ESG News

UN-IATT/GIZ Training on STI Policy for the SDGs for Tunisia and Arab States
2022-10-18 03:00 - 2022-10-20 04:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Background

The UN Interagency Task Team on STI for SDGs (IATT) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) will organise a series of virtual training for STI policy-makers and practitioners from Tunisia and the Arab States. The training is composed of the following three sessions:

Session 1: Current approaches to STI policy-making in the context of SDGs (18 October 2022, 14h-16h Tunis time/GMT+1)Session 2: Innovation and entrepreneurship (19 October 2022, 14h-16h Tunis time/GMT+1)Session 3: STI policy instruments design (20 October 2022, 13h-15h Tunis time/GMT+1)

The sessions aim at engaging participants in interactive discussions and practical reflection on existing approaches, case studies and national experiences in establishing and managing STI in the context of the SDGs.

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Venice Sustainable Fashion Forum 2022
2022-10-27 08:00 - 2022-10-28 17:00 | Fondazione Giorgio Cini, Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore, Venezia VE, 30133, Italy
ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative will participate in the Venice Sustainable Fashion Forum 2022. More information to follow.

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Bloomberg Green at COP27
2022-11-09 06:00 - 2022-11-10 14:00 | Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh, 1 Four Seasons Boulevard, El-Salam, Qesm Sharm Ash Sheikh, Egypt
About

The world is watching. Against the backdrop of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, Bloomberg will convene the foremost leaders in business, finance, policy, academia and NGOs for candid conversations focused on creating solutions to support the goals set forth at COP27.

Bloomberg Green at COP27 will create an immersive experience designed to go beyond the negotiating rooms and delve into pragmatic strategies for cross-sector climate action. Leveraging Bloomberg’s exclusive data and reporting, we’ll explore methods for accelerating climate plans and measuring progress during this critical course-correcting moment in history.

Join our community of global influencers and problem solvers in ​​Sharm El-Sheikh to build connections, inspire innovation and challenge the status quo in the battle against climate change.

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World Climate Summit at COP27
2022-11-13 06:00 - 2022-11-14 18:00 | PARK REGENCY, SHARM EL-SHEIKH
Where Ambition Meets Action

World Climate Summit catalyses the bold commitments we need to tackle the urgent global issue of climate change. Throughout the last 13 years, World Climate Summit has become a key platform for connecting markets with policies and is the leading business and investment forum alongside the annual international climate negotiations.

Building on the success of the last decade, the Summit leverages its expertise and experience in bringing together public and private sector leaders from across the world. It facilitates the collaboration necessary for the innovation, investments and policies needed to achieve ambitious climate targets. With the Decade to Deliver on Climate Action more crucial now than ever, it is a must-attend event for leading stakeholders driving climate solutions, investments and legislation.

Partnering on Solutions for a Net-Zero Transition by 2030

World Climate Summit – The Investment COP 2022 will take place in-person and digitally on 13-14 November in Sharm el-Sheikh at the Park Regency during COP27. The Summit will convene World Climate Foundation’s leading network of public and private sector stakeholders to enhance ambition and catalyse action for the net-zero transition.

This year’s event is aligned with the COP27 presidency’s priorities and will focus on accelerating climate finance as well as showcasing best practices and innovative climate solutions. World Climate Summit – The Investment COP focuses on creating ambition loops through public-private partnerships and strong dialogue to accelerate global climate objectives while adopting and sharing best practices and strategies for catalytic climate action. These will be crucial to reach 2030 climate targets and achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.

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COVID-19 and the Water Sector
2022-12-09 08:00 - 09:00 | Virtual Event
About the Event

COVID-19 and the Water Sector is a technical report and result of a project implemented jointly by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the water sector with a focus on wastewater.

This report analyzes and describes ways in which the pandemic has affected the water sector, and how wastewater has the potential to act as a sentinel to detect the still ongoing and future pandemics. In addition, the report presents examples and case studies from around the world.

This report helps policymakers, governments, and potential donors to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the water sector, how to address the current gaps, and trigger future action, especially on monitoring and surveillance of wastewater.

