Part of the sixth edition of the Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-6) began to take shape in July after a second meeting of authors for the pan-European regional assessment was facilitated by UNEP.

Some 20 Coordinating Lead Authors representing all three sections and six thematic areas of the assessment gathered in Rome on 13-15 July, hosted by the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA). There, current drafts were shared and inputs received from the thematic teams, who worked together to capture key messages and links between the different sections of the regional assessment.

GEO is a major environmental assessment that informs decision-making and serves as the interface between science and policy. It is also a consultative and participatory process that builds capacity for conducting integrated environmental assessments to report on the state, trends and outlooks of the environment.

GEO assessments are being conducted for all six UNEP regions and will feed into a global analysis to create a comprehensive picture of the environmental factors contributing to human well-being. The assessment will be accompanied by an analysis of policies leading to greater attainment of global environmental objectives and goals, helping countries get on the right path for their transition to a sustainable future.

The Rome meeting was facilitated by UNEP together with the two assessment co-chairs and was held under the scope of the GEO-6 Regional Assessment for the pan-European Region. The event also served to discuss links between sections, gaps in expertise and approaches for policy analyses being conducted as part of the landmark report.

The first draft of the GEO-6 Regional Assessment for the pan-European Region is scheduled to be finalised at a third authors meeting taking place in September, after which the draft report will undergo an expert peer review process and a final review by governments and stakeholders in the region.

The finalised assessment will be presented during a dedicated Science-Policy event at the second session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, and be officially launched at the Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference to be held on June 8-10, 2016 in Batumi, Georgia.

For more information please contact tomas.marques@unep.org