Programme Focus

The Programme Focus is based on the Nairobi Declaration and the decisions of the Governing Council of UNEP

Environmental information, assessment and research, including environmental emergency response capacity and strengthening of early warming and assessment functions

* Strengthening the information, monitoring and assessment capabilities of UNEP.
* Establishing an early warning mechanism and emergency response capacity to deal with environmental disasters and emergencies.

Enhanced coordination of environmental conventions and development of environmental policy instruments

* Support to environmental conventions -promote linkages between conventions- linking scientific processes underpinning conventions;
* Developing synergies among the work programmes of biodiversity-related conventions;
* Negotiation of an internationally legally binding instrument on persistent organic pollutants;
* Economic Instruments for the implementation of international environmental agreements.

Freshwater

* Information, assessment and monitoring of global water resources.
* Development of a global action programme on the environmental aspects of freshwater management; and.
* Strengthening legal agreements for cooperative management and use of transboundary water resources.

Technology transfer and industry

* Promoting implementation of cleaner production activities..
* Strengthening and developing activities on sustainable consumption patterns.
* Further developing the sustainable tourism programme. .
* Negotiating a legally binding global treaty on persistent organic pollutants in 2000.
* Supporting governments in their efforts to implement the Rotterdam Convention on a voluntary basis. * Promoting the use of environmental management practices in the context of the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer
* Promoting the use of good energy technology choices by the private sector. .
* Strengthening the UNEP's contribution to the trade and environment debate.

Support to Africa

* Assisting African States in implementing their environmental programmes and obligations under environmental agreements.