Press Releases

"GOVERNMENT OF CANADA INCREASES FUNDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME AND ITS WATER QUALITY PROGRAM"
Canadian Environment Minister David Anderson and Canadian Minister of International Cooperation Susan Whelan today announced Government of Canada funding to strengthen international environmental protection. Canada is
increasing its contribution to UNEP by $5.7 million over four years, more than double its current
contribution, to influence environmental governance.

Massive destruction of great ape habitats likely over the next 30 years unless current trends reversed
Johannesburg (September 3, 2002) - News comes as UK Government, United Nations Foundation and International Fund for Animal Welfare give cash backing to GRASP Partnership.

Trade and environment task force strenghtened in Johannesburg
Johannesburg (September 3, 2002) - The second phase of a joint UNCTAD-UNEP Capacity-building Task Force on Trade, Environment and Development (CBTF) will be launched today in Johannesburg (Sandton Convention Centre, Ballroom 2, 18:30-20:00) during the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).

UAE & UNEP launch $30 million global environmental data initiative at Johannesburg Summit
Johannesburg (September 2, 2002) - Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI), a pioneering initiative designed to assess environmental data quality, data gaps between developing and developed countries, and data availability at the national, regional and global levels, was unveiled today to delegates at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).

Business and UN team up to recognise sustainable partnerships
Johannesburg (August 30, 2002) - The United Nations and ICC: the world business organization today named ten business partnership programmes from around the world which are making an outstanding contribution to sustainable development.

Innovative business approach helps provide clean energy to world's neediest
Johannesburg (August 30, 2002) - A report jointly released today by the United Nations Foundation and UNEP, at the World Summit on Sustainable Development details how an innovative approach is bringing affordable, clean, and efficient energy technology to the rural communities in Africa, Brazil and China.

Government of Canada increases funding to the United Nations Environment Programme and its water quality program.
Johannesburg (August 29, 2002) - Canadian Environment Minister David Anderson and Canadian Minister of International Cooperation Susan Whelan today announced Government of Canada funding to strengthen international environmental protection. Canada is increasing its contribution to UNEP by $5.7 million over four years, more than double its current contribution, to influence environmental governance.

Senior Judges adopt ground-breaking action plan to strengthen World's Environment-related laws
Johannesburg/Nairobi, 27 August 2002 - An action plan to strengthen the development, use and enforcement of environment-related laws has been drawn up by over 100 of the world's most senior judges in a move that signals a new era in the quest to deliver sustainable development.

Regional and global impacts of vast pollution cloud detailed in new scientific study.
Growing threats to food security and human health in South Asia challenges world leaders at World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Top judges meet in Johannesburg to boost prospects for enforcing environment-related laws
An international effort to strengthen the implementation of environmentally-related laws is to be launched by some of the world's most powerful judges meeting on the eve of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).

The state of the environment: past, present, future? Tough choices as UNEP launches the Global Environment Outlook-3
Over 100 people, many from a global network of collaborating centres, have contributed to the preparation of GEO-3. The study takes a unique look at the policies and environmental impacts of the past 30 years. It then outlines four policy approaches for the next three decades and compares and contrats the likely impacts on people and the natural world.

First comprehensive "real-time" way to observe state of world's oceans
This Internet-based Atlas provides users with continuously updated strategic data on the state of the world's oceans, maps, development trends and threats to human health from the deteriorating marine environment.