The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP/UN Environment) was founded as results of the Stockholm Conference on Human Environment in 1972. It is the leading global environmental authority setting the global environmental agenda and promoting the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system. Ultimately, UN Environment serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment on a global scale.

Its 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. With its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, UN Environment works through its divisions as well as its regional, liaison and out-posted offices and a growing network of collaborating centres of excellence. Moreover, it hosts several environmental conventions, secretariats and inter-agency coordinating bodies. Its main statutory and decision-making body, the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), convenes every other year to discuss the way forward in global environmental policy.

UN Environment categorizes its work into seven broad thematic areas: climate change, disasters and conflicts, ecosystem management, environmental governance, chemicals and waste, resource efficiency, and environment under review.

Finally, it also hosts the secretariats of many critical multilateral environmental agreements and research bodies, bringing together nations and the environmental community to tackle the greatest challenges of our time.

IFSA’s Engagement

The partnership between UN Environment and IFSA was only initiated in 2017 and has been growing stronger ever since. Being the leading global environmental authority with several forest-related sub-bodies, such as the UN-REDD Programme and the Global Peatlands Initiative, UN Environment is a key partner for IFSA. Collaboration projects are still growing, yet the partnership can look back onto a successful start. The vlogging4forest campaign, conducted by three IFSA students in collaboration with UN-REDD leading up to Climate Conference of Parties 25 (COP25) in Madrid, marked the first major partnership project. It was received a worthwhile undertaking by all parties and continuation is planned. In the course of this project, IFSA members shared their experience at COP25 and highlighted critical topics around forests and REDD+.

Additionally, UN Environment has been engaging with IFSA by providing internship opportunities and invitations for IFSA students to attend their conferences (e.g. UNEA), or their partners’ and sub-agencies’ events.

Beyond this, IFSA is an active member of the United Nations Major Group of Children and Youth of UN Environment, and contributing to several initiatives of this official youth constituency.

Japheth Samuel is the Head of UN Environment Sub-Commission