United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

• It was founded as a result of the UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Conference) in 1972.
• Headquarter: Nairobi, Kenya
• Key Functions:
• It coordinates the UN’s environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices.
• Its activities cover a wide range of issues regarding the atmosphere, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, environmental governance, and green economy.
• It has also been active in funding and implementing environment related development projects
• It has aided in the formulation of guidelines and treaties on issues such as the international trade in potentially harmful chemicals, transboundary air pollution, and contamination of international waterways
• It is also one of several Implementing Agencies for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol
• The International Cyanide Management Code, a program of best practice for the chemical’s use at gold mining operations, was developed under UNEP’s aegis.
• Funding: The three main sources of funding of the UN Environment are the UN Regular Budget, the Environment Fund, the core funding that enables UN Environment to implement its global and regional work, and Earmarked Contributions.
• Emissions Gap Report: It is a fl agship report from UNEP and it assesses the gap between anticipated emissions in 2030 and levels consistent with the 1.5°C and 2°C targets of the Paris Agreement.
• Health Environment Link Initiative (HELI):To tackle environment related health hazards WHO has developed Health Environment Link Initiative (HELI). It is a global effort by WHO and UNEP to support action by developing country policymakers on environmental threats to health. HELI encourages countries to address health and environment issues as integral to economic development.

UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Conference)

• It was fi rst declaration of international protection of the environment
• Held in Stockholm, Sweden from June 5–16 in 1972.
• The meeting agreed upon a Declaration containing 26 principles concerning the environment and development.
• One of the seminal issue that emerged from the conference is the recognition for poverty alleviation for protecting the environment.