The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was established in 1972 following the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm. This conference, often considered the first major international meeting to address global environmental issues, led to the creation of UNEP as the leading global authority on environmental matters. UNEP was designed to coordinate the UN’s environmental activities and assist developing nations in implementing sustainable policies.
UNEP has played a crucial role in fostering international cooperation on environmental issues, leading the development of more than a dozen major multilateral environmental agreements and conventions. These include the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which successfully reduced the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and the Minamata Convention on Mercury. UNEP’s work spans climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste reduction. As part of its mandate to keep the environment under review, UNEP conducts environmental assessments, such as the Global Environment Outlook and the Emissions Gap Reports, to provide scientific insights into the planet’s health.
Additionally, UNEP partners with governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to promote sustainable practices worldwide. Through initiatives like the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and campaigns such as World Environment Day, UNEP has raised awareness about critical environmental challenges and encouraged global action. Over time, it has evolved into a pivotal institution guiding global environmental governance and policy-making, ensuring that environmental considerations are integrated into economic and social development.
Foundations in the Global South
The establishment of UNEP was a historic moment, as it was to be the first international organization headquartered in the Global South. Kenya’s successful bid, championed by legal expert Donald Kaniaru, emphasized the need for equity in global governance. UNEP was quickly set up in Nairobi, where it remains a vital platform for addressing environmental issues. Kaniaru reflected on the organization’s ongoing impact by saying: “We set in motion what is now, in my view, a very successful story and a successful organization. The story is one of hope and a strong future.”
(More than) 50 years of UNEP
In 2022, UNEP celebrated 50 years of coordinating worldwide efforts to address the world’s biggest challenges. Acting as a trusted adviser, advocate, and partner, with science at the core of its decision-making, UNEP monitors the health of the planet and ensures the enforcement of environmental laws. Yet, despite significant progress, the world faces a triple planetary crisis—climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste—driven by unsustainable consumption and production patterns.
The science is undeniable: human well-being, economic prosperity, and even global peace are at risk. Transforming our economies and our relationship with nature is not just necessary—it is urgent. UNEP, in collaboration with its 193 Member States, UN agencies, and global stakeholders, leads this charge with innovative strategies, dynamic programs, and dedicated expertise. Relying on voluntary contributions for 95% of its funding, UNEP’s work is made possible through partnerships with organizations such as the Global Environment Facility, the Green Climate Fund, and the European Commission. Its core funding, through the Environment Fund, provides the foundation for global action, while earmarked funds enable targeted projects worldwide.
A triumph over leaded petrol
UNEP has achieved a historic milestone in global environmental and public health by leading the successful eradication of leaded petrol. Once hailed as a breakthrough fuel in the 1920s, leaded petrol became a worldwide hazard, causing heart disease, cancer, developmental issues in children, and millions of premature deaths. UNEP’s two-decade-long campaign, spearheaded through the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles, worked relentlessly to phase out leaded petrol in 117 countries, particularly in Africa, where it was still widely used in the early 2000s. Through a mix of science-based advocacy, policy interventions and industry collaboration, UNEP overcame resistance and ultimately saw the last holdout (Algeria) end its use of leaded petrol in 2021. The impact of this victory is profound—an estimated 1.2 million lives are saved annually, along with $2.4 trillion in global economic benefits. Moreover, eliminating leaded petrol has paved the way for cleaner vehicle technologies, significantly reducing air pollution.
Protecting the seas
In the 1970s the Mediterranean Sea faced severe pollution, threatening its ecosystems and human health. Factories dumped toxic waste, oil spills coated beaches and untreated sewage flooded its waters. To combat this crisis, UNEP initiated the Barcelona Convention in 1976, uniting Mediterranean nations to regulate pollution, protect marine life and improve waste treatment. This effort laid the foundation for UNEP’s Regional Seas Programme, which now includes 18 international agreements covering nearly 150 countries. The program has reduced pollution, curbed overfishing, and promoted marine conservation worldwide. As climate change and plastic waste pose new threats, UNEP continues to push for stronger environmental protections.
Ozone action
UNEP has played a crucial role in the recovery of the ozone layer, largely through the success of the Montreal Protocol, which has led to the phase-out of nearly 99% of ozone-depleting substances. According to a recent UN-backed scientific assessment, the ozone layer is on track to recover to 1980 levels by 2040 for most of the world, with full recovery expected over the Arctic by 2045 and over Antarctica by 2066. This achievement has not only safeguarded the ozone layer but also reduced human exposure to harmful ultraviolet radiation. Additionally, the treaty has had significant climate benefits, particularly with the adoption of the Kigali Amendment in 2016, which targets hydrofluorocarbons (potent greenhouse gases) that, while not ozone-depleting, contribute to global warming. Experts estimate that this amendment alone could prevent 0.3–0.5°C of warming by 2100. The latest report also explores the potential effects of stratospheric aerosol injection, a geoengineering technique proposed to mitigate climate change by reflecting sunlight. However, UNEP and other experts warn that such interventions could have unintended consequences for atmospheric circulation and ozone stability. This Montreal Protocol serves as a model for international cooperation on environmental issues, demonstrating how science-driven policy can lead to meaningful global progress.
Looking to the future
UNEP has been advancing international environmental governance as part of its commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Rio+20 outcome document, ‘The Future We Want.’ A major milestone in this effort was paragraph 88 of the document, adopted at the 2012 Rio+20 conference, which called for strengthening and upgrading UNEP’s mandate. With this reinforced role, UNEP continues to provide strategic input to global sustainability forums, including the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The work of the organization strives to ensure that environmental concerns remain central to international policy discussions.