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COP15 - Call for Financing Nature for Sustainable Cities and Regions
2022-12-10 11:30 - 12:00 | Virtual Event
About the Event

Cities are on the frontline of managing the direct socio-economic impacts of climate change and ecosystem loss. Today, 4.4 billion people live in cities, and 1.4 billion of these people already face high climate risks.

Restoring and protecting nature is fundamental to addressing the impacts of climate change, bringing multiple benefits not only to ecosystems but also to the health and well-being of urban citizens and the economy. Urban nature-based solutions are both critical and feasible steps that cities can initiate right now to contribute to global biodiversity goals and increase resilience to local environmental risks.

But to unleash the power of nature in cities, investments need to grow rapidly. In this press conference, champion Mayors from around the world will deliver a call for increased financing for nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based approaches in cities and regions, on behalf of 15 champion cities. A new UNEP project to support them will be announced.

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Greener cities, cooler planet, healthier people: unleashing the power of urban nature
2022-12-13 13:15 - 14:45 | Virtual Event
About the Event

City life is becoming the default human experience. While being engines for development, exchange and opportunity, cities and their expected growth are also exacerbating some of the world’s most serious environmental challenges, including rising temperatures, biodiversity loss and land use change. Cities will have to handle increasing climate risks: by 2050, 1.6 billion city residents will face extreme heat and by 2100, cities around the world could warm by 4°C on average, exposing the growing urban population to conditions that will damage human health, productivity, and quality of life.

To make peace with nature and beat the rising heat, we need to design and redesign our urban environments with nature in mind. The good news is that protecting and restoring natural ecosystems can help improve quality of life in cities. Nature-based solutions can provide natural cooling, better air and water quality, and healthier communities, but the benefits and ecosystem services that biodiversity provides need to be better understood and leveraged to increase implementation and bring about change at a local and global level.

This session will focus on the role of nature as an adaptation tool, and how national and local governments can provide access to cooling while mitigating climate risks and supporting biodiversity. The discussion will enable exchanges between global experts, countries and cities on the opportunities to catalyze restoration in the framework of urban planning. It will include announcements on cities’ commitments to the Nature for Cool Cities Challenge, and on global collaboration in the framework of the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. A dedicated exchange will take place on nature financing, and on the latest efforts to track urban nature investments.

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The UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration: Cities Challenge
2022-12-14 12:20 - 14:30 | Virtual Event
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The SDG Business Breakdown: Learning the Languages of ESG & the SDGs
2023-02-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
To efficiently contribute to the creation of a more prosperous planet, sustainability needs to be embedded in a company’s DNA. This can be a challenging task, especially for departments who do not directly work on sustainability issues.
The UN Global Compact Network USA will host The Business Breakdown of the SDGs webinar series to provide companies with the opportunity to integrate the SDGs into each core function of their business. This series aims to help non-sustainability professionals integrate the Sustainable Development Goals into their work. By ‘breaking down’ a business by function in each webinar, the series is designed to provide department-specific insight, knowledge, and inspiration needed to make a positive impact on the company’s SDG strategy.
The series kicks off with a crash course to introduce all business representatives to the seemingly complex world of ESG and the SDGs. This 1-hour crash course will be taught by the leader who coined the term ‘ESG’, Mr. Paul Clements-Hunt. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the presentation.
Paul Clements-Hunt founded The Blended Capital Group in March 2012 and remains Non-Executive Chair. He splits his time between home in Nairobi and London where he is a Director of Mishcon Purpose, the sustainability arm of the UK head-quartered law firm, Mishcon de Reya LLP. Paul, trained as a journalist,created his first company, Environmental Business Group (EBG) Co., Ltd in Bangkok, Thailand in 1992. For thirty years, through roles in business, the United Nations and as an entrepreneur, his focus has been on how to mobilize finance and capital at scale into sustainable development. Paul has private equity holdings in last mile impact businesses where digital, technology, and sustainability developments merge.

Academy Deep-Dive session: Standing up & speaking out: Advocating for an inclusive workplace
2023-03-02 08:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
Transformational change can never be implemented by one person alone but requires all hands on deck. Whether you’re a board member, senior leader, department head, manager or intern, your voice and actions can make a crucial difference.
This interactive workshop from the UN Global Compact Academy will help you understand how you can personally champion gender equality in the workplace, bring others along and influence change beyond the company’s walls.
You will walk away with practical tips and tools on how to be a corporate advocate for women and girls.

