Science is fundamental in providing answers to the most pressing sustainability challenges and ensuring evidence-based decision-making – and it is at the heart of the work of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). UNEP keeps the global environment under review and improves access to information and knowledge-sharing, in pursuit of transforming humanity’s relationship with the environment.
With a dedicated team of scientists and experts, UNEP is the only Member State-led organization that has both the mandate and know-how to assess the world’s environmental resources. UNEP shares information and knowledge through scientific assessments and reports, including the flagship Global Environment Outlook, the Global Chemicals Outlook, the Emissions Gap Report and the Adaptation Gap Report. UNEP also identifies global emerging environmental issues, some of which are presented in the Frontiers series and Global Foresight Report. Information and knowledge portals such as InforMEA, provide a bird’s-eye view of all major environmental treaties across key topics.
UNEP science and its implications for policymakers is discussed and negotiated through convening platforms, including the UN Environment Assembly – the universal parliament for matters related to the environment hosted by UNEP. Other convening and science-policy platforms that UNEP has been instrumental in creating are:
