The UN Environment Program is. UN activities in the field of environmental protection
General Assembly UN (United Nations). It plays a major role in organizing international environmental cooperation. It determines the main directions of environmental policy of the international community.
UNEP— UN Environment Program. This is a specialized UN agency that deals with the protection of the biosphere. It was created by the UN General Assembly on December 15, 1972 on the recommendation of the Stockholm Conference. UNEP has a Governing Council of state representatives, a Council for Coordination of Biosphere Protection, and an Environmental Fund. Advice managers identified the following seven main areas in the field of ecology: 1) human settlements, human health, environmental sanitation; 2) protection of lands and waters, prevention of desertification; 3) oceans; 4) protection of nature, wild animals, genetic resources; 5) energy; 6) education, vocational training; 7) trade, economics, technology.
ECOSOC — Economic and Social Council UN. He resolves financing issues.
UNESCO — UN Organization for Culture, Science and Education. Founded in 1948 with headquarters in Paris. She carries out: a) management of environmental programs “Man and the Biosphere” (MAB - Man and Biosphere), International Program for Environmental Education, International Hydrological Program, etc.; b) recording and organizing the protection of natural sites classified as World Heritage; c) providing assistance to countries in the development of environmental education and training of ecologists.
Under the auspices of UNESCO, the International UNESCO Chair “Environmental Education in Siberia” was opened at the Altai State Technical University.
IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency was founded in 1957. It develops Rules for the construction and operation of nuclear power plants, conducts examinations of designed and operating nuclear power plants, assesses the impact of nuclear materials on the natural environment, establishes radiation safety standards, and verifies their implementation.
IUCN — International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. It was founded in 1948. It is a non-governmental organization with representatives from more than 100 countries. Members of the IUCN from the Russian Federation are the Ministry of Agriculture and the All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation. The main objectives of the union: a) preservation of natural ecosystems, flora and fauna; b) preservation of rare and endangered species of plants and animals, natural monuments; c) organization of reserves, reserves, national natural parks; d) environmental education. At the initiative of the IUCN, the Red Data Book of rare and endangered species of plants and animals is maintained, and the World Conservation Strategy program has been developed.
WHO - World Health Organization. It was founded in 1946. WHO studies the problems of improving the health of cities, organizing recreation and sanatorium-resort treatment of citizens, and participates in international programs to improve the sanitary and hygienic conditions of human life. It carries out sanitary and epidemiological monitoring of the human environment, summarizes data on human morbidity depending on the state of the environment, conducts a sanitary and hygienic examination of the natural environment and assesses its quality. In its activities, WHO interacts with UNEP, IAEA, WMO and other environmental organizations.
FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Founded in 1945. Its field of activity is agriculture and world food resources. She deals with environmental problems in agriculture: the protection and use of lands, water resources, forests, wildlife, and biological resources of the World Ocean. FAO prepared a soil map of the world, thanks to it the World Soil Charter was adopted, and international conferences on population, food, combating desertification, and protecting water resources were held. FAO participates in the development of many environmental programs and actively cooperates with UNEP, UNESCO, and IUCN.
GSMOS is a global environmental monitoring system. The system is coordinated by UNEP. GSMOS carries out five programs: monitoring the state of the atmosphere, long-distance transport of pollutants, human health, the World Ocean, and renewable land resources. GSMS includes WMO, WHO, FAO, UNESCO.
WMO - World Meteorological Organization of the United Nations. Created in 1947. It studies and summarizes the degree of human impact on the weather and climate of the planet as a whole and in individual regions. WMO operates within the framework of GEMS - a global environmental monitoring system
IMO - International Maritime Organization. It develops and agrees with the basic principles of international policy for the protection of the marine environment. IMO takes part in the development of international conventions to combat marine pollution by oil and other harmful substances. The IMO includes the Marine Environment Protection Committee.