World Wildlife Day 2023
2023-03-03 00:00 - 23:59 | Virtual Event
March 3 is World Wildlife Day. It is a United Nations International day to celebrate all the world’s wild animals and plants and the contribution that they make to our lives and the health of the planet.
This date was chosen as it is the birthday of CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, signed in 1973. This World Wildlife Day is also a celebration of CITES as it turns 50. In recognition of the work CITES does and the collaborative work for conservation that is going on globally, the theme for World Wildlife Day this year is ‘Partnerships for Wildllife Conservation‘

5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5)
2023-03-05 09:00 - 2023-03-09 18:00 | DOHA, QATAR, Doha, Qatar
The world’s Least Developed Countries are in a race against time to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The remaining years need to usher in a new global partnership to ensure these 46 countries benefit from social, economic and environmental development.
The Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to accelerate sustainable development in the places where international assistance is needed the most – and to tap the full potential of the Least Developed Countries helping them make progress on the road to prosperity.
Over five days of the LDC5 Conference in Doha, world leaders will gather with the private sector, civil society, parliamentarians, and young people to advance new ideas, raise new pledges of support, and spur delivery on agreed commitments, through the Doha Programme of Action. At the Conference, it is expected that specific initiatives and concrete deliverables will be announced that will address LDC-specific challenges.
The Conference will feature plenary sessions, parallel high-level thematic roundtables, and a series of parallel and side events on various thematic priorities of the DPoA. A Summit level meeting of the LDC Group, chaired by the President of Malawi, will be held on the day before the Conference. A commemoration event on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Group of LDCs will be held after the opening session on 5 March 2023. There will also be dedicated events for the Private Sector, CSOs, Youth, Parliamentarians and South-South tracks on the margins of the Conference.

Addressing the Gender Gap in Corporate America
2023-03-07 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
International Women’s Day is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the women’s rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. This webinar will celebrate International Women’s Day and highlight the gender work of some of the companies that have participated in Network USA’s Target Gender Equality accelerator program. Panelists will present their organization’s journey around gender equality, successful practices, practical tips, and learnings.

UN 2023 Water Conference
2023-03-22 08:30 - 2023-03-24 13:00 | United Nations New York Headquarters, 405 E 42nd St, New York, NY, 10017, United States
Water is a fundamental part of all aspects of life. Water is inextricably linked to the three pillars of sustainable development, and it integrates social, cultural, economic and political values. It is crosscutting and supports the achievement of many SDGs through close linkages with climate, energy, cities, the environment, food security, poverty, gender equality and health, amongst others. With climate change profoundly affecting our economies, societies and environment, water is indeed the biggest deal breaker to achieve the internationally agreed water-related goals and targets, including those contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Conference, co-hosted by the Governments of Tajikistan and the Netherlands, will feature an opening and closing ceremony, six plenary meetings and five multi-stakeholder interactive dialogues. It will also feature a number of high-level special events and side events organized by Member States, the UN system and other stakeholders.
The outcome of the Conference will be a summary of the Conference proceedings and new commitments, pledges and actions by Governments and all stakeholders towards achieving SDG 6 and other water-related goals and targets, compiled in the Water Action Agenda.

The UN 2023 Water Conference and the Water Action Agenda will unite the world for water. The key building blocks of the Water Action Agenda are:

commitment to action
sustained and scalable implementation
follow-up and review processes

These blocks will enable replication and scaling up of what works and bring successful solutions to global scale.

The Business Case for Water Resilience
2023-03-27 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
This webinar focuses on key outcomes from the UN 2023 Water Conference and the ethical and business case for adopting water resilience and sustainability strategies. Participants will gain insight from leading businesses and acquire practical tools and resources to implement water strategies. This webinar will also provide participants with partnership opportunities and information on how to join the CEO Water Mandate and Water Resilience Coalition (WRC).

