Why does UN Environment Programme matter?

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

Our 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.

Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, we work through our divisions as well as our regional, liaison and out-posted offices and a growing network of collaborating centres of excellence. We also host several environmental conventions, secretariats and inter-agency coordinating bodies. UN Environment is led by our Executive Director

UNEP works on delivering transformational change for people and nature by drilling down on the root causes of the three planetary crises of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. UNEP employs seven interlinked subprogrammes for action: Climate ActionChemicals and Pollutions ActionNature Action, Science Policy, Environmental GovernanceFinance and Economic Transformations and Digital Transformations. In all of our work, we maintain our overarching commitment to sustainability

Our work is made possible by partners who fund and champion our mission. We depend on voluntary contributions for 95 per cent of our income.

Every year, we honour and celebrate individuals and institutions that are doing outstanding work on behalf of the environment.

We also host the secretariats of many critical multilateral environmental agreements and research bodies, bringing together nations and the environmental community to tackle the greatest challenges of our time. These include the following: