chapter vii environment and human settlements · 2020-01-20 · management, environmental...

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Chapter VII

Environment and human settlements

In 2015, the United Nations continued its work in protecting the environment and improving the living conditions of people residing in cities through legally binding instruments and the activities of the United Nations Environment Programme (unep) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).

The year marked a turning point for the envi-ronmental agenda of the United Nations through the adoption of landmark global agreements on sustainable development, climate change, disaster risk reduction and financing for development, the contents of which contributed to the elaboration of the Sustainable Development Goals and the inte-gration of environmental sustainability and social equity with economic progress. As the authoritative voice for the environment, unep—through its work on climate change, disasters and conflicts, ecosystem management, environmental governance, chemicals and waste, sustainable consumption and production, and keeping the environment under review—helped outline a way forward in the 2030 Agenda for Sustain-able Development that focused on both developed and developing parts of the world.

The eleventh session of the United Nations Forum on Forests, convened in May, focused on strength-ening and extending the international arrangement on forests, means of implementation for sustain-able forest management, forest law enforcement and governance at all levels, and enhanced cooperation and policy and programme coordination. The Forum recommended to the Economic and Social Council the adoption of a resolution on the “International arrangement on forests beyond 2015”, which the Council adopted in July. In doing so, the Council decided to extend the timeline of the global objec-tives on forests to 2030, in line with the post-2015 development agenda, and to rename the non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests the “United Nations forest instrument”. In December, the General Assembly adopted those modifications.

The Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, at its twenty-first session in December, adopted the Paris Agreement, which aimed to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change in the context of sustainable development. The Agreement invited all parties to communicate to the secretariat their intended nationally determined contributions towards achieving the Convention and invited the

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to pro-vide a special report in 2018 on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and re-lated global greenhouse gas emission pathways.

In October, the twelfth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification adopted 35 decisions and one resolution, including the Ankara Declaration, which dealt with how businesses could contribute to the transformation of economies to achieve land degrada-tion neutrality. The twelfth session also adopted a set of progress indicators to assess trends in land cover, land productivity and carbon stocks that could be used by parties for reporting to the three Rio Conventions.

The t went y-f i f t h se s s ion of t he UN-Habitat Governing Council, in April, adopted seven resolutions approving international guidelines on urban and territorial planning; increasing the ef-ficiency of country-level operations by strengthening national ownership and capacity; and highlighting the contribution of UN-Habitat to the post-2015 development agenda. On governance reform, the Council strengthened the linkages between the nor-mative and operational work of UN-Habitat and es-tablished a working group on programme and budget. The Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) held its second session, where the Secretary-General of the Conference re-ported on work to be carried out until the opening of the Conference in 2016. The Council welcomed the decisions of the Preparatory Committee, urged Member States to finalize their national reports for Habitat III and encouraged participation in the Conference by all levels of government and other stakeholders. In December, the General Assembly adopted a resolution approving the rules of proce-dure and reiterating that Habitat III should produce a forward-looking and action-oriented outcome docu-ment to reinvigorate global support for housing and sustainable urban development and the New Urban Agenda.

Environment

UN Environment ProgrammeThe year 2015 marked a turning point for the

environmental agenda with the adoption of land-

2 Part Three: Economic and social questions

YUN 2015—1st proof—09 December 2019

did not convene in 2015. The second session of the Environment Assembly would take place in 2016.

By decision 70/554 of 23 December, the General Assembly decided that the election of the Executive Director of unep would remain for consideration dur-ing its resumed seventieth (2016) session ).

Programme areasClimate change

In its work on combating climate change, unep focused on climate resilience, low-emission growth, and the United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries, including the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (redd+) . Regarding climate resilience, unep enabled 20 countries to implement ecosystem-based and other adaptation approaches in the previous two years, with 10 countries incorporating those approaches in key sectoral and development plans. Financing for the implementation of such plans, however, lagged be-hind the needs. Unep helped countries access existing financing and increase the availability of microfinance for adaptation, and supported 10 countries with their process of accreditation to the Adaptation Fund. Total bilateral and multilateral financing for climate change adaptation in developing countries in 2014 was esti-mated at $18.4 billion, representing an 8–9 per cent increase over the previous five years, but it remained far short of what would be needed by 2030.

The unep Emissions Gap Report 2015, a key docu-ment in the Paris Conference negotiations (see p. 000), assessed 119 indcs submitted to unfccc and com-pared the resulting emissions levels projected for 2030 with what science had determined was required to be on track towards the agreed target of a global average temperature increase below 2℃ by 2100. The report noted that enhanced energy efficiency in buildings, in-dustry and transport, and increased renewable energy were critical to closing the gap, as they accounted for 40 per cent of global energy use. Unep worked with its partners and governments to assist 31 countries in implementing initiatives to improve energy effi-ciency or invest in renewables, exceeding the target of 20 countries set for December 2015. Major unep partnership initiatives on climate change included The 1 Gigaton Coalition, the Portfolio Decarbonization Coalition, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, and the Climate Technology Centre and Network.

The UN Collaborative Initiative on Reducing Emis-sions from Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (un-redd), a programme jointly implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (fao) and the United Nations Development Programme (undp), scaled up support to 64 countries to assist in their read-iness for the expanded redd+ approach, which was an

mark agreements: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (see p. 000); the Paris Agreement, adopted at the twenty-first Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (unfccc) (see p. 000); the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, adopted at the third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (see p. 000); and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, adopted at the third International Conference on Financing for Development (see p. 000) . As the authoritative voice of the environment, the United Nations Environment Programme (unep) outlined a way forward in the 2030 Agenda that focused on sustainability in both developed and developing parts of the world. Unep contributed to the Paris Conference and the Paris Agreement by assisting 36 countries to develop and complete their Intended Nationally Determined Con-tributions (indcs); mobilizing institutional investors under the Portfolio Decarbonization Coalition, who committed to decarbonizing $600 billion of assets under management; helping to facilitate over $10 billion in pledges to the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative; supporting 97 countries with the inclusion of adaptation components in their indcs; partnering with the presidency of the Conference of the Parties on the launch of the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, hosted by unep; assisting countries in making linkages between climate science and policy; and partnering in the engagement of non-state actors, who were crucial to delivering emissions reductions.

During the year, unep worked in the areas of climate change, disasters and conflicts, ecosystem management, environmental governance, chemicals and waste, resource efficiency and sustainable consumption and production, and keeping the environment under review by promoting evidence-based decision-making through integrated knowl-edge. Environmental sustainability as a driver of development and human well-being remained a key focus of the work of unep, with initiatives such as The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity and the Project for Ecosystem Services (ProEcoServ), both of which focused on mainstreaming the values of biodiversity and ecosystem services into policy- and decision-making at all levels. In collaboration with partners, unep led the way in conserving and expand-ing forest cover, the sound management of chemicals, embedding sustainable consumption and production at all levels of society, and assisting nations in adapt-ing to climate change. Unep continued to work closely with other UN bodies, governments at all levels, intergovernmental organizations, civil society and the private sector to drive the process of change towards a sustainable future.

In accordance with United Nations Environment Assembly decision 1/2 [YUN 2014, p. 1171], the Environment Assembly, which met biennially,

Chapter VII: Environment and human settlements 3


Management Group (emg) (New York, 21 and 24 September) [EMG/SOM.21] consisted of a technical segment and a senior officials segment, including two high-level panel discussions on the follow-up of the environmental dimensions of the 2030 Agenda and the role of emg in that context. The UN system, through emg, was developing system-wide strategies on the environment to enhance coherence, with the aim of developing a framework to align agencies’ re-spective strategies on the environmental dimensions of the 2030 Agenda.

Human Rights Council action. On 26 March [A/HRC/28/2 (res. 28/11)] (see p. 000), the Council requested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to collaborate with UN programmes, agencies and funds, in par-ticular unep, with a view to facilitating the exchange of knowledge on human rights obligations related to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustain-able environment. The Council also invited States to consider the report of the Independent Expert [A/HRC/28/61] when fulfilling their human rights obliga-tions related to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, and to share good prac-tices in that regard when reporting to the UN human rights system.

In response to Human Rights Council resolu-tion 28/11, the Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, health and sustainable environment submitted a December report [A/HRC/31/53] describ-ing possible methods of implementation of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a healthy environment (see p. 000). Those methods included better dissemination of information about the human rights norms related to the environment; capacity-building; protection of the rights of those most vulnerable; and strengthening cooperation be-tween actors.

Sustainable consumption and production

In its work on resource efficiency and sustainable consumption and production, unep focused on the creation of enabling policy environments, the adop-tion of sustainable production practices in key sectors across global supply chains, and support for the ability of countries, businesses, civil society and individuals to make informed choices about sustainable lifestyles and consumption. With unep support, 140 countries, institutions and businesses across the sectors of building and construction, food and agriculture, finance and tourism improved their management practices or strategies on sustainable production and consumption practices in global supply chains. Unep also supported 20 countries on sustainable public procurement, six of which developed or implemented action plans in close coordination with the 10-year

increase from 48 in December 2013. Twenty-six of the 64 countries had national programmes, 13 developed or adopted national redd+ strategies in 2014–2015, and 20 began the process of developing, adopting or implementing national redd+ strategies, exceeding the unep target of 15 countries by December 2015.