Information Session for the 2023 Climate Ambition Accelerator
2023-03-30 09:00 - 11:00 | Virtual Event
Are you interested in attending this year’s Climate Ambition Accelerator? We invite you to register for this live Q&A session to learn how your company can accelerate progress toward setting science-based targets by joining this programme.
Perhaps your company has not yet set emissions targets, or you’ve created targets without using the science-based targets methodology. Maybe you’re overwhelmed by the technical requirements involved. No matter where you are in your sustainability journey, the Climate Ambition Accelerator will help you get started and make progress towards setting ambitious emission targets.
This virtual, interactive session will help you better understand the inner workings of the Accelerator, what you can expect to learn and achieve, and provide answers to any other questions you might have.

Transforming your business for a Blue Economy
2023-04-02 08:00 - 17:00 | Singapore
This event is open to everyone joining ADEX — industry and consumers.
Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) 2023
Sustainable Diving Dialogue: Transforming your business for a Blue Economy
Sunday, 2 April | Time: 12:00-13:00 hrs (UTC/GMT+8)
Underwater360 Main Stage (Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore)
Overview
The UN Environment Programme (COBSEA Secretariat) is hosting an event in partnership with The Reef-World Foundation (Green Fins international coordinator), and UW360. This dialogue aims to explore how the dive industry can become more sustainable, involving various stakeholders such as dive centers, liveaboards, booking agents, manufacturers, media, and training agencies.
The discussion will focus on crucial topics like preventing plastic pollution, conserving coral reefs, and promoting sustainable business models. Industry leaders, movers, and shakers in sustainability will share their insights and examples of sustainable business models during an interactive discussion. Attendees are encouraged to engage with the panelists, share their ideas, best practices, and questions, and learn more about pursuing a sustainable business model for the diving industry.
Target audience
This event is designed for representatives from all segments of the diving industry including dive professionals, operators, liveaboards, resorts, travel providers, diver training organizations, manufacturers, photographers, the media, and others. Our goal is to provide actionable insights that will help you align your business with the market of the future, making it more profitable and resilient by adopting sustainable business models.
Key issues to be discussed
• Dispelling the myth that sustainability has to be expensive: Reef-World’s recent Sustainability Survey has identified cost as one of the biggest barriers to the uptake of sustainable practices in the industry, especially in the post-pandemic restart phase. This event aims to debunk the myth that sustainability is expensive by sharing evidence that sustainable practices have reduced operational costs by up to 70% in some areas. We will feature stories and solutions from industry leaders who are adopting cost-sensitive environmental solutions in their businesses.
• Unlocking the value of sustainability: Companies in the diving industry are interested in finding ways to increase the visibility of and market sustainability. Research shows that post-pandemic dive tourists are interested in more sustainable holiday options and are willing to pay more for sustainability. However, they need more transparency around environmentally-friendly options to avoid greenwashing. The event will focus on how authenticity in showcasing environmental ethos and practices can help promote sustainability and avoid greenwashing. The event will showcase stories of businesses that have benefited from sustainability by unlocking higher-value products that also deliver on local conservation needs, connecting with local governments and partners on conservation efforts, and unexpectedly enjoying financial benefits as a result.
Speakers
Moderator: Natalie Harms, Secretariat of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA), UN Environment Programme
Panelists:

Elaine Wallace – Owner, Bunaken Oasis Resort and Spa (Green Fins DIgital Member)
Paul Tanner – Territory Director, PADI (Training agency)
John Thet – CEO, UW360 (Media)
David McClinton – Owner and Director, Ceningan Divers and Resort (Green Fins Top 10 Certified Member)
Bo Mancao – Underwater Imager
Adam Broadbent – Founder & CEO, ZuBLu (booking platform)

Key takeaways of the event
The event offers a unique opportunity to connect with leaders in sustainability and gain valuable insights into sustainable practices in the diving industry. Key takeaways include:

Gain valuable connections with leaders in conservation and sustainability, allowing you to build relationships and collaborate with others in the industry.
Gain insight into the latest post-pandemic business trends and learn how to incorporate sustainability into your business practices immediately, including practical tips for reducing costs and increasing profitability.
Discover how to effectively communicate your sustainability efforts to consumers, building trust and loyalty with your customer base.
Learn how adopting sustainable practices can attract more customers who are willing to pay more, return for more, and promote your services among their online networks.

Overall, the event offers a unique opportunity to gain practical knowledge and actionable insights into sustainable business practices, helping you to align your business for the future and increase your profitability and resilience.

