Programming Principle:

Environmental Sustainability

Environmental Sustainability in the UN system

3 groups of global environmental problems:
Global Commons Ozone depletion Shared Natural Resources Cod fishery Trans-boundary Externalities Chernobyl

Policy options for countries:

Informally agree on the solution and implement individually. Formally agree on the solution in soft law Rio Declaration Treaty agreement in hard law or Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) Convention on Biological Diversity

Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs):

In 3 broad clusters (climate, biodiversity, chemicals) with standards, rules, decision-making procedures, programmes to govern state parties Many National Action Plans (NAPs)

Principles of Environmental Sustainability

Environmental Policy Integration Transparency, Public Participation, and access to Information and Remedies Precaution; Polluter-Pays; Responsibility for trans-boundary Harm; Subsidiarity & Decentralisation

Methodology
Analyse and monitor the linkages between major development problems and the environment
Screen for environment linkages during country analysis

Advocate to include environment linkages in national development processes (PRSs, MDG strategies)
Set priorities addressing linkages and develop strategic programmes for UN-Government cooperation
Preliminary environmental review of draft UNDAF results

Sustain Country-led effort to operationalize: from plan to implementation Engage with state actors, non-governmental actors and other development partners

Challenges
Find the right entry point Find champions Ensure the commitment of the planning or finance team Provide country-specific evidence Perform integrated policy appraisals Engage key sector agencies Consider the environment agency capacity Acknowledge the need for sustained support