The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) is the world’s highest-level environmental decision-making body, with membership of all 193 States. It sets priorities for global environmental policies and develops international environmental law. UNEA recognised the importance of sustainable pastoralism and responsible consumption of livestock during its second session in 2016 (UNEA-2), when 158 countries passed Resolution 2-24 on “Combating desertification, land degradation and drought and promoting sustainable pastoralism and rangelands”. This called for raising global awareness and scientific research, starting with a gap analysis of existing data on rangelands and pastoralism.
The Assembly further demonstrated its commitment at UNEA-4 in 2019, where it requested the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to support countries to undertake regional assessments to fill the knowledge gaps, and to promote sustainable rangeland management and sensitive development interventions specific to resolving disputes and supporting traditional governance, with particular attention to recognising the role of traditional institutions and community participation.
The resumed session of UNEA-5 was held in early 2022, followed by a Special Session of UNEA devoted to commemorating the 50th anniversary of UNEP. The IYRP International Support Group (ISG), ILRI, the Kenyan Government, FAO, UNEP, IUCN, UNCCD and WWF submitted a proposal for a side event on "Grasslands and Rangelands: Global Actions for Biodiversity, Climate and People". Howeer, it was not accepted and nothing explicitly about rangelands or pastoralists was included in the final 14 resolutions of UNEA-5.
UNEA-7 takes place on 8-12 December 2025 at UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. Representatives from the IYRP Global Alliance (formerly called the ISG) will be present.
