NEW YORK, USA — Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna urged world leaders to restructure international environmental governance to ease operational burdens on developing countries and ensure they receive necessary support.
Speaking at the “Renewing Environmental Multilateralism” High-Level Political Dialogue during the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81), Cuna noted that growing mandates concerning climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss often strain lower-income countries without providing sufficient financial and technological assistance. The forum, organized by Panama and Vanuatu, focused on modernizing global cooperation to address systemic environmental challenges.
Cuna stressed that international agreements must yield tangible results rather than relying on unfulfilled promises.
”Renewal should focus not only on new commitments, but on making the existing system easier to implement: reducing duplication, improving coordination, and directing more resources to delivery at the national level,” Cuna stated.
Regarding ongoing negotiations for an international treaty on plastic pollution, Cuna emphasized that any binding agreement must address the complete life cycle of plastics—including chemicals of concern, design standards, waste management, and sustainable financing—while remaining realistic for frontline nations to execute.
He also referenced the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on climate obligations, stating that while legal frameworks offer necessary clarity, they must be backed by institutional capacity and direct funding to protect vulnerable populations.
To counter environmental crimes, Cuna advocated for stronger cooperation between environmental authorities, law enforcement agencies, customs officials, and financial intelligence units.
He called for utilizing frameworks such as the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) to curb illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, illicit mining, and illegal waste trade.
The discussions at UNGA 81 align with broader UN reform initiatives under the Pact for the Future and the United Nations 80 Initiative, which aim to streamline operations and strengthen multilateral cooperation on global ecological threats.