Scientific Advisory Groups

UNEP's work, a great portion being scientific and technical in nature, to leverage knowledge in support of decision making in environmental management and sustainable development, has contributed to the establishment of a number of scientific advisory groups for which UNEP acts as the converner.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) of the GEF

STAP is an advisory body to the Global Environment Facility (GEF). GEF promotes international cooperation and fosters actions to protect the global environment and provides funding to developing countries and those with economies in transition for projects and activities targeting global benefits in one or more of four focal areas: biological diversity, climate change, international waters and the ozone layer. UNEP provides the STAP Secretariat and performs liaison functions between the Facility and STAP. The Panel comprises 12 persons appointed by the Executive Director of UNEP in consultation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Secretariat.

The STAP mandate, as approved by the GEF Council in October 1995, includes:

Strategic advice as a means to advance a better understanding issues of the global environment and how to address them;
the development and maintenance of a Roster of Experts;
selective review of projects;
cooperation and coordination with the scientific and technical bodies of conventions;
providing a forum for integrating science and technology as well as providing an important conduit between GEF and the wider scientific and technical community.

The Ecosystem Conservation Group (EGC)

The ECG was established in 1974 for the purpose of promoting thematic joint programming and to advise its member organizations on the development and implementation of relevant ecosystems and genetic resources conservation activities. The work of ECG aims to contribute towards promoting inter linkages and complementarily, and encouraging the compatibility of different approaches to common problems to the extent possible, and hence enhancing synergy and harmony among and between work programmes of the Group's members with those of the global environmental conventions. Furthermore, it strives not only to underpin the ethic of nature conservation, but also to promote the concept of sustainable use of the Earth's biosphere, its ecosystems and their biotic resources.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

The IPCC was established by UNEP and the World Metereological Organization (WMO) in 1988 to assess the state of existing knowledge about climate change: its science, the environmental, economic and social impacts and possible response strategies. It has three working groups: Working Group I concentrates on the climate system; Working Group II addressees response options and environmental and socioeconomic impacts; and Working Group III assesses economic and social dimensions. IPCC is currently working on its Third Assessment report to be ready in the year 2001.