Anglican representatives attended the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, the world’s highest-level decision-making body on environmental issues. Running from 8-12 December, the Assembly’s theme was: Advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet. The conference also marked the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Unlike the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s Conference of the Parties (COP) dedicated to climate change discussions, which meets every year, UNEA convenes every two years and addresses a range of environmental issues, such as pollution, biodiversity, chemicals, oceans and climate, among other things and brings together all 193 UN Member States to set global environmental policy. It provides leadership, fosters political commitment, and catalyses intergovernmental action on pressing environmental challenges. UNEA also serves as the governing body of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Anglicans joined with other faith groups and organisations to advocate for sustainable change to protect and restore the planet. Groups such as Green Anglicans, the Lutheran World Federation and the Laudato Si movement were among those advocating for practical solutions to protect oceans, forests and frozen landscapes.

Continuing under the banner of the Lungs of the Earth call to advocacy and action that ran throughout COP30 in November 2025, Anglicans persevere in supporting these vital ecosystems at UNEA. The Anglican delegation consisted of the Revd Dr Rachel Mash (Coordinator for the Anglican Communion Environment Network, Environmental Coordinator for the Anglican Church of Southern Africa and the Green Anglicans Movement), Nicholas Pande (Environmental Advocacy lead for the Anglican Communion UN and Advocacy team, Global Coordinator for the Communion Forest and member of the Anglican Church of Kenya), Grace Maghanga (a youth advocate from the Anglican Church of Kenya) and Fredrick Odinga (National Environmental Coordinator for Anglican Development Services in Kenya and member of the Anglican Church of Kenya).

Anglican representatives also participated in side events on the transition to renewable energies, the role of faith in environmental action, and mobilising local communities and women of faith (including through the Mothers’ Union Eco-champs). They also took part in a webinar about the Great Green Wall initiative, which seeks to restore Africa’s degraded landscapes. At an interfaith ‘Talanoa’ dialogue event, the topic of ecosystem restoration was also discussed.

In addition to discussing topics such as management of waste, metals and minerals, fire and desertification prevention, and improved coherence among multilateral environmental agreements, some of the resolutions under discussion at the assembly included:

• Climate resilience of coral reefs, protection of deep-sea ecosystems as a vital lung of the earth and management of Sargassum seaweed blooms.

• Strengthening international efforts to combat desertification, wildfires and land degradation, restore degraded land, promote sustainable land management and growth.

• Preservation of glaciers and the broader cryosphere.

In total, 11 resolutions and three decisions were adopted, four of which are directly supportive of the Lungs of the Earth.

Nicholas Pande, part of the Anglican delegation at UNEA-7, reported on some of the resolutions passed at the assembly:

‘The resolution to accelerate global action to promote the climate resilience of coral reefs recognises the critical ecological, economic and cultural significance of coral reef ecosystems,’ says Pande. ‘Additionally, the resolution on the influx of sargassum seaweed blooms expresses deep concern about the negative impact on human health, biodiversity, development, economies and energy security of communities in the wider Caribbean region and West Africa and proposes monitoring and sustainable management of the influx.’

Pande shares that the resolution passed on the global management of wildfires ‘acknowledged that wildfires contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, as well as the negative effect on conservation and regeneration of ecosystems, climate change, land degradation, desertification, drought and biodiversity loss.’ He hopes that the implementation of this resolution will protect forest ecosystems that are increasingly under pressure and threat.

The resolution centred on the preservation of glaciers and the broader cryosphere identifies the interconnections between the preservation and protection of the cryosphere, glaciers and their ecosystems and climate change, biodiversity loss, desertification, sea-level rise and disaster risk reduction. Pande remarks that ‘it also recognises the role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, including nomadic pastoralists, in the preservation of glaciers and the mountain cryosphere. The implementation of the resolution should respect, protect and promote the traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.’

Speaking of his experience of the event, Nicholas Pande reflects ‘At a time when many people are increasingly concerned about the role and effectiveness of multilateral institutions in addressing challenges of global concern, this UNEA affirms the possibility of change through collaboration in the passing of many of these resolutions and decisions. My hope is that these agreements will support and empower nations to protect and restore God’s many-splendored creation.’

Revd Rachel Mash calls the lack of consensus on the resolution on deep-sea bed protection ‘disappointing’ but notes that 'the number of faith communities’ that were represented was ‘inspiring’ as was seeing ‘a strong engagement from civil society’ at UNEA. She spoke at a multistakeholder session about the importance of involving faith communities in environmental reform and seeks to further the work of faith groups in advocating and collaborating for the good of God’s beautiful creation in future United Nations events.

Martha Jarvis, the Anglican Communion Office Permanent Representative to the UN, supported the Anglican delegation at UNEA remotely. She shares that ‘The Anglican Church of Kenya has inspired many through their care for the lungs of the earth - particularly forests - as a central part of their care for their neighbours and witness to God’s love. It was fitting that they took the lead of the Anglican presence at UNEA along with the Green Anglicans movement, which is gathering energy from young people across the continent of Africa. Together they showed that living within God’s created order, in how we allow the environment to flourish and in how we share resources, is essential. We support the progress made through UNEA7’s resolutions and pray for more action and urgency ahead.’

More information

Learn more about the Lungs of the Earth call to environmental advocacy and action.

Learn more about the Communion Forest. 

Watch a short video of Nicholas Pande sharing his experiences of UNEA.