The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is a Member State led organization. The Member States approve the programme of work and budget, and they are also important financial contributors, including to the Environment Fund, UNEP's core fund. In addition to providing funding and direction, the Member States are important partners in formulating policy and implementing the programme, and in championing solutions to our shared environmental challenges.
In 2012, at the Rio+20 UN Conference, the General Assembly adopted a resolution that reaffirmed and strengthened the governance and role of UNEP in the UN system. UNEP went from having a Governing Council of 58 Member States to an Environment Assembly, with universal membership that encompasses all 193 UN Member States.
The Committee of Permanent Representatives with its current membership of 127, provides policy advice to the UN Environment Assembly (UNEP's main governing body), contributes to agenda preparation and oversees implementation of adopted decisions.
At the Rio+20 Conference, world leaders also committed to ensure secure, stable, adequate and increased financial resources to UNEP. In 2021, 79* of the 193 Member States contributed financially to the programme. All contributions from Member States can be found on our contributions page.
*(data as at 31 December 2021)
