5th Plenary: National Statements (Continued) | UNEA-7

I call to order the fifth plenary meeting of the seventh session of the Environment Assembly. The Assembly will continue its consideration of agenda item 9, high-level segment, to hear national statements. I wish to remind speakers of the time limit of 3 minutes for individual statements and 5 minutes for those speaking on behalf of the group of states. Speakers will no longer with longer statements are encouraged to read a shorter version of their text and to submit the full length of their statement to the Secretariat for posting on website. Delegations are also encouraged to send their written statements to the Secretariat to facilitate interpretation, to assist speakers in managing their time. A timer is set in front of the speaker. In case speaker exceeds their time limit by 1 minute, the microphone will be automatically deactivated. I apologize in advance if speakers are. cut off, this measure is being taken to ensure that all speakers can deliver their statements in limited time available for the national statements. I urge all delegations to deliver their statement within the allotted time and at a reasonable pace so that interpretation in the other official United Nations languages may be provided properly. May I remind delegations that the list of speakers is available online and it will be updated live. I would like to now give the floor to Ms. Assa Johansson, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Climate and Enterprise of Sweden. You have the floor.

Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, friends of the environment, We are standing at a decisive moment in human history, facing a threat that knows no borders and will define generations to come. The triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution threatens the foundation of sustainability, our ecosystems, our societies, and our economy. Sweden's message has consistently been to emphasize both urgency and opportunity, most recently at COP30. Urgency grounded in scientific evidence, and opportunity in strengthened competitiveness, and that a successful green transition can deliver. To realize this vision, we must act decisively and together. phasing out fossil fuels and restoring nature to protect biodiversity. We also need a circular economy that respects planetary boundaries, drives innovation, and cuts pollution at its source, addressing harmful substances and plastic waste. Tackling plastic pollution must remain central, and Sweden looks forward to advancing the global plastics treaty. Unity must guide us in our work. Governments need to join forces with the private sector and business actors that are ready and willing to engage. Enabling the participation of civil society, indigenous peoples, and women and girls is essential. We must mobilize climate finance from all sources and harness our combined knowledge and leadership to make UNEP and the UN agile, effective, and inclusive. Delivering on these ambitions requires strong global governance. The adoption of UNEP's medium-term strategy and program of work is essential. as they set the direction for environmental action. Sweden also welcomes the Secretary General's UN80 initiative and encourages UNEP's full engagement in this process. UNEP and UNEA play a vital role in today's global environmental governance, and Sweden remains a strong supporter and financial contributor and stands ready to work with all partners to accelerate progress. This meeting is crucial for shaping solutions that match the scale of the challenges we face. Let's make sure that action is taken here, together, and in unity.

Thank you.

Thank you very much. Thank you, Sweden. Now I would like to give the floor to His Excellency Karma Tshering, Government Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Bhutan. Your Excellency, you have the floor.

Mr. President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I bring the warm greetings of His Majesty King Jigme and the people of Bhutan. Bhutan extends its sincere appreciation to the President of UNEA, the Bureau, UNEP, and the Government of Kenya for convening UNEA-7 and sustaining this vital platform. Under the dynamic leadership of our Kings, Bhutan has continued to advance its environmental agenda, guided by our constitutional mandate to maintain a minimum of 60% forest cover in perpetuity. We are proud to be the first carbon-negative country in the world and amongst the first countries to pledge to remain carbon neutral. Yet, despite our steadfast commitment, climate change continues to threaten our food, water, and energy security, while our fragile mountain ecosystems remain deeply vulnerable. In response, Bhutan has accelerated key actions and undertaken several transformative policy measures. On zero waste, we have advanced our national agenda anchored by the Zero Waste Hour graciously initiated by Her Majesty the Queen. This has strengthened integrated waste management systems and brings us closer to achieving our 2030 national ambition. On biodiversity conservation, we have launched new initiatives to enhance ecological connectivity across our protected areas and biological corridors in full alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. On phasing out HFCs, Bhutan continues to depend its regulatory and monitoring systems to eliminate fluorocarbons and to promote climate friendly cooling systems. On sustainable tourism and the broader economy, our policies increasingly emphasize sustainability and planetary health, placing long term ecological integrity above short term economic gains. On disaster risk reduction, we have strengthened early warning systems and preparedness for climate reduced disasters. This includes enhanced measures to mitigate clops, thereby improving community resilience across vulnerable regions. On advancing circular economy, Bhutan continues to promote resource efficiency and sustainable consumption and production. On ethical technology adoption, we advocate for balanced and responsible use of emerging technologies, ensuring that innovation is harnessed to support climate mitigation and adaptation. Excellencies, Bhutan remains firmly committed to environmental stewardship, guided by our national philosophy of GNH, which places human well-being and ecological integrity at its core. We urge the international community to intensify collective action to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. This must include enhanced access to climate finance, technology, and capacity building, ensuring that no country and no community is left behind. Through bold leadership, targeted intervention, and strong international cooperation, Bhutan will continue to champion nature-positive solutions and to support just and equitable transitions to the benefit of people, the planet, and our shared prosperity. Let us act with renewed urgency and moral clarity to secure a resilient and sustainable future for present and future generations. I thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Bhutan. Now I would like to give the floor to Mr. Theodoulus Mesimeris, Director, Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of Cyprus. You have the floor.

Madam Chair, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, The Republic of Cyprus extends its congratulations to the UNEA President and its team, the Executive Director of UNEP and staff, all members of the UNEA Bureau and the Chair of the CBR and its Bureau members for their outstanding work. We would also like to thank Kenya for the warming, welcoming, and the great hospitality. We recognize and value the contributions made by all countries and stakeholders in recent months towards achieving a fruitful UNEA. We believe that everyone in this room shares a collective purpose to safeguard the environment and the planet. While this mission presents significant challenges, it is imperative that we identify sustainable solutions amongst ongoing environmental crisis. We are confident that environmental multilateralism is the key to success. Not we don't only have to preserve it, but to strengthen it more. The Republic of Cyprus, as an island in the estimated run region, is at the forefront of the climate crisis and the climate change hotspot, experiencing extremely high temperatures, longer hot periods, and severely reduced rainfall. These impacts have initiated a series of adverse effects on natural ecosystems, biodiversity and human population. Water scarcity stands out as a major concern of Cyprus and which the global community to intensify the efforts to protect water as a valuable resource for the natural environment and the people. Cyprus, his alignment with the EU positions, looks forward to the adoption of resolutions with real value a medium-term strategy that will facilitate the work of UNEP in the coming years, as well as a strong ministerial declaration. The international community needs to implement a coherent and commonly accepted operating model so that we can live and prosper within the limits of the environment and the limited natural resources. By recognizing and leveraging these realities, we place ourselves in a stronger position to tackle global environmental crisis and secure a sustainable future for the coming generations. Dear Excellencies and delegates, we transmit a loud call to all of us to be courageous enough in making this UNEA a really successful one, and to send the message that the Nairobi spirit is still alive and the planet can have a hope for the future. I thank you.

Thank you very much, Cyprus. Now I would like to give the floor to His Excellency George Psiahas, Permanent Representative of Greece. Excellency, you have the floor.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, countries cannot tackle escalating environmental threats alone, but only through strengthened international partnerships and shared commitments. UNEP is uniquely placed as the leading global authority on the environment to promote synergies between multilateral

Your Excellency, just microphone is cut off. Can I? Now it's working, yes.

The outcomes of UNEA confirmed the importance of multilateral environmental cooperation. In line with UNEA's theme for this year, combating the adverse effects of climate change is a key priority for Greece. In Greece, we are working systematically to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% before 2030 and to reach climate neutrality by 2050. We are a pioneer in energy transition. Our emissions are down 45% compared to 2005, while renewables penetration surpasses 50%. The share of lignite power generation has dropped from 50 to 6% in just a few years. Greece is also investing in innovation and storage technologies to fully tap the potential of renewables and increase resilience against future shocks. Another key priority is water efficiency and addressing water scarcity. We have recently taken bold decisions to ensure water security for cities and communities, economic activities, and for nature. With a vast coastline and numerous islands, we are considerably affected by plastic marine litter. Thus, we are committed by 2030 to reducing such pollution by 50% and microplastics by 30%. through an integrated source-to-sea approach. In this vein, we support an ambitious global treaty to address the full life cycle of plastics. With regard to marine biodiversity, Greece is increasing its marine protected areas to over 30% of our territorial waters with the establishment of two new national marine parks. In parallel, we are investing in preparedness, early warning systems, and state-of-the-art surveillance to strengthen the resilience of fragile marine ecosystems. For the conservation of our sea and its resources, legal frameworks are indispensable, namely the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the upcoming entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement, already ratified by Greece last June. As a contracting party to all major international environmental instruments, Greece underlines the urgency for strong global environmental cooperation while reaffirming its support to multilateralism and international law. And with this, ladies and gentlemen, I thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Your Excellency. Now, I would like to give the floor to Ms. Katrina McGuire, Division Head, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water of Australia. You have the floor, madam.

Thank you very much. Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, Australia would like to extend our thanks to Oman for serving as UNEA 7 President and to UNEP for organizing this seventh session of the UN Environment Assembly. With the coming together of more than 150 countries, I'm struck by the opportunity UNEA presents to collaborate and catalyze meaningful action on the environment. Collaboration isn't a nice to have, it's essential to tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. And together, we must ensure UNAEA continues to deliver. In Australia, we are grappling with bleaching of our coral reefs, bushfires, and a harmful algal bloom in our southern temperate waters on a scale we have never seen. Driven by a marine heatwave and nutrient imbalances, the bloom is threatening fisheries, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of coastal communities. Across our region, the impacts of climate change are being felt with increasing severity and underscore the urgency of our task and the interconnected nature of the challenges we face. Formal agreement has been reached for COP31 to be hosted by Turkey in Antalya. With the Pacific's interests advanced by Australia assuming the role of President of Negotiations in the lead up to and at the meeting, we're proud to work with Turkey, a country with whom we share a long history, to take forward COP31 in 2026. As home to the world's oldest continuous culture, Australia honours the knowledge and resilience of Indigenous peoples everywhere and the critical role they play in addressing climate and environmental challenges. On ocean governance, we are working with Chile and many others to encourage coastal and ocean states to commit to sustainably managing 100% of the ocean areas under their national jurisdiction. And we are committed to ratifying the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty by introducing legislation into our parliament. We remain firmly committed to the work established under UNEA Resolution 5/14, and we are ready to continue working with other nations towards a positive, effective, and meaningful global approach to end plastic pollution. As 2030 approaches, we are committed to advancing the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs, building a sustainable future where ecosystems thrive and no one is left behind. And UNEP is a critical partner, informing, enabling, and inspiring us to a sustainable path. In closing, we welcome the UN80 Reform Initiative, paving the path for a more efficient and effective UN system to tackle the triple planetary crisis together. Thank you.

