For over fifty years, Geneva has served as a strategic hub for environmental diplomacy, hosting seminal meetings and fostering international cooperation on pressing global issues.

This roundtable discussion, organized as part of the Geneva Environment Network’s 25th anniversary series of events, aims to celebrate Geneva’s legacy in global environmental governance. Retired high-level experts and diplomats who have worked in International Geneva have been invited to provide their reflections and examine the evolution of partnerships and frameworks that address the triple planetary crisis.

Speakers will explore the historical roles of Geneva-based institutions in the early stages of environmental governance, as well as the city’s role in key global milestones, from the Stockholm Conference, the Brundtland Commission, the First World Climate Conference, to the UN Conference on the Human Environment. Panelists will reflect on their personal experiences in international Geneva, highlighting moments of meaningful impact and the collaborative spirit that has defined the city’s approach to global environmental challenges.

Discussions will also examine the evolution of environmental conventions and multilateral environmental agreements, reflecting upon the development of foundational environmental frameworks – from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), to the Strategic Approach to Integrated Chemicals Management (SAICM) to more recent agreements – from the Paris Agreement, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) to the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC). Panelists will assess the strengths and gaps in these frameworks, offering perspectives on their ambition and proposing adjustments that may strengthen their impact.

Finally, the event will consider Geneva’s unique role in this new era of multilateral diplomacy, discussing the city’s distinctive characteristics that position it as a key player in fostering sustainable global policies. In light of the recently adopted Pact for the Future, speakers will also consider recommendations for present and future generations tasked with addressing environmental issues.