CHAPTER IX: UN PROGRAMS ADDRESSING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945.  It is currently made

up of 193 Member States.  The mission and work of the United Nations are guided by the
purposes and principles contained in its founding Charter . There are 195 countries in the
world today. This total comprises 193 countries that are member states of the United Nations
and 2 countries that are non-member observer states: the Holy See and the State of Palestine.

Selected UN Agencies and Organizations that addresses global environmental issues.

UNEP: United Nations Environment Programme

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading environmental authority
in the United Nations system. UNEP uses its expertise to strengthen environmental standards and
practices while helping implement environmental obligations at the country, regional and global
levels. UNEP’s mission is 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.

SIX AREAS OF CONCENTRATION OF UNEP

 CLIMATE CHANGE =UNEP strengthens the ability of countries to integrate climate

change responses by providing leadership in adaptation, mitigation, technology and
finance.
 POST-CONFLICT AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT =UNEP conducts
environmental assessments in crisis-affected countries and provides guidance for
implementing legislative and institutional frameworks for improved environmental
management.

 ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT =Facilitates management and restoration of

ecosystems in a manner consistent with sustainable development, and promotes use of
ecosystem services.

 ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE =UNEP supports governments in establishing,

implementing and strengthening the necessary processes, institutions, laws, policies and
programs to achieve sustainable development at the country, regional and global levels,
and mainstreaming environment in development planning.

 HARMFUL SUBSTANCES =UNEP tries to minimize the impact of harmful substances

and hazardous waste on the environment and human beings.

 RESOURCE EFFICIENCY/SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND

PRODUCTION UNEP focuses on regional and global efforts to ensure natural resources
are produced, processed and consumed in a more environmentally friendly way.
Here are other examples of notable organizations in addressing global environmental
issues:
 The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

Is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1961, working in the field

of wilderness preservation, and the reduction of human impact on the environment. It was
formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and
the United States.

 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Is an intergovernmental body of the United Nations that is dedicated to providing the

world with objective, scientific information relevant to understanding the scientific basis
of the risk of human-induced climate change, its natural, political, and economic impacts
and risks, and possible response options.

 Friends of the Earth International (FoEI)

Is an international network of environmental organizations in 74 countries. Friends of the

Earth was founded in 1969 in San Francisco by David Brower, Donald Aitken and Gary
Soucie after Brower's split with the Sierra Club due to the latter's positive approach to
nuclear energy. The founding donation of $500,000 (in 2019 USD) was provided by
Robert Orville Anderson, the owner of Atlantic Richfield Oil Company.

Resources:
https://www.un.org/en/sections/about-un/overview/index.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Environment_Programme

https://www.un.org/youthenvoy/2013/08/unep-united-nations-environment-programme/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wide_Fund_for_Nature

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intergovernmental_Panel_on_Climate_Change#cite_note-
Weart_international_80s-4

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friends_of_the_Earth