “About the UN Environment Assembly.”
11 United Nations General Assembly. “Change of the designation of the Governing Council of the United
Nations Environment Programme.” A/67/784. 2013.
12 United Nations Environment Programme. “Committee of Permanent Representatives: Overview.”
13 New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. “United Nations Handbook 2017-18.” 2017.
14 United Nations Environment Programme. “Civil society engagement.”
15 Ibid.
16 Ibid.
17 “Home: UNEP@50.” Home | UNEP@50. Accessed September 4, 2022.
Bibliography
Convention on Biological Diversity. “The Rio Conventions.” N.d. https://www.cbd.int/rio/.
Johnson. “The First 40 Years: A Narrative. Nairobi, United Nations Environment
Program.” 2012. http://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/8751/-
UNEP_The_first_40_years_A_narrative_by_Stanley_Johnson2012UNEP_The_First_40
_Years_A_Narative.pdf.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. “United Nations Handbook 2017-
18.” 2017.
https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/PeaceandSecurity/United_Nations_Handbook_2017_18.pdf.
United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. “Report of the United Nations
Conference on the Human Environment.” A/CONF.48/14/Rev.1. 1972.
http://undocs.org/a/conf.48/14/Rev.1.
United Nations Environment Programme. “About UN Environment.” N.d.
https://www.unenvironment.org/aboutunenvironment?_ga=2.109303429.1255774256.1533999760-864816293.1533999760.
United Nations Environment Programme. “About the UN Environment Assembly.” N.d.
http://www.unep.org/environmentassembly/about-un-environment-assembly.
United Nations Environment Programme. “Civil society engagement.”
https://www.unenvironment.org/civil-society-engagement.
United Nations Environment Programme. “Committee of Permanent Representatives:
Overview.” N.d. http://www.unep.org/about/cpr/who-we-are/overview.
United Nations Environment Programme. “Directory: Committee of Permanent
Representatives to the UN Environment.” 2019.
https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/29217/CPR%20directorynew.p
df?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.
United Nations Environment Programme. “UN Environment Assembly and Governing
Council.” N.d. http://www.unep.org/environmentassembly/un-environment-assembly.
United Nations Environment Programme. “UNEP@50”. N.d. https://www.unep.org/50-
years/.
United Nations General Assembly. “Institutional and financial arrangements for
international environmental cooperation.” A/RES/2997(XXVII). 1972.
http://undocs.org/A/RES/2997(XXVII).
United Nations General Assembly. “The Future We Want.” A/RES/66/288. 2012.
http://undocs.org/A/RES/66/288.
United Nations General Assembly. “Change of the designation of the Governing Council
of the United Nations Environment Programme.” A/RES/67/251. 2013.
http://undocs.org/A/RES/67/251.
Topic I: Mobilizing Civil Society for the Achievement of SDG 13 Introduction
The United Nations (UN) has long been working together with its Member States to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With less than a decade to
successfully complete the 17 goals set by the UN, there is a call for global, local, and people action to take place through the Decade of Action Initiative1. The Earth is 1.1
degrees C warmer than it was in the 1800s, and this temperature rise is a cause of climate change2. The anthropogenic cause is the increased emission of Green House
Gases (GHG). Greenhouse gases are gases that, while in the atmosphere, absorb infrared radiation. This absorption creates an effect like a greenhouse would, trapping
this energy in the atmosphere and heating the planet. Some of the GHGs are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor.
3 Earth is a connected system, so climate change will affect all member states, whether it be through sea-level rise, an increasing number of severe weather
events, or displacement of people. SDG 13 is Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impact. Under
SDG 13 there are 5 targets, which are to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related disasters, integrate climate change measures into policies and planning,
build knowledge and capacity to meet climate change, implement the UN framework convention on climate change, and promote mechanisms to raise capacity for planning
and management.4
Background
On March 21st, 1994, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) came into existence, and today, 197 countries, being called Parities of the
Convention, have ratified it.5 The goal of the UNFCC is to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions as to prevent human-caused disruption to our climate system. Wanting to
further the response to climate change, in December 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was adopted6.The protocol focuses on developed countries and those with developing
economies, and it binds them to their emissions targets, as it had described them as being larger contributors to the increased GHG emissions. Thirty-seven industrialized
countries, economies in transition, and the European Union are bound to emission reduction targets as stated in Annex B of the document7. Later, in December 2021, the
Doha Amendment was adopted to the protocol.8 New commitments, an updated list of greenhouse gases, and several articles of the Kyoto Protocol were part of the Doha
amendment. National measures are the main passageway for these countries to meet their targets, and there are also three market-based mechanisms that can be used.
