The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global authority on the environment within the UN system, created in 1972 after the landmark Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, UNEP provides leadership, science, and solutions to tackle pressing issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and sustainable development. Its first Executive Director was Canadian diplomat Maurice Strong, and since 2019 the role has been held by Inger Andersen.

UNEP plays a central role in shaping international environmental governance. It develops and supports multilateral environmental agreements, including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and CITES. It also co-founded the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1988 with the World Meteorological Organization, which has become the world’s leading scientific body on climate change. UNEP is a key implementing agency for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Montreal Protocol’s Multilateral Fund, helping countries meet environmental targets.

Beyond treaties and science, UNEP works directly with governments, civil society, and businesses to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It supports green economic development, ecosystem management, and environmental law, while also running regional offices across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, North America, and West Asia. With over 2,000 staff worldwide, UNEP continues to act as a catalyst for global environmental action—bridging science, policy, and practice to protect the planet for present and future generations.