Thank you, Australia. Now I would like to give the floor to His Excellency Bain Rusom, Permanent Representative of Eritrea. Your Excellency, you have the floor.

Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, my delegations sincerely thanks the government and people of Kenya for their warm hospitality and the UN7 Bureau for their committed leadership. Eritrea is situated in a region where the climate crisis is a daily reality. We endure recurrent droughts, erratic rainfall, and the land degradation and rising temperatures. Yet, despite our region's documented vulnerabilities, the global response remains inadequate. Climate finance pledges are unfulfilled. Technology transfer is limited, and the international environmental architecture remains fragmented and difficult for least developed countries to access. This is neither sustainable nor just. In the face of these constraints, Eritrea pursues a path of determination and self-reliance. We combat environmental degradation through domestic capacity and community action. A transformative National undertaking has been the construction of hundreds of dams across the country. This have strengthened drought resilience, expanded irrigated agriculture, and secured drinking water for rural communities becoming lifeline for villages affected for climate shocks. Our longstanding popular mobilization campaigns with active youth and student participants have advanced soil and water conservation, afforestation, and reforestation. This contributes meaningfully to ecosystem recovery and biodiversity protection. As a major Red Sea nation, Eritrea has a long coastline and over 350 islands, including the vast Dahlak Archipelago. These areas, with rich marine biodiversity, and pristine coral reefs extend our environmental responsibilities to the marine realm. They face pressure from pollution, climate impact, and coral bleaching. In response, Eritrea is expanding marine and island protected areas, strengthening community surveillance to deter undesired activities, restoring coral reefs, mangroves, and coastal vegetation as natural climate buffers advancing a sustainable blue economy strategy to safeguard marine resources and local livelihoods. A healthy marine environment is central to the resilience and prosperity of our coastal and island communities. Eritrea is accelerating investments in solar, wind, and geothermal energy. However, for many least developed countries, this Transition requires substantial upfront capital and technical expertise. We therefore reiterate the urgent need for accessible, predictable, and timely climate finance without bureaucratic conditions. In closing, we welcome the establishment of the Intergovernmental Science Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution, trusting it will strengthen global action. We commend the outgoing presidency and extend full support to the incoming one. I thank you.

Thank you very much, Your Excellency. Now I would like to give the floor to His Excellency Patricio Aguiar, Permanent Representative of Chile. Your Excellency, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, Excellencies. First and foremost, I'd like to congratulate the Presidency held by Oman and the Executive Director of UNEP for a successful UNEA 7. I congratulate Kenya as well for its warm welcome and the great reception that we just heard. I'd like to begin my statement referring to the topic of this Assembly, Advancing Sustainable Solutions for a Resilient Planet, with three thoughts. It's time to move from words to deeds. Sustainable solutions are part of that action needed to confront global environmental challenges, and we must do this as countries working together. No environmental challenge respects national borders. And mentioning borders brings me to my second point. Sustainable solutions require financing and technological transfer. at a scale and through the channels that are appropriate for the specific needs of each developing country. Chile supports an inclusive and pragmatic vision, where priority is given to finding solutions through traditional mechanisms, but also through innovative mechanisms, and public-private partnerships, and working with civil society. Thirdly, I'd like to stress the importance of resilience. We saw this at the COP30 recently held in Brazil. Resilience requires adaptation to climate change, to water scarcity, to biodiversity loss. In Chile, we have made progress with sectoral and regional climate change adaptation plans, but there is still a great deal to be done. Madam Chair, we have observed a great deal of momentum when it comes to establishing synergies between multilateral environmental agreements, particularly between the Rio Conventions. We believe this exercise is fundamental to establish thematic positive ties between environmental challenges, which we know are interrelated. We cannot fail to mention the relevance of the Sustainable Development Goals contained in the 2030 Agenda. Their indicators have guided public policies in Chile and many other countries in recent years. Madam President, I'd like to tell you that for Chile, the ocean is one of the areas of greatest concern and interest. Much of the sustainability of the planet, its food security, and the interconnection between regions depend on the ocean and its biodiversity. Thus, we look forward to the entry into force of the High Seas Treaty, BBNJ, on the upcoming 17th of January as a keystone for global ocean governance. Chile has proposed that the Secretariat of the BBNJ be hosted in the port city of Valparaiso. as the first headquarters of a UN body in Latin America, and we hope that you will be able to support us to make this dream a reality. Finally, Madam President, when it comes to plastics, Chile reiterates its willingness to be part of a solution, acting in an INC that is more effective, more efficient, and more transparent, and that which will respond appropriately to the mandate issued in UNEA-5. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Your Excellency. Now I would like to give the floor to Ms. Jean-Marie Hadlestone, Director General of Multilateral Affairs and Climate Change and Chief Climate Negotiator of Canada. Madam, you have the floor.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, thank you to the Government of Kenya for hosting us here in beautiful Nairobi.

Canada.

Values the important work of UNEP and UNEA to safeguard the environment and address the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Tackling these crises require all of us working together with partners and stakeholders, and in close collaboration with Indigenous peoples whose leadership must be at the heart of our actions. Recently, at COP30, the international community came together to accelerate implementation on climate change. This included a commitment to triple adaptation finance by 2035 and the adoption of a new gender action plan. Canada remains resolutely committed to fulfilling all our obligations under the Paris Agreement and to the collective 1.5 temperature goal. Fighting climate change is both a moral obligation and an economic imperative for Canada. This is why we recently launched a climate competitiveness strategy which mobilizes public and private capital through investment tax credits and de-risking investments to accelerate the transition to net zero by providing regulatory clarity and boosting the clean economy. As part of our G7 presidency, Canada also advanced several global environment priorities. Key outcomes included the Toronto Action Plan on Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency, the Water Coalition Work Plan, and the Kananaskis Wildfire Charter. In line with this Charter, the UNEA resolution on wildfires, proposed by India and co-sponsored by Canada, is another important step towards global cooperation on fire management. Looking ahead, the international community has also given itself an important mandate: to finalize a new global agreement on plastic pollution, and we must deliver.

The successful outcome of a conference on plastics should remain a global priority in order to fulfill the UN mandate for this assembly. Canada will remain an active and ambitious partner of the coalition of the willing, of the high ambition coalition, and will work with other members towards a solid agreement. We also need to step up our efforts in order to combat a decline in biodiversity. We are also preparing for the next COP on biodiversity. The parties will be working towards concluding a new charter. So, struggle with climate change is essential for the global community and for supporting our values. Finally, Canada recognizes the unique role played by UNEP and the practical multilateralism rooted in science which is needed in order to attain our environmental goals. Thank you.

Merci, madame. Now I would like to give the floor to His Excellency Miroslaw Gorczy, Permanent Representative of Poland. Your Excellency, you have the floor.

Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, today the world faces interconnected environment challenges. This situation makes environmental issue more than ever a subject of concern and action, placing them at the heart of public and thus political discourse. All of these aspects are also critical for the overall achievements of the 2030 agenda. To effectively solve this problem, it's necessary to find advising sustainable solution for a resilient planet. To support sustainable solution for resilient planet in the context of critical raw materials, Poland is implementing two strategic project under the Critical Raw Material Act. The first project aims to create a modern processing center in Poland for rare earth raw materials. used in the production of electric motors, wind turbines, and electronics. The second key project to be implemented in Poland focuses on the recycling of used batteries and the recovery of critical raw materials, with the objective to promote green solutions for global resilience. I would like to present the GreenEVO program implemented by the Polish Ministry of Climate and Environment. GreenEVO technologies have been developed to effectively and cost efficiently solve specific environment problems. They are used in areas such as water treatment, air protection, and waste management. Poland is very proud of its nature and forest. It's one of the most valuable natural resources, especially where there is a sustainable nature and forest management. Poland is also actively participating in regional cooperation, aiming to design and implement sustainable solutions. We are one of the parties to the Carpathian Convention. Ladies and gentlemen, I hope that this year's session will encourage everyone to implement effective solutions for the environment. I believe that through common responsibility and solidarity, we are going to make it happen. Thank you very much for your attention.

Thank you very much, Your Excellency. Now I would like to give the floor to Ms. Frédérique Vidal, Permanent Representative of Monaco. Your Excellency, you have the floor.

Distinguished Chair, Executive Director, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, we are traversing a period of human history where we have exceeded almost all natural limits on the sustainability of our planet. It's imperative to reach an agreement and to adjust our global consumerist system. We need to agree that the economic system would be one that leads to a juster, more equitable and inclusive world, because the current models of consumption and production have repercussions for the health of the planet and us all. More efforts need to be put into place in order to achieve more justice among societies and a more equitable future for the generations to come. It's our collective responsibility. A resilient planet is a planet where priority is given to healthy ecosystems, where intensity of resource use is reduced and efficiency is enhanced. The resilience starts with actions, with reducing the actions that damage the living world, including humanity. On climate change, Monaco will follow its course and will achieve 67% reduction of emissions by 2035, but the global perspective of reduction only 14% is quite concerning. The rapid growth of extreme climate events demands prompt action from us all, and Monaco by 2028 will double its financing. The Blue Economy and Finance was the title of a conference organized last year in Monaco. It was the third conference of the UN on oceans, shows that the sustainable economy keeps growing. Also, the economic conditions that lead to the world of the biodiversity need to be addressed, and the system needs to be readjusted in that sense. In terms of resilience, the transition to a carbon low economy would need a special emphasis on circularity. We support, we reiterate our support to conclusion binding instruments on plastic pollution, including in seas. The Union Assembly is a place where the global environmental governance should emerge, where we could protect the biodiversity in seas, as well as reinforce the global framework of biodiversity by inclusive governance rooted in the respect for human rights and the respect for a sustainable, healthy environment. Finally, Monaco is gratified with the quality of debates at this Assembly, as well as its resolutions. I thank you.

Thank you, Monaco. Now I would like to give the floor to His Excellency Andrew Onalena Sesene, Permanent Representative of Botswana. Your Excellency, you have the floor.

