NationMaster - Encyclopedia: United Nations Environment Programme

The UN Environmental Programme (or UNEP) coordinates United Nations environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and encourages sustainable development through sound environmental practices. It was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in December 1972 and is headquartered in Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya. UNEP also has six regional offices and various country offices. Download high resolution version (480x640, 43 KB)Klaus Topfer, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Source: Roosewelt Pinheiro/ABr. ... Download high resolution version (480x640, 43 KB)Klaus Topfer, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Source: Roosewelt Pinheiro/ABr. ... Klaus Toepfer Klaus Toepfer is the United Nations Environmental Programmes (UNEPs) executive director. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... Sustainable development is a collection of methods to create and sustain development which seeks to relieve poverty, create equitable standards of living, satisfy the basic needs of all peoples, and establish sustainable political practices all while taking the steps necessary to avoid irreversible damages to natural capital in the long... Nairobi (pronounced ) is the capital city of Kenya. ...

Its activities cover a wide range of issues regarding the atmosphere, marine and terrestrial ecosystems. It has played a significant role in developing international environmental conventions, promoting environmental science and information and illustrating the way those can work in conjunction with policy, working on the development and implementation of policy with national governments and regional institution and working in conjunction with environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). UNEP has also been active in funding and implementing environmentally related development projects. Layers of Atmosphere (NOAA) Air redirects here. ... An ecosystem, a contraction of ecological and system, refers to the collection of biotic and abiotic components and processes that comprise and govern the behavior of some defined subset of the biosphere. ... Environmental science is the study of the interactions among the physical, chemical and biological components of the environment; with a focus on pollution and degradation of the environment related to human activities; and the impact on biodiversity and sustainability from local and global development. ...

UNEP has aided in the development of guidelines and treaties on issues such as the international trade in potentially harmful chemicals, transboundary air pollution, and contamination of international waterways. Before flue gas desulfurization was installed, the emissions from this power plant in New Mexico contained excessive amounts of sulfur dioxide. ...

The World Meteorological Organization and the UNEP established the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1988. UNEP is also one of several Implementing Agencies for the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 187 Member States and Territories. ... IPCC is the science authority for the UNFCCC The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established in 1988 by two United Nations organizations, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), to evaluate the risk of climate change brought on by humans, based mainly on... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Global Environment Facility (GEF), established by donor governments in 1991 to pre-empt politically more radically alternative models of conservation finance proposed at the Rio Earth Summit, helps developing countries fund projects and programs that are claimed to protect the global environment. ...

Structure

UNEP's Governing Council consists of a total of 58 member states which serve three-year terms. These seats are allocated according to geographical regions. The Governing Council is the primary developer of policy guidelines for UN environmental programs and plays a diplomatic role in promoting cooperation between UN member states on environmental issues.

The UNEP secretariat consists of 890 staff members, roughly 500 of which are international staff while the remaining are hired locally. The Secretariat is the body which oversees the implementation of UNEP policies and programs and is responsible for the annual budget which totals around $105 million (US) and is almost entirely earned from member states.

Executive Director

UNEP's current Executive Director is Achim Steiner, who succeeded previous director Klaus Töpfer in 2006. Dr Töpfer served two consecutive terms, beginning in February 1998. Achim Steiner (born 1961 in Brazil) is a German expert in environmental politics. ... Klaus Toepfer Klaus Toepfer is the United Nations Environmental Programmes (UNEPs) executive director. ...

On 15 March 2006, the United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, nominated Achim Steiner, former Director General of the IUCN to the position of Executive Director. One day later, the UN General Assembly followed Annan's proposal and elected him [1]. March 15 is the 74th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (75th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Kofi Atta Annan (born April 8, 1938) is a Ghanaian born diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1, 1997 to December 31, 2006, serving two five-year terms. ... Achim Steiner (born 1961 in Brazil) is a German expert in environmental politics. ... The World Conservation Union or International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ... United Nations General Assembly The United Nations General Assembly is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations. ...

