The fourth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-4), which took place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 11-15 March 2019 adopted the UNEA Resolution No. UNEP/EA.4/Res. 19 on Mineral Resource Governance. Among other things, the resolution requests UNEP to collect information on sustainable practices, identify knowledge gaps and options for implementation strategies, and undertake an overview of existing assessments of different governance initiatives and approaches on sustainable management of metal and mineral resources, and report to the fifth session of the UNEA (UNEA-5) to be held in Nairobi in February 2021. UNEP has launched an initiative to implement UNEP/EA.4/Res. 19 through convening a series of virtual regional consultative meetings. State and non-state stakeholders (including private sector, mining companies, academia, unions, mining councils, independent researchers, and other civil society actors) are invited to participate in the consultations from July to September 2020.
PRESENTATIONS on UNEA MRG Resolution–General Briefings: Click below to view
VIDEOS from Technical Partners and Expert Authors
PODCASTS on Topics Related to Mineral Resource Governance
Asia Pacific
- Regional briefing 8 July 2020: Click here (English, Chinese) for the recording
- South and Southeast Asia sub-regional consultation 29 July 2020: Click here (English) for the recording
- Pacific and Oceania sub-regional consultation 30 July 2020: Click here (English) for the recording
- Northeast Asia consultation 31 July 2020
- Regional consultation 19 August 2020: Click here (English) for the recording
North America
Latin America
- Regional briefing 15 July 2020: Click here (English, Spanish) for the recording
- Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) consultation 21 July 2020: Click here (English) for the recording
- Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) consultation 23 July 2020: Click here (Spanish) for the recording
- Regional consultation 18 August 2020: Click here (English) for the recording
Africa
- Sub-regional consultation 20 July 2020: Click here (English) for the recording
- Sub-regional consultation 23 July 2020
- Regional consultation 6 August 2020: Click here (English, French) for the recording
Europe
- Regional briefing in English 23 July 2020
- Sub-regional consultation in English 25 August 2020: Click here (English) for the recording
- Sub-regional consultation 27 August 2020: Click here (English, Russian) for the recording
- Regional consultation 10 September 2020: Click here (English, Russian) for the recording
West Asia
- Regional briefing in English 23 July 2020
- Regional consultation 26 August 2020: Click here (Arabic) for the recording
Global Consultations
- Global Consultations 22 September 2020: Click here (English, French, Spanish) for the recording
- Global Consultations 24 September 2020: Click here (English, French, Spanish, Russian) for the recording
- Click here for the presentation on the consultation process and the combined regional feedback
Other meetings
- Meeting of principals of mineral governance initiatives 1 October 2020: Click here (English) for the recording
- UN Environment Management Group Nexus Dialogue on Mineral Resource Governance 17 November 2020: Click here (English) for the recording
Regional Summaries
UNEP/EA.4/Res. 19 on Mineral Resource Governance requests the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), on the basis of reports such as those prepared by the International Resource Panel, UNEP/GRID-Geneva and GRID-Arendal, to, inter alia, collect information on sustainable practices, identify knowledge gaps and options for implementation strategies, and undertake an overview of existing assessments of different governance initiatives and approaches relating to sustainable management of metal and mineral resources.
The implementation of this resolution involved the organization of sub-regional, regional, and global, consultations to obtain feedback on the governance of extractive industries, understand the political landscape as well as regional needs. More specifically, and as requested by the UNEA-4 resolution, the consultations also helped to identify best practices and knowledge gaps, assess governance options; and consider common elements of interest for next steps.
More than 1,200 participants, comprising of governments (at different levels), UNEP Major Groups and Stakeholders, intergovernmental bodies and international organisations, industry practitioners, civil society, academia and think tanks, joined the consultations held from July to September 2020. Read the Report of the Executive Director on Progress in the Implementation of Resolution 4/19 on Mineral Resource Governance here.
Read the regional summaries:
Africa | Asia Pacific | Europe | Latin America and the Caribbean | North America | West Asia