Accelerating Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals in Trinidad and Tobago: Sustainable and Green Growth Opportunities
2023-04-04 09:30 - 17:00 | Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Spain
UNDESA/DSDG in cooperation with UNOSD, ECLAC, and the RCO/UNCT are organizing a Training Workshop entitled “Accelerating Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals in Trinidad and Tobago: Sustainable and Green Growth Opportunities” in Port of Spain from 4 to 6 April 2023.
The 3-Day Training Workshop represents Phase 4 of the UNDESA, UNOSD and ECLAC cooperation with Trinidad and Tobago that aims to strengthen the national stakeholders integrated planning and decision-making that incorporate sustainable and green growth, strengthen resilience and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals.
The workshop will bring together senior policy makers from the planning ministry, key line ministries, civil society organizations, academia, and private sector representatives.

The SDG Business Breakdown: Sales & Marketing
2023-04-06 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
To efficiently contribute to the creation of a more prosperous planet, sustainability needs to be embedded in a company’s DNA. This can be a challenging task, especially for departments that do not directly work on sustainability issues.
The UN Global Compact Network USA will host The Business Breakdown of the SDGs webinar series to provide companies with the opportunity to integrate the SDGs into each core function of their business. This series aims to help non-sustainability professionals integrate the Sustainable Development Goals into their day-to-day work. By ‘breaking down’ a business by function in each webinar, the series is designed to provide department-specific insight, knowledge, and inspiration needed to make a positive impact on the company’s SDG strategy.
This session will provide Sales & Marketing professionals with the insight, tools, and actions to integrate the SDGs into their work. The webinar will feature Sales & Marketing expert, Randi Kronthal-Sacco of NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business.
Randi Kronthal-Sacco (Stern ‘83) is a Senior Scholar at the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business. Ms. Kronthal-Sacco leads CSB’s research in the areas of marketing and brands including the Sustainable Market Share Index and is responsible for corporate outreach.

4th global conference of the Sustainable Food Systems Programme
2023-04-24 04:00 - 2023-04-27 13:00 | Virtual Event
Humankind is confronted with multiple deeply rooted and interlinked crises, including in relation to climate, biodiversity, conflict, energy, consumer prices, food insecurity, malnutrition and health.
Global food systems challenges call for a profound and swift transformation of how we produce, process, retail, and consume food and dispose organic waste.
The UN Secretary-General’s Food Systems Summit (UN FSS) in September 2021 created important momentum for this transformation.
Contributing to the 2023 Stock-Taking Moment of the UN FSS follow-up process, this conference will look at how food systems need to be transformed to overcome these crises in order to minimize the risk of global collapse and achieve the SDGs.
Based on concrete examples, the conference will look at main barriers and bottlenecks in relation to food systems transformation, discuss solutions and release a series of actionable recommendations with a focus on the following five key levers:

Global, regional, national, sub-national inclusive governance to set the foundations for applying a holistic/integrated approach towards sustainable food systems.
Collaborative, multisectoral, integrated policy actions based on a holistic approach to materialize the transformation we need: shifting consumption and production patterns in our food systems.
Mobilizing means of implementation, including financing.
Metrics and accountability frameworks to measure transformation.
Mission-oriented research and innovation, in collaboration with the private sector.

To do so, the conference will provide a space for countries, coalitions, the Food Systems Coordination Hub’s “ecosystem of support” and other food systems actors to present transformational actions, tools and initiatives linked to the implementation of National Pathways for Food Systems Transformation that have emerged since the UN FSS and discuss how such actions can be further scaled up to ensure that we collectively attain our sustainable food systems pathways by 2030.
In addition, the conference will discuss how progress on shaping sustainable, resilient, healthy and inclusive food systems in the context of the UN FSS follow-up process can be properly measured in view of the UN FSS 2023 Stock-Taking Moment and beyond.

