United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) &
Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR)
About UNEA
The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) is the paramount global decision-making body dedicated to addressing environmental challenges. Its significance lies in its universal membership, comprising all 193 UN Member States, and the active engagement of Major Groups and Stakeholders (MGS). Biennially convened in Nairobi, Kenya, the Assembly convenes ministers and environmental authorities, serving as a pivotal forum for international collaboration.
​
Functioning as a beacon of leadership, the UNEA plays a pivotal role in catalyzing intergovernmental actions on the environment, thereby advancing the objectives outlined in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Furthermore, it assumes a crucial role as the governing body of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). With the creation of UNEA, Major Groups also got formalized as the civil society engagement mechanisms in UNEA and its subsidiary bodies. Learn more about UNEA here!
About CPR
The Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) is an intersessional subsidiary organ of the UNEA. Comprising representatives from member countries, the CPR plays a pivotal role in facilitating communication and coordination between the member states and UNEP. It serves as a conduit for ongoing discussions, negotiations, and decision-making processes related to environmental issues.
CPR also acts as a preparatory body for UNEA. Representatives to the CPR are typically ambassadors or senior diplomats who are based at the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON), Kenya, where UNEP is headquartered. They engage in regular meetings to discuss and deliberate on various environmental concerns, contributing to the formulation of policies, strategies, and initiatives.
The functioning of the CPR is integral to ensuring the effective implementation of decisions made at the United Nations Environment Assembly. It fosters a continuous dialogue between member states, UNEP, and Major Groups and Stakeholders (MGS), enhancing collaboration and cooperation in addressing global environmental challenges. In essence, CPR serves as a diplomatic forum for member states to actively participate in shaping and advancing the environmental agenda within the framework of the United Nations. Find more here.
Youth Engagement at UNEA and CPR
Children and Youth Major Group (CYMG), standing as the designated official engagement mechanism for children and youth in the negotiations of UNEA, CPR and other UNEP processes, embodies a pragmatic and influential role within these critical processes.
​
CYMG strategically established a Policy Coordination Group (PCG) that focuses on key policy issues, serving as a channel for gathering the perspectives of children and youth worldwide. This involves comprehensive consultations to assess their opinions on the subjects under negotiation. The culmination of these insights is then distilled into formal policy interventions/statements, meticulously crafted to articulate the collective stance of the younger generation. These interventions/statements are submitted in verbal and written formats through UNEP, augmenting the discourse with informed and impactful perspectives.
​
Through PCG, the youth constituency nominates a dedicated group of representatives to actively participate in CPR meetings. This presence underscores the commitment to translating the opinions and aspirations of children and youth into tangible influence within these esteemed platforms. By doing so, CYMG stands as a formidable advocate, ensuring that the voices of the younger generation echo prominently in the decisions and actions taken at the highest levels of environmental governance.