There are currently 192 parties signed to the protocol.
Adopted in 2015, at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21), the Paris Agreement is a five-year cycle of climate action taken by the member states 9. As of 2022, the
international treaty has been adopted by 193 Parties and has the goal to decrease global rising temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius as well as limit greenhouse gas
emissions to realize climate neutral world by 205010. The Paris Climate Agreement is unique because of its binding multilateral and international nature to unite nations
across the globe in the common fight against climate change. The treaty seeks to implement such change through aiding countries with economic and social
transformation, financial support, as well as technical and capacity building. Every five years, countries are supposed to submit climate action plans. These plans are known
as Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and countries are asked to also focus on long-term strategies.11The Katowice Climate Package was later agreed upon at the
2018 UN Climate Change Conference (COP24). This package states how the Paris Agreement is/would be implemented.12
General Assembly resolution 70/113 was adopted in 2015, and it was a pathway for Sustainable Development for all member states. This resolution produced the
Sustainable Development Goals that we know today. There are 17 goals that identify issues of poverty, education, health, social protection, etc.14. Goal 13 calls for action to
combat climate change and its impacts. There are 5 targets under SDG 13, which are to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related disasters, integrate
climate change measures into policies and planning, build knowledge and capacity to meet climate change, implement the UN framework convention on climate change, and
promote mechanisms to raise capacity for planning and management.15However, these frameworks recognize that the issues presented in the goals go together with one
another and that they all impact climate change.16
In 2021, COP26 was held in Glasgow17. Almost 200 countries attended the convention, and the end product of the negotiations was the Glasgow Climate Pact. The agreement
provides the building blocks for the advancement of the Paris Climate Agreement. In the document, member states agreed upon recognizing the emergency, accelerating action,
moving away from fossil fuels, delivering on climate finance, completing the pairs rulebook, and focusing on loss and damage.18. The Paris Rulebook is the finished
version of the Katowice Climate Package19.
Current Situation
Currently, the timeline to complete the goals of SDG 13 is behind schedule. One reason for this delay is the COVID 19 pandemic.20. During the pandemic, greenhouse
emissions did decrease, but the carbon dioxide accumulation from the past decade still exists in the atmosphere. Furthermore, by September 2020, carbon dioxide emissions
were back to pre-pandemic (2019) levels.21 There were also significant economic losses around the globe, from the people (job loss) to industries (bankruptcies). To combat this
loss, the UN has prompted nations to “recover better,” where the economic recovery after the pandemic is intertwined with a plan for a healthier and greener planet. 22The
UN secretary-general set six initiatives to help forward the recovery. These are investing in green jobs, not bailing out polluting industries, ending fossil fuel subsidies, including
climate in all decisions, working together, and leaving no one behind as the world advances.23 Other UN bodies such as the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP), the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are helping bring these initiatives forward. 24
As the UN and its Member states are continuously working towards decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and recovering from the pandemic, there is still the concern
of the effects of climate change that are happening today.25 Stated previously, the Earth has warmed by 1.1C since the last century, and this warming is already having severe
effects in several areas such as weather, food security, and economics26. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) prepares assessment, special, and
methodology reports and looks at the state of knowledge of Climate change27. Their most recent report, the sixth assessment report, was published in 2022.28
Severe Weather Events and Adaptation One effect of climate change that Member States are experiencing today is an increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. These events include flooding, droughts, wildfires, heatwaves, and hurricanes and have impacts on ecosystems, people, cities, and infrastructure.29
Food production has become of notable concern due to these events. Droughts have occurred in 75% of global harvested areas and have caused smaller crop yields. Crops
such as maize, soybeans, and wheat are experiencing a decrease in yields.30 For example, in 2010, floods in Pakistan cost 4.5 billion USD due to the damage done to
crops.31 The IPCC addresses these events, stating that the consequences of such events can cause food scarcity to increase.32
Furthermore, when temperatures rise, more water evaporates, causing more rainfall, flooding, and more destructive storms33. As the ocean warms, the warmer water
provides energy for stronger and more frequent cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons to be created. While the number of these storms has decreased, their destructiveness has
increased, for there have been increased wind speeds and rainfall percentages.34 For example, the five costliest hurricanes have happened since 2005, with hurricane Katrina
costing $180.0 billion in damages.35 Low-lying megacities, islands, coasts, and deltas are considered vulnerable to these severe weather events.36
SDG 13 has “strengthened resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries” as Target 13.1, and there is evidence that there is
global progress to adapting to hazards like those mentioned above37. A factor in this conclusion is that there are national-level adaptation plans in a lot of the member states,
but there is still room for improvement if adaptation financing. 38 An example of adaption can be seen in many countries, such as Ghana, which is improving its management of
fish hatcheries, and in Albania, which is restoring on the Kune-Vain Lagoon39. These are a few examples of what strengthening resilience and adaptation to climate change
hazards can be.
