Ad Hoc Open-Ended Working Group Established by GA Resolution 72/277

Organizational Session In accordance with the UN General Assembly resolution 72/277 of 10 May 2018, entitled “Towards the Global Pact for the Environment”, the organizational session of the ad hoc open-ended working group will be held at UNHQ in New York from 5 to 7 September 2018. The meeting will examine matters related to the organization of the work of the ad hoc open-ended working group, including the duration and number of its substantive sessions. The ad-hoc working group was established under the auspices of the General Assembly, to consider a technical and evidence-based report requested to the Secretary-General and discuss possible options to address possible gaps in international environmental law and environment-related instruments, as appropriate, and, if deemed necessary, the scope, parameters and feasibility of an international instrument, with a view to making recommendations, which may include the convening of an intergovernmental conference to adopt an international instrument, to the Assembly during the first half of 2019. Important: Participation is on a first-come, first served basis. The General Assembly decided that attendance as observers at the sessions of the ad hoc open-ended working group will be open to relevant non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, as well as to those that were accredited to relevant conferences and summits. In referring to relevant conferences and summits the General Assembly made reference to the non-governmental organizations that were accredited to the following relevant conferences and summits: the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and the United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda.