After two years, the foreign ministers of the Green Group met at the margins of UNGA79 to discuss the pertinent climate and environmental challenges and their role in supporting the global community in green and just transition as well as protecting the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
The ministers agreed that the Summit for the Future and its outcome documents provide a good basis for their cooperation. In building inclusive, transparent and effective multilateral system, it is essential to enhance international solidarity and cooperation. The focus of the Green Group will remain on sustainable and just transition where full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of all is guaranteed. The ministers emphasized the crucial importance of taking into account the climate sensitive gender perspective by developing transformative approaches that address the root causes of gender inequality.
Furthermore, the ministers exchanged views on key future meetings as 2024 holds significance for environmental diplomacy. For the first time, the COPs of the three pivotal Rio Conventions - on biological diversity, climate change, and desertification - will take place in consecutive months: CBD COP 16 in Colombia in October, UNFCCC COP29 in Azerbaijan in November, and UNCCD COP16 in Saudi Arabia in December.
This unique integrated scheduling of the Rio Conventions provides an unparalleled opportunity to enhance efficiency, foster stronger international cooperation and harness this moment for a more holistic global approach to the pertinent Planet's challenges. Including stakeholders from diverse sectors and regions, the conventions can leverage knowledge and strategies, creating a more cohesive and impactful environmental agenda.
The ministers also discussed 2025 Oceans Conference, to be co-chaired by France and the Green Group member Costa Rica. The conference will focus on accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean with the emphasis on strengthening ocean science for informed decision making, supporting the advancement of multilateral process directly related to the ocean and ensuring a wide stakeholder participation to support sustainable blue economy.