The position was held for 17 years (1975-1992) by Dr. Mostafa Kamal Tolba, who was instrumental in bringing environmental considerations to the forefront of global thinking and action. Under his leadership, UNEP's most widely acclaimed success - the historic 1988 agreement to protect the ozone layer - the Montreal Protocol was negotiated.

Awards

UNEP established a Global 500 Roll of Honour in 1987 to recognize notable contributions by individuals and organizations. This scheme closed in 2003 and has been replaced by Champions of the Earth. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) established the Global 500 Roll of Honour in 1987 to recognize the environmental achievements of individuals and organizations around the world. ... The United Nations Environment Programme established Champions of the Earth in 2005 as an annual awards programme to recognize outstanding environmental leaders. ...

International Years

2007: (International) Year of the Dolphin

The year 2007 has been declared as (International) Year of the Dolphin - (http://www.yod2007.org) by the United Nations and UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme).
2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... The year 2007 has been declared as (International) Year of the Dolphin by the United Nations and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... The year 2007 has been declared as (International) Year of the Dolphin by the United Nations and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... Klaus Töpfer, UNEP Exec. ...

The UN Convention on Migratory Species, together with its specialized agreements on dolphin conservation ACCOBAMS and ASCOBANS and the WDCS (Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society) have proposed 2007 as the Year of the Dolphin ('YOD'))
(International) Patron of the Year of the Dolphin is H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco.
This article is about the United Nations, for other uses of UN see UN (disambiguation) Official languages English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic Secretary-General Kofi Annan (since 1997) Established October 24, 1945 Member states 191 Headquarters New York City, NY, USA Official site http://www. ... The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (also known as CMS or the Bonn Convention ) aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout their range. ... ASCOBANS, the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas, is a regional Agreement concluded under the auspices of the UNEP Convention on Migratory Species, or Bonn Convention Numerous species of small cetaceans live in the North Sea. ... The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) is the most prominent environmental organization that dedicates itself to conservation and welfare of all whales, dolphins and porpoises. ... The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) is the most prominent environmental organization that dedicates itself to conservation and welfare of all whales, dolphins and porpoises. ... The year 2007 has been declared as (International) Year of the Dolphin by the United Nations and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). ... Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco (Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi; born March 14, 1958), styled His Serene Highness The Sovereign Prince of Monaco, is the head of the House of Grimaldi and the current ruler of the Principality of Monaco. ...

Reform

Following the publication of Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in February 2007, a "Paris Call for Action" read out by French President Chirac and supported by 46 countries, called for the United Nations Environment Programme to be replaced by a new and more powerful 'United Nations Environment Organization' (UNEO), to be modelled on the World Health Organization. The 46 countries included the European Union nations, but notably did not include the United States, China, Russia, and India, the top four emitters of greenhouse gasses.^[1] The Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the fourth in a series of reports on climate change. ... IPCC is science authority for the UNFCCC The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established in 1988 by two United Nations organizations, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to assess the risk of human-induced climate change. The Panel is open to all... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... Jacques (René) Chirac (born 29 November French politician. ... The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ...

See also

The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... The United Nations Environment Programmes World Conservation Monitoring Centre or UNEP-WCMC is an executive agency of the United Nations Environment Programme, based in Cambridge in the United Kingdom. ... Oceanography (from Ocean + Greek γράφειν = write), also called oceanology and marine science is the study of the earths oceans and their interlinked ecosystems and chemical and physical processes. ... Vice Admiral William Wohlsen Behrens, Jr. ... The Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972, was the first of a series of world environmental conferences. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Stockholm [, ] is the capital and the largest City of Sweden. ... The Brundtland Commission - formally the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), known by the name of its Chair Gro Harlem Brundtland, was convened by the United Nations in response to the 1983 General Assembly Resolution A/38/161 - Process of preparation of the Environmental Perspective to the Year 2000... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Categories: Africa geography stubs | Capitals in Africa | Kenya ... The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the Earth Summit (or, in Portuguese, Eco 92) was a major conference held in Rio de Janeiro from June 3 to June 14, 1992. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Ipanema beach A NASA satellite image of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro (meaning River of January in Portuguese) is the name of both a state and a city in southeastern Brazil. ... The timeline of environmental events is a historical account of events that have shaped humanitys perspective on the environment. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Earth Summit 2002. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Johannesburgs skyline as seen from the observation deck of the Carlton Centre. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ...