Education
Education is an important factor in combating climate change, and education is the responsibility of the Parties of the Convention of the UNFCCC40. There are 1.8 million
young people on the globe, ranging in ages from 10 to 24; There are several programs set out to help inform the youth about climate change.41 The United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO,) through the climate change initiative, has created the Climate Change Education for Sustainable
Development program (CCESD). The program aims to increase climate literacy among young people.42 There are four programs in the initiative:
1. Climate Science and Knowledge,
2. Climate Change Education (CCE) in the context of Education for Sustainability
Development ESD),
3. Climate Change, Cultural and Biological Diversity, and Cultural Heritage
4. Climate Change, Ethics, Social and Human Dimensions43
The Objects of the CCESD focus on strengthening the capacity of Member States to teach climate change education and raising awareness and is implementing article 6 of
UNFCCC.44
An obstacle of climate change education is misinformation. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) summarizes every six to seven years of research data
on climate change. In recent years the IPCC has established that the human factor in contribution to global warming not only can no longer be ignored but is, in fact, the
dominant factor in climate change. Education about climate change is spreading across the globe, and scientific information errors, such as misleading statistics or other
misinformation leads, to a larger percentage of disregard and discredit of the science community, as well as lower the acceptance of climate change within populations.45
Polarization and political dispute about the acceptance and legitimacy of scientific research further challenge the implementation of climate change efforts.46 In the
common Agenda, as discussed by the UN Secretary-General, there is an “Infodemic” going on in the world at the moment and is needed to be addressed and tracked. 47
Future Outlook
Member States have different needs and situations that affect how they combat climate change at a people, local, and global level. If more action isn’t taken to mobilize those
around the globe, then there is a chance that SDG 13 will not be fulfilled, and if temperatures rise more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, then there are additional severe risks
and impacts that can occur to people and their environment48. As everything on Earth is connected, all member states will face risks associated with climate change. These
risks can include, not having enough food, increased health risk, increased severe weather events, and increased occurrences of the displacement of people.49
Focus Questions
1. What is your Member State’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)?
2. What is hindering your Member State from reaching that contribution?
3. How are severe weather events affecting your Member States? How might these
events affect them in the future?
4. How can people be motivated to take action for the completion of SDG 13 at a local
level?
5. In what ways has the Covid-19 pandemic affected your Member State’s ability to
take action?
1 United Nations. Decade of Action.n.d.
2 United Nations. “Climate Action Fast Facts.”
3 United Nations News. “5 Things you should know about the greenhouse gasses warming the planet.
2022.
4 United Nations. “17 Goals to Transform Our World.”n.d.
5 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. “What is the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change?”. n.d.
6 Ibid.
7 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. “What is the Kyoto Protocol.” United Nations
n.d.
8 United Nations. “DOHA AMENDMENT TO THE KYOTO PROTOCOL.” 1/CMP.8. 2012.
9 United Nations Climate Action. “The Paris Agreement.” 2015.
10 Ibid.
11 United Nations General Aseembly. The airs Climate Agreement. 2015
12 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. “Report of the Conference of the Parties on
its twenty-fourth session held in Katowice from 2 to 15 December 2018.” FCCC/CP/2018/10/Add.1. 2019
13 United Nations General Assembly. “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development.” A/RES/70/1. 2015
14
15 United Nations. “Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts”. United
Nations: Sustainable Development Goals. N.d.
