Details

Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum 2017:

27-28 November 2017

UN Gigiri Complex, Conference Room 1

Nairobi, Kenya

Draft agenda as of 8 November 2017

The third United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-3) will give Major Groups and Stakeholders the unique opportunity to come together prior to UNEA and to actively engage with the two-day Global Major Groups and Stakeholder Forum 2017 (GMGSF-2017). GMGSF 2017 will take place on November 27 and 28, 2017 at the UN compound in Nairobi, Kenya co-organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation it will mobilize Major Groups and other Stakeholders to engage in a multi-stakeholders setting that will also include policymakers, learning from each other, developing partnerships and creating their input into UNEA-3. Participation in the GMGSF-2017 is open of representatives of Major Groups organizations accredited to UNEP, non-accredited organizations, member states and representatives of international organizations. Please register here: https://reg.unog.ch/event/21349/

All participants have to pre-register in advance- no on-site registration will be possible.

Non-accredited major groups and stakeholders (MGS) organizations will not have access to the Open Ended CPR meeting nor to the Assembly itself but to all parallel events which take place outside of the official meetings such as the Sustainable Innovation Expo. For all events at and on the margins of the UN Environment Assembly please see: http://web.unep.org/environmentassembly/assembly/

The Major Groups and Stakeholders website: http://web.unep.org/about/majorgroups/

Background

The Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum (GMGSF) will be held on 27-28 November 2017, to kick-start the series of important activities leading to the 2017 UN Environment Assembly that will take place on 4-6 December. The Forum will precede the third session of the Open-Ended Meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR) on 29 November to 1 December and the Science-Policy-Business Forum on 2-3 December.

GMGSF is a crucial opportunity for civil society organizations and major groups to collectively engage on the agenda and influence the outcomes of UNEA, including other official events around it. It is a multi-stakeholder process self-organized by Major Groups and Stakeholders accredited with UN Environment. The Forum provides Major Groups and Stakeholders the opportunity to deliberate and coordinate their collective inputs into both the OECPR and the UNEA itself. Civil society and stakeholders may also participate in the Science, Policy and Business Forum and other events around UNEA-2017.

GMGSF sessions are designed to allow spaces for voices from the grassroots and communities worldwide affected by various forms of pollution such as air, land, freshwater and marine including cross-cutting themes such as noise, military and chemical pollution to be heard and influence actions. Responses of communities and civil society to address pollution and present viable alternatives will be highlighted at the Forum. Interactive methodologies will be adopted in the sessions to encourage active engagement with the participants. Expertise, relevant experiences, regional and gender balance are key considerations in the choice of panelists to enhance the outcomes of the Forum.

Objectives:

1.To facilitate Major Groups and Stakeholders preparations for engagement in the Open Ended Meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives and 2017 UN Environment Assembly;

2.To inform participants on engagement opportunities at the 2017 UN Environment Assembly formal program and events;

3.To provide a platform for grassroots and communities to present their experiences and actions on pollution;

4.To present Civil Society Organisations and community actions to address pollution; and

5.To formulate Major Groups and Stakeholders positions and recommendations on UN Environment Assembly Resolutions

Expected Outcomes:

1.Collective Major Groups and Stakeholders statements and positions on themes of the 2017 UN Environment Assembly

2.Concrete recommendations related to 2017 UN Environment Assembly draft Resolutions; and

3.Collage of community stories and actions on pollution

4.Interaction with some relevant UNEA-3 actors such as UN Environment directives and other UN Agencies, governments, etc.

November 27, 2017 | Day 1

07:00am-09:00amRegistration ( consider doing your direct registration a day in advance if possible to avoid long waiting hours).

09:00am-09.30amOpening Remarks

To formally open the Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum 2017 and welcome the participants; as well as to set the tone on Major Groups and Stakeholders goals to make 2017 UN Environment Assembly relevant to peoples’ lives as expressed by a grassroots representative

Facilitator: Elenita Dano, ETC Group

Opening Remarks:

●Jorge Laguna-Celis, Secretary of the Governing Bodies, UN Environment

●Prof. Dr. Oliver Ruppel, Director, Climate Policy and Energy Security Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung

●Susana Rivero Baughman, Calvin James and Leida Rijnhout |Major Group Facilitating Committee Co-Chairs

●Sofia Ashraf (tbc), Grassroots representative affected by pollution

Introduction of Programme (5 mins)

09.30am – 10.30am Session 2. Pollution Free Planet and 2030 Agenda

To expound on the theme of 2017 UN Environment Assembly and situate in the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs in the context of systemic challenges

