On September 7-9, an international consultation of task forces was held in preparation for the meeting of the UN Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which will be held in February 2022. Lake Baikal Foundation also participated in working sessions.
The purpose of the Consultation is to develop strategic and regulatory proposals for the Assembly, taking into account the positions of all target groups.
The focus of the plenary sessions was on the need for more decisive actions on the part of UNEP, which will be able to encourage states and corporations to take effective measures to combat the climate crisis. A separate topic of the Consultation was a multilateral discussion on the relationship between sustainable food systems and the state of the environment. During the discussion, the task force of farmers noted that the interests of small farms, which account for 80% of all agricultural products*, are not taken into account in the development of global and national food strategies.
The Foundation’s team joined the working group on climate to discuss the latest scientific report of the UN Intergovernmental Panel of Experts. The meeting was opened by the Prince of Saudi Arabia, in his speech he drew attention to the enormous role of governments in promoting the climate agenda. The speakers have repeatedly stressed that compensatory strategies are not enough, a serious restructuring of economic and political systems is necessary. The Foundation supported the thesis about the importance of climate education in the training of younger generations.
The Consultation resulted in 5 resolutions, which were worked on by the Foundation’s team, among others. Each target group had the opportunity to present their comments and suggestions. We are happy to participate in such global discussions, where stakeholders from different parts of the globe can join forces to create a better future for the planet.
*According to the latest data from the UN World Food Organization.