Midterm review of the Programme for the Development and Periodic Review of Environmental Law (Montevideo Programme IV)

The United Nations Environment Assembly,

Recalling the fourth Programme for the Development and Periodic Review of Environmental Law, adopted by the Governing Council in its decision 25/11 (I) as a broad strategy for the international law community and the United Nations Environment Programme in formulating activities in the field of environmental law for the decade beginning in 2010, and its midterm review called for in that decision,

Relationship between the United Nations Environment Programme and the multilateral environmental agreements for which it provides the secretariat

The United Nations Environment Assembly,

Recalling Governing Council decisions 26/9, SS.XII/1 and SS.XII/3 and 27/13 as well as its own resolution 1/12, in which the Executive Director was requested to produce reports on the relationship between the United Nations Environment Programme and the multilateral environmental agreements for which it provides the secretariats,

Enhancing the work of the United Nations Environment Programme in facilitating cooperation, collaboration and synergies among biodiversity-related conventions

The United Nations Environment Assembly,

Recognizing the benefits to be gained by implementing the biodiversity-related conventions in a synergistic and coherent manner so as to enhance their implementation, efficiency and effectiveness, and for which the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity for the period 2011–2020, and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets provide a comprehensive framework;

Protection of the environment in areas affected by armed conflict

The United Nations Environment Assembly,

Mindful of the importance of safeguarding the natural environment in times of armed conflict for the sake of future generations and to consolidate efforts for the protection of our common environment,

Recognizing the role of healthy ecosystems and sustainably-managed resources in reducing the risk of armed conflicts,

Expressing its deep concern about environmental damage inflicted by certain means and methods of warfare, in particular during armed conflict,

Marine plastic litter and microplastics

The United Nations Environment Assembly,

Recalling the concern reflected in the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, “The future we want”, that the oceans and marine biodiversity are negatively affected by marine pollution, including marine litter reserve especially plastic, persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals and nitrogen-based compounds, from numerous marine and land-based sources, and the commitment to reduce such pollution,