Amid mounting geopolitical tensions, fragmented politics alone can't mend a fractured planet. This week, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) – the world's top environmental decision-making body – convenes its seventh session in Nairobi, Kenya, from December 8 to 12, 2025.
Recent data from the UN Environment Programme highlight a concerning trend: global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, and climate impacts are intensifying. Record-breaking heatwaves, shrinking ecosystems, and emerging chemical pollution remind us that environmental threats respect no borders. As these challenges accelerate, global solutions have never been more urgent.
UNEA 7 brings together ministers, scientists, activists, and business leaders to negotiate policies that can turn the tide. Building on last year's progress, delegates will establish the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution – completing the "science trifecta" alongside the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
2025 also marked a major win for ocean governance: the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement entered into force, setting sustainable rules for marine life management in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
As UNEA enters this pivotal week, its role as a global convenor is clear: forging cross-sector partnerships, aligning scientific insights with policy action, and delivering tangible steps toward a resilient, sustainable Earth. For young global citizens and changemakers, UNEA 7 is both a blueprint and a rallying cry: the future depends on bold, collective environmental action.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
