The report is UN80: Reform of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Around the Triple Planetary Crisis of Pollution, Biodiversity, and Climate Change edited by Felix Dodds and Chris Spence

The fifth in the series recognises that the world is in one of its most difficult periods and that multilateralism is under threat. These are not just the ones the UN refers to as the Triple Planetary Crisis – climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution –but also migration and displacement, conflict, and the emergence of many new technologies that will impact our societies in ways we can only imagine. The UN80 Initiative was set up to rebuild multilateralism for this time and to ensure that the United Nations is fit for purpose. This report focuses on the opportunity to finish the work of the former UNEP Executive Directors Klaus Toepfer and Achim Steiner on “clustering” the UN treaties on pollution (chemicals and waste), biodiversity, and climate change. It also examines how the relevant science bodies for these three clusters can cooperate more effectively and proposes that the Global Environment Ministers Forum be re-established to meet in the year the UN Environment Assembly does not convene.

The Contents of the Report:

Introduction by Felix Dodds and Chris Spence

Reflections: Liz Dowdeswell, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (19921998)

UN Reform: Is it Time to Renew the Idea of Clustering the Major Environmental Agreements? by Felix Dodds and Chris Spence

How Clustering Multilateral Environmental Agreements Can Bring Multiple Benefits to the Environment by Michael Stanley-Jones

Toward Enhanced Synergies among Biodiversity-Related MEAs: Addressing Fragmentation with Strategic Coordination by Hugo-Maria Schally

UN80 – Clustering the Climate Conventions by Stacey Azores

Better Use of the World’s Expertise in Navigating the Polycrisis by Peter Bridgewater and Rakhyun Kim

UN80 – Is it time for the re-emergence of the Global Ministerial Environment Forum? by Jan-Gustav Strandenaes