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
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-p
rogramme/
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