For more than 10 years, UNEP has sought to identify and draw attention to emerging issues of environmental concern. In the past, this was done through the UNEP Year Book series. The UNEP Frontiers’ report advances this work, signaling environmental issues and solutions for effective and timely responses. Some issues may be local, relatively small-scale issues today, with a potential to become an issue of regional or global concern if not addressed early.
What emerging issues are presented in the Frontiers’ 2016 report?
A per chapter breakdown of this report is available on the right column of this page. To view this report in Chinese, please click on "Languages" on top right of header
In 2016, UNEP, through the Frontiers’ report, alerted the world on zoonotic diseases – those that jump from animals to humans – and they account for 60% of all human infectious diseases. Just 4 years later, the COVID-19 pandemic spread rapidly around the world. A link to that report can be found here
In 2016, the Frontiers’ report highlighted the ubiquity and impacts of plastic pollution in our environment. In 2020, UNEP released a report showing the technologies that could address the risks of plastic and microplastic contamination of our water bodies.
Please do have a read of the Frontiers’ 2016 Poisoned Chalice chapter to find out more about the accumulation of toxins in our crops.