Strengthening and Upgrading of Elizabeth Mrema On behalf of Bakary Kante, Director Division of Environmental Law and Conventions,
Overview of the Presentation Mandates calling for strengthening of Reasons behind the call for strengthening Impact of the outcome of the Rio + 20 on strengthening and upgrading of Results of the outcome of Rio + 20 on
was established by the United Nations General Assembly by its resolution 2997 (XXVII) to :- promote international cooperation in the field of environment and to recommend, as appropriate, policies to that end, and to provide general policy guidance for the direction and coordination of the environmental programs within the United Nations system.
The mission of 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 mandate has evolved with subsequent decisions of its Governing Council: The Nairobi Declaration on the Role and Mandate of the United Nations Environment Programme, adopted by the Governing Council in its decision 19/1, declared the principal United Nations body in the field of the environment, and the leading global environmental authority that:-.
(i)..sets the global environment agenda, (ii)..promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and that (iii)..serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment;
The Malmo Ministerial Declaration in May 2000 also called for a review of a strengthened institutional structure for international environmental governance The review was to be based on an assessment of future needs for an institutional architecture that can have the capacity to effectively address wide ranging environmental threats in a globalizing world.
In this regard, the Malmo Declaration called on:- s role in this regard to be strengthened; and its financial base broadened and made more predictable. There was a need for a that is more inclusive in its country representation in the governing body, and better financial base to be responsive to environmental challenges.
In its decision SS.VII/1 of 2002, on international environmental governance, and its appendix, known together as the Cartagena package, the Governing Council called for :- (i) strengthening the role, authority and financial situation of ; (ii) strengthening the science base of ;
(iii) improving coordination and coherence between multilateral environmental agreements; (iv) and enhancing coordination and cooperation across the United Nations system, including through the Environment Management Group;
This would be followed by a number of proposals focusing on reform of the International environmental governance (IEG); In the intervening years subsequent meetings included articulating other areas that can be strengthened such as the Bali Strategic Plan on capacity building and technology transfer; The UN Conference on Sustainable Development, through the outcome document made progress.
Why strengthen? (i) The Governing body had limited membership of 58 members. This would in the intervening years cause the creation of the Global Ministerial Environmental Forum to include and enable all countries to participate in the environmental deliberations under the framework of. (ii) There was need for Universal membership to increase its legitimacy and voice for the environment by including all member States.
Why strengthen? (iii) There are many other UN organizations, specialized agencies, funds and programs and Non UN- organizations that are mandated in some areas to address environmental aspects. (iv) Thus the need for coordination and a clear leader in the field of the environment.
Why strengthen? has fulfilled that leadership role in forty years but it needed to be strengthened in terms of getting more financial and human resources to enable it fulfill its coordination mandate within the UN system and to be empowered to lead efforts for formulating UN system wide environmental strategies.
In 2012, the Rio +20 Conference discussed the IEG issue as part of the discussions for the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development (IFSD), in particular the Environmental Pillar for Sustainable Development Clear decisions were made for strengthening. Areas were articulated in the Outcome document of the Rio +20 conference, also referred to as the Future We Want
The UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) invited the UN General Assembly to adopt a resolution to strengthen and upgrade. Paragraph 87-90 of the Rio + 20 outcome document on the Institutional framework for Sustainable Development (IFSD) is on IEG.
Strengthening and Upgrading of The UN General Assembly called upon to take a decision to strengthen in December 2012.
The outcome document of Rio +20 in para 87:- reaffirms the need to strengthen International Environmental Governance (IEG) within the context of Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development (IFSD). In order to promote a balanced integration of economic social and environmental dimensions of sustainable Development as well as coordination within the United Nations System.
Paragraph 88 of the outcome document and subsequent United Nations General Assembly resolutions on the same lay out areas that is to be strengthened and upgraded. Areas of strengthening (Para 88 of outcome document), calls upon the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to take a decision to:-
(a) Para 88(a) - Establish Universal Membership in the Governing Council of, as well as other measures to strengthen its governance as well as its responsiveness and accountability to Member States. Before this development the Governing Council had 58 members who were elected by the United Nations General Assembly for a term to serve for a limited time.