16 Ibid.
17 United Nations. “Glasgow Climate Pact.” Decision-/CMA.3. 2021.
18 Ibid
19 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. “The Katowice climate package: Making
The Paris Agreement Work For All.” United Nations. n.d.
20 United Nations. “Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts”. United
Nations: Sustainable Development Goals. n.d.
21 Ibid.
22 United Nations COVID-19 Response. “Climate Change and COVID-19: UN urges nations to ‘recover
better.” 2022.
23 Ibid
24 Ibid
25 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaption and
Vulnerability (Summary for Policymakers).” 2022.
26 United Nations. “Climate Action Fast Facts. “ n.d.
27 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaption and
Vulnerability (Summary for Policymakers).” 2022.
28 Ibid.
29 Ibid.
30 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “Chapter 5: Food, Fibre, and other Ecosystem Products.”
IPCC. 2021.
31 Ibid.
32 Ibid.
33 United Nations. “Causes and Effects of Climate Change. “n.d. 34 Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory. “Global Warming and Hurricanes.” 2022.
35Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaption and
Vulnerability (Summary for Policymakers).” 2022.
36 National Oceanic Atmosphere Administration. “Costliest US Tropical Cyclones.” n.d.
37 United Nations. “Climate Adaption” United Nations: Climate Action. n.d.
38 Ibid
39 Ibid
40 United Nations. “Education is Key to Addressing Climate Change.” United Nations: Climate Action. n.d.
r
41 United Nations. “Youth.” United Nations: Sustainable Development Goals. n.d.
42 The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. “Climate change education for
sustainable development: the UNESCO climate change initiative.” The United Nations Educational.
Scientific and Cultural Organization. ED.2010/WS/41. 2010.
43 Ibid
44 The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. “Climate change education for
sustainable development: the UNESCO climate change initiative.” The United Nations Educational.
Scientific and Cultural Organization. ED.2010/WS/41. 2010.
45 Cook, J. “Understanding and countering misinformation about climate change.” Handbook of Research
on Deception, Fake News, and Misinformation Online. (pp. 281-306). 2019.
46 Ibid
United Nations. “Our Common Agenda.” 2021
48 United Nations. “Climate Action Fast Facts.” n.d.
49 United Nations. “Causes and Effects of Climate Change.” n.d.
Bibliography
Cook, J. “Understanding and countering misinformation about climate change.”
Handbook of Research on Deception, Fake News, and Misinformation Online. (pp. 281-
306). 2019. https://www.climatechangecommunication.org/wpcontent/uploads/2019/06/Cook_2019_climate_misinformation-1.pdf
Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory. “Global Warming and Hurricanes.” National
Oceanic Atmosphere Administration. 2022. https://www.gfdl.noaa.gov/global-warmingand-hurricanes/
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change . “Chapter 5: Food, Fibre, and other
Ecosystem Products.” IPCC. 2021.
https://report.ipcc.ch/ar6wg2/pdf/IPCC_AR6_WGII_FinalDraft_Chapter05.pdf
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaption
and Vulnerability (Summary for Policymakers).” 2022.
https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGII_SummaryForPo
licymakers.pdf
National Oceanic Atmosphere Administration. “Costliest US Tropical Cyclones.” NOAA.
2022. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/dcmi.pdf
United Nations. “The Paris Agreement.” United Nations: Climate Action. 2015.
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/paris-agreement
United Nations. “Causes and Effects of Climate Change.” United Nations: Climate
Action. N.d. https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/causes-effects-climatechange
United Nations. “Climate Action Fast Facts.” United Nations: Climate Action. N.d.
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/key-findings
United Nations. “Climate Adaption” United Nations: Climate Action. N.d.
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/climateadaptation?gclid=CjwKCAjwi8iXBhBeEiwAKbUofZ_6RUQ7v7nIsTc9yDKf75wuTT16EZ
TLJNairP9S_7tiUKMDWskGnBoCNQsQAvD_BwE
United Nations COVID-19 Response. “Climate Change and COVID-19: UN urges
nations to ‘recover better.” 2022. https://www.un.org/en/un-coronaviruscommunications-team/un-urges-countries-%E2%80%98build-back-better%E2%80%99
United Nations. “DOHA AMENDMENT TO THE KYOTO PROTOCOL.” 1/CMP.8. 2012.
https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/CN/2012/CN.718.2012-Eng.pdf
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. “Climate change
education for sustainable development: the UNESCO climate change initiative.” The
United Nations Educational. Scientific and Cultural Organizartion. ED.2010/WS/41.