8th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals
2023-05-03 09:00 - 2023-05-04 17:00 | United Nations New York Headquarters, 405 E 42nd St, New York, NY, 10017, United States
The eighth annual Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum) will be held from 3 to 4 May 2023. The Forum will be convened by the President of ECOSOC Her Excellency Lachezara Stoeva who has appointed two co-chairs – H.E. Ms. Mathu Joyini, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations and H.E. Mr. Thomas Woodroffe, United Kingdom Ambassador to the UN Economic and Social Council. As per its mandate, the Forum will be organized by the UN interagency task team on STI for the SDGs (IATT), convened by UN-DESA and UNCTAD, and the 10-Member Group of high-level representatives appointed by the Secretary General.
In line with recent mandates and as in previous years, the STI Forum will facilitate discussions on science, technology and innovation cooperation in support of the SDGs. In addition to providing the mandated inputs for the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development to be held from 10 to 19 July 2023, the Forum will also take a broader look at the contribution of STI to the achievement of all the SDGs in recognition of the September mid-term review of SDG progress.
Accordingly, the theme for the STI Forum 2023 is: “Science, technology and innovation for accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels”.

Clean Energy Technologies to meet SDGs in Small Island States
2023-05-03 13:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
This Virtual Event will provide a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration among experts in the field of sustainable energy and island communities. It will explore innovative technologies, best practices, and policy frameworks for promoting sustainable energy transitions in islands. The outcomes of the will contribute to the development of sustainable energy solutions for island communities, and ultimately, to the achievement of global Sustainable Development Goals. This event continues the discourse on concrete implementation and solutions in preparation for the Fourth International Conference on SIDS to be held in 2024 and towards the 2030 Sustainable Development goals milestones.

Sustainable Investment Forum Europe 2023
2023-05-09 03:00 - 12:30 | Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel, 18 Avenue De Suffren, 22 Rue Jean Rey Entrée Au, Paris, 75015, France
In partnership with UNEP FI, Climate Action will host the 6th annual Sustainable Investment Forum Europe in Paris on 09 May 2023. The forum’s mission is to support European and global action for an equitable and just transition in sustainable investing.
The Forum will provide the medium to foster solutions for sustainable investors as they grapple with challenging terrain caused by the practical challenges of new regulations, a global energy crisis, greenwashing, and more.

CS79 Side-event: Mine Action for Sustainable Development
2023-05-15 02:00 - 03:30 | Bangkok, Thailand & Virtual Event, Bangkok, Thailand
The existence of landmines and other explosive remnants of war (ERWs) because of protracted sequence of domestic and regional conflicts has for decades severely affected countries in the Asia and the Pacific, resulting in thousands of casualties and injuries every year, millions of internally displaced people and many more lives in danger. 21 countries in the region were identified as the affected countries, although extent varied across countries. While efforts and commitments to clear landmines under Article 5 of the 1997 Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) continue to be undertaken by countries and development partners, few countries are on track to fulfil their obligations due to political, geographical, financial and capacity constraints.
Landmines undermine socio-economic development of the countries and livelihood of people in local communities. They refrain people from access to farming and pastoral lands, trading, housing, and other necessary infrastructures, presenting a great risk for local populations. They pose severe social consequences and considerable burdens on victims/survivors and their family, including expenses on long-term medical care, loss of employment, poverty, hunger, discrimination, and social stigma. The presence of mine contamination in agricultural lands and community environments also makes adapting to the negative impact of climate change largely difficult especially for the vulnerable groups in society.
These challenges around landmines have had a cross cutting impact, affecting not only the country’s development but also its path towards achieving the SDGs as it hinders the economy from reaching its full potential. Against this background, mine-clearing efforts and continued endeavours to address economic, social and environmental consequences of landmines are key to building confidence, in which people can live safely and freely from constraints, and support inclusive, resilient and sustainable development.
The session aims to raise awareness to a broader audience of the challenges and issues of demining and to engage in frank dialogue with experts and institutions on addressing the social and economic development impacts to communities and societies. The deliberations will also highlight the links between mine action and the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs
Representatives of Asia and the Pacific, international and regional organizations, national entities, including non-governmental organizations, private sector, who are engaged in the activities related to mine action will participate.
To join, please register here https://forms.office.com/e/rnVvudthLR and here https://indico.un.org/event/1003482/.

