The issue of environmental conservation tops the agenda of the United Nations Environment Assembly at its seventh session

In light of the escalation of international discussions about the future of environmental work, the issue of environmental preservation, and the requirements for moving from pledges to implementation, the work of the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) was concluded in Nairobi, after a week of deliberations that resulted in the adoption of 11 resolutions, 3 decisions, and a ministerial declaration, all of which aim to advance practical solutions that enhanceenvironmental preservationand support building a planet more capable of Resilience in the face of escalating crises.

The session witnessed broad participation, including more than 6,000 participants from 186 countries, who met at the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Program to discuss ways to address what is known as the “triple planetary crisis,” represented by climate change, the deterioration of ecosystems, the loss of biodiversity and land degradation, in addition to pollution and waste. In the face of this complex reality, the Assembly’s decisions came as an attempt to translate global concern into concrete courses of action.

Environmental decisions and messagesConcrete

During its seventh session, the Assembly adopted a package of decisions that pushed forward the work of member states on a number of vital environmental files with the aim of preserving and protecting the environment, which included:

• Protecting fragile ecosystems, especially coral reefs and glaciers, and dealing with emerging environmental phenomena such as the proliferation of marine sargassum algae.
• Improving the management of chemicals and waste, and reducing sources of pollution as one of the pillars of the triple planetary crisis.
• Supporting international cooperation to combat forest fires, and enhancing environmental efforts related to microbial resistance.
• Recognizing the importance of rational management of mining and minerals necessary for the transformation process in the energy sector, in a way that balances the requirements of development and environmental protection.
• Establishing the sustainable use of artificial intelligence technologies, and exploring innovative solutions for sustainability across the sports sector.

In this context, Abdullah bin Ali Al Amri, Chairman of the Environment Agency in the Sultanate of Oman and President of the seventh session of the Assembly, considered that what was achieved during this session demonstrates the ability of multilateral collective action to carry the world’s aspirations towards a better future.

Al-Omari added that the conclusion of the session does not mean the end of the desired mission, stressing that the association’s success will be measured by what will actually be achieved on the ground, in terms of cleaner air and purer water, healthy environmental systems, green job opportunities, and communities more able to withstand the challenges of the future.

Ministerial Declaration and Action Plans for the Next Phase

The Assembly also issued a “Ministerial Declaration” affirming the commitment of member states to take concrete actions that push towards sustainable solutions, with an emphasis on implementing the obligations stipulated in multilateral environmental agreements and frameworks.
The declaration also stressed the importance of promoting fair and comprehensive participation in various environmental work streams, as it is a fundamental pillar for ensuring the effectiveness of policies and achieving tangible results on the ground in the file of environmental conservation.

Within the framework of translating the decisions and ministerial declarations into practical steps, it approved the “Medium-Term Strategy” of the United Nations Environment Program for the next four years, in addition to the work program emerging from it for the next two years, with the aim of enhancing the effectiveness of planning, implementation and follow-up of agreed upon commitments.
These paths are the executive framework that links political ambitions with practical reality, by supporting partnerships, mobilizing resources, and ensuring the continuity of environmental work at the regional and international levels.

International reports and events with supportive community momentum

The seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly witnessed a series of international reports and events that reflected societal momentum in support of environmental conservation issues, and contributed to expanding the circle of participation and enhancing dialogue on global environmental challenges, including:

Effectiveness of multilateral environmental agreements

On the second day, the seventh session witnessed the organization of the “Multilateral Environmental Agreements” event, dedicated to discussing international agreements concerned with the most pressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels, as pivotal tools for governing environmental action, enhancing environmental conservation efforts, and developing international environmental law.

Global Environment Outlook Report

The seventh edition of the Global Environment Outlook – Seventh Edition (Global Environment Outlook) was launched during the Assembly’s work, which is the most comprehensive assessment of the state of the global environment to date. The report concluded that investing in climate stability, the health of natural systems and lands, and building a pollution-free world constitutes an essential path to supporting environmental conservation. It can also generate trillions of dollars and add them to the global gross domestic product, spare the world millions of deaths, and contribute to lifting hundreds of millions out of the clutches of poverty and hunger.

Youth Environmental Association

Before the assembly was held, the Youth Environment Assembly was held, which brought together more than a thousand young men and women to defend the inclusion and empowerment of youth and ensure their effective participation in global environmental governance.

Summit of Cities and Regions

The Cities and Regions Summit highlighted the critical role of local and regional governments in providing integrated solutions and driving environmental transformation from the local level to national and international policies.

Stakeholder Forum

The 21st Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum (GMGSF) witnessed an expanded exchange of visions among representatives of civil society, both among themselves and with representatives of Member States and the United Nations Environment Programme, on ways to deal with the most pressing environmental issues and strengthen the role of multilateral partnerships in supporting environmental conservation efforts at all levels.

Heroes of the Earth Award 2025

The association’s work celebrated the winners of the 2025 UN Champions of the Earth Award, which is an award given by the association to honor individuals and institutions that contribute to protecting the environment. Five individuals were awarded this award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to confronting climate change.

“Global Flags for Ecosystem Restoration” Initiatives

The latest UN World Restoration Flagships initiatives were celebrated during a symbolic event titled “Concert of Hope.” It is an initiative that aims to shed light on the most prominent global pioneering projects in the field of restoring degraded ecosystems.

A number of UNEP Goodwill Ambassadors participated in the session’s activities, within the framework of supporting messages calling for adopting practical solutions to global environmental challenges, and enhancing public awareness of the importance of collective action to protect planet Earth.

PresidencyUNEA-8And the vision for the next stage

The Assembly also elected a new President of the eighth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-8), Mr. Matthew Samuda, Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change of Jamaica, to chair the work of the next session.

Samoda stressed that the votes of member states reflect the suffering of societies under direct threats from the repercussions of climate change, societies that do not have the luxury of postponement or indifference. In his capacity as President of the Association, he pledged to work to establish an approach based on comprehensiveness, transparency, and focus on practical actions, while strengthening the link between science and policy-making, expanding the scope of financing for adaptation and building resilience, and accelerating the shift towards sustainable production and consumption patterns, in a way that supports environmental conservation paths.

At the conclusion of the work, the Member States set the date for holding the eighth session of the Assembly during the period from 6 to 10 December 2027, at the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Program in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

In her closing speech to the Assembly, Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, called on Member States to fully fulfill their commitments, allowing the program to translate the adopted policies into tangible results and actual impact on the ground.

Andersen confirmed that the participants will leave the negotiating halls to return to a world facing real crises, where lives are lost, homes and livelihoods are destroyed, economies are damaged, and inequality gaps widen as a result of the slow and weak response to environmental challenges.

From the perspective ofEarth Defenders Foundation, the outcomes of the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly represent an important step that should not stop at the borders of resolutions, but rather require accelerating implementation and transforming commitments into effective policies on the ground; Therefore, the Foundation confirms that adopting these paths enhancespreserving the environmentand strengthens the ability of societies to withstand in the face of escalating crises.