4/20. Fifth Programme for the Development and Periodic Review of Environmental Law (Montevideo Programme V): delivering for people and the planet

The United Nations Environment Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 2/19, which, inter alia, requested the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme to assess the implementation, effectiveness and impact of the fourth Programme for the Development and Periodic Review of Environmental Law (Montevideo Programme IV) and to prepare proposals for the work by the United Nations Environment Programme in the area of environmental law for a specific period beginning in 2020 for consideration by the Assembly at its fourth session

Recognizing that, from 1982 to the present, the environmental law activities of the United Nations Environment Programme have been organized and coordinated through a series of 10-year programmes, adopted by the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme, widely known as the Montevideo Programme, the aim of which has been to contribute to the development and periodic review of environmental law,

Recognizing also that the current programme, Montevideo Programme IV, adopted by the Governing Council by its decision 25/11, constitutes a broad, action-oriented strategy and agenda for the world in the field of environmental law for the decade that began at the start of 2010 and will conclude at the end of 2019,

Noting that the assessment of Montevideo Programme IV has been conducted and proposals for a future programme have been developed in ongoing consultation with relevant actors, including national focal points for the Montevideo Programme, major groups and other relevant stakeholders,

Noting with appreciation the conclusions of the first meeting of National Focal Points for the Montevideo Programme, held in Geneva from 12 to 14 September 2018, and of the meeting of the Group of Friends of the Co-chairs for the Montevideo Programme IV, which was held in Nairobi from 26 to 28 November 2018,

Welcoming the draft fifth programme for the development and periodic review of environmental law (to be known as Montevideo Programme V) contained in the annex to the report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme on the final assessment of the UNEP/EA.4/Res.20 2 fourth Programme for the Development and Periodic Review of Environmental Law (Montevideo Programme IV) and proposals for a future programme, 1

Reaffirming the importance of environmental law as one of the key areas of work of the United Nations Environment Programme, and the potential contribution of Montevideo Programme V in that regard, in particular in strengthening related country-level capacity and contributing to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the further development of international environmental law, in accordance with resolutions and decisions of the United Nations Environment Assembly and other relevant United Nations bodies,

Emphasizing the need to support and extend the network of national focal points designated by Member States, pursuant to resolution 2/19, for exchanging information and building capacity in order to collaborate with and guide the United Nations Environment Programme in strengthening the application of Montevideo Programme V and to monitor and evaluate its implementation with the support of legal experts, academics and civil society

1.Adopts the fifth Programme for the Development and Periodic Review of Environmental Law for the decade beginning in 2020 (Montevideo Programme V), as contained in the annex to the above-mentioned report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme;

2. Invites Member States that have not yet done so to designate national focal points for the Montevideo Programme, pursuant to United Nations Environment Assembly resolution 2/19;

3. Requests the Executive Director to implement Montevideo Programme V through the programmes of work for the decade beginning in 2020, as approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly, in a manner that strengthens the related capacity in Member States and contributes to the environmental dimensions of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and is fully consistent with relevant medium-term strategies of the United Nations Environment Programme;

4. Also requests the Executive Director, in consultation with the national focal points of the Montevideo Programme, to consider and report to the United Nations Environment Assembly at its fifth session on the availability of adequate funding to support the implementation of Montevideo Programme V and its activities in the field of environmental law;

5. Decides to review Montevideo Programme V no later than 2025 and requests the Executive Director to provide a report on that review, including clearly defined and measurable targets, to be considered by the United Nations Environment Assembly at the session following the submission of that report.