UNEP

UNEP, the United Nations Environment Programme, is the United Nations’ principal authority on environmental matters. It coordinates environmental activities across the UN system, assists governments in developing and implementing environmental policies, and serves as a scientific authority and advocate for sustainable development and ecosystem protection.

Established in 1972 in the aftermath of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, UNEP was created by the United Nations General Assembly to oversee international environmental cooperation. It is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with regional offices and programs around the world.

UNEP operates under the guidance of the UN Environment Assembly, the forum for member states to set policy direction. The organization is led by an Executive Director, who heads its staff and operations within the UN system. As of 2024, the Executive Director is Inger Andersen.

Its work covers climate change and clean energy, biodiversity and ecosystems, chemicals and waste management, resource efficiency and sustainable consumption, and disaster risk reduction and resilience. UNEP also produces scientific assessments, including the Global Environment Outlook series, and supports environmental governance and multi-stakeholder initiatives.

Funding comes from UN member states and voluntary contributions, and UNEP collaborates with governments, civil society, the private sector, and other UN entities to implement projects and share knowledge.