Leadership Programme

Mission

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.

UNEP does this by

Promoting international cooperation in the field of the environment and recommending appropriate policies.
Monitoring the status of the global environment and gathering and disseminating environmental information.
Catalyzing environmental awareness and action to address major environmental threats among governments, the private sector and civil society.
Facilitating the coordination of UN activities on matters concerned with the environment, and ensuring, through cooperation, liaison and participation, that their activities take environmental considerations into account.
Developing regional programmes for environmental sustainability.
Helping, upon request, environment ministries and other environmental authorities, in particular in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, to formulate and implement environmental policies.
Providing country-level environmental capacity building and technology support.
Helping to develop international environmental law, and providing expert advice on the development and use of environmental concepts and instruments.

UNEP's global base is in Nairobi, Kenya. It is one of only two UN programmes headquartered in the developing world (the other is UNEP's sister agency UN-HABITAT, which is also located in Nairobi). Being based in Africa gives UNEP a first-hand understanding of the environmental issues facing developing countries. The organization works with many partners, including UN entities, international organizations, national governments, non-governmental organizations, business, industry, the media, and civil society.

UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples in Asia and the Pacific to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

It ensures that decisions of the UNEP Governing Council are effectively implemented in the region and that regional concern and priorities are taken into account when developing UNEP’s programmes.

In Asia Pacific, ROAP works with governments, local authorities as well as industry to develop and implement cleaner and safer policies and strategies that encourages efficient use of natural resources and reduces risks for humans and the environment. UNEP works at both the sub-regional and national level to:

   • promote regional cooperation
   • strengthen the environment community
   • identify and respond to emerging issues and
   • lead by example.

There are five sub regions: Central Asia, Northeast Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the South Pacific.

Education training & capacity building

The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific works closely with UNEP's Division of Environmental Policy Implementation on activities such as advisory services, pilot projects, education and other capacity building support, and coordination of response to environmental emergencies.

Regional programmes

The Network for Environmental Training at Tertiary Level in Asia and the Pacific (NETTLAP) consists of institutions and individuals active in environmental education and training at tertiary (e.g. university, technical institute, teacher training college) level in the region. NETTLAP develops and applies innovative methods in environmental training; identifies regional training needs and shares knowledge through ongoing interaction amongst network partners. Focus thus far has been human resources development in the areas of toxic chemicals and hazardous waste management, coastal zone management, and environmental economics.