In the lead up to the Fifth Session of the UN Environment Assembly, a discussion on a new book by Maria Ivanova, The Untold Story of the World’s Leading Environmental Institution: UNEP at Fifty, took place online.
This book looks at the work of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), explaining its origin and formative years. It also elucidates its successes, crises, and turning points, explores the factors that shaped this trajectory, and presents an outlook for its future.
The book looks at how UNEP's capacity, connectivity, and credibility have been shaped by politics, geography, and individuals. It also offers a vision for a more effective “anchor institution” for the global environment.
Speakers at the event:
- Sveinung Rotevatn, President of the Fifth Session of the UN Environment Assembly
- Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director
- Donald Kaniaru, Former Director of UNEP Division of Environmental Conventions
- Maria Ivanova, author of the book
Joe Ageyo, Editorial Director at Royal Media Services, moderated the session, which included a question and answer session.
"The world is facing these three planetary crises and without action on them - and we need to focus on them - we are not going to heed the call from the next generation; the generation that will inherit our mess. And so, Maria, you have put the challenge before us all,"
