December 2023

Maria Ivanova and Elizabeth Mrema, Deputy Executive Director of UNEP

Dear colleagues,

After a brief pause as I transitioned to Northeastern University, I am delighted to introduce the revamped and reconfigured newsletter as the Environmental Diplomacy Bulletin. The reimagined Environmental Diplomacy Bulletin will serve as a platform to share insights, updates, and critical discussions on these and many other pressing environmental issues.

I recently had the privilege of representing Northeastern University in two significant international forums. First, in the captivating landscape of Rwanda, Northeastern proudly co-sponsored the once-in-a-decade Open Science Conference on climate science. Our delegation, comprising six faculty, students, and staff, actively contributed to the discourse on climate action.

In Nairobi, we participated in global negotiations aimed at forging a new international agreement to combat plastic pollution. This reaffirmed our commitment to environmental stewardship and provided a valuable opportunity to reconnect with colleagues at UNEP, many of whom I had the privilege of interviewing for my 2021 book, "The Untold Story of the World's Leading Environmental Institution – UNEP at Fifty."

Thank you for your commitment to environmental diplomacy! Our team looks forward to the insightful conversations and impactful initiatives that lie ahead.

Warm regards,

Maria Ivanova

Director of the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs at Northeastern University

Connect with us: PhD Students Olga and Madeline at COP28

We would love to connect with anyone attending 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai and interested in the Global Environmental Governance Project's work!

Olga Skaredina will attend the first week of the conference while Madeline Craig-Scheckman will attend the second. Reach out at skaredina.o@northeastern.edu and craigscheckman.m@northeastern.edu respectively.

Meet Our Fall Interns: Ana Davis and Mary Raines Alexander

Warm welcome to Ana Davis '24 and Mary Raines Alexander '26, undergraduate research interns who joined the Environmental Governance team this fall! Ana Davis is an Honors student at Northeastern University pursuing a BA in International Affairs with minors in English and International Security Studies. Mary Raines Alexander is pursuing a BA in International Affairs a with minors in Mandarin Chinese and French. We would also like to welcome Sara Flynn, a remote Research Associate for the Environmental Governance team.

International Plastics Treaty Negotiations

Maria Ivanova served as a member of the Rwanda Delegation at the United Nations Plastic Treaty negotiations in Nairobi, Kenya, providing expertise in environmental multilateralism and global governance. More than 1,500 participants in the negotiations worked toward a legally-binding treaty to provide a comprehensive framework to address plastic pollution. Leadership roles taken by countries such as Rwanda, Co-Chair of the "high ambition coalition" (with Norway) underscored the significant impact of small states. The coalition has been focused on the full life cycle of plastics. See Maria Ivanova speak about the plastics treaty.

Bridging Climate Science and Policy in Rwanda

Northeastern University was a platinum sponsor of the once-in-a-decade World Climate Research Programme Open Science Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, represented by three faculty, two students, and a staff member. The conference, hosted in Africa for the first time, convened experts from climate, environment, and related fields to discuss climate science advancements, human-climate interactions, and collaborative climate solutions. The photo shows Maria Ivanova and Clara Copp-LaRocque '23 with Juliet Kabera, Jeanne D'Arc Mujawamariya, and Northeastern student Lucas O'Reilly '24. See Maria Ivanova speak about the conference.

Workshop on Global Environmental Conventions

The Environmental Governance Project engaged in the workshop in Bugesera, Rwanda, focused on implementing multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). Co-organized by the UN Environment Programme and Rwanda Environment Management Authority, the event brought together experts from 9 East African and SADC countries. Olga Skaredina represented the project and presented the Environmental Conventions Index—an analytical tool assessing national reporting on MEAs. The workshop underscored participants' commitment to MEA implementation and highlighted the importance of country-driven and demand-driven capacity-building for fostering collaboration across biodiversity, chemical and waste clusters. Read about the workshop.

Reimagining Environmental Multilateralism

The Environmental Governance team is excited to announce the next stage of our “Reimagining Environmental Multilateralism” initiative supported by Carnegie Corporation and the Rockefeller Foundation. In early 2024, we will convene government officials from participating small states at the Foundation’s Bellagio Center in Italy, bringing together a diverse group of leaders from innovating small state governments. This pivotal convening marks a significant step in our commitment to placing small states at the forefront of environmental multilateralism, fostering collaboration and catalyzing transformative solutions. Stay tuned for further updates as we embark on this exciting endeavor.

Workshop Towards a Plastics-Free World

The Environmental Governance team attended the Global Plastics Community of Practice workshop in Kigali, Rwanda, jointly hosted by UN Development Programme Rwanda and the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA). We engaged with distinguished leaders, including Osman Yaah from Sierra Leone, the CEO and Founder of Callspito, known for his innovative work towards a plastics-free world, and Juliet Kabera from Rwanda, the Director General of REMA. To address the growing plastic pollution crisis, the project is forging new partnerships and exploring innovative solutions to reduce plastic waste. Read about the workshop.

Global Environmental Governance Project Website