Your Excellency, the President of the Assembly, Executive Director of UNEP, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, We are honored today to address the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly. We extend our sincere gratitude to the United Nations Environment Programme and the host country, Kenya, for their excellent arrangements for this important assembly. Botswana expresses its strong commitment to the theme of this assembly, advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet. This team reflects both the aspirations of the African continent and Botswana's national priorities. Recently, Botswana had the privilege of hosting the inaugural Africa Biodiversity Summit in Gaborone, a landmark event that marked a pivotal step in strengthening continental efforts to protect biodiversity under the theme, "Leveraging Biodiversity for Africa's Prosperity." The summit culminated in the adoption of the Haborone Declaration, which articulates Africa's firm commitment to integrated nature-positive development that advances socioeconomic progress, builds climate resilience, and secures ecological sustainability. Your Excellencies, Botswana calls on UNEA-7 to champion a number of critical priorities articulated in the Gabrune Declaration, including equity in environmental financing, technology transfer, and support for sustainable development pathways that go beyond traditional economic indicators. Botswana also emphasizes the importance of inclusive governance. highlighting the central role of local communities, their traditional knowledge, stewardship, and participation are essential for effective and sustainable conservation. As a mining dependent country, Botswana has paid close attention to the resolutions on chemicals and waste and minerals and metals. Botswana welcomes the adoption and views them as meaningful progress for the region. Your Excellencies, over the years Botswana has made significant strides in mainstreaming environmental management across development sectors. Over 40% of our land area is under protected area status. These achievements are supported by strong institutional and legislative frameworks. However, Botswana acknowledges that success in conservation It has also brought challenges for communities living in biodiversity hotspots. Our communities are subjected to human-wildlife conflicts, and as a result, their livelihood options are affected. Botswana believes that it is time the global community considers establishing a program that will reward or incentivize successes in conservation. Africa's prosperity must be green, inclusive, and equitable. The decisions made at UNEA7 should reinforce these continental priorities and foster partnerships that mobilize the resources needed to achieve our goals. In conclusion, Botswana remains committed to the spirit of multilateralism and will continue to contribute to a resilient, sustainable future for all. I thank you for your kind attention.

Thank you very much. Now I would like to give the floor to Ms. Elin Sigurdardottir, Director General, Directorate for International Development Cooperation of Iceland.

Thank you. President of UNEA7, Executive Director, Honorable Ministers, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. We are gathered here at UNEA 7 in a world where many of the long-standing principles of international cooperation are being undermined. We therefore reiterate our commitment to multilateralism, to the rule-based international order, and to the central role of the United Nations and to the UN Environment Programme, a vital partner in supporting Member States' efforts to safeguard our planet. Environmental degradation is a growing source of instability, as resource scarcity, food insecurity, and climate-driven displacement intensify vulnerabilities worldwide, requiring coordinated collective action, such as the comprehensive transformation agenda of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which provides a unique opportunity to drive a change that we need to sustain a healthy planet, grounded in science and respect for communities. For Iceland, the health of the ocean is a priority. As a nation built on sustainable fisheries, evidence-based management is essential to our long-term prosperity. This requires us to address marine pollution, including plastics, chemical waste, and abandoned fishing gear. Iceland is among member states calling for an ambitious international legally binding agreement covering the entire life cycles of plastic and to end plastic pollution. We remain committed to this journey and will continue to engage productively and constructively. It is of great concern that microplastics are found in nearly all marine organisms in our region and that microplastics pollution threatens both Arctic and sub-Arctic marine ecosystems. To support collective efforts, Iceland will host its third scientific symposium on ocean plastic pollution in October 2026. The event will broaden its geographical focus to address plastic pollution across the entire Atlantic Ocean and spotlight research on its economic, social, and health impacts. In closing, as geopolitical tensions strain global cooperation and the environment hangs in the balance, the cost of fragmentation is simply too high. We must bridge divides, resist misinformation, and advance a just transition that draws on the full talents and perspectives of society, ensuring that gender equality is embedded in our collective response and that women and men alike are empowered to contribute to a livable planet. Let us move forward with unity and determination to protect the planet that sustains us all, ensuring that UNEP's work is grounded in strong scientific foundations and delivers great effectiveness. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Now I would like to give the floor to His Excellency Luis Alejandro Levitz, Permanent Representative of Argentina. Your Excellency, you have the floor.

President of UNEA7 and President of the Environmental Authority of Oman, His Excellency Abdulla bin Ali Al Amri, and Ms. Executive Director of UNEP Inger Andersen, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, First, we wish to congratulate the Presidency and the Secretariat for the efficient and successful organization of this important event. The world today faces urgent environmental challenges. In this important forum, Argentina wishes to express its firm commitment to the environmental agenda and to fulfilling its obligations under multilateral environmental agreements. The economic development model of our country under the presidency of Javier Milei is rooted in the notion of freedom. Therefore, Argentina maintains that each country should pursue its development objectives according to its national priorities. The Argentine Republic recalls that it dissociated itself from the Pact for the Future and considers that the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals, although well-intentioned, are composed of legally non-binding aspirations that each State, in the exercise of its sovereignty, has the right to implement and pursue freely. Argentina has enormous potential to contribute to the global energy transition with critical minerals and renewable energies. It possesses abundant reserves of lithium and copper, inputs for electric vehicle batteries and components for clean energy infrastructure. 50% of Argentina's energy matrix consists of solar, wind, and hydroelectric energy, thanks to growing investments in the sector. All this represents a great opportunity to combat climate change and its adverse effect, in which our country will play a prominent role. Mr. President, agriculture should not be considered just as the main cause of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. We'd like to highlight that our agricultural sector is highly competitive and efficient, incorporating cutting-edge technology and following environmentally friendly practices. Argentine agricultural and livestock production contributes significantly to global food security, feeding 10 times our country's population sustainably. As an environmentally responsible producer, we promote trade free of obstacles and restrictions. We also call for the elimination of all harmful subsidies that worsen biodiversity loss and degrade terrestrial and marine ecosystems through over-exploitation, pollution, and others. For this reason, environmental considerations should not become obstacles to trade. We promote an increase in the global efficiency of the multilateral environmental system through better coordination and the elimination of overlaps between the different forms that comprise it, making the best possible use of the human and financial resources available to us. Finally, we reiterate the importance of this seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly as a global forum to promote international cooperation and address current environmental challenges. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Your Excellency. Now I would like to give the floor to Ms. May Castillo Mariscal, Chief of Staff for Legal Affairs to the Office of Special Envoy for Climate Change, Ministry of Environment. For Panama, sorry.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair, Excellencies, dear colleagues. We thank the people and government of Kenya, Nairobi specifically, for their hospitality and for hosting once again the environmental community of the world in this city that is a symbol of multilateralism. They say that we don't inherit the earth from our parents, we are borrowing it from our children. And that truth is heavier today than ever. We are in Nairobi because we believe in multilateralism. We believe it can still work, because we can still bring together what we have treated separately for years: nature, justice, and human dignity. The world doesn't need more diagnoses. It needs decisions, concrete actions. It needs real ambition, consistency, and solidarity. Panama, and the world have made progress in critical areas: climate resilience, ecosystem restoration, protection of the oceans, and environmental justice. But in these spaces, there still is an enormous gap and a debt to be paid. The crisis of plastic is the clearest proof of this. Technically speaking, and in terms of our political will, if we want to defend life, we need to reduce pollution from its origin, from its production, and make sure that the treaty is ambitious, fair, and applicable. Panama believes that the spirit of Nairobi should support this process: cooperation, transparency, and urgency. We also strongly support the international efforts and regional efforts that strengthen the protection of the ocean, acting against deep-sea mining, and facing the Sargasso crisis, which is affecting coastal communities in the Caribbean. We reiterate our commitment to resilience and the protection of coral reefs, guided by science and by indigenous knowledge and the knowledge of local and Afro-descendant communities, and we support efforts towards cooperation against environmental crimes that destroy ecosystems and harm the communities that depend on the ecosystems, but also we are deeply concerned by the difficulties in maintaining references that are already broadly agreed upon on effective participation of women, youth, indigenous people, Afro-descendant populations, science, NGOs, local governments, workers, and responsible productive sectors. These are the main groups, the main players established by UNEP. They're not just observers. They are the pillars of solid environmental governance. They are the first line of action in the face of the triple planetary crisis. Panama calls for protecting this language and ensuring that the inclusion of all of these stakeholders continue to be the guiding principle of this Assembly. Panama congratulates our brothers and sisters in the GRULAC countries, and we recognize and celebrate the constructive leadership that they've shown over these past weeks. Panama has a vision that ambition should be maintained in solidarity and that synergies between environmental agreements should be a tool for efficiency, not an additional burden. Our vision for our presidency of the Forum of the Latin American and Caribbean Ministers is clear: united dialogue with everyone at the table, greater ambition, strengthening environmental defense, and putting people and biodiversity first. Science, policy, and action aligned for a single purpose: protecting life. This Assembly must be remembered not for the paragraphs we agree on, but for the doors that we open, for showing that cooperation can be stronger than crisis and that hope, when it is organized, can also govern. Thank you.

Thank you, panama. Now I would like to give the floor to Her Excellency Barbara Pompili, Ambassador for Environment of France. Your Excellency, you have the floor.

Chair, Your Excellencies, Ministers, ladies and gentlemen, first of all, I'd like to extend our gratitude to Kenya for the excellent preparation of this seventh session of UNEA. Faced with a triple crisis of climate, biodiversity and pollution and its impact, which is felt more and more every day. We need a triple response. in science, political will to make difficult choices, and multilateralism. Multilateralism is a necessity. These environmental crises impact us all without exception. They cannot be resolved without the mobilization of us all. France is convinced in the efficiency of multilateralism, renewed multilateralism, responsible. aimed at results. Ten years ago in Paris, we adopted a historic accord on combating climate change. Several months ago in Nice, we cleared a decisive stage with the entry into force of the agreement. The value of multilateralism is to support UNEP as the primary authority in the environment. It needs a new, ambitious mid-term strategy, and that's exactly what we've been doing this week. This Assembly has proved itself as the driver of a historical transition to overcome plastic pollution. But nevertheless, we have to admit that we haven't as yet achieved ourselves the mandate given to us. It is imperative. to conclude a plastics accord that would cover the entire cycle, including the production of plastics. Otherwise, we would have to face unsustainable costs of inaction. Multilateralism also favours the adoption of ambitious resolutions throughout the week. We have collectively worked to address the pollution of the Sargasso Sea. to try and make use of AI for sustainable development. But collectively, we need to look at ourselves. How we really achieved, after so many meetings, to the height of the challenges. I have to say that in the efforts to preserve consensus, certain resolutions were emptied of their substance or even abandoned. I particularly regret that we didn't manage to adopt the resolution on the seas by Vanuatu, and the criminal liability also suggested by Peru. And so we will support facing this challenge. 2026 will be a decisive year for multilateralism. The holding of four COPs, climate, biodiversity, desertification, and the BBNJ would test our capacity to maintain the spirit of Paris and the biodiversity framework. But inaction is not on the cards. If we don't show our collective will, to rise to the challenges. What will we have to say to those who doubt the value of these meetings, this work, who do not and not to use the need for consensus as a pretext? future is facing us all. Thank you.

Your Excellency, now I would like to give the floor to Mr. Richard Peka Moyo, Principal Secretary for Natural Resources, Energy and Mines of Malawi. Your Excellency, you have the floor.

Madam President, the world continues to face converging triple crises. In recent times, Malawi has faced unprecedented crisis related to triple planetary crisis. The country has been hit hard by recent cyclones, floods, prolonged dry spells, and disease outbreaks, displaced families, and eroded hard-won development gains, especially for women, youth, and vulnerable communities. Malawi's economy and livelihoods depend on the environment. Yet population pressures and unsustainable land use are straining forests, soils, water resources, and ecosystems. Madam President, our forthcoming National State of the Environment and Outlook Report, produced using the integrated environmental assessment methodology to be launched soon, qualifies the above. The message is clear: we must strengthen climate resilience restore degraded landscapes, and improve waste and chemicals management. Guided by Malawi 2063, we are expanding renewable energy, promoting climate smart agriculture, restoring ecosystems, and improving land and water governance. We are updating national policies, including the National Environmental Policy, Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, and climate change legislation, while reinforcing monitoring, enforcement, environmental education, data systems, and community resilience. But domestic action alone is not enough. Malawi reaffirms the importance of multilateralism and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. We call for scaled-up, predictable, and grant-based financing. technology transfer, and capacity building to support adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage needs of least developed countries. We call upon all Member States to exercise flexibility so that we adopt all the resolutions and decisions before us. We also emphasize the One Health approach, recognizing the inseparable links between environmental degradation, climate change, and human health. Madam President, UNEA 7 must send a clear message that the world is ready to move from commitments to accelerated concrete action. We appeal for renewed global solidarity, guided by science, equity, and justice, to secure a low-emission and pollution-free future and upholding the right of all people to live in a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Thank you.

Thank you, Malawi. Now I would like to give the floor to Mr. Thomas Schuss, Director General for International, European and Internal Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Climate and Biodiversity of Luxembourg. You have the floor.

Mr. President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, First and foremost, I would like to thank the Government and the wonderful people of Kenya for their hospitality. My statement is aligned with the statement made by Commissioner Roswell on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. Ladies and gentlemen, Luxembourg believes in multilateralism, based on science and supported by international cooperation. We know that the many environmental crises that threaten our planet are not isolated. They are strongly interconnected. That was the vision of the spirit of Rio in 1992: overcoming these challenges together, and establishing the links between them. And today it is this very spirit which must guide us again. The United Nations Environment Assembly is not just a meeting. It is a unique forum, and it is more essential than ever to create synergies, break silos, and help the global environmental agenda to progress with courage and clarity. And Luxembourg is prepared to act. I am proud to announce that at the beginning of next year, we will launch the Climate Nexus Investment Programme, adding to our current envelope 320 million euros over the next five years to support the most vulnerable countries. This program will seek synergies between climate, biodiversity, and community resilience, based on innovative to mobilize additional private capital. In this spirit, Luxembourg has just launched at the COP30 in Belém the Rio Changemakers Initiative, in collaboration with the Global Landscapes Forum. This has been conceived as a partnership between governments, private investors, and local communities. This initiative aims to create, thanks to artificial intelligence, a market where ideas meet investment, and where promises transform into progress. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, for Luxembourg, This is not just a financial commitment, it is a political declaration, an affirmation that our words and our ideas for sustainable synergetic transformation must increasingly translate on the ground as concrete results in the interest of local communities. So let us act, and let us build a future where humanity and nature prosper, science guides, and cooperation prevails. Thank you.

Thank you, Luxembourg. Now I would like to give the floor to Her Excellency Marie-Charlotte Tang, Permanent Representative of the Philippines.

Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, The Philippines congratulates His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Ali Al Amri and the Bureau for their leadership of UNEA 7, and thanks the Government of Kenya and the UNEP Secretariat for their excellent preparations. We meet at a time when multilateralism is under strain, yet indispensable. Since UNEA 6, meaningful progress has affirmed that environmental protection, social well-being, and sustainable development are indivisible. the KALIPAN, the BALEM action mechanism, and the first call for proposals of the Loss and Damage Fund, whose board the Philippines is honored to host, show that cooperation remains possible. The new Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution anchors science more firmly in global environmental governance. Madam President, The Philippines has sought to match global progress with concrete national action. We ratified the BBNJ agreement, strengthened ocean governance through a dedicated Ocean Environments Task Force, and updated our NBSAP with expanded targets for terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine protection. We advance responsible mining and are updating our NDC through robust national consultations ensuring that our youth, who will inherit the consequences of today's choices, shape tomorrow's strategy. We also continue to engage constructively towards a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution. The Philippines attaches high importance to an agreement that delivers clear obligations, strengthened means of implementation, and effective monitoring and compliance mechanisms. In this regard, we were honored to host in November the first International Conference on Nuclear Technology for Controlling Plastic Pollution, a flagship initiative of the IAEA, highlighting radiation-based solutions. The PREX plastic prototype house, built using irradiated plastic waste, demonstrated how innovation can reinforce regulation and advocacy. Regionally, as the Philippines assumes the ASEAN chairship next year, climate resilience and environmental stewardship will be a central pillar of our chairship. At this UNEA, we highlight priorities that strengthen ecosystems, advance science, and ensure an equitable and environmentally sound transition for critical minerals and metals. Madam President, a healthy environment underpins human rights and sustainable development. The recent advisory opinion of the ICJ makes this clear. We encourage UNEA to deepen system-wide cooperation and support rights-based, science-driven capacity building. Madam President, current trajectories will not deliver the environmental-related SDGs by 2030. The Philippines has chosen the path of action, ratifying agreements, reforming national frameworks, expanding protected areas, and strengthening the rule of law. We urge all member states to do the same. Implementation must now define our collective work. In closing, the Philippines stands ready to partner for a resilient, just, and sustainable future. Thank you for your attention.

Thank you very much, Your Excellency. Now I would like to give the floor to Ms. Ariel Arviv, Deputy Permanent Representative of Israel.

Mr. President, Madam Executive Director, Excellencies, distinguished guests, Israel is honored to join this Assembly in advancing sustainable solutions for resilient land. We thank Kenya for its generous hospitality and UNEP for its leadership at a time when unity, ambition, and credible action are urgently needed. This year's theme reminds us that a resilient planet is not a distant vision. It is a responsibility placed in our hand. Our shared commitment to the future we want calls on us to protect ecosystems, advance sustainable development, and uphold the principle of sound environmental stewardship for present and future generations. Excellencies, Israel has made significant progress in the environmental sphere. As a country facing water scarcity, aridity, and rapid population growth, we have long learned that resilience depends on innovation, long-term planning, and effective partnership. We're advancing a national pathway toward a net zero emission economy by 2050. At the same time, Israel is undergoing a major transformation of its energy sector and will complete the phase out of coal in the coming years, supported by a renewable energy expansion, modernization of our electricity grid, and new efficiency measures. We are preparing an updated national biodiversity action plan, aligned with the coming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and are expanding our network of protected areas, including marine protected area, towards aiming to expand it to 30 target. To foster climate resilience in all government level, a new national climate risk mapping portal now guides Israel. Israel has made a progress in this scene. And now, we are advancing our national climate risk mapping portal in infrastructure planning and local adaption strategies, focusing on the most vulnerable population. Our innovation ecosystem is delivering solutions for early warning, disaster preparedness, and climate smart agriculture, including initiatives such as Desert Tech, which develops technologies tailored for arid regions. At the multilateral level, Israel continued to reinforce its engagement with key environmental agreements. We recently ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury. We participate actively in negotiation toward a global agreement on plastic pollution. And we remain a committed party to the Barcelona Convention and the Mediterranean Action Plan. Cooperation with neighboring countries, including joint contingency planning for marine pollution, demonstrate how shared environmental goals can build confidence and stability, even in times of political tension. Mr. President, Israel wishes to underscore the importance of maintaining this platform as a space for constructive and professional engagement, remain committed to supporting and facilitating initiatives aimed at improving environmental condition in Gaza, while emphasizing the need to ensure that such efforts are not undermined or misused by Hamas, whose action continues to contribute to the current situation on the ground. We also highlight the relevance of the American Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict of 29 September 25, which offers a constructive pathway towards stability and sustainable peace in the regions. Excellencies, this triple planetary crisis, climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, demand accelerated transition toward low emission, resource efficient, and circular economies, supported by strong governments and inclusive partnership. Israel stands ready to deepen its cooperation with UNEP and all Member States to scale solutions guided by science, driven by innovation, and anchored in shared responsibility. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Now I would like to give the floor to Mr. Emmanuel King Ray Yarkpavolo, Executive Director, Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia. You have the floor.

President of UNEA7, Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the government and people of Liberia, I extend profound appreciation to the government and people of the Republic of Kenya for hosting us all, Generalists, in Nairobi, a city that stands as a beacon of African leadership in global environmental diplomacy. Excellencies, we meet at a defining moment in human history. Our world is confronted with three converging planetary crises: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. These crises are no longer distant threats; they are lived realities that test our resilience, our solidarity, and our shared humanity. Yet, amid these challenges, we have hope. We see nations rising with courage, guided by science and strengthened by unity, and inspired by unshakable belief that a safer, greener, and fairer world is still within reach. Liberia stands proudly among these nations, at home, Liberia is taking transformational steps to safeguard its forests, strengthen climate resilience, and confront environmental degradation. Our third NDC marks the most ambitious climate commitment in Liberian history, an affirmation that our country, though small in emission, is mighty in determination. But no nation can win this fight alone. Therefore, UNRWA 7 must chart a bold path for decisive multilateral action to keep the global temperatures within 1.5 degrees Celsius, reverse biodiversity loss, protect wetland and coastline, preserve glaciers, and confront pollution in all eight forms. We must also harness emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence, responsibly and ethically. If deployed wisely, AI can accelerate environmental monitoring, strengthen early warning systems, and enhance conservation and empower communities. But it must be guided by human values, equity, and sustainability. Excellences, a resilient planet requires resilient people. UNES7 must champion the inclusion and leadership of women. girls, persons with disabilities, local communities, indigenous people, youth, and children. These groups are not merely deserve to be on the table, they are essential to the solutions we seek. Let us therefore build an environmental movement that is inclusive, just, and rooted in solidarity across all generations. In conclusion, Liberia reaffirms its commitment to multilateralism and working hand in hand with all nations to secure a safer, more resilient, and more just future for humanity. The time for bold leadership is now. The responsibility is ours. Together, we can light the path of a sustainable world. Thank you.

Thank you, Liberia. Now I would like to give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Prasanth Sirinaphaporn, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand. You have the floor.

