Many people are interested in what UNEP is (we will describe the decoding below) and in what area a similar abbreviation is used. UNEP, headquartered in Kenya in the city of Nairobi, was developed and adopted in 1972 under the auspices of “pundits” from the UK, the Russian Federation, Italy, France and other countries. Apparently, it was at this moment that a need arose for a similar project. UNEP Transcript in Russian - United Nations Environment Program. Only in this way and nothing else.
What is the meaning of the program?
Purpose of the program:
- Assess the state of the environment in the world.
- Identify pressing environmental issues.
- To encourage partnership and cooperation in the field of extremely careful attitude to the environment that surrounds us all on planet Earth.
- To contribute to the creation of diverse opportunities for a qualitative improvement in the living standards of peoples and states without any harm to future generations.
- Provide general guidance to UNEP (transcript in Russian is presented above).
Specific activities undertaken by UNEP
Being at the head of the UN in the field of environmental protection, UNEP carries out the following activities:
- Develops and promotes a global environmental program .
- Predicts the early occurrence of conflicts, their assessment and ways out.
- Deals with issues of production, economics and technology.
- Steadily, constantly and resolutely acts from high stands in defense of nature.
- Through various methods (within the UN system) promotes the implementation of environmental measures.
- Promotes the creation of a worldwide reference environmental service, the priority of which is monitoring the state of the environment we inhabit.
History
The organizational structure and functions of UNEP were approved by members of the General Assembly and enshrined in resolution No. 2997 (XXVII) of 12/15/1972. 20 years later, namely in 1992, in connection with certain problems of a global scale, the scope of the UN Program was significantly expanded (Chapter 38, paragraphs 21, 22 and 23).
Organizational structure
- At the head of UNEP (abbreviation for abbreviations, history of creation - read above) is the Executive Director, who is also the UN Under-Secretary-General. The appointment of the chapter is approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations for a period of 4 years.
- The Governing Body of the Program approved the Governing Council, which includes representatives of 58 states. Members are elected for a term of 4 years.
- The main role of the Council is not only in the worldwide dissemination of the ideas of partnership and cooperation (in the field of environmental protection) in the UN member countries, but also in determining the fundamental directions of UNEP activities.
- The Secretariat of the Program, which is responsible for the practical implementation of the general policies and programs of UNEP, includes 890 people. In addition, the Secretariat is charged with allocating a considerable budget (over 100 million US dollars), consisting of contributions supporting the UNEP (United Nations transcript in English - United Nations Environment Program) states.
Set quotas for election to the Council
The distribution of seats in the Council takes place exclusively on the basis of geography:
- 30 places reserved for representatives of Asian countries;
- 16 - for employees from African states;
- 10 - for representatives from Latin America;
- 6 places reserved for employees from Eastern European countries;
- 13 - for envoys from Western Europe and other countries.
Based on the foregoing, it can be safely stated that the distribution of seats on the UNEP Council (the decoding in English is presented above) is clear evidence of the ever-increasing influence of developing countries on UN policies (in the field of the environment).
International years of the UN and UNEP (as its component)
What is the international year of the UN and UNEP, as its component? The fact is that every year the UN General Assembly approves the theme of the next international year.
On a note! It is not necessary that the theme of the next international year should reflect a question regarding the environment surrounding us. Any problem that worries the world community can be approved as the motto for next year.
In the history of UNEP (the decoding, we hope you already remember) there are not so many such international years:
- 1998 is the year of the ocean.
- 2002 - Ecotourism.
- 2002 - the year of mountains.
- 2003 - fresh water.
- 2006 - Deserts and Desertification.
- 2007 is the year of the dolphin.
- 2007 — the polar year.
- 2008 is the year of planet Earth.
- 2008 - Potato.
- 2008 is the year of sanitation.
- 2009 - natural fibers.
- 2010 is the year of biodiversity.
- 2011 - Forests.
- 2013 is the year of water cooperation.
- 2014 - crystallography.
- 2014 is the year of family farming.
- 2015 - Light and Lighting Technology.
- 2015 - soil.
- 2016 is the year of legumes.
Dolphin Year
Marine mammals such as dolphins are in the process of extinction, because they need clear waters of the oceans for comfortable living. And there are certain difficulties on planet Earth. But it’s precisely dolphins, of which there are about 40 species, that are the litmus test that defines the ecosystem in the oceans: if this mammal is good, it means other living organisms will feel good too. So 2007 was declared by the UN and UNEP (there is no need to repeat the decoding of the abbreviation) as the International Year of the Dolphin.
What has been done?
In commemoration of the year of the dolphin were held:
- Educational activities in order to increase people's interest in such a problem.
- Involvement of important decision makers in the program.
- Release of printed materials telling about these inhabitants of the seas and oceans.
- Involvement in the program of children, as well as public and other organizations that are able to disseminate information about the plight of dolphins, for example, UNEP (see transcript above).
Who patronized?
On September 17, 2006, the official opening ceremony of the International Year of the Dolphin was held, the patron saint of which was Prince Albert II of Monaco. In his speech, he expressed concern about the plight of marine mammals and the hope of their salvation by common forces. Many athletes (in particular, swimmers), sailors and writers have expressed their support in protecting and preserving the wildlife of the seas and oceans. The United Nations did not stand aside either: it is known that UNEP (deciphering, probably, is not worth reminding) from high platforms “loudly” informed about this problem.
UN Year of Biodiversity
The UN, trying to draw as much attention as possible to the problems of conservation and the rational use of the natural resources of planet Earth, declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity. In addition, the goal of this decision was a great desire to combine all available efforts in order to preserve especially valuable objects of the global ecosystem.
What is included in the concept of biodiversity:
- these are, first of all, various genes and their variants;
- many different species in ecosystems;
- all kinds of ecosystems themselves.
Reasons to maintain biodiversity
There are three main reasons:
- Economic. The components of biodiversity are resources that are of undoubted benefit not only today, but also tomorrow.
- Scientific. Biodiversity is expanding the search for new drugs and treatment options.
- Ethical. Humanity, being part of the ecosystem as a whole, must be careful about the biosphere.
Melting glaciers
In spring 2008, UNEP sounded the alarm about the fact that glaciers were melting rapidly, which could completely disappear after several decades. Serious research and studies of these “glacial monsters” were carried out. As a result, we came to disappointing results that in 2006 there was the most mass extinction (reduction was about 5 feet per year). The melting process is under scrutiny not only by UNEP, but also by the whole concerned public.
How to solve the problem?
- Continue to engage in the selection of plants capable of effectively absorbing carbon dioxide.
- Search for alternative energy sources (tidal power plants, windmills and solar panels) for which there is no need to burn carbon raw materials.
- Install protective mirrors in the orbit of our planet and place dampers throughout the glaciers.
- Use human heating energy for space heating.
- Improve the technical characteristics of cars.
- To control enterprises, not allowing them to produce hazardous and toxic emissions.
- Constantly urge every inhabitant of planet Earth to make their small (but maybe very significant) contribution to the common cause of preserving glaciers and to abandon the rather frequent use of: aerosols (they, in the opinion of scientists, contribute to the destruction of the ozone layer) and cars whose exhausts do not best impact on the environment.
Advice! When going outside, use your bike more often.
- Green areas near the houses.
Finally
Now you know what UNEP is (decryption also does not present any difficulty), and you can understand what tremendous work is being carried out within the framework of this Program, which is an integral part of the UN.