UNEP supports the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Rio+20 outcome document, “The future we want” by promoting effective international environmental governance, which has been a subject of discussion among member States since the establishment of UNEP in 1972. Discussions on international environmental governance have been intertwined with those related to enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of UNEP governing bodies, namely the UNEA (previously the Governing Council) and its intersessional subsidiary body, the Committee of Permanent Representatives, and their respective bureaus.
Paragraph 88 of “The future we want”, the outcome document adopted by world leaders at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, represents one of the milestone efforts to enhance international environmental governance, including by strengthening and upgrading UNEP. With this reinforced mandate, UNEP aspires to provide strategic contributions to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and other relevant sustainable development governance processes.
