WELCOME TO THE LATEST EDITION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE UPDATE.
INTRODUCTION
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority. UNEP is driving transformational change by addressing the causes of the three planetary crises: the crisis of climate change, the crisis of nature, land and biodiversity loss, and the crisis of pollution and waste. Within this framework, the Law Division is positioned as a thought leader and can support countries in strengthening environmental law and governance. We are mandated to strengthen legal frameworks, and support countries in fulfilling their environmental commitments, including under Multilateral Environmental Agreements, thereby ensuring a better quality of life for present and future generations. This update offers a reflection on the Law Division's role in addressing environmental issues, as the principal division tasked with implementing UNEP's mandates relevant to environmental rule of law, governance, and policy.
Read more about Law Division’s work here.
Technical assistance through the Montevideo Environmental Law Programme
- Supported the development of Malawi’s draft Housing Bill by providing technical assistance and legal expertise during a scoping meeting held on 15 April 2025 in Lilongwe, Malawi.
- Supported the development of Ghana’s draft Industrial and Consumer Chemicals Regulations by providing technical legal assistance during a scoping meeting held on 25 April 2025 in Accra, Ghana. UNEP assisted the Government of Ghana in drafting secondary legislation to implement the Environmental Protection Act, 2025, and strengthened the legal and policy framework for the sound management of chemicals and waste in line with international best practices.
Women Judges at the Frontlines of Environmental Justice
On 5 June 2025, UNEP co-organized and participated in the webinar Environmental Rule of Law through a Gender Lens: The Role of Women and Judiciaries to mark World Environment Day. UNEP collaborated with the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) and the University of Bradford. The session featured contributions from judges from Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, alongside Patricia Kameri-Mbote, Director of UNEP’s Law Division, who emphasized the importance of integrating a gender perspective into environmental governance and the heightened gender inequalities posed by climate change.
Multistakeholder Consultation on Rights-based Conservation and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
UNEP convened and facilitated a multistakeholder consultation from 4 to 6 June 2025 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, to advance the implementation of the Core Human Rights Principles for Private Conservation Organizations and Funders. As convener, UNEP enabled inclusive dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaboration among diverse stakeholders, reaffirming its role in supporting stakeholder engagement and advancing intergovernmental environmental commitments.
Launch of the Model Environmental Law Teaching Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean
On 25 April 2025, UNEP supported the Meeting of the Platform of Environmental Law Lecturers for Latin America and the Caribbean during a hybrid event in Panama City. The meeting marked the official launch of the Model Environmental Law Teaching Programme, aimed at strengthening environmental legal education across the region with the participation of the Coordinating Committee and regional lecturers. UNEP contributed to implementation guidelines, allowing universities and educators to adapt the programme to local contexts.
Strengthening Environmental Law in the Asia-Pacific Region
Between April and June 2025, UNEP contributed to strengthening environmental rule of law in the Asia-Pacific region through a series of targeted activities:
- On 11 April, UNEP’s Asia-Pacific Regional Coordinator for Environmental Law and Governance delivered a guest lecture during the Training Course for Law Students in the Asia Pacific Region – Emerging Issues in International Law: Theory and Practice, building the capacity of over 40 young lawyers. A social media post can be found here.
- On 28 April, UNEP provided technical expertise during the regional consultation of the World Justice Project’s Environmental Rule of Law Index (EROLI) in Manila, Philippines, presenting global and Asia-Pacific trends in environmental rule of law based on key findings from UNEP’s Global Report on Environmental Rule of Law: Tracking Progress and Charting Future Directions.
- On 29 April, UNEP met with the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources to define the scope of technical legal assistance to support integrated administrative procedures in environmental and natural resources laws enforcement.
- On 24 May, UNEP organized a panel session on Strengthening Access to Justice through Clinical Legal Education in Environmental Matters, during the 3rd Asia Clinical Legal Education Conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The session explored regional collaboration and the potential scope of environmental law clinics in the region in advancing rule of law and access to justice with insights from China, Philippines, Thailand, and India. Over 90% of participants expressed interest in further developing such clinics in Asia to enhance access to environmental justice and remedy for environmental harm.