Environmental governance

In its work on environmental governance, unep focused on three areas: coherence and synergy in the multilateral system on the handling of environmental issues; law and institutions for the implementation of internationally agreed environmental goals; and mainstreaming the environment into development processes.

Unep efforts in the previous two years had resulted in greater coherence in the way the UN system and multilateral environmental agreements handled envi-ronmental issues. In the context of the 2030 Agenda, Governments agreed on the need for an integrated approach that required environmental issues to be ad-dressed as part of a wider agenda for change. During the same time frame, unep supported 11 countries in undertaking new legal and institutional measures to improve the implementation of internationally agreed environmental goals. Partnerships with regional and global organizations, such as the Organization of American States and Globe International, helped to scale up the work of unep on law, leading to the up-take of the concept of environmental rule of law in regional contexts and to more systemic approaches to the engagement of parliamentarians. Unep achieved its target number of initiatives and partnerships with major groups and stakeholders in support of the development and implementation of national and international environmental law. At the international level, it convened processes to promote effective trans-boundary freshwater governance, the concept of en-vironmental rule of law, and Access to Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice in Environ-mental Matters (Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration) to enhance the capacities of government stakeholders. On mainstreaming environmental sustainability, 15 countries finalized their United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks during the year, incorporating the principles of environmental sustainability. The Poverty-Environment Initiative, operated by unep in collaboration with undp, resulted in the integration of environment objectives into 21 policies, plans and processes focused on poverty reduction over the prior two years. Furthermore, eight regional and subregional intergovernmental fora incorporated the principles of environmental sustainability into their 2014–2015 ses-sions, promoting the uptake of global environmental priorities at regional and national levels.

Environment Management Group. The twenty-first meeting of the senior officials of the Environment



the work programme 2014–2018; the initial work programme of the Platform; financial and budgetary arrangements; rules and procedures for the operation of the Platform; communications and stakeholder engagement; and institutional arrangements, par-ticularly the collaborative partnership arrangement between fao, undp, unep and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (unesco). The session had before it corresponding documents on those and related issues [IPBES/3/2, IPBES/3/3, IPBES/3/INF/1, IPBES/3/4, IPBES/3/INF/3, IP-BES/3/INF/2, IPBES/3/INF/4, IPBES/3/INF/7, IPBES/3/5, IPBES/3/INF/8, IPBES/3/6/Add.1-6, IPBES/3/INF/17, IP-BES/3/7, IPBES/3/INF/18, IPBES/3/8, IPBES/3/10, IPBES/3/2/Add.1/Rev.1, IPBES/3/INF/13, IPBES/3/11, IPBES/3/INF/15, IPBES/3/16, IPBES/3/12, IPBES/3/INF/11, IPBES/3/13, IP-BES/3/14, IPBES/3/15, IPBES/3/INF/9, IPBES/3/16, IPBES/3/INF/10, IPBES/3/17, IPBES/3/INF/14]. The plenary adopted decisions on the work programme for the period 2014–2018; financial and budgetary arrangements; rules and procedures for the operation of the Platform; and communication, stakeholder engagement and strategic partnerships. The plenary Chair expressed satisfaction at the progress made on the 18 deliverables of the work programme and the number of experts who contributed their time and expertise, but noted that a further $19 million was needed to fully imple-ment the Platform’s initial work programme.

Subsidiary bodyIn 2015, the Committee of Permanent Represent-

atives to unep—open to representatives of all UN Member States and members of specialized agencies—held meetings on 31 March [UNEP/CPR/131/2] and 16 June [UNEP/CPR/132/2]. The Committee discussed, among other subjects, preparations for the sixth Global Environment Outlook report and the Com-mittee’s contribution to preparations for the second (2016) session of the United Nations Environment Assembly.

Governance, work programme and budgetBoard of Auditors report

In June [A/70/5/Add.7], the Board of Auditors trans-mitted to the General Assembly its report and the financial report and audited financial statements of unep for the year ended 31 December 2014. The report showed total income of $697.5 million and expenditure of $544.6 million, resulting in a surplus of $152.9 million. Total assets amounted to $1,543.3 million, comprising current assets of $1,208.1 million and non-current assets of $335.2 million. Total lia-bilities amounted to $406.7 million, resulting in net assets of $1,136.3 million. In conducting its audit, the Board did not find significant errors, but it found some deficiencies in the areas of cost-effective management of core business services, programme and project

framework of programmes on sustainable consump-tion and production patterns [YUN 2012, p. 1016].

In response to General Assembly resolutions 67/203 [YUN 2012, p. 811], 68/210 [YUN 2013, p. 787] and 69/214 [YUN 2014, p. 948], the Secretary-General sub-mitted a March report [E/2015/56] reviewing progress on the 10-year framework of programmes on sustain-able consumption and production patterns. Four out of six 10-year framework programmes had been developed and launched, the framework trust fund to support sustainable consumption and production policies and initiatives in developing countries and economies in transition had been operationalized, and the first global meeting of the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production patterns was held in New York on 14 and 15 May. The Secretary-General’s report was consid-ered during the year by the high-level political forum on sustainable development (see p. 000) .

Environment under review

To keep the environment under review, unep worked towards bridging the gap between the pro-ducers and users of environmental information, better linking science to policy. Its work centred on assessment: through facilitating global, regional and national policymaking from environmental information made available on open platforms; early warning: through enabling better policy planning that incorporated information on emerging environmental issues; and information management: through en-hancing the capacity of countries to generate, access, analyse and communicate environmental information and knowledge.

The online reporting tool unep Live continued to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of keep-ing the world environment situation under review. Designed to support assessments by providing global, regional and national data and knowledge, unep Live included data flows from 192 countries, listed global environmental reporting obligations for each country, and hosted a Sustainable Development Goal portal and nine Communities of Practice with over 1,500 members. Near real-time data and maps in unep Live covered themes such as air quality, sea-level rise, resource efficiency indicators, the Antarctic ozone hole, marine plastics and threatened species. Production of the sixth Global Environment Outlook report would also benefit from the data flows available through unep Live.

Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. The third session of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (ipbes) [IPBES/3/18] took place in Bonn, Germany from 12 to 17 January. The session discussed the report of the Executive Secretary on the implementation of



backdrop of recent developments in the international community to advance sustainable development. Pos-sible priorities for action during the remaining period of Montevideo Programme IV and towards 2020 included addressing enforcement in respect of envi-ronmental offences by using a holistic approach, from prevention and detection to sanctions and remedia-tion through developing and strengthening laws to provide administrative, civil and criminal sanctions for environmentally harmful activities; and address-ing the drivers of environmental offences and crimes by considering their relationship with money laun-dering, the financing of drug trafficking, terrorism, human trafficking and corruption and focusing on appropriate levels of enforcement.

Cooperation with UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation

The General Assembly, in resolution 70/81 of 9 December (see p. 000), requested unep to continue to support the work of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation and the dissemination of its findings to the Assembly, the scientific community and the public. The Assembly encouraged unep to continue to maintain appropriate funding for the Scientific Committee and encouraged Member States to make voluntary contributions to the unep general trust fund established to support the Committee’s work.

Illegal trade in wildlife

On 30 July, the General Assembly, by resolu-tion 69/314 (see p. 000), welcomed United Nations Environment Assembly resolution 1/3 [YUN 2014, p. 1172] on the illegal trade in wildlife, and urged Member States to take steps at the national level to prevent, combat and eradicate the illegal trade in wildlife, on both the supply and demand sides, and to adopt measures to prevent and counter the problem of crimes that impact the environment, such as illicit trafficking in wildlife and wildlife products.

Global Environment FacilityThe Global Environment Facility (gef) united

183 member Governments in partnership with international institutions, non-governmental organizations (ngos) and the private sector to address environmental issues. The gef partnership com-prised, among others, unep, undp, the World Bank, fao, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Gef served as the financial mechanism for the 1992 Convention on Biological

management, financial management and reporting, and procurement and contract management. The Board highlighted its key findings and made recom-mendations related to the lack of an adequate interface between the Programme Information Management System and the Integrated Management Information System; terminal evaluations that were not under-taken for 38 completed projects; and the need to account for or recover long-outstanding advances to project-implementing partners in cases where in-tended activities were not delivered.

By decision 70/554 of 23 December, the General Assembly decided that the unep financial report and audited financial statements, and the report of the Board of Auditors, would remain for consideration during its resumed seventieth (2016) session ).

