United Nations Environment Programme - Annual 2015

UNITED NATIONS
ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME
ANNUAL REPORT 2015 1

United Nations Environment Programme, 2016
Publication: UNEP 2015 Annual Report
ISBN: 978-92-807-3518-5
Job No: DCP/1938/NA
* All dollar ($) amounts refer to US dollars.

* The term one billion in this report refers
to one thousand million.
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Cover photo by Tatiana Clauzet

Image taken in the Cerrado, a vast tropical savanna
ecoregion of Brazil, showing a bioluminescent termite mound.
The phenomenon is the result of firefly larvae nesting in the
holes to attract the winged termites coming out of the nest.
2 UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

CONTENTS
A VICTORY FOR THE CLIMATE IN PARIS 2

MESSAGE FROM BAN KI-MOON 3
2015 HIGHLIGHTS FROM ACHIM STEINER 4
CLIMATE CHANGE 9
DISASTERS AND CONFLICTS 15
ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT 21
ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE 27
CHEMICALS AND WASTE 33
RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABLE 39
CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENT UNDER REVIEW 45
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS 50
MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS 52
KEY FINANCIALS 2014 2015 54
RECOGNITION OF DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS 55
CHAMPIONS OF THE EARTH 56
GOODWILL AMBASSADORS 58
MAURICE STRONG 60
UNEP LEADERSHIP 61

A VICTORY FOR The slogan Decarbonize is projected on the
Eiffel Tower as the international community signs
THE CLIMATE IN PARIS

up to a universal climate agreement. AFP/
Charles Platiau
On 12 December 2015, at the 21st Specific UNEP contributions to COP
UNEP
meeting of the Conference of the 21 and the Paris Agreement
Parties (COP21) to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Assisted 36 countries who submitted
Change, 195 countries adopted the Intended Nationally Determined
Paris Agreement, one of the most Contributions (INDCs) to develop and
important international agreements in
history.
complete their plans.
MOBILIZED
Mobilized institutional investors, who
promised to decarbonize $600 billion INSTITUTIONAL
INVESTORS
In doing so, they recognized the severity
of climate change, acknowledged its of investments (see page 12 for more
dramatic costs and committed to take details).
action to stay well below a 2C global WHO PROMISED TO
DECARBONIZE
temperature rise. UNEP has worked for Helped facilitate over $10 billion in
decades to support climate action pledges to the Africa Renewable Energy
bringing science to policymakers, and
helping communities around the world
Initiative (see page 12 for more details).
$600 BILLION
adapt to climate change. Through the Global Adaptation
Gap Report 2014, contributed to 97 OF INVESTMENTS
We look forward to working with our countries including adaptation
partners to put the Paris Agreement components in their INDCs.
into action and prompt stronger for details on the Emissions Gap Report
and wider action. We will do this Partnered with the COP Presidency as an example).
through supporting the expansion of on launching the Global Alliance
renewable energy and energy efficiency for Buildings and Construction. 22 Partnered in engaging non-state actors,
technologies, promoting fuel efficiency countries and 60 organizations joined a key pillar of the COP Presidency.
measures, guiding the world toward the alliance, which UNEP will host. Non-state actors are crucial to delivering
sustainable consumption and production emissions reductions, especially in the
patterns, and helping countries adapt to Helped countries make links between four years before the Paris Agreement
a changing climate climate science and policy (see page 11 enters into force.

MESSAGE FROM BAN KI-MOON
UN SECRETARY-GENERAL
The final months of 2015 saw two Crucially, UNEP has worked closely with other UN bodies,
governments at all levels, intergovernmental organizations,
inspiring advances for humankind and civil society and the private sector to drive the process of
victories for multilateralism: in September, change. Such global collaboration will be essential as we
the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for strive to reach the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and
Sustainable Development, and in December, bring the Paris Agreement to life. Action is needed from
everyone, everywhere; we must look beyond national
the Paris Agreement on climate change. boundaries and short-term interests and act in solidarity
for the long-term.
These new agendas put forth a universal, integrated and
transformative vision for a better world. World leaders have
This Annual Report presents examples of the partnerships
promised to pursue shared prosperity, peace and partnership,
and global outlooks that will be critical to our future success.
and they have recognized the fundamental importance
As we begin to implement both agendas, the world can
of protecting the planet in order to meet our ambitions.
continue to count on UNEP to help us secure lives of
dignity for all on a healthy planet.
As the voice of the environment for the United Nations
system, UNEP has been a key player in bringing us to this
realization. For more than four decades, UNEP has uncovered
and highlighted the science on how a healthy, functioning
environment is central to a sustainable future. It has offered
many solutions to the challenges we face, from mitigating
and adapting to climate change to transforming unsustainable
consumption and production practices.

