Excellencies, colleagues and friends,
You came to Nairobi, to the seventh session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), to deliver sustainable solutions for a resilient planet. You came to show the determination and solidarity the world needs to tackle the environmental challenges that are threatening to undermine our economies and societies. You have succeeded. The beacon of environmental multilateralism that rises above the fog of geopolitical differences today shines a little brighter.
My deep thanks to the UNEA-7 President, Abdullah Bin Ali Al-Amri, to the UNEA bureau, to the Committee of Permanent Representatives, to the Committee of the Whole, to everyone across UNEP and UNON and of course to the delegations who have worked so hard. Special thanks to our gracious host nation Kenya, UNEPs closest partner for over 50 years, on this their independence day. A Happy Jamhuri Day to all our Kenyan colleagues and friends.
I also welcome the President of UNEA-8, His Excellency Matthew Samuda of Jamaica, and the new UNEA bureau members. I look forward to working with you all towards UNEA-8, which will take place from the sixth to the tenth of December 2027.
Excellencies,
There were areas of divergence at the start of this Assembly, but as I always say, this is normal in multilateralism. What is also normal in multilateralism and what would be considered exceptional in other walks of life is the commitment you have shown to overcome these disagreements. The dialogue. The compromises. The long hours. UNEA is special.
Your work has resulted in 11 resolutions and 3 decisions. Resolutions on the sound management of the minerals and metals essential to the energy transition. On the sound management of chemicals and waste. On the sustainable use of Artificial Intelligence. On international cooperation to combat wildfires. On strengthening work on the environmental dimension of antimicrobial resistance. On protecting glaciers and coral reefs and more.
We also have a ministerial declaration in which Member States commit to bold actions that drive sustainable solutions, commit to implementing obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and frameworks, and commit to advancing equitable and inclusive participation in all efforts.
Crucially, you also approved UNEPs Medium-Term Strategy (MTS) for the next four years. With this approval, you have endorsed UNEP as the leading global environmental authority that brings together action on climate, nature and biodiversity, land, desertification, chemicals, waste and pollution, and brings together the many global and regional agreements dealing with these issues. By approving the MTS, you have also endorsed UNEPs emphasis on cross-sectoral solutions the only way to address indivisible environmental challenges and highlighted UNEPs commitment to impact. My thanks.
Beyond these outcomes, the wider UNEA-7 ecosystem bolstered the whole-of-society approach we need to overcome environmental challenges. We had MEAs Day. The Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum. The Youth Environment Assembly. The first Special Dialogue on Indigenous Peoples Role in Advancing Sustainable Solutions. The Cities and Regions Summit. The young and innovative climate leaders and ecosystem restoration flagships that were recognized. Everyone was here and fully engaged. My thanks to every one of these participants for bringing their voices, ideas and solutions to this Assembly.
Excellencies,
You, the Member States, have handed UNEP new mandates, on top of existing mandates, amidst a restructuring of the organization and the wider UN through the UN80 initiative. We therefore need a strong contribution to UNEPs Environment Fund, aiming for US$200 million over the next two years. This fund is UNEPs backbone, leveraging and supporting the capacity for nearly US$3.3 billion of policies and programmes globally. I call on Member States to make their full contributions, so that we at UNEP can deliver what you have asked us to deliver, with results and impact.
I also ask you to ensure a strong ninth replenishment of the Global Environment Facility UNEPs key partner in our efforts to create a resilient planet and people. And I ask you to make commitments to other funds, on biodiversity, climate and more.
Looking ahead, I want to recognize the 2026 meetings of Conferences of the Parties (COPs) and other important events and processes. Many of the Presidencies of the COPs are represented in this room and I thank them for seeking ways to join up the agendas of climate, land, biodiversity, pollution and more at the second MEAs Day.
MEAs Day reaffirmed that integrated, coordinated action across the MEA landscape is essential to boost global impact. That this coordination is already delivering results and can grow even stronger. That environmental multilateralism remains a cornerstone for addressing global challenges.
Excellencies,
The people of the world want stronger climate commitments and today we celebrate ten years of the Paris Agreement, which we must not forget has lowered global warming projections, although not by enough. Climate COP31, presided over by Australia and hosted by Trkiye, with a pre-COP meeting taking place in a Pacific Island nation, will provide an opportunity to accelerate action. And UNEP will be looking to increase global climate action on World Environment Day 2026, hosted by Azerbaijan.
The people of the world want stronger commitments to protect, conserve and restore nature and land efforts that will be boosted by the January entry into force of the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction. Efforts that will be boosted by Convention on Biological Diversity COP17, which will be hosted by Armenia. Efforts that will be boosted by UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP17, which will be hosted by Mongolia. Efforts that will be boosted by Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) COP15, which will be hosted by Brazil.
The people of the world want stronger commitments to address pollution and waste. I look forward to the new Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution moving closer to operationalization, with a strong push needed at the first Plenary in Geneva, Switzerland in February. We also have the First International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals, also in Geneva, to guide implementation of the frameworks five strategic objectives and 28 targets.
And we have the 38th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol taking place in Kigali, Rwanda marking ten years since the crucial Kigali Amendment. This is a global deal that we all know has been hugely successful in protecting the ozone layer and slowing climate change.
I hope that the Montreal Protocol can serve as inspiration to Member States as they decide how to move forward on agreeing an instrument to end plastic pollution. No country has left the table, so I still firmly believe that countries can come together and deliver a treaty for the ages that creates a global signalling effect.
Excellencies,
You will now return to the world outside the negotiation halls. A world in which let us not forget amid our celebrations people are dying, homes and livelihoods are being destroyed, economies are being damaged, and inequity is growing because action on environmental challenges has not been fast or strong enough.
Yes, you have brightened the beacon and better lit the path forward. But we must now, together, hurry down this path to make good on our collective promise to deliver real solutions for a resilient planet and resilient people.
I thank you again for your resolve, commitment, diplomacy and tireless energy. And wish you all safe journeys home.