UN Environment Program, or UNEP(English) UNEP, U nited N ations E environment P rogramme), is a program created within the UN system that promotes coordination of nature conservation at the system-wide level. The program was established on the basis of UN General Assembly resolution No. 2997 of December 15, 1972 (A/RES/2997(XXVII)). The main goal of UNEP is to organize and implement measures aimed at protecting and improving the environment for the benefit of present and future generations. The motto of the Program is “Environment for Development”.
UNEP's headquarters are located in Nairobi, Kenya. UNEP also has six major regional offices and offices in various countries. UNEP is responsible for resolving all environmental issues at the global and regional levels.
UNEP's activities include various projects in the field of the Earth's atmosphere, marine and terrestrial ecosystems. UNEP also plays a significant role in the development of international conventions in the field of ecology and environmental protection. UNEP often collaborates with states and non-governmental international organizations. UNEP also often sponsors and facilitates the implementation of environmentally related projects.
UNEP's activities also include the development of recommendations and international treaties on issues such as potentially hazardous chemicals, transboundary air pollution and pollution of international shipping channels.
Until 2012, the UNEP Governing Council consisted of 58 states elected for a four-year term. Seats on the Council are distributed geographically. The role of the Governing Council is to determine the main directions of work for the various UN environmental programs and to disseminate ideas for cooperation on environmental issues among UN member states. The UNEP Secretariat consists of 890 staff, approximately 500 of whom are contracted from other countries. The Secretariat oversees the implementation of various UNEP policies and programs. The Secretariat is also involved in the distribution of the budget, the size of which reaches almost 105 million US dollars and virtually consists entirely of contributions from UNEP member states.
The current Executive Director of UNEP is Achim Steiner, who succeeded the previous Director, Klaus Toepfer, in 2006. Dr. Toepfer served as Director for two consecutive terms, beginning in February 1998. On March 15, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Achim Steiner, former Director-General of the World Conservation Union, to the post of Executive Director of UNEP. A day later, the UN General Assembly approved Annan's proposal and appointed Steiner to the post of Director General. The appointment was controversial due to a conflict of interest after it was revealed that Steiner was the chief judge on the jury that awarded Ananna the $500,000 prize. The London newspaper said the appointment "raised new questions about the standards that should be applied to senior UN officials to avoid conflicts of interest." The position of General Director for 17 consecutive years (from 1975 to 1992) was occupied by Dr. Mostafa Kamal Tolba, who managed to bring ecology and environmental protection issues to public discussion and achieve success in this area. Under this director, UNEP achieved its greatest success by concluding the Montreal Protocol in 1987, aimed at protecting the ozone layer. In December 1972, the UN General Assembly voted unanimously to appoint Maurice Strong as head of UNEP. He also served as Secretary General of the 1972 UN Conference on the Environment, which launched the international environmental movement, and at the 1992 Earth Summit. Strong has great influence in many areas of ecology aimed at developing a global environmental movement.
UNEP publishes a large number of reports, reports and newsletters. For example, the fourth Global Environment Initiative (GEI-4) is a good example of a report on ecology, development and human well-being and provides analysis and information for policymakers and the general public. One of the main ideas of GEI-4 is to warn humanity that it is “living beyond its means.” The report notes that humanity is so large that the amount of resources needed to survive exceeds the amount available. The ecological imperative (or the amount of land needed to provide food for one person) is 21.9 hectares, while the Earth's biological capacity averages 15.7 hectares per person.
Following the publication of the fourth report in February 2007, the "Paris Call to Action" read by French ex-President Jacques Chirac, which was supported by 46 other countries, called for UNEP to be replaced by a more effective organization with stronger oversight. United Nations Environmental Organization (UNEO), which should be developed on the basis of the World Health Organization. Among the 46 supporting countries were countries
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UN Environment Program or UNEP(English) UNEP, U nited N ations E environment P rogramme ) is a program created within the UN system that promotes coordination of nature conservation at the system-wide level. The program was established on the basis of UN General Assembly resolution No. 2997 of December 15, 1972 (A/RES/2997(XXVII)). The main goal of UNEP is to organize and implement measures aimed at protecting and improving the environment for the benefit of present and future generations. The motto of the Program is “Environment for Development”.
