Ms. Maria Cristina Zucca heads the Pollution and Health Unit of the Chemicals and Health Branch, Economy Division of UNEP. The Unit coordinates UNEP wide efforts to accelerate action towards a pollution-free planet in implementation of relevant UNEA resolutions, and efforts to address the environment and health nexus in collaboration with the World Health Organization and other partners. The Unit also manages UNEP’s air quality portfolio and coordinates broader UNEP efforts in this area.
The key instrument to promote accelerated action on pollution is the Implementation Plan “Towards a Pollution-Free Planet”, and Resolution 4/21. More information on the Plan, UNEP’s action and on gaps and solutions in tackling pollution can be found here.
Prior to this position, Cristina was the coordinator of the UNEP’s Environmental Governance subprogramme and covered various other positions within UNEP and MEA-related institutions.
Before joining UNEP, Cristina worked in Italy where among other things she advised companies on environmental management and compliance issues. She has a background in law and has focused on sustainability issues throughout her 20-year career.
Languages: English, French and Italian
Maria Cristina Zucca is an Italian national. She holds a degree in Law, and a masters’ degree in advanced international legal studies. Cristina has over 20 years of experience in environment policy and programme management, both in the private and public sectors.
Prior to joining the UN in 2001, Cristina has worked for a private consulting firm, advising companies and public sector entities on environmental legislation and standards, working as part of a multidisciplinary team towards improved environmental compliance, environmental sound practices and the prevention of environmental harm and hazards to employees. Cristina also worked with government institutions to support the development of legislation for improved water and waste management.
At the United Nations Environment Programme she has covered a diverse range of positions. She has provided technical assistance to governments and designed and delivered capacity building programmes. She promoted the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements, mostly with a focus on chemicals, and worked on renewable energy policies. She co-coordinated a UNEP report on short lived climate pollutants, a milestone in the establishment of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC). She worked for two years at the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol.
In 2014 she became sub-programme coordinator for Environmental Governance, one of the seven priority areas of UNEP’s programme of work, leading strategic planning and programme development, monitoring and reporting. She co-developed with other experts the methodology for an SDG indicator (17.14.1 on policy coherence, recently approved).
Cristina joined the Chemicals and Health Branch in July 2019, where she is in charge of the Pollution and Health Unit. The Unit coordinates UNEP wide efforts to accelerate action towards a pollution-free planet in implementation of relevant UNEA resolutions and efforts to address environment and health nexus issues. The Unit also manages UNEP’s air quality portfolio and coordinates broader UNEP efforts in this area.
Contact details:
Ms. Maria Cristina Zucca
Head, Pollution and Health Unit
Chemicals and Health Branch
Economy Division
United Nations Environment Programme
PO Box 47074, 00100 Nairobi
