Governance
The current system of global environmental governance reflects the challenge of assembling cooperation among the international community, even on environmental matters that all agree require common action. There are three elements to global environmental governance. One element is comprised of intergovernmental organizations within the United Nations system, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which are responsible for developing and coordinating environmental and sustainable development policy at the international level. A second element is the framework of international environmental law, which takes the form of a large number of environmental treaties. These treaties, such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, are legally binding agreements that call on countries to take joint action on environmental problems. A third element is the financing mechanism to build capacity to carry out treaty commitments, to supplement national efforts toward sustainable development in poorer countries, and to support the UN agencies and treaty secretariats that coordinate and carry out environmental efforts. These include the bilateral development assistance, the World Bank, other regional development banks, UN funds like the UN, the Global Environment Facility, philanthropies, and the private sector.
Events and Articles
Showing 61 - 70 of 449 results
Online Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum (GMGSF)
UNEP Major Groups concluded four days of intensive consultations ahead of the next UN Environment Assembly, adopting a Joint Global Statement and input toward the UNEP@50 political declaration.
2nd Extraordinary Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD
Convening under a “silence procedure,” the parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification adopted its 2022 budget, ensuring the Convention and the Secretariat will continue to operate until the Conference of the Parties can convene in 2022.
57th Session of the International Tropical Timber Council
After a week of deliberations, delegates agreed to renew the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 2006 for five years, elected a new Executive Director to lead the International Tropical Timber Organization for the next four years, and addressed the growing number of late payments and arrears of contributions.
Glasgow Climate Change Conference
Despite divisive negotiations at COP 26, parties managed to finalize the Paris Agreement Rulebook and adopt other substantive outcomes. During the closing plenaries, parties reflected that the overall package was not perfect, and many stressed that they were adopting the package “in the spirit of compromise.”
Combined 12th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention (Part II) and 33rd Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
Delegates discussed closing gaps in monitoring of ozone depleting substances as well as low global-warming potential and energy efficient technologies. They adopted 18 decisions, including on compliance and reporting, to ensure the Convention and the Protocol protect the ozone layer and combat climate change.
UN Biodiversity Conference Part I
Delegates have the task to set the path for a sustainable future by systemizing actions to ensure a transformative change that rebuilds our relationship with nature, and keep momentum alive for adopting an ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity framework when the Conference resumes in 2022.
UN World Data Forum 2021
Hosted by the Federal Statistics Office of Switzerland, the UN World Data Forum 2021 fostered discussions on ways to build a pathway for better data for sustainable development and options to promote data innovation, capacity building, and support.
4th Session of the Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific
The Forum sought seeking to contribute regional perspectives on the pandemic recovery needed and put forward policy priorities for the upcoming resumed session of the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly.
High-level Dialogue on Energy
The first high-level meeting to tackle energy issues under the United Nations General Assembly in 40 years demonstrated broad interest in accelerating ambition towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) on affordable and clean energy and the net-zero emissions by 2050 goal of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
SDG Moment 2021
Calls for transformational and generational change to realize the Sustainable Development Goals permeated the day-long virtual gathering, which featured a refreshing new format.