UNEP's headquarters are located in Nairobi, Kenya. UNEP also has six major regional offices and offices in various countries. UNEP is responsible for resolving all environmental issues at the global and regional levels.
UNEP's activities include various projects in the field of the Earth's atmosphere, marine and terrestrial ecosystems. UNEP also plays a significant role in the development of international conventions in the field of ecology and environmental protection. UNEP often collaborates with states and non-governmental international organizations. UNEP also often sponsors and facilitates the implementation of environmentally related projects.
UNEP's activities also include the development of recommendations and international treaties on issues such as potentially hazardous chemicals, transboundary air pollution and pollution of international shipping channels.
Under the auspices of UNEP, World Environment Day is celebrated annually.
Structure
Until 2012, the UNEP Governing Council consisted of 58 states elected for a four-year term. Seats on the Council are distributed geographically. The role of the Governing Council is to determine the main directions of work for the various UN environmental programs and to disseminate ideas for cooperation on environmental issues among UN member states. The UNEP Secretariat consists of 890 staff, approximately 500 of whom are contracted from other countries. The Secretariat oversees the implementation of various UNEP policies and programs. The Secretariat is also involved in the distribution of the budget, the size of which reaches almost 105 million US dollars and virtually consists entirely of contributions from UNEP member states.
UNEP's work is carried out in the following seven areas:
- Early warning and conflict assessment
- Implementation of environmental policy
- Technology, production and economics
- Regional cooperation
- Environmental law and conventions
- Global environmental protection
- Communications and public information
Executive Director
The current Executive Director of UNEP is Achim Steiner, who succeeded the previous Director, Klaus Toepfer, in 2006. Dr. Toepfer served as Director for two consecutive terms, beginning in February 1998. On March 15, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Achim Steiner, former Director-General of the World Conservation Union, to the post of Executive Director of UNEP. A day later, the UN General Assembly approved Annan's proposal and appointed Steiner to the post of Director General. The appointment was controversial due to a conflict of interest after it was revealed that Steiner was the chief judge on the jury that awarded Ananna the $500,000 prize. The London newspaper said the appointment "raised new questions about the standards that should be applied to senior UN officials to avoid conflicts of interest." The position of General Director for 17 consecutive years (from 1975 to 1992) was occupied by Dr. Mostafa Kamal Tolba, who managed to bring ecology and environmental protection issues to public discussion and achieve success in this area. Under this director, UNEP achieved its greatest success by concluding the Montreal Protocol in 1987, aimed at protecting the ozone layer. In December 1972, the UN General Assembly voted unanimously to appoint Maurice Strong as head of UNEP. He also served as Secretary General of the 1972 UN Conference on the Environment, which launched the international environmental movement, and at the 1992 Earth Summit. Strong has great influence in many areas of ecology aimed at developing a global environmental movement.
UNEP International Years
- 2009 - International Year of Natural Fibers (UN resolution 61/189).
- 2010 - International Year of Biodiversity (UN resolution 61/203).
Reports
UNEP publishes a large number of reports, reports and newsletters. For example, the fourth Global Environment Initiative (GEI-4) is a good example of a report on ecology, development and human well-being and provides analysis and information for policymakers and the general public. One of the main ideas of GEI-4 is to warn humanity that it is “living beyond its means.” The report notes that humanity is so large that the amount of resources needed to survive exceeds the amount available. The ecological imperative (or the amount of land needed to provide food for one person) is 21.9 hectares, while the Earth's biological capacity averages 15.7 hectares per person.
