The European Commission and the United Nations reiterated their support for global environmental multilateralism at a meeting today (16 March).
The high-level meeting in Brussels, where Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, met with Inger Andersen, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), allowed the two institutions to align strategic priorities. It also focused on reinforcing environmental multilateral cooperation at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty and environmental pressures.
The meeting highlighted the crucial significance of advancing collaborative efforts between the UNEP and the Commission, particularly in the areas of pollution, biodiversity, climate change and water.
In the face of political challenges to scientific evidence, both entities emphasised the indispensable role of science for informed policy decisions. Both the UNEP and the Commission reaffirmed their dedication to fostering robust alliances and obtaining ambitious outcomes.
“Our strong cooperation with the UN manifests the clear need for robust multilateralism in these times of geopolitical uncertainties. Together we are committed to tackling environmental crises and strengthening global competitiveness, security, and resilience in the long term.
Our partnership also underlines our commitment to scientific expertise in addressing global challenges and supporting a more sustainable future.”
Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy
“At a time when the world faces complex global challenges, science-based environmental multilateralism is more important than ever. Today’s meeting was an important opportunity to strengthen our cooperation and discuss priorities as we look ahead to important negotiations on climate, biodiversity and land degradation later this year.
The European Union’s leadership in advancing ambition and supporting effective global environmental governance in these negotiations remains vital. We look forward to continuing our work together – for people and for the planet.”
Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme
Both sides agreed on a new Annex to the Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions for the cooperation period 2026-2029, which will guide joint policy and programme collaboration.
The renewed partnership will focus on several key priorities:
- Addressing the triple planetary crisis: Climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution through global environmental cooperation and science-based policies that protect health, well-being and economy.
- Building strong coalitions for global action ahead of major international meetings, including the three Rio Conventions Conference of Parties (COP) – on desertification (UNCCD COP-17), biodiversity (CBD COP-17) and climate (UNFCCC COP-31), the first international conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals, UN Water Conference and resumed negotiations on a global treaty on plastic pollution (INC-5.4).
- Strengthening the science-policy interface, ensuring that science-based research continues to guide environmental decision-making at a time when scientific consensus is increasingly challenged.
- Strengthening global environmental governance and synergies among the relevant Conventions under the continuous leadership of UNEP.
The discussions also explored how to improve cooperation between the UNEP and multilateral environmental agreements and touched on the ongoing negotiations over the EU’s long-term budget for 2028-2034.
Both sides agreed to join forces with a view to concluding the negotiations, held under the auspices of the UNEP, for a new international treaty to end plastic pollution: the EU remains committed to an effective and robust instrument.
Recent multilateral successes
Despite geopolitical tensions, 2025 brought achievements in global environmental cooperation, including UNEA-7 outcomes with 11 resolutions and 3 decisions, covering environmental changes facing the world – from sound management of the minerals and metals essential to the energy transition, to wildfires, boosting the environmental dimension of antimicrobial resistance, or sustainable use of AI.
Last year also saw the establishment of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution Prevention (ISP-CWP), outcomes of various COPs and the ratification of the BBNJ Agreement (Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction).
Background
The annual dialogue builds on well-established collaboration between the different services of the Commission, the European External Action Service and the UNEP, at policy and programmatic levels, in support of solutions through environmental multilateralism.
To date, cooperation between the Commission and UNEP covers a wide range of activities, programmes, and projects in areas such as biodiversity, sustainable consumption and production, climate change, water resources, sound chemicals and waste management, environmental monitoring and assessment, and strengthening environmental governance at the global, regional and national levels.
The Commission has provided support to both UNEP directly and to the budgets of Multilateral Environmental Agreements for which UNEP provides the secretariat.