In November 2025, IRMA was accredited to participate in the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA). Observer status grants IRMA access to UNEA and its subsidiary bodies, enabling IRMA to participate in environmental decision-making at the highest level.
While IRMA has engaged in prior UNEA sessions virtually, the seventh session of UNEA (UNEA-7), held from 8 to 12 December 2025 at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi, was IRMA’s first opportunity to participate in person as an accredited Observer.
Represented by IRMA’s Law & Policy Director, Kristi Disney Bruckner, IRMA participated in multiple UNEA-7 plenary sessions, leadership dialogues, and side events, as well as the Launch of the UN Task Force on Critical Energy Transition Minerals and negotiations on the Resolution on strengthening international cooperation on the environmentally sound management of minerals and metals.
Representatives from Colombia and Oman provided a briefing on the draft resolution on minerals and metals for IRMA Members just prior to UNEA-7, providing a virtual opportunity for questions and input on the draft. The final resolution supports continuation of implementation efforts of prior minerals and metals-related UNEA resolutions and convenes dialogues among Member States, focal points, and relevant stakeholders and partners. The dialogues, which must have equitable participation among regions and of developing countries, will discuss:
- Enhancing international cooperation on the sustainable management of minerals and metals
- Resource recovery from mining waste and tailings through sustainable approaches, such as circularity
- Best practices for the environmentally sound management of minerals and metals
- Enhancing cooperation to strengthen technological, technical, financial and scientific capabilities related to management of environmental aspects of minerals and metals, in particular in developing countries
The resolution also requests a report to the 8th session of UNEA (UNEA-8) on progress achieved in implementation of this and prior resolutions on mining and metals.
IRMA contributes to implementation of the resolution by sharing best practices from IRMA Standards with governments, stakeholders and rights holders; participating in collaborations around mining waste and tailings management and opportunities to advance circularity; and helping strengthen capabilities across sectors regarding responsible management of mineral value chains. In collaboration with UNEP, IRMA will also contribute to work under prior UNEA resolutions, such as developing content to be disseminated through UNEP’s Digital Knowledge Hub on the Environmental Aspects of Minerals and Metals, created under the mandate of the 2024 Resolution 6/5 on Environmental Aspects of Minerals and Metals.
IRMA will continue to track developments under UNEA and related implementation efforts, bringing updates and opportunities for input to the attention of IRMA Members. UNEA-8 will be held from 6-10 December 2027 in Nairobi.
About UNEA
UNEA is the world’s highest-level decision-making body for matters related to the environment, with a universal membership of all 193 Member States. UNEA sets the global environmental agenda, provides overarching policy guidance, and defines policy responses to address emerging environmental challenges. It also undertakes policy review, dialogue, and the exchange of experiences, sets the strategic guidance on the future direction of UNEP, and fosters partnerships for achieving environmental goals and resource mobilization.