Madam Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Thailand is profoundly honored to stand with the global community at UNES-7. At this pivotal moment, as the health of our planet hangs in the balance, we must turn shared urgency into strengthened multilateral cooperation and decisive collective action. With this chart purpose as our compass and guided by our 20-year national strategy and the BCG economy model, Thailand is advancing a just and inclusive transition to a low-carbon, nature-positive, and pollution-free future, while firmly supporting a legally binding global plastic treaty and the SCP approach to address plastic pollution in cooperation with all nations. Thailand has raised its climate ambition by pledging to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. which is 15 years earlier than previous plans. At the regional level, we have launched the High Integrity ASEAN Carbon Initiative to foster transparent and harmonized carbon market across ASEAN. But ambition alone is insufficient. Progress depends on the full participation of our stakeholders, especially communities and youth. As a country endowed with abundant biodiversity, Thailand recognizes that healthy and resilient ecosystems are essential to sustainable development and food security.

We are advancing integrated measures to protect biodiversity,

land, water, and climate in alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and nature- and science-based solutions. Our national biobank, community biobanks, and more than 12,000 community forests exemplify our commitment to safeguarding biological resources for present and future generations. Thailand also prioritized reduce food loss and food waste, recognizing the impact on climate stability and food security in line with SDG 12.3. zero food waste campaign, now piloted in 118 national parks, will therefore soon expand nationwide. At the same time, Thailand is reinforcing environmental governance through new legislation on climate change, biodiversity, and clean air. alongside innovative financial mechanisms that empower local governments and communities to accelerate action on the ground. Excellencies, turning decisively to the future, Thailand is committed to deploying technology, data, and innovation to strengthen evidence-based decision making and turn ambition into measurable outcomes. We will continue working closely with UNEP and all partners to ensure this digital transformation is both environmentally responsive and socially just. Thank you.

Thank you, Your Excellency. Now I would like to give the floor to His Excellency, Ruzaimi Mohamad, Permanent Representative of Malaysia. Your Excellency, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Ladies and gentlemen, Malaysia remains firmly committed to addressing global environmental challenges. Our national policies and initiatives are aligned with our development agenda, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, to UNFCCC and other multilateral environmental agreements. Malaysia's climate actions are guided by the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. We continue to uphold our obligation under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, and recently launched our third Nationally Determined Contribution, or NDC 3.0. Malaysia aspires to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050. Malaysia is formulating a climate change bill to establish a strong legal framework for implementing international commitments domestically and ensuring accountability in national climate action. Malaysia is also developing the National Adaptation Plan to manage impacts of climate change. Malaysia reaffirms its commitment to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, or KMGBF, and will continue to conserve its biodiversity and promote its sustainable use. Malaysia welcomes the landmark decisions of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. However, Malaysia underscores the urgent need for developed countries to fully honour their commitments on resource mobilisation in order to bridge the global biodiversity finance gap and ensure the effective implementation of Target 19 of the Kunming Global Biodiversity Framework. Malaysia continues to mobilise the resources and capacities in implementing the National Policy on Biological Diversity 2022-2030 through a whole-of-nation approach. Ladies and Gentlemen, Plastic pollution is a global issue. We must refer back to the resolution of 5/14 that agreed to develop an international legally binding instrument that addresses plastic pollution. A balanced approach is our lifeline. Restricting the supply of primary polymers and capping the production without considering market demands will shackle our potential. Such constraints impede investment and stifle innovation, hindering the right of the countries striving to uplift their economies. The treaty must be country-driven, allowing us to set targets and actions that align with our unique circumstances. Our path to sustainability cannot be dictated. It must be determined nationally, ensuring a just transition that respects our developmental pace. Malaysia looks forward to our continued collaboration and effective multilateralism for the well-being of our planet. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Your Excellency. Now I would like to give the floor to Ms. Lelis Neme Sori, Director General of Environmental Protection Authority of Ethiopia. You have the floor, madam.

Good evening, madam President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. Ethiopia is deeply honored to stand with the member states at the seventh session of UNIA, an assembly convened to safeguard our planet and secure a sustainable future for all humanity. We gather at this moment when environment pollution Climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, drought, desertification continues to intensify vulnerabilities across the globe. Yet, we arrive here with the determination of hope, guided by Ethiopia's unwavering commitment to homegrown green development pathway that's firmly aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Ethiopia continues to advance the climate resilient green economy strategy, placing climate action and environmental stewardship at the heart of national planning. Our pathway prioritized low carbon growth, enhanced climate adaptation, and long-term resilience at the center of the journey that stands with the Green Legacy Initiative championed by His Excellency Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed. In just seven years, our nation has planted over 47 billion seedlings, restored degraded landscapes, created more than millions of green jobs. That's not only an environmental program, it's a movement that's reshaping mindset, restoring ecosystem, inspiring a new generation of environmental champions. Our commitment continues through the Clean Ethiopia Movement, which is revitalizing cities, restoring rivers, and promoting a waste-free future. This national effort is supported by bold and comprehensive reforms that strengthen environmental governance and accelerating the transition of circular economy. We have harmonized more environmental laws, banned single-use plastic bags, and advancing environmental friendly materials. Ethiopia is pioneering with new frontiers in sustainable development, from nature positive corridor development to major riverside restoration projects that improve urban resilience and combat pollution. We are the first country in Africa banning the import of fossil fuel vehicles and expanding electric mobility across the country. Our environment leadership beyond our borders. In 2025, Ethiopia proudly host Africa Climate Summit, helping unifying Africa's voice on climate action, climate finance, and green development. Looking ahead, Ethiopia is preparing to host COP32 in 27, 2027, becoming the first least developed country interested this immense responsibility. This historic movement reflects the growing confidence in Ethiopia's leadership and our commitment to more inclusive, equitable, and solution-driven global climate governance. Ethiopia is determined to deliver this COP that drives bold, actionable, and transformative outcomes. Excellencies, more than ever, the world needs solidarity, ambition, not hesitation, action, not delay. Ethiopia calls for increased environmental international cooperation, we stand ready to work with all nations to fulfill our shared promise: a thriving planet and a secure, sustainable future for generations to come. Together, we can build a resilient, green, clean, and prosperous world that humanity deserves. I thank you so much.

Thank you, Ethiopia. Now I would like to give the floor to His Excellency Yuriy Tokar, Permanent Representative of Ukraine. Your Excellency, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President, Madam Executive Director, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. We would like to express our sincerest.

Gratitude for words of support from Estonian and Lithuanian delegations that were expressed at this Assembly. For Ukraine, environmental degradation.

Is not an abstract global trend. It's a daily reality imposed by the Russian war of aggression.

A war that has produced one of the most extensive human-made environmental disaster in Europe in 21st century.

Entire ecosystems across Ukraine have been scarred by constant shelling. Wildfires ignited by military strikes have burned thousands of hectares of forests and grasslands. Rivers, wetlands, and reservoirs have been contaminated with oil, chemicals, explosives, and heavy metals. Agricultural lands, once among the most fertile in Europe, are now polluted and rendered unsafe by landmines and unexploded ordnance. The destruction of Kakhovka hydropower plant produced cascading and long-term consequences. Massive loss of biodiversity, destabilization of the Dnipro basin, release of toxic sediments across a vast region. Despite this catastrophe, the attacks on hydrotechnical and water management infrastructure still continues. Our industrial and energy facilities remain recurrent targets, resulting in chemical leaks, toxic smoke, wastewater contamination, and hazardous releases that do not stop at borders. Dear Excellencies, UNASAM offers a crucial opportunity to strengthen multilateral actions from chemical and waste management to nature restoration, clean water, and soil safety, climate resilience, and sustainable land governance. Conflict-related environmental harm must be integrated into these agendas because its effects persist long after the fighting stops. undermining food security, public health, economic and regional stability. Ukraine calls for tuning UNEA Resolution 6/12 into a fully operational instrument that delivers real capacity on the ground, with clear methodologies, standardized data, rapid assessment, early warning tools, and concrete recovery measures. Effective implementation of this resolution is vital to to ensure that conflict-related environmental harm is systematically identified, measured, and addressed. Ladies and gentlemen, Ukraine remains an active contributor to UNEA processes, including through its engagement in establishing the new Science Policy Panel on Chemical Waste and Pollution. Our commitment is to build a greener, safer, and more resilient country And we stand ready to work with partners to reinforce global environmental governance, enhance collective resilience, and ensure that environmental security remains a cornerstone of peace and sustainable development.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Your Excellency. So I see that the Russian Federation is requesting the point of order. Please, you have the floor, but please make sure that don't use this point of order for the statement, because I can give the statements before the closure of this session at 10:30. Okay? Thank you.

Thank you, Chair. You are absolutely right. I have a point of order to raise. The Russian delegation, for a third time, is asking for the floor to exercise its right to reply. Well, I fear that you're probably going to refuse us that right. in violation of the UN Rules of Procedure, which is why I'm asking you to reserve enough time at the end of today's session so I could exercise my right of reply and make sure that it's translated into all of the UN official languages. Thank you, Chair. We will follow your decision, whatever it is, but we believe that it is unjust. I thank you.

Thank you very much, Russian Federation. As I mentioned already, so we will, and I will give you the floor at the end of this session so that you can exercise your own rights and make the announcement as appropriate, but no later than 10:30 so that the proper interpretation is provided. Thank you. Okay. Now, I would like to give the floor to Her Excellency Moravia Peralta Hernández, Permanent Representative of Venezuela. Your Excellency, you have the floor.

Good evening, Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. On behalf of the Constitutional President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, and the Bolivarian Government. We express our thanks to the Government and people of Kenya for their hospitality, and we thank the Secretariat for the organization of this 7th UN Environment Assembly. Likewise, we thank the President of UNEA-7 for the effort made throughout his mandate to ensure the success of this Assembly in achieving a Ministerial Declaration that reflects the actions to be followed in favour of the environment. However, we must highlight the absence of any mention of the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures, which directly affect countries like mine and constitute a fundamental obstacle to sustainable development and to the implementation of environmental protection policies, which is the main objective of this Assembly. Madam President, Venezuela reiterates its deep conviction, expressed by our authorities at the COP30, that humanity is experiencing a systemic crisis which requires urgent, fair, inclusive and solidarity-based responses. Climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation are the accumulated consequences of a predatory model that has placed profit above life. We reaffirm that the defense of Mother Earth is inseparable from the defense of the sovereignty of nations. That is why we reiterate the urgent need to make progress towards a new international economic order based on cooperation, equity, and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, the keystone of multilateralism since the Rio Conference of 1992. The countries of the Global South cannot continue to pay the price for a crisis that has its origin in consumption patterns that are concentrated in the West. In this context, Venezuela would like to highlight the eco-socialist policy that guides our public action. It places life and nature at the heart of national development. This policy takes concrete form in a specialized ministry which promotes eco-socialist education, the inclusion of environmental criteria and economic plans, the active participation of communities in conservation projects and sustainable use of resources, the protection of our Amazon forests and national parks, fostering clean energy and reforestation programs with community leadership, and the defense of the rights of indigenous people who are the ancestral guardians of nature. We'd like to highlight that as a highly diverse country, we protect 47% of our territory, including the world's largest tropical rainforest national park, our Caora National Park, which has more than 7.5 million hectares of Amazon biome. Madam President, Venezuela welcomes the efforts made by the Organization to facilitate the participation of our delegation in this Assembly. However, we must out the exceptional circumstances experienced by our country and by the people of the Caribbean and Latin America as a consequence of the military deployment of the United States on our coasts along the Caribbean Sea. These actions are contrary to international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and they seek to limit the sovereign voice of Venezuela in multilateral fora like this one. Despite this pressure, we will continue to defend the right of humanity to a sustainable future, and we would like to conclude by reaffirming that the fight for life and peace is inseparable from the fight for social justice, and we invite all Member States to build together a path based on solidarity, cooperation, and mutual respect that will guarantee life on Earth and the well-being of present and future generations. Thank you.

Thank you, Your Excellency. Now I would like to give the floor to Ms. Irina Barba, Director of Environment and Sustainable Development Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of Ecuador. You have the floor, madam.

Madam President, the multidimensional crises and the deep gaps in development remind us that we cannot address the urgency and scale of these challenges in an isolated manner. This week has offered us a valuable opportunity to renew and strengthen multilateralism, because it is only through international cooperation that we will be able to find global solutions that are fair, effective, and sustainable. Ecuador, although it is a country that has a historical responsibility in the climate crisis and the loss of biodiversity, degradation of soils, and global pollution, is fully committed to the protection and care of the environment and its ecosystems. In light of the theme of this Assembly, advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet, our country is working to make progress towards more sustainable and fair systems. And this is a constant challenge. It does require access on to means of implementation, which is increasingly limited for Ecuador. This includes the financial mechanisms and bilateral environmental agreements, and so it's key, it is indispensable to have additional, predictable financing and to strengthen capacity and promote technology transfer. That is the only way that we'll be able to implement the principles enshrined in international environmental law and ensure that the right to development is fulfilled and the right to a healthy and balanced environment is also fulfilled. As a country that is very diverse, with fragile and diverse ecosystems, the Amazon, the Andes, the coast, and the Galapagos Islands, we promote the sustainable use and the conservation of biodiversity, and we foster the implementation of the Convention on Biodiversity and the Global Biodiversity Framework. And in this context, we are making progress in updating our national biodiversity strategy and its action plan. Currently, more than 19% of the national territory of our country is under various conservation mechanisms, and they are strengthened through participatory mechanisms with shared responsibility between public actors, private actors, and communities. We have the organic law on the recovery of protected areas, which is a pioneering framework to promote restoration, sustainable management of these spaces with collaboration between the state, the private sector, and communities. This year, Ecuador carried out a debt swap based on historic nature with more than 500 million dollar reduction of the public debt stock based on protecting our Amazon region. And this will create more than 400 million dollars for conservation, forestry, governments, and local livelihoods. Protection of the ocean is my next point, and I'm pleased to tell you that our President, Danielle Naboa, ratified the BBNJ agreement just a few days ago, reaffirming our commitment to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in the high seas and the fair distribution of benefits derived from marine genetic resources based on the principle of shared human heritage. When it comes to the climate, this year we presented our second NDC, becoming the third country of our region to update our commitments with greater ambitions in terms of mitigation and adaptation. Complementary to this, we have launched a multi-sectoral agenda which includes national adaptation and mitigation plans and processes to renew our national climate change strategy. Ecuador has also strengthened its framework for rational management of dangerous chemicals and chemical waste, with the BRS and Minamata Conventions being ratified.

Thank you very much. So now I would like to give the floor to Mr. Anouar Ben Youssef, Permanent Representative of Tunisia. Sir, you have the floor.

In the name of Allah, Madam Chairwoman, ladies and gentlemen. The organization of UNIS7, under the slogan "Advancing Sustainable Solutions for a Resilient Planet," indeed calls for collective action to face the triple planetary crisis, which leads to the imbalance of the ecology on all levels. Indeed, the magnitude of such challenges and the importance of collective solutions emphasizes the need for more collaboration internationally and to provide technical support, the transfer of technology, particularly towards developing countries. Tunis supports the environmental policies which takes into consideration the national needs while acting in line with international instruments in order to limit the impact of the triple planetary crisis. We have a strategy 2030-2050 for ecological transformation, which addresses loss of biodiversity, climate risks, the protection of natural resources. Second, we review the national strategy for biodiversity 2030 in line with the coming Montreal Protocol, which includes an ambitious vision for biological diversity that is resilient in the face of climate change and in the face of the risks while preserving the social and economic development and food security. Tunisia lately was able to upgrade its national to provide its NDCs 3.0, while also promoting its ability to adapt and to prepare its first report in this regard, in confirmation of its transparency. Tunisia also implements its national strategy for zero carbon and for zero carbon development within the strategy of 2050. Within our continued measures, we to promote biodiversity and the combating of desertification, we launched the program of the Green Belt, which aims to create a to vegetational cover in our country. Ladies and gentlemen, the experience has proved that environmental work is not only an economic and a development issue, but also human in nature. In this regard, Tunisia confirms that the success of environmental work requires the protection of the different rights, and therefore we also express our sincerity towards the plight of our Palestinian colleagues vis-à-vis the violations against IHL and the targeting of civilians, particularly women and children. And therefore, we need a United Nations-led conference which calls for the immediate intervention to lift the siege on the Palestinian people and to guarantee the right of the Palestinian people to dignified life. Tunisia indeed confirms the commitment to facing the three risks that face our generations. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Tunisia. Now I would like to give the floor to His Excellency Farid Waite Dahman, Permanent Representative of Algeria. Sir, you have the floor.

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad. President Avunir, Madam Chair, Your Excellencies, Honourable Ministers, ladies and gentlemen. At the outset, I'd like to extend my wholeheartedly thanks to the people and government of Kenya for this great hospitality. I'd like to congratulate the President also for his great management of UNEA. I would like to thank UNEP and the Executive Director for the great arrangement and organization of the meeting. Your Excellences, honorable ministers, Algeria emphasizes the importance of putting practical, comprehensive solutions to face the environmental challenges and to respond to the requirements of sustainable development, and we call to have regional and international partnerships in this area, and to double the financing provided to developing countries, and to facilitate technology transfer for the sake of sustainable development. We urge on having a just and equitable treatment to the environment challenges among Member States, including those suffering from the impact of desertification, drought, and land degradation, particularly in the African continent. Algeria had so many efforts towards sustainability for the sake of that, according to the article 64 of our constitution, to have decent life for our citizens, and we encourage the transfer towards sustainable production models and to have good ecological systems and to combat soil pollutions and land and environment degradation. We're working on setting out a national strategy to recycle waste and to apply circular economy through our legislation framework according to the updated versions in this area and to encourage the green economy. The President of Algeria, Abdelmajid Taboun, restored the green dam by restoring millions of hectares in our districts. It's the green dam, and we restored millions of hectares in our districts. And we're working hard on setting out the national strategy for biodiversity to ensure the protection of the ecological systems and to have sustainable use of natural resources. On the other hand, Algeria set out an ambitious program to invest in renewable energies and to reduce the carbon stamp and the methane, and to improve the renewables to 15 gigawatt by 2030. We're working on having strategic partnerships in producing green hydrogen in the region. In conclusion, we reiterate our commitment to support the initiatives that to support environment sustainability, and I hope our efforts here in this UNIA would lead to a multilateralism and to adopt important resolution to protect our planet and have a better future for our upcoming generations. And thank you for listening.

Thank you, Your Excellency. Now I would like to give the floor to His Excellency Pedro Cortes, Permanent Representative of Colombia. Your Excellency, you have the floor.

Madam President, distinguished delegates, Colombia, as a highly diverse country, reaffirms the fact that planetary resilience is only achievable with integrated solutions that address at once the crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Our national efforts are focused on protecting key ecosystems, strengthening water management, making progress in our fair energy transition, and promoting sustainable economies based on nature. Our country is recognized as the second most biodiverse country in the world and one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. We make an urgent call to increase global ambition, as in 2024, we have passed the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold. Our historical contribution to global emissions historically has only been 0.6% we have committed to reducing our emissions, reducing by 51% our GHG emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. In line with the global balance of 2023, which aims for the progressive phase out of fossil fuels, Colombia decided not to grant hydrocarbon exploratory contracts, and we have a draft law to ban non-conventional fracking and other exploitation of fossil fuels. We have a commitment to differentiated approaches to biodiversity conservation, recognizing the vulnerabilities of indigenous peoples, Afro-descendant communities, campesino farmers and other historically marginalized people, ensuring their effective participation, their access to resources, and the strengthening of their capacities. Madam President, my country has been clear in the need to move towards a future that is free of fossil fuels. The first international conference on fossil fuels must send a clear message: there will be no resilient planet without courageous decisions about the global energy model. With the presidency of the COP16 on biodiversity, Colombia reaffirms that biodiversity is the foundation of global resilience. The implementation of the global biodiversity framework requires coherence between environmental and economic policies, as well as the recognition of the essential role of indigenous communities, local communities, Afro-descendant communities, women, and youth when it comes to conservation and sustainable use of nature. Protecting biodiversity means protecting life and territories. Colombia recognizes and deeply appreciates the contributions of indigenous people and Afro-descendant communities, as well as campesino farmers and local communities when it comes to conservation. Madam President, we have achieved, together with Oman, consensus so that this Assembly can approve the resolution on sustainable management of minerals and metals. This was something that previously had been blocked for over four years. Finally, Colombia makes a call for strengthening environmental multilateralism. We call for political decisions to be transformed into real action so that we can build a truly resilient planet, putting life, environmental justice, and the dignity of peoples at its heart. Thank you.

Your Excellency, thank you very much. And now I would like to give the floor to His Excellency Abdulsalam Al Abakhdi, Permanent Representative of Yemen.

Your Excellency, you have the floor.

Madam President, Your Excellencies, It is a great pleasure for me to deliver a statement, the statement of Yemen. The delegation of the Republic of Yemen has the honour to take part in the work of this session, and so we extend our sincere gratitude to the Republic of Kenya. Well, this session focuses on environmental matters of global importance, as the Republic of Yemen would like to align itself with all the environmental resolutions that take into account the needs of developed countries, LDCs, and the sustainability of national resources, national justice, and the preservation of fragile ecosystems. Yemen faces complex environmental challenges, such as desertification, water scarcity, the degradation of soils, the loss of vegetative cover, of biodiversity, as well as weak surveillance systems and the lack of technical capacity in early warning, which was exacerbated by the coup d'etat that destroyed the essential environmental infrastructure and created a huge pressure on national resources. Despite all that, Yemen has been pressing ahead with protecting the environment and supporting community initiatives. Yemen reiterates the urgent need of sustainable financing for climate and reinforcing the institutional capacity and financing to rehabilitate ecosystems and vital systems in line with the size of the challenge and the damage on the environment and infrastructure, to facilitate the access of developing countries in LDC to international adaptation funds for resilience through technology and the support of community resilience. In fact, we would like to renew our commitment to multilateral environmental action and global cooperation in order to allow our country developing countries, LDCs, so that they are able to face climate change. Thank you.

