Acronym: GEN
Address: Chemin des Anémones 11-13, 1219 Châtelaine, Geneva, Switzerland
Website: https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/
Stakeholder group: NGOs and associations
GEN, established in 1999, is a cooperative partnership of more than 100 environmental and sustainable development organisations based at the International Environment House in Geneva and at other locations in the surrounding region. The Secretariat is supported by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment and is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Geneva is a global hub for international environmental governance with more than 100 organisations committed to environmental priorities in the following key areas: Chemicals and Pollution, Climate, Digital Cooperation, Eco-Humanitarian, Green Economy, Human Rights and Environment, Nature, and Science.
GEN organises and hosts meetings, roundtables, briefings, and workshops in preparation for major environmental negotiations and to promote the dissemination of information and public awareness of environmental issues. In addition, GEN actively promotes increased cooperation and networking among its partners and publishes a weekly newsletter highlighting the latest news, resources, events, and jobs in the region.
Digital activities
Digital cooperation is one of the key areas of focus of GEN’s activities.
Digital policy issues
Data, digital technology and the environment
Geneva is one of the main global hubs where digital policies are debated, evaluated, and adopted. As such, digital cooperation is one of the region’s key areas for international environmental governance activities and for reinforcing synergies among stakeholders.
Although advancing technology has always been coupled with significant impacts on the environment, recent advances in technology offer ground-breaking opportunities to monitor and protect the environment, as well as overall planetary health. By harnessing them appropriately, the digital revolution can be steered to act on the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, and to advance global sustainability, environmental stewardship, and human well-being, towards achieving the right to a healthy environment for all.
GEN supports International Geneva activities and hosts meetings, roundtables, briefings, and workshops to
- promote the production of and access to transparent and high-quality data, which are crucial to achieving the 2030 Agenda and the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
- discuss digital technology as a carbon producer and its widespread impact on global sustainability.
- discuss the contribution of digital technologies, including Earth observation, data collection and monitoring, sustainable consumption and production patterns, as well as sound environmental management.
- emphasise the importance of good governance in the digital arena and the need for cooperation among governments, institutions, and other data producers and users for better sustainability outcomes.
The organisations in the region that contribute to the environmental dimension of digital cooperation listed and partnering with GEN, include the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP), Group on Earth Observations (GEO), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Internet Governance Forum (IGF), Global Resource Information Database (UNEP/GRID-Geneva), and World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Sustainable development
Most GEN activities under this basket discuss the following:
- How technology advancements are associated with major environmental consequences.
- How recent technological breakthroughs provide opportunities to monitor and protect the environment and global health of the planet.
- How the digital revolution may be used to tackle the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, while also advancing global sustainability, environmental stewardship, and human well-being.
These discussions are held in preparation for major environmental negotiations and as outreach on their outcomes. They act on the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution that the world is facing, through science-based governance, leveraging data and technology respectful of the environment, and ensuring its access to all, to achieve everyone’s right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
The website is an important tool for GEN. Updated daily, it includes information on all partners, their events, and other resources. All summaries, videos, and related resources on the events organised by GEN are accessible through the website. All events are now hybrid to allow better participation and tools are developed to encourage active participation.
Digital tools
Future of meetings
Related resources and upcoming events, including partner events, will appear at https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/environment-geneva/key-areas-sdg/key-areas/digital/
Social media channels
Facebook @GenevaEnvironmentNetwork
Instagram @genevaenvironmentnetwork
LinkedIn @GenevaEnvironmentNetwork
X @GENetwork
YouTube @Geneva Environment Network
