#environment #sustainable development #SDGs #UNGA
On May 10, 2018 the resolution titled "Towards a Global Pact for the Environment" (document A/72/L.51) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly by a very large majority: in favor: 143, Against: 5 ( Russia, Syria, Turkey, the Philippines and the United States), Abstentions: 7 ( Belarus, Iran, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan). It opened the negotiations towards a Global Pact for the Environment.
According to that text, the Assembly decided to establish an ad hoc open‑ended working group to consider a technical and evidence-based report - to be submitted by the Secretary-General during the Assembly's seventy-third session in 2018 - and discuss possible options to address gaps in international environmental law and environment‑related instruments.
If necessary, the working group would discuss the scope, parameters and feasibility of an international instrument and make recommendations to the Assembly, which may include the convening of an intergovernmental conference to adopt such an international instrument during the first half of 2019.
The draft Global Pact for the Environment seeks to make key environment principles part of international law, including intergenerational equity, prevention, precaution, environmental damages, polluter pays, access to information, public participation, access to environmental justice, non-regression and others.
Please refer to the UN press release and the resolution for more details.
Other resolution s adopted by 72nd session of UNGA could be found on this official UN webpage.