The twenty-seventh meeting of the Convention’s Working Group of the Parties (WGP27) was held in Geneva on 26-28 June 2023 (Palais des Nations, Salle XXIII).
The Working Group reviewed the progress in implementing the current work programme and discussed a number of items, including recent developments related to the work of the Compliance Committee and the Special Rapporteur on Environmental defenders; the progress achieved in promoting access to information, public participation and access to justice, and in ratification of the Convention's amendment on genetically modified organisms; financial matters; and promotion of the Convention and relevant developments and interlinkages. The Working Group also considered the impact of the war in Ukraine on the implementation of the Convention. Two thematic sessions, on public participation in decision-making and on promoting the application of the principles of the Convention in international forums, were held during the meeting.
The session on public participation in decision-making focused on: (a) safe public participation and protection of environmental defenders in the context of decision-making on environmental matters; and (b) public participation in decision-making on large-scale infrastructure/transport.
The session on promoting the application of the principles of the Convention in international forums focused on processes dealing with: (a) environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context; (b) international trade-related decision-making; and (c) the issue of balanced and equitable participation and different modalities for engaging stakeholders in international decision-making. Additional topics included updates on: (a) subjects considered at the previous meetings of the Working Group of the Parties, such as promotion of the principles of the Convention in relation to a legally binding instrument on business and human rights under the Human Rights Council, in Sustainable Development Goals-related processes and in climate- and plastic related international forums; and (b) subjects to be addressed by upcoming forums, including environmental-related processes under the General Assembly, such as the Sustainable Development Goals Summit, scheduled for September 2023, and the Summit of the Future, scheduled for September 2024.
Documents, statements and presentations for the meeting delivered at the event can be found below. For additional information, please read article on the meeting