Reforming UNEP
Following the publication of the fourth report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in February 2007, the "Paris Call to Action" read by French ex-President Jacques Chirac, which was supported by 46 other countries, called for the replacement of UNEP with a more effective organization with stronger oversight United Nations Environmental Organization (UNEO), which should be developed on the basis of the World Health Organization. The 46 supporting countries included the European Union, but did not include the United States, Russia, Saudi Arabia and China, the top greenhouse gas emitters.
Notable international projects
UNEP sponsors solar energy development programs by providing significant discounts on the purchase of solar panels, thereby significantly reducing the price for consumers and increasing the number of people willing to purchase these panels. The most famous example of such a project is India's solar panel loan program, which helped 100,000 people. The success of this program led to similar projects in other developing countries - Tunisia, Morocco, Indonesia and Mexico.
UNEP also sponsors a project to protect wetlands in the Middle East. In 2001, UNEP led a campaign to protect wetlands, releasing satellite photographs showing that 90 percent of wetlands had already been destroyed. The UNEP program “Supporting Environmental Management in Iraq's Wetlands” was launched in 2004 with the goal of environmentally sound management of the wetlands.
Melting glaciers
See also
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Excerpt characterizing the UN Environment Program
Eight intense years have passed. Svetodar turned into a wonderful young man, now much more like his courageous father, Jesus-Radomir. He matured and became stronger, and in his clear blue eyes the familiar steel tint that had once flashed so brightly in the eyes of his father began to appear more and more often.Svetodar lived and studied very diligently, hoping with all his heart to someday become like Radomir. The Magus Isten, who came there, taught him Wisdom and Knowledge. Yes, yes, Isidora! – Noticing my surprise, Seever smiled. - the same Isten you met in Meteor. Isten, together with Radan, tried in every possible way to develop Svetodar’s living thinking, trying to open the mysterious World of Knowledge for him as widely as possible, so that (in case of trouble) the boy would not remain helpless and would be able to stand up for himself, coming face to face with an enemy or losses.
Having once said goodbye to his wonderful sister and Magdalena, Svetodar never saw them alive again... And although almost every month someone brought him fresh news from them, his lonely heart deeply missed his mother and sister - his the only real family, not counting Uncle Radan. But, despite his early age, Svetodar even then learned not to show his feelings, which he considered the unforgivable weakness of a real man. He aspired to grow up to be a Warrior like his father, and did not want to show his vulnerability to others. This is how Uncle Radan taught him... and this is what his mother... distant and beloved Golden Maria asked in her messages.
After the senseless and terrible death of Magdalene, Svetodar’s entire inner world turned into pure pain... His wounded soul did not want to come to terms with such an unfair loss. And although Uncle Radan had been preparing him for such an opportunity for a long time, the misfortune that came hit the young man with a hurricane of unbearable torment, from which there was no salvation... His soul suffered, writhing in impotent anger, because nothing could be changed... nothing could be returned back. His wonderful, gentle mother left for a distant and unfamiliar world, taking his sweet little sister with her...
He was now left completely alone in this cruel, cold reality, not even having time to become a real adult man, and not being able to properly understand how to stay alive in all this hatred and hostility...
But the blood of Radomir and Magdalena, apparently, did not flow in vain in their only son - having suffered his pain and remaining just as persistent, Svetodar surprised even Radan, who (like no one else!) knew how deeply vulnerable the soul can be, and how hard it is sometimes given returning back, where those you loved and for whom you so sincerely and deeply missed are no longer there...
Svetodar did not want to surrender to the mercy of grief and pain... The more mercilessly his life “beat”, the more fiercely he tried to fight, learning the ways to the Light, to Good, and to the salvation of human souls lost in the darkness... People came to him in a stream , begging for help. Some longed to get rid of the disease, some longed to cure their hearts, and some simply strove for the Light that Svetodar so generously shared.
Radan's anxiety grew. The fame of the “miracles” performed by his careless nephew exceeded the Pyrenees Mountains... More and more sufferers wanted to turn to the newly-minted “miracle worker.” And he, as if not noticing the impending danger, continued to refuse no one, confidently walking in the footsteps of the deceased Radomir...
Several more troubled years passed. Svetodar matured, becoming stronger and calmer. Together with Radan, they long ago moved to Occitania, where even the air seemed to breathe the teachings of his mother, the untimely death of Magdalene. The surviving Knights of the Temple accepted her son with open arms, vowing to protect him and help him as much as they could.
And then one day the day came when Radan felt a real, openly threatening danger... It was the eighth anniversary of the death of Golden Maria and Vesta - Svetodar’s beloved mother and sister...
“Look, Isidora...” Sever said quietly. - I'll show you if you want.
A bright, but dreary, living picture immediately appeared in front of me...
The gloomy, foggy mountains were generously sprinkled with an annoying, drizzling rain, leaving a feeling of uncertainty and sadness in the soul... A gray, impenetrable haze wrapped the nearest castles in cocoons of fog, turning them into lonely veterans, guarding eternal peace in the valley... The Valley of the Magicians looked gloomily to a cloudy, joyless picture, remembering bright, joyful days, illuminated by the rays of the hot summer sun... And this made everything around me even more dreary and sadder.
A tall and slender young man stood as a frozen “statue” at the entrance of a familiar cave, not moving and not showing any signs of life, like a sad stone statue carved by an unfamiliar master right into the same cold stone rock... I realized that this was probably an adult Svetodar. He looked mature and strong. Powerful and at the same time very kind... A proud, high-raised head spoke of fearlessness and honor. Very long blond hair, tied on his forehead with a red ribbon, fell in heavy waves over his shoulders, making him look like an ancient king... a proud descendant of the Meravingleys. Leaning against a damp stone, Svetodar stood, feeling neither cold nor moisture, or rather, feeling nothing...
Here, exactly eight years ago, his mother, Golden Maria, and his little sister, brave, affectionate Vesta, died... They died, brutally and vilely killed by a crazy, evil man... sent by the “fathers” of the Holy Church. Magdalena never lived to hug her matured son, as bravely and devotedly as she, walking along the familiar road of Light and Knowledge.... Along the cruel earthly road of bitterness and loss...
“Svetodar could never forgive himself for not being here when they needed his protection,” Sever continued quietly again. – Guilt and bitterness gnawed at his pure, warm heart, forcing him to fight even more fiercely with the non-human, who called themselves “servants of God”, “saviors” of the human soul... He clenched his fists and swore to himself for the thousandth time that he would “rebuild” this “wrong” earthly world! Destroy everything false, “black” and evil in him...
On Svetodar’s broad chest was red the bloody cross of the Knights Templar... The Cross in memory of Magdalene. And no Earthly force could make him forget the oath of knightly vengeance. As kind and affectionate as his young heart was to bright and honest people, so ruthless and harsh was his cold brain towards traitors and “servants” of the church. Svetodar was too decisive and strict towards himself, but surprisingly patient and kind towards others. And only people without conscience and honor aroused his real hostility. He did not forgive betrayal and lies in any form they manifested, and fought against this shame of man with all possible means, sometimes even knowing that he could lose.
Suddenly, through a gray veil of rain, strange, unprecedented water ran along the rock hanging right above him, dark splashes of which sprinkled the walls of the cave, leaving eerie brown drops on it... Svetodar, who had gone deep into himself, did not pay attention to it at first, but then Having taken a closer look, I shuddered - the water was dark red! It flowed from the mountain in a stream of dark “human blood”, as if the Earth itself, no longer able to withstand the meanness and cruelty of man, opened with the wounds of all his sins... After the first stream, the second... third... fourth... Until the whole mountain streams of red water did not flow. There was a lot of it... It seemed that the holy blood of Magdalene was crying out for vengeance, reminding the living of her sorrow!.. In the lowlands, seething red streams merged into one, filling the wide river Aude, which, not paying attention to anything , swam majestically, washing the walls of old Carcassonne along the way, carrying its streams further into the warm blue sea...