Additional reportsOther reports of the Executive Director submitted

during the year to the United Nations Environment Assembly for consideration at its second (2016) session reviewed progress in the implementation of resolutions that were adopted at the first (2014) session of the Assembly on the illegal trade in wildlife [UNEP/EA.2/6/Add.1], the science-policy interface [UNEP/EA.2/6/Add.2] and chemicals and waste [UNEP/EA.2/6/Add.3].

Other mattersEnvironmental law

The meeting of senior government officials ex-pert in environmental law on the midterm review of the fourth Programme for the Development and Periodic Review of Environmental Law (Montevideo Programme IV) (Montevideo, Uruguay, 7–11 Sep-tember) [UNEP/Env.Law/MTV4/MR/1/5] convened stake-holders to contribute further to the development of the midterm review of the Montevideo Programme IV [YUN 2008, p. 1174] and to recommend priority areas in the field of environmental law for action by the international law community and unep. The meeting discussed the implementation and effectiveness of Montevideo Programme IV [UNEP/Env.Law/MTV4/MR/1/2 & Add.1]; emerging and important issues in the field of environmental law, in particular in the programme areas of Montevideo Programme IV [UNEP/Env.Law/MTV4/MR/1/3]; and priority areas for action in the field of environmental law for the period up to 2020, bearing in mind Montevideo Programme IV [UNEP/Env.Law/MTV4/MR/1/4]. A drafting group made up of representatives from 10 countries and open to participation by other interested parties pre-pared draft recommendations and conclusions from the meeting for consideration and adoption by the representatives in plenary. Included in the recom-mendations was that the further implementation of Montevideo Programme IV, in addition to address-ing emerging issues, should be undertaken against the



in conjunction with the full report [UNEP/POPS/COP.7/INF/33], as well as an earlier note by the gef secretariat [UNEP/POPS/COP.7/22] on the effective-ness of the implementation of the memorandum of understanding between the Conference of the Parties and the gef Council.

Gef reported [FCCC/SBI/2015/INF.4] to the forty-second (2015) session of the unfccc Subsidiary Body for Implementation on progress made in carrying out the Poznan Strategic Programme on Technology Transfer. The report reviewed relevant unfccc guid-ance; implementation of the Poznan Strategic and Long-Term Programmes on Technology Transfer; and gef consultation with regional technology trans-fer centres and the Climate Technology Centre and Network.

In its report [FCCC/CP/2015/4 & Add.1] to the twenty-first (2015) session of the unfccc Conference of the Parties (see p. 000), gef described its responses to the guidance provided by the Conference at its twenti-eth (2014) session [YUN 2014, p. 1181] and to the con-clusions of the forty-first (2014) and forty-second (2015) sessions of the unfccc Subsidiary Body for Implementation. Gef also described its initiatives and achievements between 2014 and 2015 in the areas of climate change mitigation and adaptation, technology transfer, and enabling activities and capacity building.

The fourth session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management on Activities Support-ing the Implementation of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (saicm) (Geneva, 28 September–2 October) had before it a note [SAICM/ICCM.4/INF/8] by the gef secretariat on its activities in support of the implementation of the Strategic Approach. Saicm priorities had received $10 million during the gef-5 (2010–2014) programming cycle, specifically for e-waste, lead in paint, and chemicals in products, and in the gef-6 (2014–2018) programming cycle, the chemicals and waste focal area received increased funding, at $554 million, $13 million of which was allocated to saicm.

The twelfth session of the Conference of the Parties to unccd (Ankara, Turkey, 12–23 October) (see p. ) had before it a note [ICCD/COP(12)/18] by the gef secretariat containing proposed amendments to the memorandum of understanding between unccd and the gef, submitted in response to decision 11/COP.10 of the eleventh (2013) session of the unccd Conference of the Parties [YUN 2013, p. 1001]. Partici-pants of the twelfth session were invited to consider the draft amended memorandum of understanding and to take appropriate action.

The fourteenth session of the unccd Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (Ankara, 13–22 October) (see p. 000) considered the report [ICCD/CRIC(14)/5] by gef on its strategies, pro-grammes and projects for financing the agreed incre-

Diversity [YUN 1992, p. 683], the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (unfccc) [ibid., p. 681], the 1994 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experi-encing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Par-ticularly in Africa (unccd) [YUN 1994, p. 944], and the 2001 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants [YUN 2001, p. 971].

Annual Performance Report. The gef An-nual Performance Report 2015 provided an overview of the performance of gef activities and processes, key factors affecting performance, and the quality of monitoring and evaluation systems within the partnership. The 2015 report covered a cohort of 159 recently completed projects that accounted for $728 million in gef funding and $3.3 billion in realized co-financing. The report found that 75 per cent of projects in the cohort had satisfactory outcomes, and 74 per cent of cohort funding was associated with projects with outcome ratings in the satisfactory range. Sixty-seven per cent of projects in the cohort, and 70 per cent of the associated funding had sus-tainability ratings of moderately likely or higher. The quality of implementation ratings remained steady at 77 per cent, but a lower percentage of the project cohort rated in the satisfactory range on the quality of execution (72 per cent). The report found that 55 per cent of the projects rated in the satisfactory range for monitoring and evaluation (m&e) design and 52 per cent for m&e during implementation, and that co-financing requirements were fully met in 54 per cent of projects. The report included a matrix summarizing the performance of gef agencies on six parameters, including quality of implementation, co-financing, ef-ficiency and m&e. During the gef-6 (2014–2018) pro-gramming period, focal tracking tools were leaner and better aligned with the focal area results framework indicators, but the total number of indicators being tracked at the gef-portfolio level remained high. It was therefore recommended that gef reassess its approach to tracking tools for the gef-7 (2018–2022) programming period, and, with regard to its bio-diversity tracking tools in particular, that it assess the extent to which the burden imposed by those tools was justified by their utility, while also considering other alternatives, such as the geographic information system and remote-sensing-based approach to monitoring changes in biodiversity conditions.

In a January note [UNEP/POPS/COP.7/23] to the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (Geneva, 4–15 May) (see p. 000), gef summarized activities conducted between 2012 and 2014 in relation to the implementation of the Stock-holm Convention. It emphasized how gef had ap-plied the guidance received from the Conference of the Parties and included details on the wider work of gef on chemicals. The note was to be considered



result of pledges made during the Lima Conference for the capitalization of the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund, the Fund’s initial capitalization goal of $10 billion was exceeded and the Adaptation Fund was much closer to its $90 million goal.

Conference of parties. The twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties to unfccc (Paris, 30 November–13 December) [FCCC/CP/2015/10 & Add.1, 2, 3] adopted 23 decisions. The Paris Conference had the highest level of participation of all UN climate change conferences to date. Its main outcome was the adoption of the Paris Agreement, which con-tained a structure of provisions that allowed parties to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty. The elements of the Paris Agreement included a long-term goal of limiting the global temperature increase to well below 2°C, while pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C; a global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions to achieve those temperature goals as soon as possible; mitigation, namely by the establishment of binding commitments by all parties to prepare, communicate and maintain successive intended nationally determined contribu-tions (indcs) and to pursue domestic measures to achieve them.

The decisions adopted by the Conference concerned, among other topics, the Warsaw International Mech-anism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts; the reports to the Conference of the Adaptation Committee, the Standing Committee on Finance, the Green Climate Fund, and the Global Environment Facility; national adaptation plans; long-term climate finance; the reporting of financial information by Parties included in Annex I to the Convention; the forum and work programme on the impact of the implementation of response meas-ures; enhancing climate technology development and transfer through the Technology Mechanism; link-ages between the Technology Mechanism and the Financial Mechanism of the Convention; capacity-building under the Convention; terms of reference for the intermediate review of the Doha work programme on Article 6 of the Convention; alternative policy approaches; extension of the mandate of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group; technical review in 2016 of greenhouse gas inventories from Parties in-cluded in Annex I to the Convention; the programme budget for the biennium 2016–2017; and dates and venues of future sessions.

The Conference of the Parties had before it a syn-thesis report [FCCC/CP/2015/7] by the secretariat on the aggregate effect of the 119 intended nationally deter-mined contributions communicated by 147 Parties by 1 October 2015. It provided estimates of the aggregate greenhouse gas emission levels in 2025 and 2030 re-sulting from the implementation of those contribu-tions, and identified trends that indicated opportu-

mental costs of activities concerning desertification. The report provided information on gef activities in sustainable land management as they related to the gef Land Degradation Focal Area, specifically desertification and deforestation, for the period from July 2013 to June 2015. The report also provided de-tails on progress made in responding to decisions on gef collaboration made at the eleventh (2013) session of the unccd Conference of the Parties.

International conventions and mechanisms

In response to resolutions 69/220 [YUN 2014, p. 1182], 69/221 [ibid., p. 1183] and 69/222 [ibid., p. 1186], the Secretary-General, in a July note [A/70/230], trans-mitted reports submitted by the secretariats of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (see below); the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Expe-riencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Par-ticularly in Africa (see p. 000); and the Convention on Biological Diversity (see p. 000) —collectively known as the “Rio Conventions”.

