The Inter-Agency Environment Management
Group (IAEG)
In 1995, UNEP established the IAEG, which
evolved from the ECB and its successor the
DOEM. IAEG was conceived as a mechanism to
provide UNEP with an effective and strong
coordinating role within the UN system on
environmental matters. IAEG had two formal
meetings. UNEP's Governing Council in its
decision 19/9A, requested the Executive Director
to report to its twentieth session on progress
made in the work of IAEG, including the further
refinement and focusing of its role and functioning,
while taking into account recommendations
of the General Assembly at its special session
for the purpose of an overall review and appraisal
of the implementation of Agenda 21. In its
decision 20/13, the
Governing Council, noting both the report
of the Executive Director on developments
related to IAEG, and that the Secretary-General
proposed to establish the Environmental Management
Group (EMG), after consulting with the members
of ACC, invited the Executive Director, in
light of the forthcoming decision of the Secretary-General
to establish EMG, to consider the need for
IAEG and to report thereon to its twenty-first
session.
United Nations Reform: Report of
the Secretary-General on Environment and Human
Settlements
The Secretary-General, pursuant to Action
12 on 'environment, habitat and sustainable
development', as contained in his report entitled
'Renewing
the United Nations: a programme for reform'
(A/51/950) submitted to the 52nd session
of the General Assembly, established a Task
Force on Environment and Human Settlements
to prepare proposals on reforming and strengthening
the UN activities in the fields of environment
and human settlements, in order to assist
him in making recommendations to the General
Assembly at its 53rd session, including recommendations
on coordination. The Task Force, chaired by
UNEP's Executive Director, was requested to
review existing structures and arrangements
through which environmental activities are
carried out within the UN system, and in this
respect to focus on the distinctive functions
of policy, development of norms and standards,
programme development and implementation and
financing, as well as relationships amongst
these functions. The Task Force was asked
to evaluate the efficacy of existing structures
and arrangements and make recommendations
for changes and improvements to optimise the
UN's environment and human settlements work.
The report of the Task Force was presented
to the Secretary-General on 15 June 1998.
The Secretary-General, having considered the
recommendations contained therein, subsequently
issued his report
to the General Assembly on Environment and
Human Settlements (A/53/463).
The Task Force, in its review of existing
UN structures and arrangements in the field
of the environment and human settlements revealed
that current activities are characterised
by substantial overlaps, unrecognised linkages
and gaps. Thus, the Task Force concluded that
what is needed is "a problem solving,
results-oriented approach that enables the
UN bodies and their partners to share information
about their respective plans and activities;
to inform and consult one another about proposed
new initiatives; to contribute to a planning
framework that permits the plans and activities
of each participant to be reviewed within
the framework of the whole range of activities
being carried out by all participants, and
to consult with each other with a view to
developing an agreed set of priorities and
on measures through which each participating
organisation can best contribute to those
priorities and achieve a more rational and
cost-effective use in their respective capacities
and resources".
Accordingly, the Task Force recommended,
"that in order to meet these needs with
respect to inter-agency linkages in the field
of environment and human settlements, the
Secretary-General should establish an Environmental
Management Group" (EMG). As such the
Task Force recommended that EMG should "replace
the existing IAEG, which should be abolished".
In his report, the Secretary-General, under
section III on 'Recommendations for action
at the Secretariat level’ put forward
the Task Force recommendation for improved
inter-agency policy coherence and collaboration
through the establishment of an EMG. The Secretary-General
stated that EMG would adopt a problem solving,
results-oriented approach that would enable
UN bodies and their partners to share information,
consult on proposed new initiatives and contribute
to a planning framework and develop agreed
priorities and their respective roles in the
implementation of those priorities in order
to achieve a more rational and cost-effective
use of their resources. EMG would also provide
a forum and a mechanism to enhance complementarity
between the analytical and normative activities
of UNEP with the operational role of UNDP.
As such, EMG would follow the "issue
management" approach outlined by the
Secretary-General in his reform report. The
reports of the EMG could be made available
to relevant intergovernmental bodies to enhance
intergovernmental policy coherence.
The recommendation of the Task Force, which
the Secretary-General puts forward in his
report and which were annexed to A/53/463,
contained a number of proposals on the role
and functioning of EMG. It was recommended
that the Executive Director of UNEP chairs
EMG, and that it be supported by a secretariat
that would draw on the existing substantive
capacity of UNEP and Habitat, and that the
chair reports to the Secretary-General. EMG
would include as core members the main UN
entities concerned with environment and human
settlements. Particular meetings would involve
additional UN entities, financial institutions,
and organisations outside the UN that have
experience and expertise relevant to the issues
on the agenda, as observers where appropriate.
EMG would be concerned with environment and
human settlements issues in the context of
the linkages between environment and development
as defined at UNCED and subsequently elaborated.
It was proposed that the most important goal
of the EMG should be to achieve effective
co-ordination and joint action in key areas
of the environment and human settlements concern;
assist intergovernmental bodies in the area
of environment and human settlements, in particular
UNEP
Governing Council and the Commission on
Human Settlements, in preparation of coordinated
inputs to intergovernmental fora, notably
the CSD.
It was recommended that the group report on
an informational basis to the ACC, and bring
an environmental perspective into the work
of IACSD. EMG should establish time-bound
task forces or working groups covering clusters
of issues in which representatives of the
main institutions involved in a particular
issue can work together quickly to solve important
problems. Furthermore, EMG should include
convention secretariats among its participants
when needed and should act to ensure that
there are appropriate linkages among activities
that occur under conventions and relevant
activities elsewhere in the international
system.
