Environmental governance is a key driver for the achievement of sustainable development.
The undivided nature of the environment and its inextricable links with the social and economic dimensions of sustainable development relies on good decision making processes, effective institutions, policies, laws, standards and norms.
UNEP, through the environmental subprogramme, together with a wide range of partners, addresses the most essential factors to achieve progress towards these objectives, i.e.:
- Coherent international decision-making processes;
- Adequate capacities for agreed objectives and national environmental priorities through adequate legal and institutional measures;
- Integration of environmental sustainability in development at regional, sub-regional and national levels.
UNEP through the environmental governance subprogramme works with governments and the relevant institutions in the UN system, as well as with MEAs, to promote more coherent, effective and efficient decision making and action on the environment.
The Environmental Governance subprogramme assists governments in obtaining environmental information for decision-making, enhancing global and regional environmental cooperation, developing and applying national and international environmental law, advancing national and regional implementation of environmental objectives, and bridging major groups and governments in policy development and implementation processes.
UNEP supports regional process to bring to the attention of countries global environment issues and also supports regions to bring to the global attention of national and regional environmental issues to the global attention. UNEP supports regional ministerial fora on policy dialogue and exchange and development of common regional positions. The focus also includes on strengthening capacities to main stream environment sustainability in national sustainable development such as UNDAF, Poverty and the Environment Initiative (PEI).
Supporting Instruments:
Medium term strategy: as approved by the Governing Council at its First Universal Session, February 2013 (Governing Council decision 27/13)
Biennial programme of work and budget for 2014–2015: as approved by UNEA at its First Session, June 2014 (Revised programme of work and budget for the biennium 2014-2015)
Biennial programme of work and budget for 2016–2017: as approved by UNEA at its First Session, June 2014 (Programme of work and budget for the biennium 2016-2017)
