New Delhi, Feb 11
On March 3 and 4, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), which is the world’s most powerful decision-making body, celebrates its 50th anniversary. It brings together governments, businesses, and other stakeholders to address the global environmental challenges.
It will be preceded, in person, by the fifth session UN Environment assembly which will take place at the UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi from Feb 28 to March 2. This session will discuss policies to address urgent environmental issues.
UNEP was founded in 1972, following the landmark UN Conference on the Human Environment. UNEP’s mission is to monitor the environmental state, inform policymaking with science, and coordinate responses for the world’s environmental problems.
UNEP has been working closely with its 193 member countries and other stakeholders since its inception to galvanize international commitments and coordinated action to address many pressing environmental issues.
It was also the docking station for 15 multilateral agreements on environmental issues.
The UN Environment Assembly will be addressing chemical and waste management, as well as marine litter and green recovery from Covid-19, according to a spokesperson.
The Sustainable Development Goals will also be achieved if the ministers of environment consider adopting a declaration promoting stronger actions for nature.
UNEP has been coordinating a global effort for 50 years to address the planet’s most pressing environmental issues. This global collaboration has contributed to the repair of the ozone layer, the elimination of leaded fuel, and other environmental improvements.
UNEP’s convening power, rigorous scientific research, and its ability to provide a platform for countries has allowed them to engage, act boldly, and help advance the global environment agenda.
UNEP@50 is a year-long series that includes outreach events and activities to mark UNEP’s 50th Anniversary. These activities recognize the significant progress made in global environmental issues and address the challenges that lie ahead.
On October 2, 1973 Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s first president, inaugurated UNEP headquarters at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre. UNEP moved to its current location in 1975. It was located on the site where an old coffee farm was located.
In June 1973, the Palais des Nations in Geneva hosted the first meeting of UNEP Governing Council.
UNEP released the first in a series landmark science-based assessments in 2010. It charts the gap between countries’ pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the reductions needed to bring down the global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius by the year 2025.
UNEP’s Executive Director was Erik Solheim in 2016. Solheim, a Norwegian national, was the Executive Director of UNEP from May 2016 to November 2018. He championed efforts to reduce plastic pollution. Joyce Msuya was named interim Executive Director after Solheim. Msuya was a Tanzanian who served as interim Executive Director between November 2018 and June 2019.
Inger Andersen was appointed Executive Director in 2019. Dane, she is the eighth and current UNEP leader.
Andersen has over 30 years experience in international development economics and sustainability, strategy, operations, and management. She is the UNEP’s lead on the triple global crisis of climate change and loss of biodiversity and pollution.
What’s next after the world celebrates 50 years of the birth of the environment movement? Stockholm+50 –an international conference that will be held between June 2-3 — will focus on accelerating the implementation of the UN Decade of Action. This includes the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement.
The conference’s main theme is to achieve a sustainable, inclusive recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
AntAonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, has called the triple planetary crises “our number one existential danger” and said that it requires “an urgent, all out effort to turn things around.” IANS