Excellency, I now would like to give the floor to Ms. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change of Bangladesh. You have the floor, madam.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Assalamu alaikum and very good evening to you all. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. Assalamu alaikum once again. On behalf of the Government of Bangladesh, I thank the UNIA7 Presidency, UNEP, the people, and the Government of Kenya for hosting this very important event, UNIA7, in this beautiful city of Nairobi. At the outset, I would like to pay tribute to the leaders, scientists, environmentalists, and all the compassionate souls who worked relentlessly and also have been working from the Rio to UNIS7 for the cause of environment, people, and the planet, and sustainability. Bangladesh wishes to recall the global plea to take up urgent action towards combating the triple planetary crisis, climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution in the spirit of international solidarity and compassion. Madam Chair, climate change is a daily reality of Bangladesh. Extreme Temperature, cyclone, flood, sea level rise, and riverbank erosion are displacing millions of people, damaging biodiversity, and pushing vulnerable communities to the edge. Bangladesh chooses leadership and responsibility in the face of vulnerability. We continue to act with ambition, stand with 1.5 degrees Celsius target. though we contribute less than half percent of the global emissions. We have submitted our NDC 3.0 aligned with the global stocktake outcome, aiming for 25% of electricity from renewables by 2035. That is five times higher than the current level. We are also operationalizing our national adaptation plan, submitted in 2023, and investing in locally led adaptation. Madam Chair, Bangladesh is a country having 180 million people living in a very small landmass. In order to meet The demand of the huge population, a tremendous pressure has continuously been put on natural resource base, causing degradation of land, water, and other ecosystems, resulting in loss of biodiversity. We have put our sincere efforts to continue containing this degradation by effective implementation of the relevant policies, strategies, and action plans, namely National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, that is NBSAP 2016 to 30, National Conservation Strategy, Ramsar Strategic Plans 2016 to 30, Land Degradation Neutrality Targets 2030, National Environmental Policy, forest policy, national biosafety framework, etc. These policies and strategies are also supported by respective legislations. In terms of plastic and other chemical pollution, Bangladesh has been trying to address them. We were the first country to ban thin plastic bags.

Thank you, representative of Bangladesh. Unfortunately, the time allocated for your statement has expired, and kindly send your written statement to the Secretariat so that it may be uploaded on the UNEA website. And I also would like to urge all the delegations to really limit your statements to the allotted time, as the microphone automatically cuts off after four minutes. So, now I would like to give the floor to Mr. Kamal Rohita Udawala, Secretary, Ministry of Environment of Sri Lanka. Sir, you have the floor.

Chairperson, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, Sri Lanka is honored to address the seventh session of United Nations Environmental Assembly and takes the floor at this important Assembly today at a time when our nation is confronting the severe and escalating impacts of climate change, culminating in the deadliest disaster of Cyclone Ditwa. We also extend our heartfelt condolences and solidarity to all nations in our region that have faced similar devastation. Sri Lanka also takes this opportunity to extend its sincere gratitude to all member states, partners, and organizations that support us during the rescue and recovery phase. Your solidarity has strengthened our capacity to protect our people and ecosystems, and we value this cooperation greatly. Recent extreme weather, shifting rainfall, and biodiversity pressures shows that environmental challenges spare no one, requiring urgent global action, and Sri Lanka remains committed to meeting its international obligations and advancing the SDGs through climate adaptation, ecosystem restoration, circular and nature-based solutions, the Clean Sri Lanka National Program, National Environmental Action Plan, National Adaptation Plan, and National Climate Financing Strategy. However, lasting change requires addressing anthropogenic activities that continue to degrade our planet. We must invest in the next generation by empowering youth with knowledge, leadership, and a place within environmental processes.

It is for this

reason that Sri Lanka introduced the draft resolution on enhancing meaningful participation of youth in environmental processes and on environmental education, recognizing them as essential partners whose innovation and energy must guide today's solutions. We are grateful to all Member States for their support through co-sponsorship. active engagements, consultative dialogues, and compromises for this achievement, and UNEP for excellent technical support. Sri Lanka looks forward to collaborating on building climate resilient infrastructure, strengthening early warning systems, adopting adaptation technologies, and restoring natural ecosystems. Furthermore, Sri Lanka also remains committed to fulfilling its responsibilities as a Vice President in the UNIA8 Bureau. Finally, Sri Lanka would like to emphasize the collective responsibility of Member States to engage with all sincerity in the discussions and negotiations at this forum. UNIA is our collective platform to shape a safer, more sustainable world. The decisions we make here will define the environmental future of generations to come. Thank you.

Thank you, Sri Lanka. Now I would like to give the floor to His Excellency Alfred Musumuna, Permanent Representative of Zambia. Excellency, you have the floor.

Madam President of UNIA7, dear colleagues, distinguished delegations, I have my distinction and privilege to address this assembly being held under the theme, "Advancing Sustainable Solutions for a Resilient Planet." UNEA 7 is being held against a backdrop of global conflict, insecurity, high cost of living, hunger and disease burden, and severe negative effects of environmental degradation. In addition, the latest special report on UNEA Priority 7 prepared by UNEP reviews that since the 60th session, the global landscape has evolved significantly and become more turbulent, with a seventh session taking place at a critical time where water is increasingly under pressure, the digital and energy transitions are reshaping the world, increased pollution, ozone depletion, and increased artificial intelligence with significant environmental costs are being experienced. Madam President, it is also clear that the report talking the increasing environmental challenges is becoming consequential. to mankind. To change the alarming findings of UNEP report, concerted efforts, leadership, and creativity are needed in the way we manage nature and our planet. We must address and deliver transformative solutions in an effective, inclusive, and sustainable manner. UNEA 7 must therefore deliver a coherent, system-wide approach complementing and reinforcing existing commitments. Madam President, Zambia remains resolved and committed to be part of the global community by championing efforts to creating sustainable economies and societies and leave no one behind. We reaffirm on building on existing momentum to realizing our global commitments on catalyzing transformative change championing international cooperation to enable a just transition towards a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. In this regard, Zambia has embedded sustainable and resilient at the heart of its national development agenda. Our eighth national development plan places environmental protection, climate change, and climate action, and green growth as key drivers of inclusive and sustainable economic transformation. Madam President, Zambia remains committed to biodiversity conservation and is aligning its national actions with the coming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. We are strengthening protected area management, promoting transboundary conservation, and ensuring that communities benefit from wildlife and ecosystem conservation. Madam President, Zambia, like other vulnerable countries, aligns itself fully with this year's theme, anchored on building our planet's resilience with sustainable solutions. In this regard, we call for progress on global set goals and the need for adapting robust, comprehensive, but manageable set of indicators for tackling progress in building resilience. In conclusion, Madam President, Zambia reaffirms its unwavering commitment to advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet. We believe that environmental protection, economic development,

Thank you, Your Excellency. Thank you. Now I would like to give the floor to Mr. Shaharuddin Khairul Anuar, Deputy Permanent Secretary on Infrastructure, Housing, and Professional of Brunei Darussalam. Sir, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh and a very good evening. On behalf of the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, I wish to express our deepest appreciation to the United Nations Environment Programme and the Government of Kenya for the warm hospitality and excellent arrangements for the 7th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly. UNEA 7 convenes at a time when the global community faces increasingly complex environmental challenges. For a small nation like Brunei Darussalam, the impacts of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss pose significant risks to our ecosystems and long-term resilience. In line with our national vision, wawasan Brunei Darussalam 2035, and then the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Brunei Darussalam continues to accelerate actions towards environmental sustainability. As part of our sustainability agenda, Brunei Darussalam continues to strengthen efforts towards sustainable waste management. Our targets of reducing waste generation to 1 kilogram per person per day and achieving a 30% recycling rate by 2035 remain key national priorities. In line with circular economic principles, the government has also intensified efforts to encourage sustainable practices that reduce environmental impact and encourage a sense of shared responsibility among the public. Initiatives such as Eco Food Waste Initiative, No Plastic Bag Everyday Policy, the Plastic Bottle Free Initiative, the Coastal Marvel National Clean-Up Campaign, Nationwide Recycling Day, and Bring Your Own Reusable Bag campaign reflect the country's proactive approach in advancing environmental protection and our unwavering dedication to creating a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable living environment for all. Brunei Darussalam continues to safeguard its rich ecosystems and biodiversity. With 41% of our land designated for protection and conservation, we exceed global conservation benchmarks and remain committed to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Climate change remains at the forefront of Brunei Darussalam's environmental priorities. Guided by the Brunei Darussalam National Climate Change Policy, launched in 2020, we have charted a clear course towards a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, relative to business as usual levels, and our long-term aspiration of net zero emissions by 2050. Brunei Darussalam also hosts the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change that serves as an intergovernmental hub for knowledge exchange, policy advice, and regional collaboration on climate change. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, Brunei Darussalam has ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol in September 2025 this year. We are committed to the phase down of hydrofluorocarbons as Brunei Darussalam's firm resolve to contribute to global protection. This effort is supported through updated regulatory frameworks, capacity building with relevant stakeholders, and the adoption of lower global warming potential alternatives at the national level. As we consider the resolutions before us, Brunei Darussalam remains ready to work closely and constructively with all Member States. We place strong emphasis on ensuring that UNIA outcomes are grounded in sound science, are inclusive, and can be practically implemented. It is also important that these outcomes support the realities of national circumstances while continuing to drive meaningful global environmental ambition. Thank you. Waalaikumsalam. Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Thank you very much. Now I would like to give the floor to His Excellency Mario Azevedo Constantino, Permanent Representative of Angola. Sir, you have the floor.

Madam Chair, first of all, I would like to present my apologies, since my minister was not able to come in order to take part in this very important meeting. Your Excellency, Madame Chair, ladies and gentlemen, all protocol observed. The Republic of Angola aligns itself with the statement delivered by Mozambique on behalf of the African

African Group.

Madam Chair, at the outset, we would like to congratulate Your Excellency for your leadership role in conducting this session. I extend our appreciation to the Executive Director of UNEP and their team for excellent preparation of this UNEA-7. Madam Chair, the Republic of Angola welcomes the overall team of the UNEA-7, namely advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet. The theme of this year's session is in line with with Angola National Development Plan, which established a proactive environmental sustainability policy that recognized the interdependencies of economic development and sustainability, aligning the country's policies with the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union Agenda 2063. Madam Chair, Angola is investing in the circular economy, and we believe that it will lead us to a reduction in pressures on our natural resources, as well as a decrease in methane emissions that contribute to greenhouse gas and therefore straining the resilience of our communities and adapting to climate change. Madam Chair, we are committed to transitioning to sustainable production models to provide green industrialization, waste valorization, and creation of green jobs for young people. Madam Chair, to conclude, we welcome the UNEA-7 Ministerial Declaration and underscore that the effective implementation of the of the UNAS7 resolutions by developing countries, developing countries shall take into consideration, among others, the means of implementation and the Rio principle, in particular, the principle of common but different responsibilities.

Your Excellency, thank you very much. Thank you very much for your kind words as well. Thank you. Now, I would like to give the floor to Mr. Ammar Jabber Mohammed Al-Atta, Advisor of the Minister of Environment of Iraq. Sir, you have the floor.

Madam Chair, Your Excellencies, Honourable Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen, a very good evening to you and peace be upon you. It's my pleasure to relay the greetings of the Minister of Environment, Mr. Askari, and the greetings of the Government of Iraq and its high appreciation to the efforts of UNEA and the UNEP for the great organization of this UNEA 7th session. Iraq ties great importance to have practical and balanced outcomes out of this session to reflect our environment priorities, and we also need to be committed to the fundamental principles governing environment works in the world, particularly on top of them, the joint and shared responsibilities. Iraq faces so many environment and climate challenges like scarce water, the sandstorms, desertification, high temperature, and also the degradation of the land, and this led to pressure the government to depend on an integrated planning based on scientific methods to have programs for adaptation and mitigation. This includes the following: to have a diversified economy, particularly the green economy, and to stop the gas burning or flaring by 2028. and also to improve the efficiency of oil industries, to use renewables to reach 12,000 megawatts by 2030, prepare a national program for the Green Climate Fund, and to have the investment plan for the national climate. to prepare the vulnerability indications of national climate, to update national strategies for biodiversity by 2030, and also to provide the NDCs for 2030, 25-30 through the COP30, and also to amend the existing legislations and adopt new ones with regards to climate change. And also to have a public, corporate, or company for carbon economy to support the implementation of Article 6 of Paris Agreement, and to have national initiatives to accelerate the use of renewables, and to have an initiative for the central bank to finance solar projects, and to have a program to for surveillance of the quality of air. We emphasize that we need to focus on practical resolutions, and these resolutions should support the multilateralism and to protect our planet for the upcoming generations, and they should be equitable and bearing into consideration the national circumstances of each country.

Thank you very much, Iraq. Now I would like to give the floor to the Permanent Commission of the South Pacific, Ms. Elvira Velasquez, Secretary General. Madam, you have the floor.

Thank you, madam President, Excellencies, Delegates. The Commission of the South Pacific is grateful to have been invited to participate in the seventh session of the United Nations Environmental Assembly. under the theme of advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet in a context in which the triple planetary crisis is becoming deeper, putting at risk the environmental balance of the country, of the planet, and the sustainable development for present and future generations. This is a triple crisis which shows the interdependency between biodiversity, climate, and oceans. Therefore, it needs to be addressed with an integrated approach, one that is coordinated and cooperative and cross-sectoral, based on the best available science at the national, regional, and global levels. Our commission, made-up of Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru. is part of this task that we share as humanity. We contribute our experience as a regional marine organization, which over its 73 years of existence has provided linkages between the national and global level, part of a regional oceanic system, and a strategic alliance which is both political and cooperative, aiming at ensuring the health of oceans and their sustainability to the benefit of people. Cooperative experience, further enriched by its strategic partnership in 1981 with the Regional Programme for Seas and Oceans, which allowed us to develop early on diagnostic methods as well as institutional methods that were necessary to address the environmental challenges of the Southeast Pacific. This cooperation is still being carried out with projects such as Save the Five Blues, with participation of Costa Rica, the German Cooperation Agency, International Conservation, and Mar Viva, or the intersectoral project Shared Oceans, which is coordinated by the Global Ocean Forum, in order to strengthen cooperation and conservation of biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, creating training programs. And in this context, Our Commission contributes and will continue to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, in particular SDG 14, and the objectives that the Member States have undertaken in multilateral environmental agreements, working together to build ocean governance and environmental governance which is effective and inclusive. based on the principles of peace and development, a governance which is based on the best available science, promoting human talent and strengthening institutional capacities. A governance where cooperation for developments that both scientific and technical are a reality, creating partnerships for impact. The Commission welcomes international collaboration. in developing its mission, and we call for this cooperation to be further intensified and diversified, and for financial mechanisms that are innovative be established to support us. Thank you.

Thank you, madam. Dear delegates, we've heard the last speaker on the list for this meeting, and we will continue the list of the speakers tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM in this room. The exercise of the right of reply has been requested by the Russian Federation. And of course, you can realize your right of reply. And may I remind delegations that the statements in the exercise of the right of reply are limited to three minutes for the first intervention and to the two minutes for the second intervention, and should be made by delegations from their seats. Russian Federation, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. I'm taking the floor in exercise of my right to reply to the delegations of Estonia, Lithuania and Ukraine. And so I am requesting you not to stop my intervention at three minutes because I am exercising the right of response to three countries. At least I am seeking your confirmation that you will give me at least nine minutes for my intervention.

Thank you. I do confirm that you have the right to use this time.

Thank you, Madam President. First of all, I'd like to emphasize that the situation in Ukraine is not on the agenda of our meetings. We categorically refute the accusations leveled against us of damage, environmental damage, caused by the special military operation. I'd like to remind you of the genesis of the Ukrainian climate. Everything started long before 2022 or even 2014, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. a large part of Russian lands devolved to Ukraine. Nationalist elements seeking power started playing the nationalist card by opposing two fraternal peoples, Russians and Ukrainians. The rights of the Russian-speaking population have started to be violated. National, fascist collaborators during World War II have been put forth as national heroes of Ukraine. In February 2014, as a result of a coup, ultra-nationalists seized power in Ukraine and made Russophobia as the cornerstone of their policy, conducting policies of eliminating the population of eastern regions, opposing forced Ukrainization. Thousands of residents of Donbass have been stripped of their most important right, right to life, by the nationalists, the so-called democratic press. Western countries and the secretariats of UN organizations preferred to close their eyes on these crimes. And so numerous attempts to resolve the conflict by peaceful means had been completely exhausted by Russia. So in 2022, Russia was forced to start a special military operation.

Excuse me. We need to respect the right to reply of all Member States who are present in this plenary session. Once again, once again, delegates of all Member countries, I kindly request all of you to respect the right of all delegations to make the statements. In this plenary session, Ukraine, if you would like to intervene, please, at a time, request, and of course, you will be given the right to reply as well. So thank you very much. Russian Federation, please continue your statement.

Thank you, Madam President. On all the multiple attempts to resolve the conflict peacefully had been fully exhausted, in 2022, Russia was forced to start its special military operation to protect its Russian-speaking population from extermination. And representatives, the representative of Ukraine, in his intervention, accused Russia of environmental crimes. Let's have a closer look at it. Who is responsible for the environmental damage? Well, once, after the population of Crimea made their opinion known in a referendum, the powers in Kyiv resorted to blocking the Dnieper Canal. supplying water to the whole of the Crimean Peninsula. Electricity supply was also interrupted. The shelling by Ukrainians in 2014 led to a significant environmental damage to Donbas. About 360 hectares of forest and 3,000 hectares of forest were damaged. as a result of military hostilities in 2014 and 2015 alone, as well as the contamination of soils due to the use of phosphorus munitions by Ukrainians. Donetsk today is a combat area and is directly targeted by the Ukrainian armed forces. As a result, unique natural landscapes and resources are suffering. The blowing of the Kakhovka dam by Ukrainians in June 2023 led to an environmental catastrophe and the flooding of the mouth of the Dnieper. In October 2025, missile strikes by Ukraine destroyed the Belgorod dam in Russian territory itself. Russians placed, Ukrainians placed outdated Russian mines in the Black Sea, which undermines not only the safety of shipping, but also is menacing marine biodiversity. In September 2022, they organized sabotage on gas pipelines, North Stream 1 and 2, in the largest criminal subversion since World War II, which led to a massive eruption of methane and death of millions of fish. Ukrainians regularly show the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, which may lead to a nuclear disaster. They are constantly targeting the largest oil pipeline in Europe, the Friendship Pipeline. The Ukrainian maritime forces attacked three oil tankers in the territorial waters of other countries. the vessels were flying the flags of third countries. This is clear terrorism, which leads to immediate degradation of the marine environment. All of these crimes by the Kyiv regime infringe on the provisions of Article 35 and the first additional protocol of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 banning combat activities directly targeting environmental damage. All of these crimes have been carefully recorded, and the time will come when the Kyiv regime will be brought to answer for the environmental damage in the regions where the Russian-speaking population, after many years of suffering and oppression and ethnic cleansing by Ukrainian nationalists oppose their desire to reunite with their historical motherland, Russia. Finally, Madam President, we are urging all countries to avoid politicization in their discourse and to work for the preservation of our planet for future generations. Thank you.

So, I see no further request for the floor. So, as a last point from my side, I would like to thank the interpreters for their excellent work, also to the Secretariat and all the members of the delegation who were present at this session for their interventions. Also, I would like to thank each and every delegation for their patience and respect and understanding of the common rules and procedures of this UNEA. I thereby, if there are no any further requests from the floor, I thereby declare this meeting adjourned. Oh, all right. My excuses. Ukraine.

Oh, thank you very much for this possibility to give the response. So let's be honest, you know, it's not a part of historical procedures, and it was really painful to hear them, you know, very interesting side of Ukrainian history, which Again, it doesn't concern Russia.

Excuse me. I'm really sorry. Just to clarify. All right. So I was about to close the meeting, but there was right of reply, as I've seen from Ukraine. So they are using their right to reply to the Russian Federation. So that should be limited to three minutes, as I meant, as accordingly. So please, ukraine, continue your.

Thank you very much. So we leave this part of the history to the Russian Federation, to their consciousness.

Secondly, I was glad to leave this premises due to their speech.

And however, if they think that the war of aggression or so-called special operation led to improvement of ecology of Ukraine, led to improvement of the, you know, forests, lands, and so on. Well, I guess I don't have any further questions and comments.

Thank you very much.

And we really appreciate our partners who support us and left this room listening all these fake narratives of Russia Federation, which were published in Kremlin, thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Ukraine, for your understanding. Thank you very much for your intervention as well. And with this, as I see no further requests from the floor, so that I declare this meeting as adjourned. Thank you very much to everyone.