2015 HIGHLIGHTS FROM ACHIM STEINER
UNEP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The year 2015 will be remembered as a These are victories for multilateralism, which the United
Nations embodies like no other organization. They are also
turning point for the environmental agenda. milestones for the environment, which UNEP has championed
The international community set pivotal for over four decades presenting cutting-edge science
tracks for sustainability by adopting the through the Emissions Gap and Global Environment Outlook
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, assessments to assist nations to understand and develop
their policy and management responses.
the Paris Agreement on climate change,
the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Crucially, the Sustainable Development Goals integrate
Reduction and the Addis Ababa Action environmental sustainability and social equity with
Agenda on financing for development economic progress. Such integration the idea that
environmental sustainability is not an impediment to,
demonstrating a unity of purpose that but a driver of, development and human well-being
places us more firmly on the path has been a key focus of UNEPs work. As you will see
to a sustainable future. in this Annual Report, initiatives such as The Economics
of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) and ProEcoServ
In the 2030 Agenda, we outlined a way forward continue to demonstrate that recognizing the tangible
that focuses on sustainability in both the developing economic benefits of ecosystems is central to creating
and the developed world. Meanwhile, through the inclusive green economies and lifting millions of people
Paris Agreement, nations acknowledged that climate out of poverty.
change poses a threat to the security and prosperity
of all societies that we can only address together.

With these landmark agreements For example, under the Portfolio I would like to express my gratitude
in place, we have a new opportunity Decarbonization Coalition, which to our partners across the planet,
to unify global agendas. Yes, we can is led by UNEP and partners, over whose vision, as well as political and
reflect on the impressive progress two dozen major institutional investors financial support, has enabled UNEP
we have made. But, to be clear: had by December 2015 committed to to rise to the challenge of making a
once the glow of these achievements decarbonize over $600 billion of assets difference. The milestones of 2015
fades, we must redouble our efforts. under management. These financial are also an affirmation and validation
For example, we must find a way to steps, just examples of the many of the 1972 Stockholm Conference
cut an additional 12 gigatonnes of underway, represent investments decision to establish within the United
carbon dioxide equivalent from annual that can bolster the 2030 Agenda Nations family a programme dedicated
emissions by 2030 to give us a real and Paris Agreement. Now we must to the environment UNEP. Over the
chance of keeping the world below shed light on best practices to prompt past four decades many have worked
a 2C temperature rise this century. the mainstream of our economies and tirelessly to turn this vision into a reality.
markets to follow as UNEP is doing UNEP has evolved and thrived as part
We can achieve our goals if we focus through the Inquiry into the Design of an ecosystem of individuals and
on solutions that drive an inclusive of a Sustainable Financial System, institutions such as the United
green economy: increased renewable which in 2015 released its ground- Nations family, non-governmental
energy and energy efficiency measures, breaking report on how to harness organizations, the scientific community,
conserving and expanding forest cover the assets of the worlds financial and national ministries and authorities
through initiatives such as Reducing system for sustainability. responsible for the environment.
Emissions from Deforestation and It also succeeded in becoming the
Forest Degradation (REDD), the sound In this pivotal year, I could authoritative voice for the environment
management of chemicals, embedding highlight many other examples because of the professionalism of its
sustainable consumption and production of how UNEPs work informs and staff and the leadership of its successive
practices at every level of society, and facilitates a rapidly evolving public Executive Directors.
assisting nations to adapt to the impacts policy landscape, which in turn
of climate change, to name but a few. leverages the development of I would like to take this opportunity
These are all areas in which UNEP, technology, finance and markets to pay tribute to all of them in
in collaboration with many inspiring in support of globally agreed particular to UNEPs first Executive
partners, has led the way. environmental goals and priorities. Director, Maurice Strong, whose
Instead, I invite you to browse this passing just days before the Paris
report and discover the breadth Climate Conference of the Parties
and scale of the achievements provided a poignant reminder of
ENVIRONMENTAL of this organization, which I have
been privileged to lead for ten years.
the foundational legacy he created,
upon which we have built our work
SUSTAINABILITY I hope what you read will motivate and progress to date. His vision,
IS NOT AN IMPEDIMENT you as much as it has me, for we
must all be inspired to deliver on
dedication and lifelong commitment
to the environment and sustainable
TO, BUT A DRIVER the promises made. development remain an inspiration
OF, DEVELOPMENT. Working through dozens of global
and speak to the power of individuals
to make a difference.
initiatives and multilateral agreements,
and hundreds of partnerships, and
A simple truth is that finance is by supporting governments and
central to our aspirations. The good communities directly, UNEP will
news is that this message has been continue to build on the successes
heard across the board. For example, of 2015. Through its Medium-Term
the international community in Strategy and Programme of Work,
December pledged $10 billion to it will align itself to help deliver on
the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative. the 2030 Agenda and continue
This initiative led by Africa and to convene the global environmental
supported by UNEP and key partners community to do the same.
in the international community
represents a step change for One such opportunity will come
renewables on the continent. It will in May 2016, when we will host the
provide access to clean power to second United Nations Environment
millions, minimizing greenhouse gas Assembly (UNEA-2) at our headquarters
emissions and reducing the air pollution in Nairobi. UNEA-2 focuses on the
that claims hundreds of thousands environmental dimension of the 2030
of lives each year. This triple gain on Agenda to add further momentum
access to energy, climate and human to the quest for a healthy environment
health is exactly the kind of result for healthy people. UNEP head Achim Steiner presents Pope Francis
with an elephant made from recycled flip-flops
we must pursue to reach our goals. outside UNEPs energy-efficient offices. Pope
The private sector is also putting its Francis called for climate action during his visit
capital behind a better future for all. to UNEPs headquarters. UNEP

