Highlights from UNEP Deputy Executive Director Joyce Msuya’s mission to Brussels
Discussion details
Joyce Msuya, UNEP Deputy Executive Director, undertook a virtual mission to Brussels, to have a strategic debate with the EU on key international environmental moments in 2022 and cooperation in Africa. This article captures some of the highlights of the mission, including meetings with EU policymakers and stakeholders, taking place between the 1 to 6 December, in a chronological order.
Her mission kicked off on 1 December with an exchange with the European External Action Service (EEAS). The meeting with Ms Helena König, Deputy Secretary-General at the European EEAS, was an opportunity to highlight the importance of multilateralism in the context of key international milestones in 2022. These milestones include the 5th UN Environment Assembly part 2 (UNEA 5.2), the marking of UNEP’s 50th anniversary (UNEP@50), the commemoration of 50 years since the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm+50), the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) part 2 in Kunming, China and preparation for the UN Climate Change Conference COP 27.
Photo of the bilateral meeting held between Joyce Msuya and Helena König
The following day, on 2 December, Ms Msuya met with the Secretary General of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Secretariat, Mr Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti. This conversation focused on OACPS’s work on climate and the environment, as well as OACPS’ collaboration with the EU and UNEP, in the context of the ACP MEA programme and youth engagement.
Photo of the bilateral meeting with Mr Georges Rebelo Pinto Chiko
On 3 December, Ms Msuya led from UNEP a strategic debate with the European Commission and EEAS on Africa. The focus of the discussion was on how to build on the past outcomes on climate change, biodiversity and circular economy from the October 2019 dialogue, while integrating new priorities stemming from the Covid-19 recovery and the momentum created by international milestone events.
Photo of Ms Msuya engaging here with European Commission representatives and Heads of UNEP Africa Office, UNEP Europe Office and UNEP Brussels Office.
As she opened the dialogue, Ms Msuya highlighted the need to build on progress made at the Glasgow UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) and the Food Systems Summit 2021 and join forces in addressing the triple planetary crises of climate changes, biodiversity loss and pollution. The meeting discussed important international processes, such as the new ambitious Biodiversity Framework to be agreed at COP 15 or the preparations for COP 27. Other topics addressed included the Africa Green Stimulus Programme and the Pan-African Action Agenda on Ecosystem Restoration, as well as the importance of data cooperation and the science-policy interface to close the knowledge gap on environmental issues, climate impacts and resilience. References were also made to the AU-EU summit to be held in February 2022.
On the last day of her mission, on Monday 6 December, Ms Msuya had a high-level discussion with the members of the European Parliament (MEPs). The meeting was hosted by the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI). The aim of the meeting was to share reflections from the COP 26, as well as on upcoming global environmental milestones in 2022. UNEP welcomed the new climate commitments and progress on the implementation of the Paris Agreement made in Glasgow but Ms Msuya stressed that enhanced NDC ambition is needed next year to keep the 1.5 C target alive.
“Based on formally submitted and announced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) we will likely heat up the world by 2.7°C by 2100”, she warned, and that this "is simply catastrophic for life as we know it." She expressed appreciation for the EU’s climate leadership and the important role that the European Parliament plays in shaping and implementing European climate policy. "The EU’s response to the climate crisis is one of the world’s most ambitious", she said, adding that "It is absolutely vital that this continues, that the climate leadership shown in Europe continues to pull other nations forwards, inspiring faster and deeper action around the world." In her speech she also referred to the “Fit for 55” policy package as "a shining example of the type of radical socio-economic transformation that is so badly needed." Read her speech here.
“We are deeply grateful for the strong bond that has developed between UNEP and the European Parliament. In this relationship I see the type of inclusive multilateralism that is absolutely fundamental to the way we tackle the triple planetary crisis", Joyce Msuya told the Members of the European Parliament
Photo of Joyce Msuya addressing the European Parliament
Log in with your EU Login account to post or comment on the platform.