Convention on climate change

As at 31 December, 196 States and the European Union (eu) were parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (unfccc), which opened for signature in 1992 [YUN 1992, p. 681] and entered into force in 1994 [YUN 1994, p. 938]. The State of Palestine acceded during the year.

At year’s end, 191 States and the eu were parties to the Kyoto Protocol to the Convention [YUN 1997, p. 1048], which entered into force in 2005 [YUN 2005, p. 1146]. There were 29 parties to the 2006 amendment to annex B of the Protocol [YUN 2006, p. 1220], which had not yet entered into force.

Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 69/220 [YUN 2014, p. 1182] , the Secretary-General, in his July note [A/70/230], transmitted to the Assembly the report of the unfccc Executive Secretary on the outcomes of the twentieth session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention [YUN 2014, p. 1181] and the tenth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol [ibid.] , both of which took place in Lima, Peru from 1–14 December 2014. A main outcome of the Lima Conference was the Lima Call for Climate Action to further advance the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action towards achieving a global agreement in 2015, which included an annex with elements of a draft negotiating text. The Conference also made further progress on the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts, including agreement on the workplan and on the composition of its executive committee. As a



ticularly in Africa (unccd) [YUN 1994, p. 944], which entered into force in 1996 [YUN 1996, p. 958].

In his July note on the implementation of UN environmental conventions [A/70/230], the Secretary-General, pursuant to resolution 69/221 [YUN 2014, p. 1183], transmitted to the General Assembly the report of the Convention secretariat. The report re-viewed the preparations for the twelfth session of the Conference of the Parties (see below); the find-ings of the fourth special session of the Committee on Science and Technology; and the outcomes of the thirteenth session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (see p. 000) . It also covered follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in the con-text of the post-2015 development agenda, particu-larly on issues related to desertification, land degra-dation and drought; global observance of the 2015 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought; collaboration with gef; partnerships with other UN entities; and observations and possible action by the General Assembly, including those related to the nexus between issues of desertification, land degrada-tion and drought and global policy challenges such as food security, poverty, climate adaptation and mitiga-tion, and political instability in affected regions.

Conference of parties. The twelfth session of the Conference of the Parties to unccd (Ankara, Turkey, 12–23 October) [ICCD/COP(12)/20 & Add.1] adopted 35 decisions and one resolution, among which were deci-sions on the special segment on boosting stakeholder engagement in the implementation of the Convention, the Ankara Initiative and the Ankara Declaration, which dealt with how businesses could contribute to the transformation of economies to achieve land deg-radation neutrality. The twelfth session also adopted a set of progress indicators to assess trends in land cover, land productivity and carbon stocks that could be used by parties for reporting to the three Rio Conventions, and encouraged further work by the secretariat on the harmonization of indicators and reporting procedures.

Subsidiary bodies. The fourth special session of the Committee on Science and Technology (cst) (Can-cun, Mexico, 9–12 March) [ICCD/CST(S-4)/3] consid-ered the contributions of science, technology and tra-ditional knowledge and practices towards combating desertification, land degradation and drought for poverty reduction and sustainable development. The session focused on the following: the diagnosis of con-straints, namely, the vulnerability of agro-ecosystems and populations in affected regions; the identification of responses in the form of land-based approaches to adaptation and knowledge transfer; and monitoring and assessment, including how to evaluate the effec-tiveness of adaptation interventions. The Committee also discussed progress made in the provision of scientific advice on the topic, “Explore the options to

nities for enhanced action to address climate change in the longer term. It also synthesized information related to the adaptation component of the contribu-tions communicated by 100 Parties.

Meeting of Protocol parties. The eleventh session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol [FCCC/KP/CMP/2015/8 & Add.1, 2], held concurrently with the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties to unfccc, adopted 12 decisions. The Conference of the Parties considered the status report presented by the unfccc Deputy Executive Secretary on the instru-ments of acceptance received by the Depositary in re-spect of the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, who noted that the Doha Amendment required an additional 89 instruments of acceptance to enter into force.The Conference of the Parties adopted decisions concerning, among others, the report of the Adapta-tion Fund Board; the clean development mechanism; the implementation of Article 6 of the Kyoto Proto-col; methodology for the collection of international transaction log fees in the biennium 2016–2017; capacity-building under the Kyoto Protocol; technical review in 2016 of greenhouse gas inventories and ini-tial reports for the second commitment period from Parties included in Annex I to the Convention that are also Parties to the Kyoto Protocol; and the programme budget for the biennium 2016–2017.

Subsidiary bodies. During the year, the Sub-sidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice held its forty-second (Bonn, Germany, 1–11 June) [FCCC/SBSTA/2015/2 & Add.1, 2] and forty-third (Paris, 1–4 December) [FCCC/SBSTA/2015/5] sessions. The Subsidiary Body for Implementation also held its forty-second (Bonn, 1–11 June) [FCCC/SBI/2015/10 & Add.1] and forty-third (Paris, 1–4 December) [FCCC/SBI/2015/22] sessions.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION

On 22 December [meeting 81], the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Second (Economic and Financial) Committee [A/70/472/Add.4], adopted reso-lution 70/205 (Protection of global climate for pre-sent and future generations of humankind) without vote [agenda item 20 (d)].

By decision 70/554 of 23 December, the General Assembly decided that sustainable development, in-cluding protection of the global climate for present and future generations of humankind, would remain for consideration during its resumed seventieth (2016) session.

Convention to combat desertification

As at 31 December, 194 States and the eu were parties to the 1994 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experi-encing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Par-



in accordance with resolution 69/222 [YUN 2014, p. 1186]. The report described the outcomes of the twelfth (2014) meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention [ibid., p. 1185]; the seventh (2014) meeting of the Conference of the Parties serv-ing as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety [ibid, p. 1186]; and the first (2014) Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Ben-efits Arising from Their Utilization to the Convention [ibid.]. The report also provided information on the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and progress made in the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 and the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Tar-gets [YUN 2010, p. 683], including difficulties encoun-tered in the process of implementation. As follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development [YUN 2012, p. 780], the secretariat pro-moted a number of activities, including commemora-tive events organized at the national level to mark the International Day for Biodiversity on 22 May.

Subsidiary body. During the year, the Subsid-iary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technologi-cal Advice held its nineteenth meeting (Montreal, Canada, 2–5 November) [UNEP/CBD/COP/13/4], at which it adopted eight recommendations related to the implications of the findings of the fourth edi-tion of the Global Biodiversity Outlook and related reports; climate-related geoengineering; the role of international organizations in supporting the achieve-ment of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets; the work of the Subsidiary Body in the light of the 2014–2018 Work Programme of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services; and, in regard to the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020, key scientific and technical needs related to its implementation, and tools to evaluate the effec-tiveness of policy instruments for its implementation.


On 22 December [meeting 81], the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Second Committee [A/70/472/Add.6], adopted resolution 70/207 (Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its contribution to sustain-able development) without vote [agenda item 20 ( f )].

Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol

As at 31 December, 196 States and the eu were parties to the 1985 Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer [YUN 1985, p. 804], which entered into force in 1988 [YUN 1988, p. 810].

The number of parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, which was

achieve land degradation neutrality in the context of sustainable development”, which would be considered further at its twelfth session (see below), in order to generate recommendations.

The twelfth session of the Committee on Science and Technology (Ankara, 13–16 October), convened during the twelfth session of the unccd Conference of the Parties, discussed the cst work programme for the next biennium, and the linking of scientific knowledge with decision-making. It also considered a report [ICCD/COP(12)/CST/2] on the outcomes and policy-oriented recommendations from the unccd Third Scientific Conference (9–12 March, Cancun), which took place in conjunction with the fourth special session of cst (see above).

The thirteenth session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (Bonn, 25–27 March) [ICCD/CRIC(13)/9 & Corr.1] considered the assessment of implementation of the Convention; undertook a review of financial support; and took stock of the formulation, revision and implementation of action programmes in view of the post-2015 sustainable development framework. The fourteenth session of the Committee (Ankara, 13–22 October) considered the effective implementation of the Convention at the national, subregional and regional levels; best practices in the implementation of the Convention; and the unccd reporting and review process in view of the post-2015 development agenda.


On 22 December [meeting 81], the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Second Committee [A/70/472/Add.5], adopted resolution 70/206 (Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa) without vote [agenda item 20 (e)].

Convention on Biological Diversity

As at 31 December, 195 States and the eu were parties to the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity [YUN 1992, p. 683], which entered into force in 1993 [YUN 1993, p. 810]. Andorra and the State of Palestine acceded to the Convention during the year.

At year’s end, the number of parties to the Carta-gena Protocol on Biosafety, which was adopted in 2000 [YUN 2000, p. 973] and entered into force in 2003 [YUN 2003, p. 1051], rose to 169 States and the eu. Côte d’Ivoire and the State of Palestine acceded to the Convention during the year.