Facilitator: Leonida Odongo, IBON International-Africa**

●Fanny Demassieux (tbc), UN Environment | UN Environment background report on Pollution

●Major Groups/experts actively involved in SDGs/2030 Agenda processes

oWardarina, Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development / APRCEM and Women Major Group, Asia Pacific

oHilal Elver (tbc), Special Rapporteur on Right to Food, MENA

oNorine Kennedy, Business and Industry

oLeida Rijnhout, NGO Major Group, Europe

Open Forum

10.30am – 11.00am

Session 3. Understanding the UNEA and effectively engaging in its 3rd session and associated activities

To orient and level off on what is UNEA, how 2017 UN Environment Assembly is organized and how can Major Groups and Stakeholders/Civil Society Organisations effectively engage in the formal program and different events/processes, including how the resolutions can be implemented at the national level and how they relevant they are as international environmental policy instrument

Facilitator: Mirna Hernandez, Children and Youth Major Group

●Alexander Juras, Chief, Civil Society Unit, UN Environment |Understanding the UNEA and effectively engaging in its’ 3rd session and associated events

●Jan-Gustav Strandenaes , Stakeholder Forum | Highlights of UN Environment guidelines on stakeholder engagement

Open Forum

11.00 – 11.30Explanation about Dotmoc-traffic-cracy

Health Break

11.30 – 12.30

Session 4. Grassroots Voices from across the world: impacts of pollution on People’s and Communities Actions

To provide real-life community context to the theme of 2017 UN Environment Assembly:

Facilitator: Wali Haider, Roots for Equity

Panelists:

Grassroots representatives who can share their stories on how pollution has impacted their communities and how they addressed the problems**

●Helen Hakena, Leitana Nehan Women Development Agency (PNG), Pacific

●Celestine Akpobari, Peoples Advancements Center, Ogoniland, Nigeria,Africa

●Mr. Valentine Odhiambo (tbc), BAMATO Environmental and Sanitation Project in Nyalenda, Kisumu City,Kenya

●Helda Khasmi, SERUNI, on the issue of smog (air pollution), Indonesia, Asia

12.30am – 1.00pmBreak out Major Groups and Stakeholders groups to continue over Lunch break

1.00pm – 2.00pmLunch Break

Note: Sessions 5 to 9 will tackle the key Thematic Areas under the “Pollution-free World” theme of 2017 UN Environment Assembly with TV Talkshow style

2.00pm – 3.30pmSession 5. Land and Soil Pollution

To understand and deliberate on key issues in Land and Soil Pollution from the perspectives of representatives of Major Groups, academia and grassroots

Facilitator: Calvin James, Farmers Major Group

●Short Video on Community Experience and Actions on Land/Soil Pollution

●Resource Persons from Civil Society Organisations/Major Groups, Academia and Grassroots

oSarojeni Rengam, Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific, Malaysia, Asia

oPhyllis Omido , Center for Justice, Governance and Environmental Action, Mombasa, Kenya

oHE Mr. Moustapha Mbaye (tbc), president of the Regional Council of Saint Louis (Senegal)

oPrem Singh Tharu, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), Asia

oIsis Alvarez,-Global Forest Coalition - biodiversity and health affected from pollution from livestock and other agro-industrial activities, Latin America

Open Forum (includes Tweets, call-in)

3.30pm – 3.45pmHealth Break

3.45pm – 5.15pmSession 6. Marine Pollution

To understand and deliberate on key issues in Marine Pollution from the perspectives of representatives of Major Groups, academia and grassroots

Facilitator: Caroline Usikpedo, Niger Delta Women Movement,Uganda

●Short Video on Community Experience and Actions on Marine Pollution

●Resource Persons from Civil Society Organisations/Major Groups, Academia and Grassroots**

oImogen Ingram (tbc), Island Sustainability Alliance Cook Islands

oZoila Bustamente (tbc), president of Conapach and member of WWF Latin America, small scale fisher folk, Costa Rica

oDelphine Lévi Alvarès, BFFP, Zero Waste Europe

oGary Mills , Artisanal Fishers Association, South Africa

oGuest Resource Person: Representative of the government of Norway to explain the objectives and action areas in the draft Resolution on Marine litter and microplastic (tbc)

Open Forum (includes Tweets, call-in)

05.15 – 06.45Session 7. Air Pollution

To understand and deliberate on key issues in Air Pollution from the perspectives of representatives of Major Groups, academia and grassroots

