Civil society engagement

Civil Society Engagement

UN Environment Programme (UNEP) recognizes the importance of engaging Major Groups and other Stakeholders as partners and appreciates the perspectives they bring to the table, valuable research and advocacy functions they perform and their role in helping foster long-term, broad-based support for UNEP’s mission.

Intergovernmental decisions will have stronger and broader recognition and support by the public if governments take Major Groups and other Stakeholders views into account as early as possible in policy-making and decision-making processes. Major Groups and other Stakeholders also play a direct role in the formation of policy as researchers, think-tanks, and watchdogs, or through advocacy.

Major Groups and Stakeholders are currently engaged in the following processes:

Major Groups and Stakeholders at UNEA-6

The sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) was held in Nairobi, Kenya, from February 26 to March 1, 2024. During this session, 15 resolutions were adopted with the aim of addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Preceded by a preparatory meeting of the Open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives, UNEA-6 saw some 8000 participants registered with 5000 of these taking part in one way or the other. Additionally, the Assembly provided Major Groups and stakeholders with opportunities of engagement through the Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum and the Global Youth Environment Assembly to prepare statements and contributions for UNEA-6. Furthermore, the Multistakeholder dialogue facilitated collaboration among representatives from Member States, Major Groups, and the Private Sector, with the goal of discussing ways of effectively addressing environmental challenges through multilateralism.