GEO Process

The UNEP Global Environment Outlook (GEO) project was initiated in response to the environmental reporting requirements of Agenda 21 and to a UNEP Governing Council decision of May 1995 which requested the production of a new comprehensive global state of the environment report.

The GEO reports are produced using a participatory and consultative approach. Input is solicited from a wide range of sources throughout the world, including the collaborating centre network, United Nations organizations, partner institutions and independent experts. During the preparation of the report, UNEP organizes consultations inviting policy makers and other stakeholders to review and comment on draft materials. Drafts also undergo extensive peer review. This iterative process is designed to ensure that the contents are scientifically credible and policy relevant to users in different parts of the world and with different environmental information needs.

Three GEO reports have been published to date: GEO-1 in 1997; GEO-2000 in 1999 and GEO-3 in 2002. The next comprehensive GEO report (GEO-4) was launched in October 2007.

At the 22nd session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum in 2003 governments requested UNEP to prepare an annual Global Environment Outlook statement to highlight significant environmental events and achievements during the year. Keeping abreast of environmental issues as they unfold, the GEO annual statement (GEO Year Book) is released in the beginning of every year in between the comprehensive GEO reports. The first issue in the series, GEO Year Book 2003, was launched in March 2004.

Other outputs of the GEO project include regional, sub-regional and national integrated environmental assessments, technical and other background reports, a Web site, products for young people (GEO for Youth) and a core database – the GEO Data Portal