The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is inviting external experts to participate in the peer review process of the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7) Second-Order Draft (SOD) and the Summary for Policymakers (SPM) First-Order Draft (FOD). The review period is set to take place from 1 November 2024 to 15 January 2025.

The Global Environment Outlook (GEO) is the flagship report of UNEP providing an integrated assessment of the drivers of environmental change, the current state of the environment, the effectiveness of policy response, and the options for achieving different possible futures in the medium to long term. As requested by Member States in resolution 5/3 of the UN Environment Assembly, UNEP initiated the preparation of the seventh edition of the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7) assessment and its accompanying Summary for Policymakers, to be launched at UNEA-7 in December 2025.

To ensure the quality and inclusivity of the GEO-7 report, UNEP is seeking nominations for external reviewers who can provide valuable feedback on the Second-Order Draft (SOD) of the report and the First-Order Draft (FOD) of the Summary for Policymakers (SPM). Reviewers will play a crucial role in identifying gaps, data needs, and additional information that can enhance the report’s robustness and relevance.

Interested experts are encouraged to apply by 30 September 2024, through the Reviewer Application Portal.

The GEO-7 SOD and FOD SPM peer review period is currently planned for 01 November 2024 – 15 January 2025. The terms of reference, ethical responsibilities, and management of review comments for this role are included in Annexes II, III, and IV of this letter. Webinar sessions on how to conduct the review will be organized prior to the peer review period.

Cover image by NOAA