In his July note [A/70/230] on the implementation of UN environmental conventions, the Secretary-General transmitted to the General Assembly the report of the secretariat of the Convention, submitted



the programme for monitoring and evaluation of pollutants in Europe (1984); the reduction of sulphur emissions or their transboundary fluxes by at least 30 per cent (1985); the control of emissions of nitro-gen oxides or their transboundary fluxes (1988); the control of volatile organic compounds or their trans-boundary fluxes (1991); the further reduction of sul-phur emissions (1994); heavy metals (1998); persistent organic pollutants (1998); and the abatement of acidifi-cation, eutrophication and ground-level ozone (1999). Amendments to the protocol on persistent organic pollutants were adopted in 2009 [YUN 2009, p. 1018].

The thirty-fourth session of the Executive Body for the Convention (Geneva, 18 December) [ECE/EB.AIR/133 & Corr.1, 2 & Add.1] discussed matters aris-ing from meetings of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the meetings of the subsid-iary bodies of the Convention and other related meet-ings; and the 2016–2017 workplan and financial re-quirements for the implementation of the Convention.

Subsidiary body. During the year, the Implementation Committee under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution held its thirty-fifth (Budapest, Hungary, 27–29 May) session. It submitted a progress report [ECE/EB.AIR/2015/2], which contained information on the Committee’s 2015 activities with regard to the compliance of States parties with their emission reduction and reporting obligations under the Convention and its protocols, and the work carried out at the Committee’s thirty-fifth session.

Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

The annual joint meeting to enhance cooperation and coordination between the regional centres under the Basel and Stockholm Conventions (Geneva, 4–7 October) focused on the strategy for strength-ening the regional centres of the Conventions, includ-ing by raising their visibility; the importance of the sound management of chemicals and chemicals leg-islation through cooperation with technical partners; and the collection of feedback on the draft strategy for the further development and operation of the joint clearing-house mechanism for the Basel, Rot-terdam and Stockholm Conventions, which aimed at improving regional information-sharing relevant to their implementation.

Basel ConventionAs at 31 December, 182 States and the eu were

parties to the 1989 Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal [YUN 1989, p. 420], which entered into force in 1992 [YUN 1992, p. 685]. Myanmar and the State of Palestine became parties during the year. The 1995 Amendment to the Convention [YUN 1995, p. 1333], not yet in force, had been ratified, accepted

adopted in 1987 [YUN 1987, p. 686], included 196 States and the eu. Parties to the 1990 Amendment to the Protocol [YUN 1990, p. 522] numbered 196 States and the eu. Parties to the 1992 Amendment [YUN 1992, p. 684] numbered 196 States and the eu. Parties to the 1997 Amendment [YUN 1997, p. 1049] numbered 196 States and the eu. Parties to the 1999 Amendment [YUN 1999, p. 986] numbered 196 States and the eu.

Meeting of Protocol parties. The twenty-seventh meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Pro-tocol (Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 1–5 November) [UNEP/OzL.Pro.27/13] adopted 18 decisions, concern-ing, among other topics, the Dubai pathway on hydro-fluorocarbons (hfcs), which mandated and outlined the continuation of work on the feasibility and ways of managing hfcs; an essential-use exemption for laboratory and analytical uses of carbon tetrachloride for 2016 in China; critical-use exemptions for methyl bromide for 2016 and 2017; response to the report by the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel on information on alternatives to ozone-depleting substances; issues related to the phase-out of hydro-chlorofluorocarbons; potential areas of focus for the 2018 quadrennial reports of the Scientific Assessment Panel, the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel and the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel; investigation of carbon tetrachloride discrep-ancies; avoiding the unwanted import of products and equipment containing or relying on hydrochlor-ofluorocarbons; data and information provided by the parties to the Montreal Protocol in accordance with Article 7; and the membership or continua-tion of work of the Implementation Committee, the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund, the Scientific Assessment Panel, the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, and the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel and its technical options committees.

Subsidiary bodies. During the year, the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol held its thirty-fifth (Bangkok, Thailand, 22–24 April) [UNEP/OzL.Pro/WG.1/35/6], thirty-sixth (Paris, 20–24 July) [UNEP/OzL.Pro/WG.1/36/7] and resumed thirty-sixth (Dubai, 29–30 October) [UNEP/OzL.Pro/WG.1/Resumed.36/3] meetings; and the Implementation Committee under the Non-Compliance Procedure for the Montreal Protocol held its fifty-fourth (Paris, 27–28 July) [UNEP/OzL.Pro/ImpCom/54/4] and fifty-fifth (Dubai, 28 October) [UNEP/OzL.Pro/ImpCom/55/4] meetings.

Convention on air pollution

As at 31 December, the number of parties to the 1979 Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution [YUN 1979, p. 710], which entered into force in 1983 [YUN 1983, p. 645], remained at 50 States and the eu. Eight protocols to the Convention dealt with



ooctanoic acid (pfoa, perfluorooctanoic acid), its salts and pfoa-related compounds; unintentional releases of hexachlorobutadiene; guidance on alternatives to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts, perfluorooc-tane sulfonyl fluoride and their related chemicals; and effective participation in the work of the Committee.

Rotterdam ConventionAs at 31 December, 153 States and the eu were

parties to the 1998 Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Haz-ardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade [YUN 1998, p. 997], which entered into force in 2004 [YUN 2004, p. 1063].

Conference of parties. The seventh meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention (Geneva, 4–15 May) [UNEP/FAO/RC/COP.7/21] adopted 15 deci-sions concerning, among other topics, procedures and mechanisms on compliance with the Convention; technical assistance; implementation of the integrated approach to financing; international cooperation and coordination; enhancing cooperation and coordination among the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conven-tions; the clearing-house mechanism for information exchange; and the programme of work and budget for the Convention for the biennium 2016–2017.

Subsidiary body. During the year, the Chemical Review Committee held its eleventh meeting (Rome, 26–28 October) [UNEP/FAO/RC/CRC.11/9]. It adopted four decisions concerning short-chained chlorinated paraffins; tributyltin compounds; carbofuran; and carbosulfan.

SynergiesThe Conferences of the Parties of the Basel, Rot-

terdam and Stockholm Conventions established a “synergies process” that involved a series of decisions to strengthen the coordinated implementation of the Conventions at the national, regional and global levels through coherent policy guidance; greater efficiency in providing support to Parties to the Conventions; reducing administrative burdens; and maximizing the use of resources. In 2015, the Conferences of the Parties held consecutive ordinary meetings that included joint sessions on joint issues. The Conferences of the Parties took six identical decisions on international cooperation and coordination; implementation of the integrated approach to financing; enhancing co-operation and coordination among the three Conven-tions; the clearing-house mechanism for information exchange; from science to action; and the venue and date of the next meetings of the three Conferences of the Parties. Harmonized decisions in various areas were adopted, including on technical assistance, regional centres, the memorandums of understanding between the Conferences of the Parties and unep/fao and the programmes of work and budgets of the three

or approved by 85 parties, with El Salvador, Jamaica, the Niger, Peru and Seychelles becoming parties dur-ing the year. The number of parties to the 1999 Basel Protocol on Liability and Compensation for Damage resulting from Transboundary Movement of Hazard-ous Wastes and Their Disposal [YUN 1999, p. 998], not yet in force, remained at 11.

Conference of parties. The twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (Geneva, 4–15 May) [UNEP/CHW.12/27 & Corr.1] adopted 25 de-cisions, including those on the road map for action on the implementation of the Cartagena Declaration; technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants and mercury; technical guidelines on the transboundary movements of electrical and electronic waste; national reporting; the Committee for Administering the Mechanism for Promoting Implementation and Compliance of the Basel Convention; national legis-lation, notifications, enforcement of the Convention and efforts to combat illegal traffic; technical assist-ance; Basel Convention regional and coordinating centres for training and technology transfer; the Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment; the environmentally sound dismantling of ships; and international cooperation and coordination.

Stockholm ConventionAs at 31 December, 177 States and the eu were

parties to the 2001 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants [YUN 2001, p. 971], which entered into force in 2004 [YUN 2004, p. 1066].

Conference of parties. The seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (Geneva, 4–15 May) [UNEP/POPS/COP.7/36] adopted 33 decisions concerning, among other topics, exemp-tions; guidelines on best available techniques and provisional guidance on best environmental practices; measures to reduce or eliminate releases from wastes; implementation plans; the operation of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee; technical as-sistance; Stockholm Convention regional and subre-gional centres for capacity-building and the transfer of technology; assessment of funding needs; the effec-tiveness of the implementation of the memorandum of understanding between the Conference of the Parties and the Council of gef; implementation of the integrated approach to financing; and the programme of work and budget for the Stockholm Convention for the biennium 2016–2017.