Red clay in Occitanie
(Having visited these sacred places, I managed to find out that the water in the mountains of Occitania turns red due to red clay. But the sight of running “bloody” water really made a very strong impression...).
Suddenly Svetodar listened warily... but then smiled warmly.
– Are you taking care of me again, uncle?.. I told you a long time ago that I don’t want to hide!
Radan came out from behind the stone ledge, sadly shaking his gray head. The years had not spared him, leaving a hard imprint of anxiety and loss on his bright face... He no longer seemed like that happy young man, that ever-laughing sun-Radan who could once melt even the hardest heart. Now he was a Warrior, hardened by adversity, trying by any means to preserve his most precious treasure - the son of Radomir and Magdalena, the only living reminder of their tragic lives... their courage... their light and their love.
– You have a Duty, Svetodarushka... Just like I do. You must survive. Whatever it takes. Because if you are gone too, it will mean that your father and mother died in vain. That scoundrels and cowards won our war... You have no right to this, my boy!
- You're wrong, uncle. I have my right to this, since this is my life! And I will not allow anyone to write laws for it in advance. My father lived his short life subject to the will of others... Just like my poor mother. Only because, by someone else’s decision, they saved those who hated them. I do not intend to submit to the will of one person, even if this person is my own grandfather. This is my life, and I will live it as I consider necessary and honest!.. Sorry, Uncle Radan!
The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is a UN agency tasked with assessing the state of the world's environment and identifying problems that require international cooperation.
Created on December 15, 1972. The organization's motto is “Environment for Development”. UNEP headquarters is located in Nairobi (Kenya).
The main governing body of UNEP is the Governing Council, which consists of representatives of 58 member states elected by the UN General Assembly for four years in accordance with the principle of equitable geographical representation. The Council holds regular sessions in odd-numbered years.
The UNEP Secretariat, headed by the Executive Director, acts as a mechanism for implementing decisions in the field of environmental protection. The head of UNEP is ex officio Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Secretary-General for a four-year term.
UNEP analyzes and assesses the state of the global environment for the purpose of early warning of emerging threats, develops policies and legal frameworks in the environmental field, provides support for the creation and effective functioning of national structures for environmental protection, coordinates the activities of environmental conventions, and promotes the transfer of environmentally friendly technologies. Particular attention is paid to the implementation of Agenda 21, approved at the UN Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), as well as the decisions of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, 2002).
The lead agency for cooperation with UNEP is the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus.
The main areas of cooperation between Belarus and UNEP: monitoring and assessment of the state of the environment; timely prevention of natural disasters and appropriate response to them; solving environmental problems based on the economic activities of a particular region; formation of national legislation in the environmental field; providing assistance in fulfilling obligations under environmental conventions, etc.
The Republic of Belarus is an active participant in UNEP projects, including the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the Montreal Protocol on the Ozone Layer, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Basel Convention on Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes, the Biosafety Protocol, the Convention on Biological Diversity, etc.
Belarus plans to continue to actively participate in both national and global UNEP programs.
In August 2014, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Belarus was accredited to UNEP.
On June 27, 2014, the five-day UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) ended in Nairobi (Kenya). The result was the adoption of 16 decisions and resolutions to support international cooperation in tackling environmental problems such as air pollution, illegal wildlife trade, marine plastic debris, waste and chemicals.
“The air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil in which our food grows are all part of a fragile ecosystem, the pressure on which is constantly growing,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the final meeting of the Assembly. - To change the relationship between humanity and the planet, decisive action is required from us. This is just the beginning. Change is in the air. Solutions exist. We are ready to move to a new, decisive stage of development.