UNEP RESULTS
20 IMPLEMENTED
ECOSYSTEM-BASED AND
OTHER ADAPTATION
APPROACHES
INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY
PLEDGED
OVER
COUNTRIES
25 INSTITUTIONAL
INVESTORS
PLEDGED TO DECARBONIZE
$600 BILLION OF ASSETS
$10 BILLION
TO UNEP-SUPPORTED
AFRICA
RENEWABLE ENERGY
UNDER PORTFOLIO INITIATIVE
28 AND CONFLICTS FIRST

SUPPORTED TO REDUCE THE
RISKS OF NATURAL DISASTERS,
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS MASSIVE
COUNTRIES OPEN
ONLINE COURSE ON
OVER 10,000 PEOPLE ECOSYSTEM-BASED
APPROACHES TO
FROM 20 VILLAGES
BENEFITED FROM
DISASTER
RISK REDUCTION
THE FIRST HARVEST UNEP RESPONDED TO CRISES AND REACHED 12,000 PEOPLE IN
183
IN THE AREA OF THE SUPPORTED RECOVERY IN
SEIL GIDEIM 22 COUNTRIES
WATER-SPREADING 10 OF WHICH WERE ACUTE
DAM, NORTH DARFUR ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCIES COUNTRIES
17
COUNTRIES
COMPLETED A VALUATION
OF THEIR ECOSYSTEMS
PROECOSERV PROJECT
IDENTIFIED ALMOST
$1 BILLION
58 COUNTRIES OF ANNUAL
SUPPORTED TO ENABLE ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS IN
4
DIFFERENT SECTORS TO USE AN
COUNTRIES
ECOSYSTEM
APPROACH

32 PLEDGED 21 CLIMATE
COUNTRIES
15 COUNTRIES
UN ORGANIZATIONS
COMMITTED TO
TOUGHER ACTION FINALIZED UN

NEUTRALITY DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
ON ILLEGAL FRAMEWORKS
WILDLIFE THAT INCORPORATED
THE PRINCIPLES OF
TRADE ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
14 GOVERNMENTS,
21 BUSINESSES
AND INDUSTRIES,
STRATEGIC APPROACH
TO INTERNATIONAL
CHEMICALS MANAGEMENT: 17 ADOPTED
COUNTRIES
12 CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS

ADDRESSED PRIORITY
184
PROJECTS
APPROVED IN
108
COUNTRIES
POLICIES
CHEMICAL ISSUES UNDER QUICK START PROGRAMME
PROMOTING
SOUND
58
COUNTRIES
HAVE LEGAL
AND REGULATORY
FRAMEWORKS
ON LEAD
IN PAINT
MANAGEMENT
OF CHEMICALS
AND WASTE
140
COUNTRIES, INSTITUTIONS
AND BUSINESSES IMPROVED
8
COUNTRIES
9
CITIES
MANAGEMENT ADVANCED
PRACTICES SUSTAINABLE
OR STRATEGIES CONSUMPTION AND
IN GLOBAL PRODUCTION AND GREEN
SUPPLY CHAINS ECONOMY POLICIES
AVAILABLE ON UNEP LIVE:

