World risks new pandemics, warns UN Environment Assembly By IANS | Published on Wed, Feb 24 2021 7:36 IST | 0 Views World risks new pandemics, warns UN Environment Assembly. Image Source: IANS News Nairobi, Feb 24 : Ministers of environment and other leaders from more than 150 nations concluded a two-day online meeting of the Fifth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) in which the Assembly warned that the world risks new pandemics "if we don't change how we safeguard nature". The UN Environment Assembly meets biennially to set priorities for global environmental policies and develop international environmental law; decisions and resolutions then taken by member states at the assembly also define the work of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).