Background to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Achim Steiner biography

Achim Steiner became UNEP’s fifth Executive Director on 16 March 2006. Before joining UNEP, Mr. Steiner served for five years as Director General of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), widely regarded as one of the most influential and highly respected organizations in the field of conservation, environment and natural resources management. Mr. Steiner brings to the office an outstanding professional track record in the fields of sustainable development policy and environmental management, with first-hand knowledge of civil society, governmental and international organizations, and global experience spanning five continents.

UNEP and climate change

UNEP and the World Meteorological Organisation established the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1998 to assess scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant for understanding the potential impacts of climate change and options for adaptation and mitigation. IPCC assessment reports have helped bridge the science-policy gap and have promoted widespread international cooperation on climate change.

UNEP has a wide-ranging capacity building programme related to climate change. The organisation works closely with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change on outreach, subject of Article 6 of the Convention, and helps developing countries to participate fully in the Climate Change Convention, including negotiations and reporting. UNEP is also assisting countries to benefit fully from the various mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol. For example, UNEP is helping countries to establish greenhouse gas emission reduction projects under the Clean Development Mechanism consistent with their sustainable development goals.

UNEP is an implementing partner of the Global Environment Facility, which has climate change mitigation and adaptation as one of its focal areas. UNEP also supports clean and renewable energy projects throughout the developing world, and is helping countries, especially the least developed countries and small island developing states, to develop national adaptation plans.

For more information: www.unep.org