The seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) concluded on December 12 with the adoption of 11 resolutions, three decisions, and a Ministerial Declaration aimed at driving solutions to the most urgent environmental challenges.
Held at the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, the Assembly brought together more than 6,000 people from 186 nations, focusing its discussions on the triple planetary crisis:
- Climate change.
- Loss of nature and biodiversity and land degradation.
- Pollution and waste.
Key Resolutions of UNEA-7 on Environmental Challenges
The adopted resolutions drive the work of Member States in strategic areas:
- Coral reef protection.
- Sound management of minerals and metals essential for the energy transition.
- Management of chemicals and waste.
- Sustainable use of artificial intelligence.
- Sustainable solutions through sport.
- International cooperation against forest and vegetation fires.
- Environmental dimension of antimicrobial resistance.
- Glacier protection.
- Response to sargassum algae blooms.
Ministerial Declaration and Commitments
The Ministerial Declaration commits States to:
- Implement obligations under the framework of multilateral environmental agreements.
- Promote equitable and inclusive participation in all efforts.
- Drive bold actions that generate sustainable solutions.
Additionally, the Medium-Term Strategy (MTS) of UNEP for the next four years and the Work Programme for the following two were approved.
Leadership Voices
The president of UNEA-7, H.E. Abdullah bin Ali Al-Amri, highlighted:
“What we have achieved here demonstrates that this bridge is capable of supporting the world’s aspirations towards a better future.”
Meanwhile, Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP, urged States to translate agreements into concrete outcomes:
“Success will not only be measured by what we have adopted on paper, but by what we see in practice: cleaner air, purer water, restored ecosystems, and more resilient societies.”
Parallel Initiatives and Social Participation
UNEA-7 included key spaces:
- Day of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEA), dedicated to international environmental governance.
- Presentation of the Global Environment Outlook, the most comprehensive report on the state of the global environment, which concluded that investing in a healthy planet can generate trillions of additional dollars in global GDP, prevent millions of deaths, and reduce poverty.
- Youth Environment Assembly, with over 1,000 young delegates advocating for inclusion and meaningful participation.
- Summit of Cities and Regions, highlighting the role of local governments in integrated environmental solutions.
- 21st Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum, with civil society and Member States sharing perspectives.
Recognitions and Cultural Messages
The Gala of Hope celebrated the Champions of the Earth 2025, awarding five individuals and institutions for their exceptional work against climate change. The Flagship Global Restoration Initiatives were also highlighted.
UNEP Goodwill Ambassadors reinforced the messages:
- Lewis Pugh, Patron of the Oceans, climbed Mount Kenya, which hosts one of Africa’s last glaciers.
- Tanzanian artist Frida Amani performed her song Resilience with the Kenya Children’s Choir.
Looking to the Future
UNEA-7 elected H.E. Matthew Samuda, Minister of Water, Environment, and Climate Change of Jamaica, as president of the next session, who committed to promoting an Assembly marked by inclusion, transparency, and practical action.
The UNEA-8 will be held from December 6 to 10, 2027 in Nairobi.