The Universal membership was effected by a UN General Assembly resolution to strengthen and upgrade (UNGA resolution 67/213). This opened up the membership of the Governing Council to all other member States of the United Nations. The first Universal membership session of GC of was held in Feb 2013. Next session to be held June 2014.
Other developments in March 2013 include the designation of the Governing Council through a resolution of the UN General Assembly again to the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) of (Res. 67/251- March 2013). To enable better plan for subsequent meetings and sessions of the Universal membership of
The Governing in February 2013, invited the General Assembly to adopt a resolution to change its designation to the United Nations Environmental Assembly this was in response to the UN General Assembly resolution 67/213 through which the Assembly mandated the Governing Council of to make a recommendation on its designation to reflect its universal character.
GC now UNEA
Reports of the GC session are transmitted as per established practice through ECOSOC and for the consideration of the Second Committee of the GC at its 68 th Session. The Draft resolution did not entail programme nor budget implications.
When changing the designation by the resolution the UN General assembly clearly indicated that the change of designation will not change the present mandate, aims and purposes of the United Nations Environmental Programme or the role and functions of its Governing body. The Special Sessions of the Governing Council in alternate years are no longer necessary because UNEA includes all countries.
Para 88(b) Have secure, stable, adequate and increased financial resources from the regular budget of the United Nations and voluntary contributions to fulfill its mandate; (From the financial year 2014-2015, will have increased posts funded by the regular budget)
Para 88(c) Enhance the voice of and its ability to fulfill its coordination mandate within the United Nations system by strengthening engagement in key United Nations Coordination bodies and empowering to lead efforts to formulate UN system wide strategies on the environment. (This is already happening and will be scaled up in due course).
Para 88 (d) Promote a strong science policy interface, building on existing international instruments, assessments, panels and information networks, including the Global Environment Outlook, as one of the processes aimed at bringing together information and assessment to support informed decisionmaking. will undertake this role through the programme of work 2014-2015 and the Medium Term Strategy 2014-2017.
Para 88(e)..Disseminate and share evidence based environmental information and raise public awareness on critical as well as emerging environmental issues; ( will enhance its work in this area) Para 88 (f)..provide capacity building to countries, as well as support and facilitate access to technology; ( will upscale its work in this area)
Para 88 (g) Progressively consolidate headquarters functions in Nairobi, as well as strengthen its regional presence, in order to assist countries, upon request, in the implementation of their national environmental policies, collaborating strongly with other relevant entities of the United Nations system; will make progress on this area.
Para 88 (h) Ensure the active participation of all relevant stakeholders drawing on best practices and models from relevant multilateral institutions and exploring new mechanisms to promote transparency and the effective engagement of civil society. The new rules of procedure of UNEA are reviewing the participation of observers and civil society.
Para. 89...While recognizing the contribution of MEAs in sustainable development, this para. also acknowledged the work already undertaken to enhance synergies among the Chemicals conventions parties of other MEAs are called upon to promote policy coherence at all relevant levels, to improve efficiency, reduce unnecessary overlap and duplication and enhance coordination and cooperation among MEAs including the three Rio Conventions as well as with UN system in the field.
Para. 90. Stressed the need for the continuation of a regular review of the state of the Earth s changing environment and its impact on human wellbeing ; In this regard it welcomed such initiatives as the Global Environment Outlook process aimed at bringing together environmental information and assessments and building national and regional capacity to support informed decision making.
In strengthening by resolution 67/213 the UN General Assembly reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the role of as:- the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.
Strengthening and upgrading of The First Universal Session of the GC/GMEF was an opportunity to focus on implementation of Rio +20 and to assume its new strengthened and upgraded role. The next United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) in June 2014, will enable member States to exercise this new role in the field of the environment.
Strengthening and upgrading of There is a need to finalize the rules of procedure of UNEA which are pending (UNGA 67/213, para4).. The 1 st Universal Membership GC used the GC rules and was enabled to refer to applicable rules and practices of the General Assembly pending the adoption of the new rules of procedures
Strengthening and upgrading of The new features envisaged in the rules of procedure include:- The Universal membership; An expanded Committee of Permanent Representatives (meeting in September to prepare for UNEA), An Expanded Bureau, and Enhanced civil society engagement.
After 40 years of existence of the, its new status of strengthened and upgraded role has now positioned to be able to better meet the challenges of the 21 st century. -------- THANK YOU FOR LISTENING