Freshwater and Marine Law

UNEP’s mandate also relates to assist the efficient and equitable management of freshwater and marine resources both at national and international levels through the progressive development and implementation of environmental law and governance.

To this aim, UNEP seeks to ensure informed decision-making in environmental governance processes. By carrying out this function, UNEP is to ensure that emerging and on-going environmental problems of wide international significance on freshwater and marine water resources are regularly brought to policy forums where the environmental agenda is set. 

In particular, UNEP’s water related activities under the environmental governance sub-programme can be clustered into the following thematic areas:

• Developing and enhancing regulatory regimes for sustainable management of freshwater and marine resources
• Facilitating regional and global consultative fora on water resources management
• Reviewing and analyzing institutional frameworks for water resources management and promoting institutional partnerships
• Strengthening the capacity of stakeholders in water resources management (policy tools for policy makers, training/workshops for government officials and local communities)
• Knowledge management concerning freshwater and marine governance issues

UNEP Conference on “The Greening of Water Law in Africa: Managing Freshwater Resources for People and the Environment