Subsidiary body. During the year, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee held its elev-enth meeting (Rome, Italy, 19–23 October) [UNEP/POPS/POPRC.11/10 & Add.1, 2]. It adopted seven deci-sions concerning decabromodiphenyl ether; dicofol; short-chained chlorinated paraffins; pentadecafluor-



nance [E/CN.18/2015/4]; and enhanced coopera-tion and policy and programme coordination and regional and subregional inputs [E/CN.18/2015/5]. It also had before it notes by the secretariat on the multi-stakeholder dialogue [E/CN.18/2015/6] and the unff Trust Fund [E/CN.18/2015/8], a discussion paper submitted by the major groups on the future of the international arrangement on forests [E/CN.18/2015/6/Add.1], an information document on the Collabora-tive Partnership on Forests Framework 2013 and 2014 [E/CN.18/2015/7], and the reports of the first [E/CN.18/2015/10] and second [E/CN.18/2015/11] meetings of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Ad Hoc Expert Group on the International Arrangement on Forests.

Communications. Unff had before it, at its eleventh session, a 6 January letter from China [E/CN.18/2015/9] transmitting information on a workshop to examine options for strengthening the international arrangement on forests (Beijing, 29–31 October 2014); a note verbale dated 23 March 2015 from Switzerland [E/CN.18/2015/12] transmitting the final report on a country-led initiative on governing forest landscapes; and a note verbale dated 30 March 2015 from Nepal [E/CN.18/2015/13] transmitting the summary of a work-shop held in support of unff on sustainable forest management (Kathmandu, Nepal, 2–6 March 2015).

High-level segment. At the high-level segment of the eleventh session (New York, 13–14 May), two round tables focused on the integration of for-ests in the post-2015 development agenda; and on renewed commitments to the implementation of the international arrangement on forests beyond 2015. The high-level dialogue with the heads of the member organizations of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests addressed collective action for sustainable forest management; the centrality of forests to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets; sustained funding mechanisms to support projects of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests; and the relevance of forests to the sustain-able development agenda, the need to incorporate forests into national development programmes, and the importance of developing partnerships with those outside the forest sector.

Unff recommended to the Economic and Social Council the adoption of a draft decision on the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the eleventh session of unff on the international ar-rangement on “The forests we want: beyond 2015”.

On 22 July, the Economic and Social Council took note of the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment (decision 2015/254) and the report of the unff eleventh session (decision 2015/255).

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ACTION

On 22 July [meeting 55], the Economic and Social Council adopted resolution 2015/33 [draft: E/2015/42

Conventions, including 17 joint activities. The Con-ferences of the Parties adopted the terms of reference for the review of the synergies arrangements to take place at their 2017 ordinary meetings.

Environmental topicsThe atmosphere

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate ChangeIn 2015, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate

Change (ipcc) held its forty-first (Nairobi, 24–27 February) and forty-second (Dubrovnik, Croatia, 5–8 October) sessions. At its forty-first session, the Panel adopted decisions related to procedural mat-ters, namely the procedures for the election of the ipcc Bureau and any task force bureau; the ipcc trust fund and programme and budget; future work of ipcc; principles to guide ipcc engagement on poten-tial studies of the ipcc process; workshops and special reports; communication and outreach activities; and implementation of the ipcc error protocol.

At its forty-second session, the Panel adopted de-cisions on the ipcc trust fund and programme and budget; the programme of work of the Task Force on Greenhouse Gas Inventories; electronic voting in re-lation to ipcc Elections Procedures; elections of the ipcc Bureau and Task Force Bureau for the Sixth Assessment Report cycle; and implementation of the error protocol.

Terrestrial ecosystems

ForestsUN Forum on Forests

The United Nations Forum on Forests (unff), at its eleventh session (New York, 4–15 May) [E/2015/42 & Corr.1], focused on the theme “The future international arrangement on forests we want”. Unff recommended to the Economic and Social Council the adoption of its draft resolution on the international arrangement on forests beyond 2015. Annexed to the report of the session were summaries of the multi-stakeholder dialogue, the ministerial high-level segment and round tables, and the high-level dialogue with the heads of the member organizations of the Collabo-rative Partnership on Forests, the heads of regional organizations and representatives of major groups. The Forum had before it reports of the Secretary-General on the review of the effectiveness of the international arrangement on forests and consideration of all future options [E/CN.18/2015/2]; reviewing progress towards the achievement of the global objectives on forests and the implementation of the non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests [E/CN.18/2015/3]; the means of implementation for sustainable forest management and forest law enforcement and gover-



Other mattersEnvironment and sustainable development

General Assembly action. By resolution 70/1 (see p. 000) of 25 September on “Transform-ing our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, the General Assembly established a number of goals with indicators related to making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable (Goal 11); taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts’ (Goal 13); and protecting, restoring and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably managing forests, combating desertification, and halting and reversing land degradation and halting biodiversity loss (Goal 15). It further acknowledged that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was the primary international, intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change.

Oil slick in Lebanon

In response to General Assembly resolution 69/212 [YUN 2014, p. 1194], the Secretary-General submitted an August report [A/70/291] reviewing progress in the implementation of resolutions 61/194 [YUN 2006, p. 1215], 62/188 [YUN 2007, p. 1053], 63/211 [YUN 2008, p. 1150], 64/195 [YUN 2009, p. 1011], 65/147 [YUN 2010, p. 1015], 66/192 [YUN 2011, p. 991], 67/201 [YUN 2012, p. 1017], 68/206 [YUN 2013, p. 1010] and 69/212 on the oil slick on Lebanese shores that resulted from the destruction by the Israeli Air Force of oil storage tanks in Lebanon following the outbreak of hostilities be-tween Israel and the paramilitary group Hizbullah in 2006 [YUN 2006, p. 574]. Some 15,000 tons of fuel oil were released into the Mediterranean Sea, contami-nating about 150 kilometres of coastline in Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic. The report discussed actions taken to address the impacts of the spill and to measure and quantify the environmental damage sus-tained by Lebanon, which amounted to $856.4 mil-lion in 2014. The Secretary-General urged Member States, international organizations, international and regional financial institutions, ngos and the private sector to intensify their support for Lebanon, par-ticularly for recovery and rehabilitation activities on the Lebanese coast. He encouraged the international donor community to make contributions to the Eastern Mediterranean Oil Spill Restoration Trust Fund, hosted by the Lebanon Recovery Fund.


On 22 December [meeting 81], the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Second Committee [A/70/472], adopted resolution 70/194 (Oil slick on Lebanese shores) by recorded vote (171-6-3) [agenda item 20].

& Corr.1] (International arrangement on forests beyond 2015) without vote [agenda item 18 (k)].

xUnited Nations forest instrument. The Economic and Social Council, in resolution 2015/33 (see above), decided to extend the timeline of the global objectives on forests to 2030, in line with the post-2015 development agenda, and to rename the non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests the “United Nations forest instrument”; and recom-mended to the General Assembly that it adopt the modifications during its seventieth session by Decem-ber 2015. It also urged Member States to utilize the non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests as an integrated framework for national action and international cooperation for implementing sustain-able forest management and forest-related aspects of the post-2015 development agenda.


On 22 December [meeting 81], the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Second Committee [A/70/472], adopted resolution 70/199 (United Nations forest instrument) without vote [agenda item 20].

International Day of Forests

Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 67/200 [YUN 2012, p. 1012], the Secretary-General submitted a report [A/70/214] on the activities of 75 Member States in support of the International Day of Forests since its first observance on 21 March 2013. The report also highlighted initiatives of the unff secretariat, includ-ing in collaboration with members of the Collabora-tive Partnership on Forests and UN entities.

On 22 December, the General Assembly took note of the report of the Secretary-General on the International Day of Forests (decision 70/542).

Sand and dust stormsIn December [A/70/PV.81], during its consideration of

the report [A/70/472] of the Second Committee on the item of “Sustainable development”, the General Assembly took action on the draft resolution entitled “Combating sand and dust storms”, in which it invited Member States and all other relevant stakeholders to cooperate on combating dust and sandstorms through improved implementation of sustainable land-management prac-tices, and requested the Secretary-General to circulate to the Assembly at its seventy-first (2016) session the report entitled “Global assessment of sand and dust storms”, which was being prepared by unep.


On 22 December [meeting 81], the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Second Committee [A/70/472], adopted resolution 70/195 (Combating sand and dust storms) without vote [agenda item 20].



Human settlements

UN-HabitatGoverning Council

The twenty-fifth session of the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) was held in Nairobi, from 17 to 23 April [A/70/8]. Summaries by the President of the Council of the high-level general debate on UN-Habitat activities and the dialogue on the special theme for the session—the contribution of UN-Habitat to the post-2015 development agenda in order to promote sustainable urban development and human settlements —were annexed to the pro-ceedings of the session [HSP/GC/25/6]. The Committee of the Whole, established by the Council, held five meetings to consider the agenda items assigned to it. The Council adopted seven resolutions; and decided to amend rule 19 of the rules of procedure in accor-dance with rule 69 [A/70/8 (dec. 25/1)] and approved the provisional agenda of its twenty-sixth (2017) session [A/70/8 (dec. 25/2)].

