The Fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5)

UNEA-5 is an opportunity for Member States and Stakeholders to share best practices for sustainability and create momentum for governments to build back better through green and sustainable recovery plans, following the COVID-19 pandemic. Substantive matters that require in-depth negotiations, including a Ministerial Declaration under the UNEA-5 theme “Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”, were deferred to a resumed in-person session of UNEA-5 which will take place on 28 February – 2 March 2022 (UNEA-5.2). Read more details about UNEA 5.2 here.

Looking ahead to the resumed session of UNEA.5, the UNEA President has re-initiated the consultations process on a ministerial declaration. In his letter dated 6 October 2021, the President presents an updated version of the zero draft declaration that considers what has already been achieved during previous consultations. The letter also proposes a consultation timeline before final consideration and adoption of the draft at the upcoming resumed session of UNEA-5.

Immediately after UNEA-5.2, the Assembly will hold a Special Session of the Assembly on 3 - 4 March 2022, which is devoted to the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the creation of UN Environment Programme in 1972 (UNEP@50).

The draft structure of UNEA-5.2 is available here. UNEA-5 side events will focus on the overall theme of the fifth session of the Environment Assembly – “Strengthening actions for nature to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”, and the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme, which is the theme of the special session. Kindly note that the call for proposals has been closed and applications are currently under consideration.



Please use the Hashtags: #ForNature, #UNEA5

Side events: There are several side events planned during UNEA. You can find them in the UNEA5.2 schedule.

On Thursday, 1 March, the Directorate-General for the Environment of the European Commission with support from UNEP will hold a side event entitled a "Zero pollution ambition" to protect nature and people. This event will set out the challenges arising from pollution for achieving our nature and biodiversity goals and to demonstrate how actions to reduce pollution also protect nature and people and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Watch the livestream here. Find the programme here.

Stay tuned for updates

Follow the UNEA feed for updates. This feed will tell you everything you need to know about UNEA-5 with links to live sessions, new reports and critical debates as they happen. Stay tuned!