ESCAP-SCO Side Event: Enabling Food Systems Transformation through Climate Smart Agri-Innovation
2023-05-16 01:30 - 02:30 | Virtual Event
The agricultural sector in the Asia-Pacific region is suffering from a number of key constraints which are significantly worsening the vulnerability of agriculture to climate impacts in the region. Apart from being highly vulnerable to its impacts, agriculture is also an important contributor to climate change.
Agricultural innovation for development of more efficient and sustainable technologies and machinery holds significant promise to boost climate resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Apart from digital and smart technologies, there is a vital role for innovation of simple and low-cost agricultural technologies and practices for resource-poor farmers and smallholders. These can help put agriculture on a trajectory of resilient and low-carbon development.
Co-organized by ESCAP and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) during the 79th session of the Commission, the event will inform and support countries’ implementation of the national food system transformation pathway, especially in the action areas of advancing equitable livelihoods, building resilience, and accelerating the Means of Implementation. It will advance the understanding of policymakers and practitioners working in the areas of agriculture and climate change adaptation and mitigation on the need for promoting agri-innovation.
The event will be opened by remarks from senior-level speakers. This will be followed by a panel of experts that will illustrate pertinent approaches and technologies. The closing session will reflect on how such solutions can be upscaled in the region through multilateral cooperation.
Participants attending the 79th session of the Commission in Bangkok are welcome to attend in-person while the event will also be open to online participation through the registration link below. The event will be conducted in English and simultaneous interpretation will be provided in Chinese and Russian for the online participants.

Intergovernmental Consultations on Nature-Based Solutions: First Global Consultation
2023-05-16 08:00 - 2023-05-17 17:00 | Virtual Event
The first global consultation meeting in the intergovernmental consultations on nature-based solutions will be a virtual meeting. It will comprise two four-hour sessions, one held on Tuesday May 16th and one on Wednesday May 17th 2023.

UNEP webinar on report findings on solutions to end plastic pollution
2023-05-17 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual Event
In this webinar, UNEP will present the key findings of its latest report “Turning off the Tap: How the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy“. The report proposes a systems change to address the causes of plastic pollution. It combines reducing the most problematic and unnecessary plastic uses with three market shifts – Reuse, Recycle, and Reorient and Diversify – and actions to deal with the plastic pollution legacy.

Reuse refers to the transformation of the ‘throwaway economy’ to a ‘reuse society’.
Recycling refers to the importance of accelerating the market for plastics recycling, ensuring it becomes a more profitable venture.
Reorient and Diversify refer to shifting the market demand towards sustainable plastic alternatives.

The report highlights that these solutions are available now and explains how a systems change underpinned by the necessary integrated regulatory instruments will result in social, environmental, and economic benefits.

What the COP15 Global Biodiversity Framework Means for Your Company
2023-05-18 13:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
With representatives from leading businesses, corporate biodiversity initiatives, and indigenous groups, this webinar will focus on outcomes of the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15). This event will give businesses a better understanding of their risks, dependencies and impacts on biodiversity, as well as practical ways to engage in corporate investment initiatives and build cross-sector partnerships to restore the natural environment.

UNEP FI Regional Roundtable Asia Pacific 2023
2023-05-23 20:00 - 2023-05-25 03:30 | Seoul, South Korea, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
The UNEP FI Regional Roundtable Asia Pacific will be held in person on 24-25 May in Seoul, South Korea. The event will convene UNEP FI members, policymakers, civil society organisations, and academia to discuss the advancement of sustainable finance, its challenges, and solutions in Asia Pacific.
In addition to having the opportunity to network with the finance community in the region, speakers and participants will explore important issues specific to the region, including net zero banking and insurance, ASEAN taxonomies as guiding frameworks for the finance sector, understanding and managing nature-related risks, financial health and inclusion, and more.

Second Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution
2023-05-29 08:00 - 2023-06-02 17:00 | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Headquarters in Paris, France, Paris, France
The second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-2) will take place from 29 May to 2 June 2023 at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Headquarters in Paris, France. The meeting will be preceded by regional consultations on 28 May 2023, at the same venue.
Practical information regarding the meeting and the venue is available in the Information Note for Participants (13 April 2023). Participants are strongly encouraged to read the information note to get acquainted with all the meeting logistics, including visa procedures for entry in France. This note will be continually updated with the necessary practical and logistical information.