External links

Resources

References

v • d • e

United Nations (UN)

UN System: General Assembly • Security Council • Economic and Social Council • Secretariat • Trusteeship Council • International Court of Justice Reuters Group plc (LSE: RTR and NASDAQ: RTRSY); pron. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... February 3 is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Nations. ... While the United Nations is an international organization, the United Nations System is the whole network of international organizations, treaties and conventions that were created by the United Nations. ... The United Nations General Assembly (GA) is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations. ... The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is the organ of the United Nations charged with maintaining peace and security among nations. ... The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations assists the General Assembly in promoting international economic and social cooperation and development. ... The United Nations Secretariat is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and it is headed by the United Nations Secretary General, assisted by a staff of international civil servants worldwide. ... The United Nations Trusteeship Council, one of the principal organs of the United Nations, was established to help ensure that non-self-governing territories were administered in the best interests of the inhabitants and of international peace and security. ... The International Court of Justice (known colloquially as the World Court or ICJ; French: ) is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. ...

Programs, Funds, Agencies: FAO• ICAO • ILO • IPCC • UNCTAD • UNDCP • UNDP • UNEP • UNESCO • UNFPA • UNHCR • UNHRC • UN-HABITAT • UNICEF • UNRWA • UPU • WFP • WHO • WMO The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. ... The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an agency of the United Nations, codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. ... The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations to deal with labour issues. ... IPCC is the science authority for the UNFCCC The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established in 1988 by two United Nations organizations, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), to evaluate the risk of climate change brought on by humans, based mainly on... The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was established in 1963 as a permanent intergovernmental body, UNCTAD is the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment and development issues. ... The United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) and the United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention (CICP) are part of the United Nations Office for Drug Control & Crime Prevention (ODCCP). ... The United Nations Development Programe (UNDP), the United Nations global development network, is the largest multilateral source of development assistance in the world. ... UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... The United Nations Fund for Population Activities was started in 1969 and renamed the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in 1987. ... Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (established December 14, 1950) protects and supports refugees at the request of a government or the United Nations and assists in their return or resettlement. ... The United Nations Human Rights Council is an international body within the United Nations with the purpose of addressing human rights violations. ... is the United Nations agency for human settlements. ... UNICEF Logo UNICEF Flag The United Nations Childrens Fund (or UNICEF) General Assembly was created on December 11, 1946. ... The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is a relief and human development agency, providing education, healthcare, social services and emergency aid to over four million Palestinian refugees living in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. ... The Universal Postal Union (UPU, French: Union postale universelle) is an international organization that coordinates postal policies between member nations, and hence the world-wide postal system. ... // World Food Programme Hunger and undernutrition claim more lives than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combinedâ€”25,000 people a day, one every four seconds. ... The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ... The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 187 Member States and Territories. ...

United Nations resolutions: General Assembly • Security Council A United Nations resolution (or UN resolution) is a formal text adopted by a United Nations (UN) body. ... A United Nations General Assembly Resolution is voted on by all member states of the United Nations in the General Assembly and requires a simple majority (50% of all votes plus one) to pass (with the exception of important questions which require two-thirds majority). All General Assembly resolutions are... A United Nations Security Council Resolution is voted on by the fifteen members of the United Nations Security Council, the most powerful organ of the United Nations. ...

Membership: Member states • Observers A map of UN member states and their dependencies as recognized by the UN. Regions excluded: Antarctica (regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System), Vatican City (the Holy See is a UN observer), the Palestinian territories (the Palestine Liberation Organization is a UN observer), and Western Sahara (status in dispute between... In addition to the current 191 member states, the United Nations welcomes several other international agencies, entities, and one non-member state (for several years prior to their admission after a referendum in 2002, Switzerland was also an observer state). ...

in other words: they're doing lots of things which are important in the world-wide-environment stuff...

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