The Assembly was attended by representative delegations from 160 countries that are members of the UN, as well as from observer states. UNEA was attended by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, President of the Republic of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the UN General Assembly John Ashe and a number of heads of UN agencies, including the head of the UN Development Program (UNDP) Helen Clark and the Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development ( UNCTAD) Mukhisa Kitui.
The Assembly was chaired by the Minister of Environment Protection and Sustainable Development of Mongolia, Dr. Oyun Sanzhaasurengiin.
Among other things, the Assembly considered the Sustainable Development Goals and the Post-2015 Development Agenda, including issues of sustainable consumption and production.
“The resolutions adopted at the Assembly will help create a global action plan for the environment and will determine what actions need to be taken to address priority issues, from combating plastic and microplastics in marine waters to illegal wildlife trade,” said the Deputy Secretary General UN and UNEP Executive Director Akim Steiner.
The main task is air protection
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution causes 7 million deaths a year and addressing the problem requires immediate action from the international community.
- Air quality is constantly deteriorating, especially in cities, threatening the lives of millions of people. Tackling air pollution will save lives and have a positive impact on the climate, ecosystems, biodiversity and food security, said Akim Steiner.
Delegates agreed on the need to support governments to reduce harmful emissions and reduce the negative impacts of air pollution on health, the economy and sustainable development.
The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is mandated to increase support to authorities through capacity building, information, assessments and regular progress reporting. Programs such as the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the Clean Fuels and Vehicles Partnership will have a positive impact on addressing issues related to transportation emissions, residential air pollution, chemicals, smart consumption and sustainable development.
Illegal wildlife trade
UNEA called for increased action and international cooperation to combat illegal wildlife trade, which poses a threat to the environment and sustainable development. The resolution calls on authorities to fulfill their obligations to combat wildlife smuggling. It promotes a zero-tolerance policy and the development of sustainable and alternative livelihoods for communities negatively impacted by illegal trade.
The UNEP and Interpol report “The Crisis of Environmental Crime” presented at the Assembly states that the cost of global environmental crime reaches $213 billion per year. Environmental crime finances criminal elements, militants and terrorists and threatens the security and sustainable development of many countries.
UNEP is tasked with taking a number of actions in this area, in particular: to provide an analysis of the impact of illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife resources to the next UNEA session, to raise public awareness on this issue, and to begin close cooperation with the International Consortium against Crime in the field of wildlife, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Interpol, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Rule of Law Group. UNEP was also invited to provide support to the authorities in the development and implementation of mechanisms for compliance with environmental legislation at the state level.
Within the framework of UNEA, a dialogue took place between ministries on the illegal trade in wild animals. From elephant and hippo poaching in Africa, the panelists moved on to a broader range of threats that include illegal logging and timber smuggling, as well as threats to fish, tigers, pangolins, great apes, and many species of birds, reptiles and plants.
Combating plastic and microplastics in marine waters
The resolution to combat plastic and microplastics in marine waters notes the impact of these materials on the marine environment, fisheries, and tourism. The resolution calls for increased activity in solving this problem, indicates the need to strengthen mechanisms for information exchange and sets the task of providing a scientific assessment of the microplastic problem at the next session of the Assembly. Authorities are invited to unite within the framework of relevant regional marine conservation conventions and river basin commissions and adopt action plans in their regions.
Reports presented at UNEA highlight increasing attention to the threat to ocean fauna and flora posed by the spread of plastic. Conservative estimates place the total economic impact of plastics on marine ecosystems at US$13 billion per year.
Comprehensive solution to the problem of waste and chemicals
UNEA emphasized that sustainable waste and chemical management is an important and integral cross-sectoral element of sustainable development and the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
In everyday life, humans use more than 100,000 chemicals. Although chemicals are a major source of profit for national economies, stewardship measures must be followed throughout their use. Otherwise, in addition to the benefits, chemicals begin to threaten human health and the environment, which leads to significant damage.
Unsustainable use of chemicals and hazardous waste has an adverse impact on the environment, harming animals, plants and ecosystems, polluting water bodies, and depleting the ozone layer.
