The UN Environment 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 has been founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.

Its activities cover a wide range of issues, from atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems, the promotion of environmental science and information, to an early warning and emergency response capacity to deal with environmental disasters and emergencies.

The UNEP has developed guidelines and treaties on issues such as the international trade in potentially harmful chemicals, transboundary air pollution, and contamination of international waterways.

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).

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. On 15 March, 2006, the United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, nominated Achim Steiner, currently 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 ^*.

See also

• United Nations
• World Conservation Monitoring Centre
• Notable oceanographers
• The Treasure of the Deep Ocean is the Property of all Mankind
• Conference on the Human Environment: 1972, Stockholm, Sweden
• World Commission on Environment and Development: 1982, Nairobi, Kenya
• Conference on Environment and Development: 1992, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Timeline of environmental events
• World Summit on Sustainable Development: 2002, Johannesburg, South Africa

External links

• Official UNEP Website
• United Nations Environment Network
• Global Environment Facility
• United Nations Earthwatch
• Reports on UNEP Meetings by Earth Negotiations Bulletin
• UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre
• Melbourne Principles on Sustainable Cities

• Official Carpathian Convention Website
• United Nations - Official site
• History of the United Nations - UK Government site

United Nations Environment Programme | Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Medio Ambiente | Programme des Nations unies pour l'environnement | გაეროს გარემოსდაცვითი პროგრამა | UNEP | 国連環境計画 | UNEP | Programa das Nações Unidas para o Meio Ambiente | UNEP | 联合国环境署