Asia Pacific Forum of Ministers and Authorities of Environment | 3rd to 6th October, 2023 тАв
UNEP organizes Regional Forum in all the 6 regions of the UN before each UNEA. This time UNEA is being organized during 26th February to 1st March 2024 at UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. In the Asia Pacific region, it was organized as titled тАЬ5th Forum of Ministers and Authorities of Environment in Asia Pacific.тАЩ It was organized in collaboration with the Govt of Sri Lanka at Shangri-La Colombo on 4th and 5th October. The objective of the Regional Forum is to provide to input regional priorities for the UNEA. More than 50 CSOs belonging to the Major Groups and Sri LankaтАЩs CSO participated in the Forum. Ajay K Jha, Regional Facilitator (Asia Pacific) delivered the Collective Statement on the Agenda item 3 (regional Input to UNEA) representing all MGS in Asia Pacific. Mr. Prem Singh Tharu delivered the statement on the Agenda Item 3c (Reflection on the draft Ministerial Declaration of the UNEA 6) on behalf of the Indigenous Peoples Major Group and Ms. Joy Hernandez delivered the statement on Agenda item 7 (Multi stakeholder Dialogue on Multilateralism for transformative Action) on behalf of Workers and Trade Union major Group. Ms. Elenita Neth Dano was a panelist on the Agenda Item 7 representing Science and Technology Major Group.
The brief report by the Earth Negotiations Bulletin of the IISD for the Environment Ministers & Authorities Meeting can be accessed here.
Major Groups and Stakeholder Forum | 3rd October, Shangri-La Colombo
The Regional Forum was preceded by Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum (MGS Forum), which is a platform for the UNEP accredited organizations to provide input to the 5th AP Forum and UNEA 6. More than 100 organizations participated in the MGS Forum. Speakers at the MGS Forum included Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Govt of Sri Lanka, Excellency Mr. Firas Khouri, Chair of the Committee of the Permanent Representatives and Ambassador of Jordan to the UNEP, Ms. Radhika Ochalik, Secretary of the Governing Bodies of the UNEP. Dr. Dechen Tsering, Regional Director, UNEP Asia Pacific and Mr. Subrat Sinha, UNEP Regional Office. Ajay K Jha was the key note speaker for the MGS Forum. The daylong session discussed several issues including regional priorities, peoples solutions and innovations, expectations from the UNEA and progress on UNEA 5 resolutions, drafts resolutions proposed for the UNEA 6 and Reflection on the draft Ministerial Declaration for the UNEA 6.
Ajay K Jha as Regional Facilitator for the Asia Pacific MGS was responsible for organizing the MGS Forum and ensuring presence of the MGs at the 5th AP Forum. The MGS Forum was planned and organized by the Environment Working Group of the APRCEM and Ajay K Jha, in collaboration with Asia pacific regional office of the UNEP. Approx. 20 CSOs from Asia Pacific were provided financial support to participate in the Forum.
The brief report by the Earth Negotiations Bulletin of the IISD for the MGS Forum can be accessed here.
Asia Pacific Youth Forum | 1st & 2nd October, UN Compound Colombo
Ajay K Jha was invited to speak on the closing ceremony of the Youth Forum which was organized by Children and Youth Major Group in collaboration with the UNEP Asia Pacific and UNRC Office in Sri Lanka. Youth came out with a youth Manifesto in the closing session of the Forum. Other Speakers in the closing session included Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Govt of Sri Lanka, UN Resident Coordinator, Sri Lanka, Dr. Dechen Tsering, Director, UNEP Asia Pacific Regional Office.
The brief report by the Earth Negotiations Bulletin of the IISD for the Youth Forum can be accessed here.