Facilitator: Ajay Jha Kumar, CECODECON, India

●Short Video on Community Experience and Actions on Air Pollution

●Resource Persons from Civil Society Organisations/Major Groups, Academe and Grassroots**

oYuyun Ismawati, Bali Fokus (tbc), (mercury pollution, air pollution and health), Indonesia, Asia

oBreatheLife Campaign representative http://breathelife2030.org/ UNE WHO CCAC initiative,

oGuest Resource Person: Representative of the government of Sudan to explain the objectives and action areas in the draft Resolution on Air Quality

Open Forum (includes Tweets, call-in)

November 28, 2017 | Day 2

09.00 - 10,30Session 8. Freshwater Pollution:

To understand and deliberate on key issues in Freshwater Pollution from the perspectives of representatives of Major Groups, academia and grassroots

Facilitator: Susanna Rivero / Yunus Arikan (tbc)

●Short Video on Community Experience and Actions on Freshwater Pollution

●Resource Persons from Civil Society Organisations/Major Groups, Academe and Grassroots**

oAgnes Mirembe, ARUWE, Uganda, Africa

oAbou Thiam, Regional Coordinator of Pesticide Action Network (PAN)-Africa,Senegal

oBanamalika Chowdurry, NEThing, India, Asia

oHE Mr. Aka Aouélé (tbc), president of the Sud Comoé Region

oGuest Resource Person : Representative of Government of Colombia on Water for All, Leaving no One Behind

Open Forum (includes Tweets, call-in)

10.30 - 12.00Session 9a. Cross-cutting: Chemicals and Wastes

To understand and deliberate on key cross-cutting issues in Chemicals and Waste from the perspectives of representatives of Major Groups, academia and grassroots

Facilitator: Mohamed Abdelraouf, Gulf Research Center

●Short Video on Community Experience and Actions on Chemical and Waste

●Resource Persons from Civil Society Organisations/Major Groups, Academia and Grassroots**

●Priscilla Achakpa, Women Environemtnal Programme, Nigeria & Sascha Gabizon, Women Engage for a Common Future (WECF) on Gender and Chemicals

●Anabella Rosemberg (tbc), International Trade Union Confederation

●Aleksandra Kumbuli, Women in Development, Shkoder, Albania – mobilizing youth on waste and menstrual hygiene management

●Carlos Martin Novella, Deputy Executive Secretary at Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm

●Olga Ponizova, Director of NGO Eco-Accord, Russia

Open Forum

10.30 - 12.00Session 9b. Cross-cutting: Militarism, Noise and Other Pollution

To understand and deliberate on key cross-cutting issues in Military, Noise and other pollution from the perspectives of representatives of Major Groups, academia and grassroots

Facilitator: April Porteria, Center for Environmental Concerns-Philippines

●Short Video on Community Experience and Actions on Militarism, Noise and Other Pollution

●Resource Persons from Civil Society Organisations/Major Groups, Academe and Grassroots**

●Doug Weir, Toxic Remnants of War Project

●Marie Therese Seif ,war impacts on migrants and pollution

●Margi Prideaux (tbc), Oceancare

●Guest Resource Person: Iraq -- Pollution prevention and control in areas affected by terrorist operations and armed conflict

12.00 – 02.00pmBreak Out Group

Lunch

02.00 – 03.30pmSession 10. “Field Interview/Reporting” on other outstanding issues in the 2017 UN Environment Assembly Agenda:

Facilitator: Leida Rijnhout, NGO Major Group

●Edgar Gutierrez, UNEA President on Ministerial Declaration.

●Representative of Philippines government on the draft Resolution on coherence (tbc)

oHE Dr. Wilbert K. Ottichilo (tbc), Governor of the Vihiga County, Council of Governors of Kenya

●UN Environment budget and program performance

Open Forum

03.30 – 03.45Health Break

03.45 – 05.00Session 11. Dialogue with UN Environment Executive Secretary Erik Solheim

Facilitator : Tareq Hassan, West Asia Representative

05.00 – 06.15Session 12. Drafting of Major Groups and Stakeholders Positions on 2017 UN Environment Assembly Draft Resolutions

Note: Will also derive consensus positions from:

Dot-mocracy (+traffic light) on key issues

Drafting Group: reps from Major Groups and Regional Reps + RCEM

(not necessarily by the 9 Major Groups, may be by a cluster of like-minded Major Groups)

06.15 – 6.30CLOSING

6.30 – 10.00PARTY at UN-Recreation Center