United Nations Environment Programme
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is the principal strategic global environmental authority, serving as the focal point for environmental action and coordination within the UN system.
UNEP, working with other UN agencies and international and regional bodies, has an important role to play in the implementation of the environmental dimensions of sustainable development, including the commitments from the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
In 2003, UNEP became a member of the UN Development Group (UNDG), which should further help in improving co-operation between UNEP and other UN agencies.
The Eighth Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council / Global Ministerial Environment Forum took place in Jeju, South Korea, in March 2004. Here Ministers adopted the Jeju Initiative, which sets out ways that Governments and UNEP will drive forward delivery of key WSSD outcomes, focusing on the environmental dimension of water, sanitation and human settlements.
Officials also discussed ways of strengthening international environmental governance, which will improve the capacity of the international community to deliver sustainable development and international environment objectives. An important element will be the adoption at the Governing Council in February 2005 of an intergovernmental Strategic Plan on Technology Support and Capacity Building in the environmental field.
The UK wants to see the Intergovernmental process used to promote better co-ordination between UN agencies, the Global Environment Facility (GEF)2, the international financial institutions and others.
UNEP also plays a catalytic role in many international negotiations on environmental matters, ranging from the 1973 Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which seeks to reduce damage to the earth's ozone layer.
More currently, UNEP is promoting a series of negotiations on the management of hazardous chemicals: this process has already given rise to two agreements (the Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions) which came into force in 2004.
The UK continues to be a major donor to UNEP's Environment Fund. The UK also provides funding for specific UNEP activities, such as on great apes.
UK views on strategic priorities
This paper sets out UK views on strategic priorities relating to UN Environment Programme (UNEP) activities in the period 2003-2007.Further information is available on our Help
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Page last modified:
12 April 2005
Page published: 19 November 2004