Subsidiary bodyThe twenty-fifth session of the Council had before

it a January report [HSP/GC/25/3] on the work of the Committee of Permanent Representatives since the twenty-fourth (2013) session of the Council [YUN 2013, p. 1013], covering the Committee’s forty-ninth, fiftieth and fifty-first regular meetings (19 June, 18 Septem-ber, 4 December 2013, respectively); and its fifty-second, fifty-third, fifty-fourth and fifty-fifth regular meetings (19 March, 18 June, 27 August, 3 December 2014, respectively). Addenda to the report included draft resolutions prepared by the Committee [HSP/GC/25/3/Add.1] and a note by the secretariat transmit-ting the report of the Committee on its fifty-sixth regular meeting (8 April 2015) as part of its work for the period 2013–2015 [HSP/GC/25/3/Add.2].

Programme areasThe Governing Council had before it a Febru-

ary report by the Executive Director [HSP/GC/25/2 & Add.1–6] on activities undertaken by UN-Habitat in response to the resolutions adopted by the Council at its twenty-fourth session [YUN 2013, p. 1013]. The report highlighted that UN-Habitat expanded its concept to address the needs of urbanization in all types and sizes of human settlements, as well as completed its reform programme and programmatic realignment.

U N-Habitat /U NEP cooperat ion. The Governing Council also had before it the joint pro-gress report on cooperation between UN-Habitat and unep for the period 2013–2014 [HSP/GC/25/2/Add.4]. The agencies had identified synergies in their work

Harmony with nature

In response to General Assembly resolution 69/224 [YUN 2014, p. 1196], the Secretary-General submitted an August report [A/70/268] that reflected the main issues discussed during the fifth interactive dialogue on harmony with nature (New York, 27 April 2015), convened by the Assembly in commemoration of International Mother Earth Day [YUN 2009, p. 1037]. Participants of the dialogue examined the harmony with nature paradigm and how it could contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (sdgs), and the persistence of anthropocentric thinking, centred exclusively on people, despite the realization that unsustainable patterns of consump-tion and production could lead to ecosystem deterio-ration, soil erosion, desertification, climate change, loss of biodiversity and ocean acidification. The report focused on the relationship between humanity and nature and explored ways to achieve the sdgs, includ-ing by addressing climate change in the post-2015 development agenda. It also discussed links between modern science and traditional ecological knowledge; protecting the Earth by achieving ecological balance; reciprocity as a principle of the relationship between customary law and nature; and a shift in the living and behaving of humankind towards sustainability in production and consumption systems and processes.


On 22 December [meeting 81], the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Second Committee [A/70/472/Add.7], adopted resolution 70/208 (Har-mony with Nature) without vote [agenda item 20 (g)].

By decision 70/554 of 23 December, the General Assembly decided that the item on harmony with na-ture in the context of sustainable development would remain for consideration during its resumed seventi-eth (2016) session ).

Sustainable tourism

The General Assembly, in resolution 70/196 of 22 December (see p. 000), recognized the need to support sustainable tourism activities and capacity-building efforts in Central America that promoted environmental awareness; conserved and protected the environment; respected wildlife, f lora, bio-diversity, ecosystems and cultural diversity; and improved the welfare and livelihoods of local com-munities by supporting their local economies and the human and natural environment as a whole. The Assembly also welcomed the efforts of the World Tourism Organization, unep, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, unesco and the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to promote sustainable tourism worldwide.



other Habitat Agenda partners, to support the adapta-tion and use of the guidelines to local, national and regional circumstances, including through capacity and tool development.

National ownership and operational capacity

The Council [A/70/8 (res. 25/2)] requested the Executive Director to work closely with Member States, the Secretariat and the United Nations Development Group to fully implement the most recent resolution on the quadrennial comprehensive policy review in the programme of work of UN-Habitat, with a view to increasing the efficiency of operational activities at the country level. It requested the Executive Director to strengthen interlinkages between the operational and normative work of UN-Habitat to increase its capacity to provide evidence-based expertise for policy design and implementation. The Council also requested the Executive Director to work with national Governments and UN country teams to in-corporate the work of UN-Habitat into the United Nations Development Assistance Framework model, or equivalent, and to engage with the “One United Nations” initiative; and to strengthen capacity-building activities in order to support the achieve-ment of sustainable urban development in accordance with the 2014–2019 strategic plan in the light of its potential contribution to the post-2015 development agenda.

Habitat III

Having before it the report of the Executive Director on progress made in the preparations for the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustain-able Urban Development (Habitat III) [HSP/GC/25/2/Add.3], the Council [A/70/8 (res. 25/5)] welcomed the decision on preparations for Habitat III adopted by the Preparatory Committee for the Conference at its second session (see p. 000), urged Member States to expedite and finalize their national reports for the Conference and encouraged the participation of all levels of government and other stakeholders. The Council also encouraged Member States to establish and support broad-based national Habitat commit-tees to facilitate the coordination of Habitat Agenda partners, major groups and other stakeholders in the areas of sustainable urbanization and human settlements in the national context; to follow up on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda; and to fulfil other roles as recommended by Habitat III. It requested the Executive Director to promote the participation of and contributions by major groups and other stakeholders at all stages of the Habitat III process through the use of, among others, national urban forums, national urban campaigns, regional urban forums, regional consultation mechanisms and the World Urban Campaign and its initiatives.

in relation to resilient, resource-efficient cities, sustainable transport and mobility, and waste and wastewater. In addition to other forms of coopera-tion at the local, national, regional and global levels, UN-Habitat and unep strengthened their comple-mentarity through the Joint Operation and Coordi-nation Group, which was mandated to coordinate the Greener Cities Partnership and was the primary vehicle for overseeing the implementation of joint activities.

Sustainable urbanization and human settlements

The Governing Council [A/70/8 (res. 25/1)], taking note of the report of the Executive Director on the special theme and sub-themes for the twenty-fifth session of the Council [HSP/GC/25/4], encouraged Member States to consider the role that sustain-able urbanization and human settlements could play as drivers of sustainable development in their national and subnational development plans and requested the Executive Director to provide support in the development and implementation of their urban policies to manage the continuum of human settlements. The Council requested the Executive Director to mainstream urbanization and human settlement issues in the post-2015 development agenda and contribute to work on the sdg indicators through the inter-agency and expert group under the Statistical Commission. It requested the Executive Director to develop tools and disseminate good practices to promote urban-rural linkages through investment in market towns and intermediate cities through integrated regional and territorial planning to strengthen development corridors. It also requested the Executive Director to support Member States to plan and manage sustainable urbanization in order to address existing and emerging challenges, including a response to climate change.

International guidelines on urban planning

The Governing Council [A/70/8 (res. 25/6)], hav-ing considered the report [HSP/GC/25/2/Add.6] of the Executive Director highlighting progress in developing the international guidelines on urban and territorial planning, approved the guidelines on urban and territorial planning set out in section II of that report as a valuable guide that may be used towards the achievement of sustainable development. The Council encouraged Member States to consider urban and territorial planning principles outlined in the guidelines while developing, reviewing and im-plementing their national urban policies and urban and territorial planning frameworks. It also requested the Executive Director to develop partnerships with other UN bodies, regional economic commissions, development banks, Member States, local authorities, international professional associations and ngos and



role and that of the Committee of Permanent Repre-sentatives by requesting the Committee to establish a working group on programme and budget, consisting of three representatives of each regional group. The Council also decided on the tasks to be performed by the working group; identified the documents to be provided by the Executive Director to the working group in support of its work; requested the Executive Director to implement the recommendations and guidance provided by the working group; and decided to review the implementation of the resolution at its twenty-sixth (2017) session.

Additional reportsOther reports by the Executive Director sub-

mitted to the Governing Council for consideration during its twenty-fifth session included a report [HSP/GC/25/2/Add.2] on the seventh session of the World Urban Forum [YUN 2014, p. 1201], and a report on co-operation with agencies and organizations within the UN system, intergovernmental organizations outside the UN system and ngos [HSP/GC/25/2/Add.5]. The secretariat submitted to the Council notes on the sev-enth session of the World Urban Form [HSP/GC/25/INF/3]; the UN-Habitat Global Activities Report 2015 [HSP/GC/25/INF/4]; the annual report of the Executive Director for 2013 on the implementation of the medium-term strategic and institutional plan 2008–2013 [HSP/GC/25/INF/5]; and the status of voluntary contributions to the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation as at 31 March 2015 [HSP/GC/25/INF/6].

Board of Auditors report

In June [A/70/5/Add.9], the Board of Auditors trans-mitted to the General Assembly its report on the UN-Habitat financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2014. Total revenue amounted to $205.44 million, while total expenses were $194.02 million, resulting in a surplus of revenue over expenses of $11.42 million for the year. UN-Habitat net as-sets at the end of the year were $323.23 million, re-flecting an increase of $7.07 million (or 2.2 per cent) from the opening balance of $316.16 million as at 1 January 2014. The overall financial position con-firmed that UN-Habitat remained financially sound and that there were sufficient assets to meet liabilities. UN-Habitat adopted the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (ipsas) in 2014, which meant significant changes to its accounting policies, includ-ing the preparation of financial statements on an an-nual basis, compared with the biennial requirements of UN systems accounting standards. The Board commended UN-Habitat for its successful first-time implementation of ipsas, but noted deficiencies in the presentation of its financial statements, particu-larly in the recognition and valuation of assets and

Governance, work programme and budgetStrategic plan for 2014–2019 and work programme and budget for 2016–2017

On 23 April, the Governing Council [A/70/8 (res. 25/3)] took note of the progress made in the implementation of the strategic plan for 2014–2019 [HSP/GC/25/2/Add.2] and the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the evaluation of UN-Habitat and its recommendations [E/AC.51/2015/2]. Having considered the proposed work programme and budget for the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation for the biennium 2016–2017 [HSP/GC/25/5] and the recommendations set forth in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions [HSP/GC/25/5/Add.1], the Council approved the proposed work programme and budget. It also approved the general purpose budget of $45,617,500, endorsed the special purpose budget of $101,297,500 for the bien-nium, and noted an estimated technical cooperation funding of $312,909,000. It requested the Executive Director to consult the Committee of Permanent Rep-resentatives during the preparation of the results-based strategic framework and work programme and budget documents for the biennium 2018–2019, and to ensure that the two documents were aligned with the strategic plan for 2014–2019. It further requested the Executive Director to submit a streamlined programme of work and budget for the biennium 2018–2019 for approval by the Council at its twenty-sixth (2017) session.

With a view to achieving in full the results ex-pected from the implementation of the strategic plan for 2014–2019, the Council [A/70/8 (res. 25/4)] requested the Executive Director to further develop and strengthen the linkages between the normative work and operational activities of UN-Habitat; ensure the development of programmes and projects that used an integrated approach to sustainable urbanization and human settlements and promoted urban-rural linkages; and continue the work for the prevention of urban violence and crime and for the enhancement of urban safety by creating an inter-agency collaborative framework on safer cities.

Governance

The Executive Director submitted for the consid-eration of the Council during its twenty-fifth session a report [HSP/GC/25/2/Add.1] on the review of the gover-nance structure of UN-Habitat, with the expectation that the Council would agree on a way forward on the issue of governance reform. The secretariat also circulated a report [HSP/GC/25/INF/2] on governance options, originally submitted to the Council at its twenty-fourth (2013) session.

Recognizing the need for greater oversight of the programme of work of UN-Habitat, the Council [A/70/8 (res. 25/7)] decided to strengthen its oversight



non-earmarked income and confirmed pledges, while $240.2 million (or 85 per cent of the projection) had been received in earmarked income.

UN-Habitat continued to support key processes shaping the post-2015 development agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (sdgs). This included providing information to Governments, UN system organizations and other stakeholders on the role of urbanization in sustainable development; partici-pating in the work of the United Nations System Task Team on the post-2015 development agenda and its working group on indicators; and taking part in the Open Working Group of the General Assembly on sdgs. The report concluded with recommendations for Member States with respect to UN-Habitat work on urbanization and human settlements.

Coordinated implementation of Habitat AgendaIn a May report [E/2015/72] submitted in response

to Economic and Social Council resolution 2014/30 [YUN 2014, p. 1200], the Secretary-General described the activities undertaken by UN-Habitat in cooperation with other UN system agencies and organizations in the coordinated implementation of the Habitat Agenda at the global, regional and national levels. Activities at the global level included preparatory activities for Habitat III; UN-Habitat chairmanship of the High-level Committee on Programmes working group on a new UN urban agenda; expansion of the World Urban Campaign; support to the post-2015 sdg process on the role of urbanization in sustainable development; participation in processes under unfccc; collabora-tion on the integration segment of the Economic and Social Council, which focused on sustainable urbani-zation; and preparations for the World Humanitarian Summit, to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2016, in particular by leading consultative processes on urban issues. Activities at the regional level focused on regional ministerial conferences and cooperation with regional financial institutions. Thematic activities at the national and subnational levels focused on urban legislation, land and governance; urban planning and design; urban economy and municipal finance; urban basic services; housing and slum upgrading; urban disaster risk reduction and rehabilitation; research and capacity development in the field of sustainable urban development; and urbanization in relation to gender mainstreaming and the empowerment of women.

The report recommended that Member States con-tinue to give appropriate consideration to the role of urbanization in sustainable development in their dis-cussions on the post-2015 development agenda and sdgs; adopt integrated approaches that engaged all key stakeholders and levels of subnational government; ensure the alignment of ideas on cities and human settlements across the current consultations on major global issues; establish or strengthen national urban

liabilities. Other areas with scope for improvement were programme and project management, budget implementation, results-based management and assets management. UN-Habitat also needed to strengthen the oversight and monitoring of field-level activities.

The Board recommended that UN-Habitat identify in advance of the execution phase the risks that might affect project implementation in order to minimize the negative effects of delays for the societies involved; and, with respect to experts in the field offices, to plan the recruitment process to ensure that staffing is timely and adequate for improved project performance. It also recommended that UN-Habitat make the assessment of its achievements more meaningful by collaborating, as needed, with the country office to ensure that an-nual workplans were aligned with performance indica-tors, targets and baseline data.

By decision 70/554 of 23 December, the General Assembly decided that the UN-Habitat financial report and audited financial statements, and the report of the Board of Auditors, would remain for consideration during its resumed seventieth (2016) session ).

Follow-up to the 1996 UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II)

A July report [A/70/210] submitted by the Secretary-General in response to General Assembly resolution 69/226 [YUN 2014, p. 1202] described the activities of UN-Habitat over the previous 12 months in im-plementing the Habitat Agenda [YUN 1996, p. 994], adopted by the 1996 United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) [ibid., p. 992], and the strengthening of UN-Habitat. The report sum-marized the outcomes of the twenty-fifth session of the Governing Council (see p. 000), particu-larly in relation to the reform of the governance of UN-Habitat and its work programme and budget for the biennium 2014–2015. It also provided a de-scription of significant programme activities carried out during the reporting period, and of progress made in the preparations for the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) (see p. 000) .

On the basis of the work of the UN-Habitat Committee of Permanent Representatives, the Governing Council adopted a resolution on UN-Habitat governance reform (see p. 000) , through which it decided to strengthen its oversight role and that of the Committee, and requested the Committee to establish a working group on programme and budget.

Regarding financial developments, projections for the biennium 2014–2015 for non-earmarked and ear-marked income remained at $62.5 million and $283 million, respectively. As at 31 May 2015, $50 million (or 80 per cent of the projection) had been received in



all issue papers on the Conference website by 31 May 2015, and called upon States to support the work of the policy units, including by nominating technical experts to compose them, with a view to facilitating the elaboration of policy recommendations that may contribute to the work of the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee in preparing the draft outcome document of the Conference. The Preparatory Committee also adopted decisions on the accreditation of ngos and other major groups to Habitat III and its preparatory process; the dates and venue of its third session and the dates of the Conference; and discussion by the General Assembly of the most appropriate way to ad-vance negotiations on the outstanding issues in the preparations for Habitat III.


On 22 December [meeting 81], the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Second Committee [A/70/473], adopted resolution 70/210 (Implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)) without vote [agenda item 21].

By decision 70/554 of 23 December, the General Assembly decided that the item of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) would remain for consideration during its resumed seventieth (2016) session.

policies; and make use of the international guidelines on urban and territorial planning (see p. 000) .

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ACTION

On 22 July [meeting 55], the Economic and Social Council adopted resolution 2015/34 [draft: E/2015/L.17] (Human settlements) without vote [agenda item 18 (d)].

Preparations for Habitat IIIIn accordance with General Assembly resolutions

67/216 [YUN 2012, p. 1025] and 69/226 [YUN 2014, p. 1202], the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) held its second session from 14 to 16 April in Nairobi [A/CONF.226/PC.2/6]. The Secretary-General of the Conference re-ported on the activities of the secretariat in preparation for the Conference and provided a briefing on work to be carried out between April 2015 and the open-ing of the Conference in 2016. Representatives from UN-Habitat and unep presented 22 issue papers pro-duced by UN system bodies on six areas for the New Urban Agenda: social cohesion and equity—liveable cities; spatial development; urban frameworks; urban economy; urban ecology and environment; and urban housing and basic services.

The Preparatory Committee [res. 1/2015] took note of the proposed thematic areas, the issue papers being developed and the policy units to be established in the context of the preparations for its third (2016) session. The Committee requested the Secretary-General of the Conference to make all possible efforts to publish

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