My year in review
A Year in Review
2025 has been a tough year for multilateralism, where, in many of the forums I have been operating in, we have mostly been trying to defend the gains we have made over the past 10 years.
My political activities for this year have focused on multilateral environmental agreements, nitrogen, and plastics.
As one of my hobbies is writing, I have continued collaborating with Chris Spence on articles and another book. The publication of Environmental Lobbying at the UN is a replacement of the 2004 book How to Lobby at Inter-governmental meetings. It is richer, and we hope it is a must for anyone working as a stakeholder in the intergovernmental arena.
Chris and I are nearly ready to submit a proposal for a new book to our wonderful publisher, Routledge. If they accept, it will come out in June 2027.
I have just finished attending the seventh United Nations Environment Assembly.
January
Handed in the manuscript for Environmental Lobbying at the UN
Inter Press Service article: “Can We Still Solve Climate Change?” By Felix Dodds and Chris Spence
February
Inter Nations Global Writing and Storytelling, Group: Conducted a live author capacity-building training for non-fiction
March
Global Connection TV interview with Felix Dodds
Blue Water Film Festival: Entered the Arizona State University Film Beyond Fast Fashion
April
Report on how The Foundation for Fresh Produce can engage with the United Nations
A Weekend in the Life: Gilmore Girls Convention
May
Capacity Building exercise in preparation for SB62
Inter Press Service article: “How Should the United Nations Respond to Its Funding Crisis?” By Felix Dodds and Chris Spence
June
Moderating the Compassion in World Farming Workshop, bringing together member states and UN agencies, including UNEP, the FAO, and the UNFCCC Secretariat at SB 62, producing the report “Sustainable Nitrogen Management: A Way Forward for Climate, the Environment and Food Security”
Cities, climate, and convergence: “What the first Annual Review on the Rio Conventions tells us.” Attending and speaking at Daring Cities
July
Launch at the UN bookshop of my new book with Chris Spence, “Environmental Lobbying at the UN”
Galaxy Comic Convention – submitted a number of comics to be graded
August
Panel speech at Rio Climate Week: The Challenge and Spirit of Rio
Inter Press Service article: “Who Should Lead the UN Development Programme?” By Felix Dodds and Chris Spence
September
Launch of Report: Stakeholder Forum updated the fifth in its sdg2030 Series reports: UN80: Reform of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements – Around the Triple Planetary Crisis of Pollution, Biodiversity, and Climate Change
October
Friends of Governance for Sustainable Development Workshop: “UN80 and the clustering of environmental conventions to address the triple planetary crisis — climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution (chemicals and waste).”
Capacity Building workshop for UNFCCC – COP30
November
Stakeholder Forum Paper 7: “Financing the Triple Planetary Crisis of Chemicals and Waste, Biodiversity and Climate Change (Craig Boljkovac, Hugo-Maria Schally, et.al.)”
December
UNEA 7
- Capacity Building Workshop for stakeholders attending UNEA 7
- Multistakeholder Dialogue Resilience through inclusive partnerships: Catalyzing solutions across sectors
- A Discussion Paper to Inform the 2027 Review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs
- Pocket guide for Environment and Sustainable Development Governance
Ideas for books to buy for Christmas
- Environmental Lobbying at the United Nations
- Heroes of Environmental Diplomacy: Profiles in Courage
- Negotiating the Sustainable Development Goals
- Tomorrow’s People and New Technology
- Stakeholder Democracy
All available on Routledge, Amazon, and other online book sellers.
AND
If you haven’t yet read the comic Santa’s Green Christmas, it is available here.