- On 26 May, UNEP convened the Inception Workshop for the Asia Pacific Environmental Law Clinics Alliance in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with 30 participants from environmental law clinics, NGOs, and UNEP. Participants discussed challenges and opportunities to develop a regional alliance, shared country and regional experiences, and co-created a draft roadmap for the formal establishment of the Alliance, including its core mission and goals.
- From 23 to 25 June, UNEP participated in an expert seminar on international environmental law, the SDGs, and corporate practice during the Navigating Sustainable Legal Compliance Challenges in the Digital Age Conference at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand, reaffirming UNEP’s role in promoting thought leadership in environmental legal frameworks. A social media post on the conference can be read here.
Capacity Building on Environmental Rights, Inclusion, and Youth Engagement
Between April and June 2025, UNEP organized a series of events to advance environmental rights and strengthen the integration of human rights, gender equality, and inclusion in environmental action.
- On 3 April, UNEP held a sharing and learning session on Children and Youth as Partners aimed at promoting inclusive and meaningful participation of children and youth in UNEP projects and programmes.
- On 12 May, UNEP conducted an in-person staff refresher training in Bangkok, Thailand, on Human Rights, Gender Equality, and Inclusion, with 35 participants, including both men and women, enhancing staff understanding of environmental human rights, rights-based approaches, and the role of Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRDs). This was financially supported by UNEP’s Gender Focal Point Network.
- On 10 June, the UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) organized an internal session titled Protecting Nature while Protecting Human Rights, involving 18 staff members in discussions on conservation, Indigenous rights, duty bearer obligations, and due diligence.
- On 11 June, UNEP and UNICEF co-hosted an internal webinar on Children’s Rights to a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment, attended by over 50 participants from UNEP, UNICEF, and UNDP, which explored legal empowerment and the integration of children’s rights into environmental policies.
- On 19 June, in Bangkok, UNEP led a session on Mainstreaming Environmental Concerns into Cooperation Framework Processes during a training for the Thailand UN Country Team, addressing environmental governance, human rights, and gender-related environmental issues. A social media post can be found here.
- On 21 and 23 June, in Kathmandu, Nepal, UNEP supported the Environmental Human Rights Defenders Toolkit Training for South Asia, which strengthened the capacity of over 20 EHRDs, including youth and Indigenous Peoples, in environmental campaigning and engaging with international human rights mechanisms.
- On 25 June, UNEP held an online staff refresher training on UN Guiding Principles: Human Rights, Gender Equality and Inclusion, which enhanced the ability of over 45 staff to apply inclusive, rights-based approaches in delivering UNEP’s mandate.
Online Symposium on Judges and Climate Change
UNEP supported the organization of the online symposium Judges & Climate Change held on 3 June and 4 June 2025, in collaboration with the High Court of Brazil (Superior Tribunal de Justiça) and other international and regional organizations, in the lead-up to COP 30 that will be held in Belém, Brazil. UNEP contributed through cooperation and participation from Patricia Kameri-Mbote, Director of UNEP’s Law Division. The symposium emphasized the increasing importance of implementing and enforcing environmental law to drive transformational change and featured contributions from global judicial figures, Brazil’s Minister of the Environment Marina Silva, and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary Simon Stiell.
Pacific Subregional Workshop on Promoting Policy Coherence for Environmental Governance in the Climate and Nature Nexus
From 26 to 28 May 2025, UNEP, in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat, organized the Pacific Subregional Workshop on Promoting Policy Coherence for Environmental Governance in the Climate and Nature Nexus in Apia, Samoa. Key outcomes included increased understanding of areas for improved policy coherence through the joint examination of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), enhanced practical understanding of biodiversity-climate interlinkages at the national level through strengthened interinstitutional coordination, greater awareness of integrating climate and biodiversity targets into sectoral plans, and identification of priority needs for coherent implementation of CBD, UNFCCC, and other MEAs across the region.
