Since its inception, the United Nations Environment Programme has enjoyed a special relationship with major groups in tackling environmental issues. Indeed, the Stockholm Conference on Human Environment, which led to the creation of UNEP in 1972, owed much to the enthusiasm, dedication and commitment of major groups. Most of the multilateral environmental agreements (Basel Convention, Montreal Protocol, Biodiversity and Climate Change Conventions, etc) were developed thanks to the lobbying efforts of major groups.

An effective engagement of major groups at governance and programmatic levels is critical to strengthen the environmental pillar of sustainable development, and foster action to concretely implement agenda 21.

In 1999 UNEP created a major groups & NGOs unit in the Policy Branch to provide major group with a chance of broad participation in environmental decision-making.

By creating the Major Groups and Stakeholder Branch in 2004, UNEP continued to enhance participation of major groups in its work. To achieve this goal UNEP developed and adopted a strategy based on :

1. Engagement at the policy level, to take into account major groups expertise and views at the intergovernmental level.
2. Engagement at the programmatic level, to involve major groups in UNEP’s implementation of its work programme.

The Major Groups and Stakeholders Branch focuses its activities on major groups at large, the 9 major groups defined in the Agenda 21, that is farmers, women, the scientific and technological community, children and youth, indigenous peoples and their communities, workers and trade unions, business and industry, non-governmental organizations as well as local authorities, as well as other relevant stakeholders.

Since 2000, UNEP organizes a yearly Global major groups Forum (GCSF), in conjunction with UNEP Governing Council / Global Ministerial Environment Forum. This forum is the main entry point for major groups participation at governance level.

UNEP also hosts events in collaboration with specific major groups such as the “Global Women’s Assembly on Environment” in October 2004 and the “Trade Union Assembly on Labour and the Environment” in January 2006.