UNEP process
on International Environmental Governance (IEG)
Background
The 21st session of the UNEP Governing
Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF)
agreed in February 2001, in its decision GC.21/21
on international environmental governance, on the
need for a comprehensive policy oriented assessment
of existing institutional weaknesses as well as future
needs and options for strengthened international environmental
governance, including the financing of UNEP. An intergovernmental
group of Ministers (IGM), or their representatives,
was established to undertake the assessment and report
to the next session of the GC/GMEF in Cartagena, Colombia,
in February 2002.
During 2001 the group of Ministers
met four times, in New York on 18 April, in Bonn on
17 July, in Algiers on 9 and 10 September, and in
Montreal on 30 November and 1 December. A further
two meetings were held in 2002, in New York on 25
January and in Cartagena on 12 February.
The GC/GMEF subsequently adopted
decision GCSS.VII/1,
on international environmental governance, on 15 February
2002. The decision adopted the report of the IGM/IEG,
the contents of which were extensively negotiated
and agreed by consensus, and requested the GC/GMEF
President and UNEP Executive Director to respectively
transmit and present the IGM/IEG report to the 3rd
PrepCom for the World Summit on Sustainable Development,
for consideration in the WSSD process.
The WSSD subsequently, in the adopted
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, called for the
full implementation of GC/GMEF decision VII/1 on international
environmental governance. It also requested the UN
General Assembly, at its 57th session, to consider
the question of universal membership of the UNEP GC/GMEF.
The Assembly, in its resolution 57/251
of 20 December 2002, invites Member States and the
Governing Council, as well as relevant bodies of the
United Nations system, to submit comments on the question
of universal membership and for the Secretary General
to submit a report incorporating such views to the
General Assembly before its 60th session.
The Governing Council of UNEP, at
its 22nd session, subsequently adopted decision GC.22/17,
which invites Governments to submit their comments
by 31 October 2003 and requests the Executive Director
to submit a report on the question of universal membership
to the 8th special session of the Governing Council
in March 2004. This session will also consider a number
of other issues contained in the IEG outcome, such
as the establishment of an inter-governmental panel
on global environmental change, the functioning of
the indicative scale of contributions and proposals
for an inter-governmental action plan for technology
support and capacity building to developing countries.
A summary of the salient
points contained in the IEG decision are:
The role and structure of
the UNEP GC/GMEF
- the GC/GMEF should enable Ministers
to take policy decisions on global environmental
issues and provide broad policy advice and guidance,
in accordance with the relevant mandates, in order
to enhance direction and coordination of environmental
programmes within the United Nations system. In
this regard it should review synergies and linkages
between multilateral environmental agreements
(MEAs), including reviewing reports of the work
undertaken by the Environmental Management Group
(EMG).
- although universal membership of the GC/GMEF
remains a complex issue, support was expressed
for the WSSD preparatory process and the forthcoming
GC/GMEF to consider this matter (at its 8th special
session in 2004).
- the GC/GMEF would not only consider sectoral
issues, but also place emphasis on cross-cutting
areas, including the environmental contribution
to development challenges.
- in terms of strengthening UNEP’s scientific
capacity, as well as its monitoring and assessment
capabilities, the GC/GMEF would oversee the proposed
establishment of an inter-governmental panel on
global environmental change and will discuss this
matter (at its 8th special session in 2004).
- the GC/GMEF will promote the meaningful participation
and involvement of major groups, NGOs and the
private sector in its work, providing opportunities
for Governments to be informed of their views.
Strengthening the role and
financial situation of UNEP
- it was agreed that the financial situation
of UNEP should be improved, not only through contributions
by member states, but also by mobilizing resources
from major groups. Member states also recommended
an increase in UN regular budget funding towards
UNEP’s administrative costs.
- although all contributions would remain voluntary,
member states would be encouraged to contribute
on the basis of an indicative scale of contributions,
the structure of which was discussed. The modalities
of the indicative scale would require further
consideration (at the 8th special session of the
GC/GMEF in 2004).
- UNEP should build on strategic partnerships
with the UNDP and Global Environment Facility
(GEF), mobilizing additional financial resources
for targeted activities.
Improved coordination among
and effectiveness of MEAs
- collaboration between MEAs should be enhanced
and in this context the initiation of pilot projects
in the chemicals and wastes related conventions
are to be pursued.
- back-to-back meetings of the Conferences of
the Parties of MEAs must be considered, as well
as the co-location of future MEA secretariats.
- UNEP is tasked to continue enhancing synergies
and linkages, in close cooperation with MEA secretariats,
with progress to be reviewed by the GC/GMEF.
Capacity building, technology
transfer and country-level capacity coordination for
the environmental pillar of sustainable development
- environmental governance should be considered
also at regional, sub-regional and national levels.
-
an inter-governmental
action plan for technology support and capacity
building to developing countries should be
developed by UNEP in order to improve the
effectiveness of capacity building. In this
context UNEP should have an increased role
in country-level capacity delivery, through
greater collaboration with the UNDP.
The role of the Environmental
Management Group (EMG)
- the EMG was confirmed as instrument for ensuring
that the environment is brought into the mainstream
of relevant activities within the UN system.
- the EMG should report annually
to the GC/GMEF on its work. This relationship would
enhance the effectiveness of the policy role of
the GC/GMEF, which would also be in a position to
make informed recommendations to the EMG.
- for the effective incorporation of the environmental
dimension with social and economic activities of
the UN system, it was recommended that UNEP should
join the UN Development Group.
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