UNEP Carbon Markets Cluster Retreat and Development of Legal Guidance for Carbon Markets
UNEP, through its Carbon Market Cluster, convened and coordinated the Carbon Markets Cluster Retreat from 1 to 4 April 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya. The retreat aimed to define UNEP’s support to countries on carbon market implementation, develop a 2025–2026 workplan, establish a coordinated fundraising strategy, and enhance internal collaboration and outreach mechanisms. It also aimed to advance technical work, under the Montevideo Programme, on identifying good governance criteria for carbon market legislation. UNEP led the process of developing a guidance document and searchable legal database, with plans to publish a comprehensive guide on governance criteria for effective carbon market frameworks.
Subregional Workshop on Advancing Effective MEA Implementation in Central Asia
UNEP, in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), organized the Subregional Workshop on Advancing Effective MEAs Implementation in Central Asia: Promoting Synergies and Rights-based Approaches to Combat Pollution, held from 17 to 19 June 2025 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The workshop aimed to advance the implementation of an integrated and rights-based approach to pollution and support the roll-out of the UN Common Approach to Pollution across UN Country Teams (UNCTs) in the region. The event brought together Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National MEA Focal Points, Montevideo Focal Points, UNCTs, government representatives and civil society members. Key results included increased awareness and practical understanding of promoting synergies across chemicals, waste, air pollution, and human rights clusters; enhanced technical skills on integrating MEAs into national policy; and strengthened cooperation between MEA and Montevideo focal points.
Exhibition on Digital Tools for SDG Progress on Chemicals and Waste
From 28 April to 9 May 2025, UNEP organized a side event and hosted an exhibition booth under the theme See the Unseen: Leveraging MEAs and Digital Tools for SDG Progress on Chemicals and Waste in Geneva, Switzerland, during the 2025 meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions. The events aimed to identify data gaps in tracking SDG progress on chemicals and waste governance and to showcase digital innovations and tools supporting international environmental. The events enhanced the visibility of the InforMEA platform, deepened stakeholder engagement, and reinforced UNEP’s role in promoting data interoperability across the chemicals and waste cluster.
Closing Unwaste Project
From 24 to 25 April 2025, UNEP supported the final Unwaste Project Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The conference consolidated project achievements of this project aimed at fighting trafficking in waste between the EU and Asia-Pacific regions, funded by the EU and implemented by UNODC’s Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific and UNEP, The Conference also reflected on lessons learned, and outlined future actions to combat waste trafficking. The event brought together high-level participants including representatives from ASEAN member states, EU Delegations, international organizations, national environmental authorities, customs and trade ministries, and civil society organizations.
13th Meeting of the African Elephant Fund Steering Committee
Through its support to the African Elephant Fund (AEF) Secretariat, UNEP contributed to the successful convening of the 13th AEF Steering Committee meeting held from 6 to 7 May 2025 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Organized in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, the meeting aimed to evaluate project proposals submitted under the 11th round of the AEF call, which ran from 24 January to 15 March 2025. As a key outcome, nine projects were approved for funding totaling USD 707,503. Additionally, the Steering Committee addressed strategic matters concerning the Fund’s operations and administration, including efforts to enhance resource mobilization through diverse and innovative funding sources.
Launch of Qatar’s Biodiversity Database
UNEP, in partnership with Qatar’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, launched the national Biodiversity Database in June 2025 in Doha. The initiative aimed to strengthen environmental data governance and support Qatar’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity. UNEP provided technical support to consolidate critical biodiversity information into an accessible national platform, enhancing ecosystem monitoring, reporting, and evidence-based policymaking. The database marks a significant step toward improving transparency, inter-agency coordination, and compliance with global MEA obligations. The launch event reaffirmed UNEP’s role in promoting science-based, digital tools for sustainable development and advancing its Medium-Term Strategy (2022–2025).
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This is a product of UNEP Law Division