2010. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000190101
United Nations. “Education is Key to Addressing Climate Change.” United Nations:
Climate Action. N.d. https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/climate-solutions/educationkey-addressing-climatechange#:~:text=Through%20its%20Climate%20Change%20Education,Programme%20
(GAP)%2C%20Action%20for
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. “Report of the Conference
of the Parties on its twenty-fourth session held in Katowice from 2 to 15 December
2018.” FCCC/CP/2018/10/Add.1. 2019.
https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/10a1.pdf.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. “The Katowice climate
package: Making The Paris Agreement Work For All.” United Nations. N.d.
https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/katowice-climate-package
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. “What is the Kyoto
Protocol.” United Nations N.d. https://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol
United Nations Frame Work Convention on Climate Change. “What is the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change?” https://unfccc.int/process/theconvention/history-of-the-convention#eq-1
United Nations. “Glasgow Climate Pact.” Decision-/CMA.3. 2021.
https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cma3_auv_2_cover%2520decision.pdf
United Nations. “Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its
impacts”. United Nations: Sustainable Development Goals. N.d.
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climate-change/
United Nations. “Our Common Agenda.” https://www.un.org/en/content/commonagenda-report/summary.shtml
United Nations. “Youth.” United Nations: Sustainable Development Goals. N.d.
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/youth/
United Nations. “5 Things you should know about the greenhouse gasses warming the
planet.” United Nations News. 2022.5.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/01/1109322#:~:text=Carbon%20dioxide%20(CO2)%2
C%20methane,oxide%20for%20approximately%20120%20years.
Topic II: 50 Years On: The 1973 Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Introduction
2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Entering into force in 1975,
the CITES treaty continues to be known as the oldest and largest international
environmental agreements and laid the foundation for the rise in global environmental
governance. In the mid-20th century, many governments, international organizations,
and environmental experts became increasingly concerned about the impact of
overexploitation of vulnerable resources and species via international trade. In
response, the international community sought to regulate this trade through the CITES
treaty with the primary objective of protecting at-risk wildlife species and prevent their
extinction. The Conference of Parties (CoP) have met every three years to discuss the
progress of implementation, the necessary revisions to the list of protected wildlife, and
ways in which to further compliance with the treaty, though the core text of the
Convention has remained unchanged since it was adopted.
As the international community reflects on 50 years of CITES, discussion can be
focused on both the successes and shortcomings of the treaty. CITES represents the
primary international framework for addressing the international illegal wildlife trade and
has resulted in several major successes with over 38,000 species of animals and plants
now under some form of international trade regulation. However, despite measurable
efforts in combatting illegal wildlife trade and promoting conservation efforts globally,
CITES has also been criticized for inconsistent implementation. CITES has also been
criticized by some members of the international community for not accounting for
cultural traditions and development concerns. Furthermore, one of the most important
criticisms of CITES is that it does not do enough to curb market demand illicitly
trafficked wildlife. As the global economy has changed and the population has grown,
so has the demand for illegal wildlife and wildlife products for food, medicine, furniture,
and status.
Background
Collaborative, internationally focused discussion on the environment started soon after
the establishment of the United Nations (UN) in 1945 when Member States created the
UN Scientific Conference. This extension of the UN was tasked with developing
strategies to bolster socioeconomic development and provide guidelines on the
utilization of natural resources.1 This focus evolved into preservation and the
enhancement of the human environment, which led to the first major UN forum on
worldwide environmental issues in 1972: the UN Conference on the Human
Environment (Stockholm Conference). The Conference is considered a watershed
moment in the field’s evolution as Member States committed to the regulation of trade
regarding endangered species through the adoption of CITES.2 The treaty, which was
originally drafted in 1963, was presented to Member States by an UN-accredited
nongovernmental organization, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and
Natural Resources (IUCN). After significant negotiations regarding language, regulation
requirements, and structure, Member States eventually adopted the CITES treaty as
amended. The legally binding Convention entered into force in 1975 with over 80
signatures. Today, CITES enjoys near universal membership and “regulates the trade of
approximately 30,000 species of plants and 5,600 species of animals.”3
Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties, it does not take the place of
national law. The treaty provides a framework, and each Party must adopt its own
domestic legislation to ensure that CITES is implemented at the national level. CITES
works by subjecting international trade in specimens of selected species to certain
controls. All import, export, re-export, and introduction from the sea of species covered
by the convention must be authorized through a licensing system. This is managed by
the CoP through the CITES Appendices. Appendix I is regarded as the most crucial, as
it lists the 38,000+ endangered species that are strictly banned from international trade.
In special cases, such as for scientific research, permits are granted through the CITES
treaty but are closely watched by the CoP and its related entities to ensure that there is
no room for overexploitation of the permit. Appendix II defines species that are at risk of
endangerment and are therefore monitored closely by the CoP and conservation
groups. Aside from changes to the list of species in the Appendices, the CoP have met
every three years to discuss the progress of implementation and ways in which to
further compliance with the treaty, though the core text of the Convention has remained
unchanged since it was adopted.
While regulation of wildlife trade for conservation purposes was a relatively new concept
when CITES was conceived, the treaty has since played an invaluable role in
international environmental governance. Along with jumpstarting international
discussion and action on sustainable resource management and wildlife preservation,
CITES has influenced the creation of new international agreements that further its
original goals. Such examples include the Convention on Biological Diversity and
Sustainable Development Goals 13, 14, and 15. CITES Strategic Vision 2021-2030 was
adopted by the CoP to “ensure that CITES policy developments are mutually supportive
of international environmental priorities and take into account new international
initiatives,” particularly in relation to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.4
Current Situation
International cooperation relating to conservation and environmental governance began
to rise in the early 1970s along with the creation of the CITES treaty. The UN
Environment Proramme (UNEP), founded in 1972, often provides resources, such as
legal and technical support, to governments and non-state actors to further CITES
implementation strategies. Most recently, UNEP organized an expert workshop that
focused specifically the implementation of CITES through fisheries legislation with the
goal of further strengthening the “capacity of developing countries to ensure the
sustainability, legality, and traceability of international trade” of Appendix-listed species.5
In 2010, CITES helped spearhead a collaborative effort to address a significant rise in
illegal wildlife trade through the establishment of the International Consortium on
Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC).6 Along with the CITES Secretariat, partner
agencies of the ICCWC include INTERPOL, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime
(UNODC), the World Bank, and the World Customs Organization (WCO). These
partners work directly with national authorities tasked with wildlife law and enforcement
to combat wildlife and forest crime, including the illegal trade of Appendix-listed
species.7 Over the past decade, ICCWC has expanded its country and regional offices
to provide “operational support, technical assistance, and comprehensive training and
capacity building to law enforcement, prosecutorial, and judicial authorities.”8
The 74th meeting of CITES’ Standing Committee reached a close in March of 2022
where delegates and international observers convened to create resolutions and
decisions that will be left to the approval of the CITES CoP in mid-November. Attendees
discussed potentially adding more species to the Appendices, strategies for increased
compliance and implementation of CITES in areas of high wildlife tracking, as well as
recommendations regarding regulation of specimens produced through biotechnology
and more research on the impact of CITES on reducing zoonotic disease emergence.
Capacity-building for Enforcement
Implementation efforts for CITES are decentralized, meaning it was left up to each State
Party to adhere to the treaty through domestic policy. This has generated a significant
gap in compliance among Member States. Some critics have noted that CITES was
written in the 1960s by environmental experts and discussed among mainly
industrialized countries which led to a high threshold of requirements to fully ratify the
treaty. This left several countries who signed on to CITES after it was created without
the same level of capacity to implement. The CoP, along with other international
capacity-building organizations, have made efforts to assist these States through
various means.
The CITES Secretariat works to provide the resources necessary for Member States to
further implement the treaty. This includes workshops for specified info pertaining to
animal welfare, databases for Member States to find appropriate placement for wildlife,
and assistance in the transport of specimens and disposal of confiscated specimens
and even leads discussions about best practices and inclusion.
Workshops
Members to CITES have many important parameters to maintain in order to ensure the
safety and welfare of the plants and animals they work to protect. As the situation for
any particular species may rapidly change, CITES works to inform Member States
workshops. These workshops can have a wide range of focuses but primarily fall under
two categories. The legal questions around animal welfare and the information specific
to regional welfare efforts. Workshops have included topics such as the legal acquisition
of wildlife in 20189 and the S. African M.I.K.E (Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants)
workshop in 200010
Trade Database and Tradeview
CITES also operates the incredibly useful databases that connect experts with the
animals and plants they can help sustain. With so many Member States and so many
“National Authorities, not to mention the complex system each county uses to
administer the protocols of the CITES treaty, it is important to have a centralized
location for data. Unlike many other UN databases, CITES Trade database and
Tradeview deal with living plants and animals, many of which are in danger of
extinction. This means the data must be factual and up to date in order to ensure the
mission of protecting any critically endangered species and ensuring the welfare of
every species.
Transport and Disposal
The CITES Database and Tradeview are key to finding the correct placement for flora
and fauna in need. The next hurdle for member states is to transport those at-risk
species to their placements. CITES provides guidelines for transport of live
specimens.11 These guidelines are key to ensuring that human interactions help the
specimens to survive. Guidelines for live animal transport, perishable cargo transport
and non-air transport are just a few examples of the standards created by the CITES
secretariat to ensure safe transport for endangered species.
In some cases, member state authorities find specimens that need disposal. Whether it
is a specimen that has been illegally traded and needs to be sent to the country of origin
or a specimen that needs to be disposed of, CITES provides standards to ensure that
member states do not perpetuate illegal activity through incomplete disposal. These
guidelines include instructions on building sustainable sanctuaries and rehabilitation
centers, guidelines for euthanasia (if necessary) and standards specific to certain
species.
Best Practices
Finally, along with the more specific assistance, CITES provides conferences
concerned with the best practices of member states. This can be anything from regional
efforts on specific species to announcing and combating specific threats. Moreover,
these conferences can focus on way to better the overall protection of endangered
species by educating member states on inclusion.12
Combating the Illegal Wildlife Trade
Although notoriously difficult to monitor, the UN Development Programme estimates the
annual value of the illegal wildlife trade at over $23 billion USD, with rising prices of
illegal products such as ivory and rhino horns reaching up to $100,000 USD for a single
specimen.13 Failure to properly implement the CITES treaty or regulate wildlife trade
has significant consequences, not only for the environment and the protection of
endangered species, but also for socioeconomic and political stability.14 CITES was
created solely to regulate the trade of at-risk species, but actors in global environmental
governance, such as the UNEP, have called on the CITES CoP to focus more on the
broader set of externalities caused by the illegal trade. If the illegal trade of wildlife
continues to grow, the depletion or extinction of species can result in a significant loss of
biodiversity, unpredictable ecosystem changes, and raise undue burden on the human
population.15 The main issue of the illegal wildlife trade is that it contributes to the loss
of biodiversity. Reducing or removing a species from a particular ecosystem can
generate many unintended consequences.
Focus Questions
1. What has your country done at the local and national level to implement CITES?
2. How has the legal and illegal trade of wildlife impacted your country/region?
3. What/if any capacity building measures is your country lacking to implement
CITES, and what solutions is it advocating for at the UN?
4. Are there any regional organizations or mechanisms that exist alongside, or work
to implement CITES?
1 Peter Jackson. “From Stockholm to Kyoto: A Brief History of Climate Change.” 2007.
2
United Nations. Report of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. 1972.
3
United Nations. “What is CITES?” N.d.
4
CITES. “CITES Strategic Vision.” N.d.
5
UNEP. “Implementing CITES through fisheries legislative frameworks.” 2019.
6
SDG Knowledge Platform. “CITES: A contribution to the global follow-up and review in the 2017 High Level
Political Forum on the work of CITES.” N.d.
7
CITES. “The International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime.” N.d.
8
Ibid.
9
CITES Secretariate. “CITES holds first workshop on the legal acquisition of wildlife.” CITES. N.d.
10CITES Secretariate. “S. Africa Mike workshop Sept. 2000.” CITES. N.d.
11CITES Secretariate. “Transport of live specimens.” CITES. N.d.
12 https://cites.org/eng/news/international-day-of-the-worlds-indigenous-peoples
13 UNDP. “Combating Poaching and Wildlife Trafficking.” 2015.
14 UNODC. “Impacts of Wildlife Trafficking.” N.d.
15 UNEP. “There are no winners in the illegal trade in wildlife.” 2020.
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