The General Assembly to UNEA General Assembly in resolution A-Res-2997 (XXVII) of 15 December 1972 (OP-1) established “a Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme, composed of fifty-eight members elected by the General Assembly for three-year terms on the following basis: (a) Sixteen seats for African States; (b) Thirteen seats for Asian States; (c) Six seats for the eastern European States; (d) Ten seats for Latin American States; (e) Thirteen seats for Western European and other States”

Within one year, in 1973, the first meeting of the Governing Council was held in Geneva to discuss organizational matters. In 1974, the second meeting was held in Nairobi and the UNEP Headquarters established.

The UN General Assembly in 2012 approved the universal membership proposal by its Member States to establish the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) as the UNEP’s governing body.

By GA resolution 67/251 of 13 March 2013 the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme was redesignated to the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme.