UNEP is the United Nations system’s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action.
Mission:
To provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
Vision:
The vision of UNEP for the medium-term future is to be:
“The leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, that promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and that serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.”
Objectives:
UNEP's responsibilities include:
−Promoting international cooperation in the field of the environment and recommending appropriate policies.
− Catalysing action to address major environmental threats.
− Monitoring the status of the global environment and gathering and disseminating environmental information.
− Facilitating the coordination of United Nations activities on matters concerned with the environment, and ensuring, through cooperation, liaison and participation, that their activities take environmental considerations into account.
− Helping, upon request, environment ministries and other environmental authorities, in particular in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, to formulate and implement environmental policies.
− Helping to develop international environmental law.
− Providing expert advice on the development and use of environmental concepts and instruments.
Developing regional programmes for the environment. The major results of UNEP activities should include:
International arrangements to enhance environmental protection and policy advice to governments, multilateral organisations and others to strengthen environmental protection and incorporate the environment into the sustainable development process.
Periodic assessments and scientifically sound forecasts to support decision making and international consensus on the main environmental threats and responses to them.
Periodic assessments and scientifically sound forecasts to support decision making and international consensus on the main environmental threats and responses to them.
More effective coordination of environmental matters within the United Nations system.
Greater public awareness and capacity for environmental management and effective national and international responses to environmental threats.
Activities/Main areas of work:
UNEP work encompasses:
Assessing global, regional and national environmental conditions and trends
Developing international and national environmental instruments
Strengthening institutions for the wise management of the environment
Facilitating the transfer of knowledge and technology for sustainable development
Encouraging new partnerships and mind-sets within civil society and the private sector.
Coverage:
Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America
Beneficiaries:
Governments, scientists, journalists, business persons, civil society, children and youth.
Membership/Affiliations:
– Global International Waters Assessment (GIWA)
– Commission on Sustainable Development
– The Olympic Movement and the Environment
– Collaborative Partnership on Forests
– Google Inc.
