United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

The United Nations Environment Programme, established in 1972, is the main voice and caretaker of the environment within the United Nations system. To promote the wise use and sustainable development of the global environment, UNEP wears many hats, acting as a catalyst, advocate, educator and facilitator. UNEP’s overall mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

The United Nations Environment Programme, established in 1972, is the main voice and caretaker of the environment within the United Nations system. To promote the wise use and sustainable development of the global environment, UNEP wears many hats, acting as a catalyst, advocate, educator and facilitator. UNEP’s overall mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. Globally, UNEP’s work programme is comprised of: assessing global, regional and national environmental conditions and trends; developing international and national environmental instruments; strengthening institutions for the wise management of the environment; facilitating the transfer of knowledge and technology for sustainable development; and encouraging new partnerships and mindsets within civil society and the private sector. To make important strides in this work, UNEP works with a breadth of partners, including United Nations entities, international organizations, national governments, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and civil society.

Energy at UNEP

UNEP’s Energy Branch strengthens countries’ ability to integrate climate change mitigation responses into their national development processes. This is achieved by helping governments, institutions and companies navigate the process of creating and implementing sustainable energy initiatives. Making use of its network of resources, UNEP offers a range of services—including analysis and assessment, public sector policy development and the promotion of private sector opportunities—to help decision-makers make informed energy choices and build solid frameworks to reduce climate change in the future. The Programme builds bridges that help governments and institutions move from the idea phase to the implementation phase, offering not only tools and resources, but also the skills needed to effectively use those tools and resources. The ultimate goal of these interventions is to ensure that stakeholders will be ready to establish their own programmes and efficiently employ suitable financial measures to bring renewable energy resources and improved energy efficiency to their populations. Furthermore, by developing successful projects that are easy to replicate, it is possible for small projects to be scaled-up and so have a global impact.

Services provided by UNEP include:

• In-depth assessement and analysis of opportunities for reducing GHG emissions through new technologies, as well as the promotion of global norms and standards for these technologies
• Training and other institutional support that promotes policy development and planning processes that are consistent with evolving global norms
• Promotion of private sector opportunities, conducive with government policies, formulated through the assistance described above, help to create expanding markets for low GHG goods and services.