Turning the tap on the positives

NEW GLOBAL RESOLUTIONS TO HELP ANIMALS AND NATURE

In a week when the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published its bleakest warming yet on the impacts of climate breakdown and the need for fast and transformational measures to reverse course and limit suffering, thankfully news from the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) held in Nairobi has been positive. The meeting concluded today (2nd March 2022) with 14 resolutions to curb pollution and protect and restore nature worldwide.

Amongst them, environment ministers from 193 countries around the globe voted to back a resolution, for the first time formally recognising the vital links been animal welfare and the environment crisis. And in addition, Heads of State, Ministers of environment and other representatives from 175 nations have signed a legally binding agreement on an end to plastic pollution encompassing all stages of its life cycle, from production to consumption and disposal by 2024!

Compassion in World Farming, worked as part of a major global movement of animal welfare groups who raised support for the adoption of the animal welfare resolution which has called on the UNEP Executive Director to prepare a report exploring the link between animal welfare, the environment and sustainable development. This will help develop a better understanding of the relationship that exists between improving animal welfare and tackling wildlife loss, climate change, pollution and pandemic diseases. Eirini Pitsilidi, Compassion in World Farming's Global Head of Food Systems Advocacy said:

"This is a momentous decision for animal welfare. Improving animal welfare is vital to securing a sustainable future for animals, people, and the planet so the adoption of this resolution is hugely significant, although it's just the beginning.

Meanwhile UNEA president Espen Barth Eide used a gavel made from recycled plastic as they passed a resolution on the first treaty to directly tackle the 9 billion tonnes of plastic produced since the 1950s. Inger Anderson, executive director of the UN Environment Programme, called the legally binding plastic prevention treaty "the most significant environmental multilateral deal since the 2015 Paris climate accord", comparing it to past environmental treaties such as the Montreal protocol on ozone-destroying chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) and the Minamata convention on mercury pollution, both of which led to massive reductions in emissions of these harmful chemicals. "It is an insurance policy for this generation and future ones, so they may live with plastic and not be doomed by it."

The following are all 14 of the resolutions adopted by the UN Environment Assembly at this meeting:

- Resolution to End plastic pollution: Towards an international legally binding instrument

- Resolution on an Enhancing Circular Economy as a contribution to achieving sustainable consumption and production

- Resolution on Sustainable Lake Management

- Resolution on Nature-based Solutions for Supporting Sustainable Development

- Resolution on the environmental dimension of a sustainable, resilient and inclusive post COVID-19 recovery

- Resolution on Biodiversity and Health

- Resolution-Animal Welfare - Environment - Sustainable Development Nexus

- Resolution on Sustainable Nitrogen Management

- Resolution on Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure

- Resolution on the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste

- Resolution for a Science-Policy Panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent

pollution

- Resolution text on environmental aspects of minerals and metals management

- Resolution on the Future of the Global Environment Outlook

- Resolution due regard to the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in accordance with paragraph 3 of article 101 of the

Charter of the UN