The constant growth in the production and circulation of chemicals in the world leads to increased pressure on developing countries and countries with economies in transition, which have little capacity to solve complex problems such as the rational use of chemicals.
UNEA endorsed an integrated approach to financing waste and chemicals management, emphasizing the complementary nature and importance of its three components: widespread adoption, industry involvement and external funding.
Sustainable Development Plan
UNEA confirmed the position of the participating countries on the issue of full implementation of the final document of the Rio+20 conference - “The Future We Want” - including the part where environmental protection is declared a pillar of sustainable development, as well as the paragraph on development and modernization of UNEP.
The Assembly highlighted the historical importance of the First General Session as the leading body on environmental issues to address global environmental issues and provide comprehensive guidance to the entire UN system. The main task of UNEA is to promote the full integration and consistent implementation of the environmental component of sustainable development, as well as the role of the Assembly in promoting decisions on the implementation of the global action plan for environmental protection.
Drawing in part on the plenary on the Sustainable Development Goals and the Post-2015 Development Agenda, including sustainable consumption and production, UNEA called for the full integration of the environment into sustainable development, recognizing that a healthy environment is an important and critical component of a forward-looking, universal and a feasible Development Program after 2015.
The Assembly called on participating countries to intensify and support efforts to promote sustainable production and consumption patterns, including the efficient use of resources and the adoption of sustainable lifestyles.
- UNEA is a historical event for all of us. It not only determines the future of UNEP, but also creates an institutional legislative and policy platform for sustainable development, and also offers the world an action program for environmental protection, said Oyun Sanzhaasurengiin.
Other resolutions
The Assembly also adopted resolutions on the following issues:
- the need to strengthen and support the promotion of sustainable consumption and production patterns, including the efficient use of resources and the adoption of sustainable lifestyles;
- the urgency of action to combat the impacts of climate change through the cooperation of all countries, including the full implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change;
- promoting and supporting the development of partnerships to address the environmental problems of small island developing states, in particular, the main issues prepared for consideration at the Third UN Conference on Small Island Developing States in Samoa;
- strengthening the relationship between science and practice as a way to more effectively develop policies for sustainable development at all levels;
- the need to ensure compliance with multilateral environmental agreements and other international and regional environmental obligations;
- the need to intensify efforts to combat biodiversity loss, desertification and soil degradation.
Symposiums and other multilateral events
In addition to the five-day session, a series of specialized symposiums and events were held, which were attended by many figures involved in environmental issues, including economists, bankers, chief justices, legislators, members of the public and youth.
Symposium on the Rule of Law in Environmental Protection
The symposium on “Environmental Justice and Sustainable Development” was attended by Chief Justices, Ministers of Justice, Judges, Chief Prosecutors, Auditor Generals, leading legal scholars, legal practitioners and experts. The role of the development and implementation of environmental justice in ensuring legal sustainable development was put forward for discussion.
Green Economy Financing Symposium
At the Financing the Green Economy symposium, environmental ministers, legislators and financial leaders discussed the need to direct trillions of dollars to develop the Green Economy rather than finance today's unsustainable economies. The primary issues were the following: a legislative framework for stock markets, financial intermediation between small businesses and large funds, and the creation of mixed funds to neutralize the risks associated with long-term investments.
Youth Gathering, Key Populations and Stakeholders Forum, Gender Discrimination Forum
In the days leading up to the start of UNEA, events were held on a number of important civil society issues, the results of which were taken into account in the UNEA discussions. The Key Populations and Stakeholders Forum and the Tunza Youth Advisory Council Global Youth Gathering discussed the main themes of the Assembly. More than 180 delegates from more than 30 countries took part in the UNEA Forum on Gender Discrimination, entitled “Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment. Changes in sustainable environmental management." The Forum discussed issues of gender discrimination and environmental protection as part of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.