The inaugural UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) recently concluded its five-day deliberations in Nairobi with 16 decisions and resolutions that encourage international action on major environmental issues ranging from air pollution, to plastic debris in the oceans, chemicals and waste.

The international community participated in the assembly in record numbers, with high-level delegations from 160 UN Member and Observer States and stakeholders from multiple sectors present.

UNEA sessions were attended by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, the President of the UN General Assembly John Ashe as well as chief executives of the UN system.

The High-Level Segment focused on the Sustainable Development Goals and the Post-2015 Development Agenda, including Sustainable Consumption and Production. “The resolutions agreed by Member States at UNEA will help shape the global environmental agenda into the future and will determine collaborative action on priority issues from marine plastic debris and micro plastics to the illegal trade in wildlife,” said UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

“These resolutions, including the one on air quality, provide a clear indication that, in its successful and ambitious first session, UNEA is providing a robust policymaking platform that truly places the environment at the heart of sustainable development,” he added.

Air pollution a priority

Air pollution, responsible for 7 million deaths annually, was identified as a top issue that requires immediate action by the international community.

“Poor air quality is a growing challenge, especially in cities and urban centres, compromising the lives of millions worldwide. Action to reduce air quality will save lives and provide co-benefits for the climate, ecosystem services, biodiversity and food security,” said Steiner.

The delegates unanimously agreed to encourage governments to set standards and policies across multiple sectors to reduce emissions and manage the negative impacts of air pollution on health, the economy, and overall sustainable development.

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) was mandated to step up its support to governments through capacity building, the provision of data and assessments and periodic reporting on progress made. The decision on air pollution is expected to strengthen existing work by UNEP in areas related to transport emissions, indoor air pollution, chemicals and sustainable consumption and production through programmes such as the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles.

Marine plastic debris and microplastics

A resolution on marine plastic debris and microplastics called for the strengthening of information exchange mechanisms, requesting UNEP to present scientific assessments on microplastics for consideration by the next session of the assembly. Governments were urged to collaborate through relevant Regional Seas Conventions and River Commissions with a view to adopting action plans in their regions.

According to new reports launched by UNEP and partners at UNEA, there is growing concern over the threat that widespread plastic waste poses to marine life, with conservative estimates of the overall financial damage of plastics to marine ecosystems standing at US$13 billion each year.

Integrated management of chemicals and waste

The UN Environment Assembly emphasised the sound management of chemicals and waste as an essential and integral cross-cutting element of sustainable development and the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Environmental effects of the unsustainable use of chemicals and hazardous waste range from effects on sensitive species and ecosystems, to large scale issues such as eutrophication of water bodies and stratospheric ozone depletion.

The continued growth pattern of global production, trade and use of chemicals exerts an increasing chemicals management burden on the developing countries and those with economies in transition that have the least capacities to deal with such complex challenges.

UNEA welcomed an integrated approach to address the financing of the sound management of chemicals and waste, underscoring that the three components of an integrated approach – mainstreaming, industry involvement and external finance – are mutually reinforcing and essential.