NATIONAL DATA FLOWS FROM UNEP LIVE
192 COUNTRIES NATIONAL REPORTING
9 COMMUNITIES
SYSTEM
DEMONSTRATED IN
20
OF PRACTICE WITH OVER
1,500 MEMBERS
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
GOALS TRACKING PORTAL COUNTRIES

MINIMIZING THE SCALE AND
IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
10 UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME Image Chris Bickford / National Geographic Creative ANNUAL REPORT 2015 11
CLIMATE CHANGE
In its work on combating Climate Resilience

climate change, UNEP
Over the last two years, UNEP enabled
focuses on three areas: 20 countries to implement ecosystem-
based and other adaptation approaches.
Climate resilience Supporting
Of these countries, ten incorporated
countries in using ecosystem-based
ecosystem-based (EbA) and other
approaches to adapt and build
supporting adaptation approaches in
resilience to climate change.
key sectoral and development plans,
bringing the total to 19 including
Low-emission growth Supporting
Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Tanzania.
countries to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, adopt renewable energy,
However, the implementation of
increase energy efficiency measures
such plans requires financing, which
and reduce air pollution.
is currently lagging behind needs.
According to advance findings from
REDD+ Enabling countries to
UNEP Deputy Executive Director Ibrahim Thiaw UNEPs second Global Adaptation Gap
speaks at an event held by the Global Alliance seize investment opportunities
Report, adaptation costs are likely to
for Buildings and Construction during the Paris that reduce greenhouse emissions
climate meeting. AFP / Loic Venance
be up to three times higher than current
from deforestation and forest
estimates. UNEP encourages further
degradation with adequate social
sources of adaptation funding and
and environmental safeguards.
helps countries access existing finance.
UNEP supported 10 countries with their
UNEP exceeded its climate targets
accreditation process to the Adaptation
in the last reporting period due to
Fund, of which four (Costa Rica, Mexico,
additional income and effective
Namibia and Peru) became accredited
global partnerships highlighting
and can access finance directly.
the importance of the organization to
In addition, UNEP helped countries
the coming efforts to implement the
increase the availability of microfinance
Paris Agreement and the Sustainable
for adaptation (see in-focus story
Development Goal on Climate Change.
on page 13).
The 2015 Global

Adaptation Report
Total bilateral and multilateral financing

targeting climate change adaptation
in developing countries in 2014 was
estimated at $18.4 billion, representing
an 8-9% increase over the past five
years but still far short of what
will be needed by 2030.
$18.4
BILLION
TOTAL BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL
FINANCING TARGETING CLIMATE
CHANGE ADAPTATION IN
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
A man stands near the Toau atoll in French Polynesia. Small Island Developing States are at the frontline
of climate change. AFP/Gregory Boissy

Global trends in renewable energy investment 2015 (billions of dollars)
Growth:
62% 54% 37% 18% -2% 33% 18% -8% -10% 17%
279 270
256
237 232
Corporate R&D
182 178 Government R&D

154 Venture Capital/
Private Equity
112
Public markets
73 Small distributed capacity
45
Asset finance*
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
*Asset finance volume adjusts for re-invested equity. Total values include estimates for undisclosed deals.
Source: UNEP, Bloomberg New Energy Finance
Low-emission growth UNEP-supported achievements in energy efficiency

UNEPs Emissions Gap Report 2015, 24 countries completed their national
a key document in negotiations at
the Paris climate meeting, assessed
efficient lighting strategies, with the
support of the en.lighten initiative, 24 EFFICIENT
LIGHTING
119 Intended Nationally Determined
Contributions (INDCs) submitted to the
bringing the total to 38. COUNTRIES STRATEGY
UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change. These pledges, combined with
13 countries are adopting efficient
existing measures, could cut up to 10
appliances strategies under the Efficient
13
gigatonnes of emissions (GtCO2e) per
year by 2030. However, this is half what
Appliances and Equipment Partnership, EFFICIENT
is needed to have a likely chance of
which targets a global shift that could cut APPLIANCE
limiting global warming to 2C target this
1.25 billion tonnes of emissions and save COUNTRIES STRATEGY
$350 billion each year.
century, beyond which serious climate
impacts can be expected.
The report notes that enhanced energy Chile, Kenya, Mauritius and Viet
efficiency in buildings, industry and Nam, with the support of the Global CLEANER
transport, and increased renewable Fuel Economy Initiative, adopted fuel
10 VEHICLE AND
energy, are critical to closing the gap.
As these sectors account for around
40% of global energy use, UNEP
efficiency policies, bringing the total
number of countries with cleaner vehicle
and fuel efficiency policies to 10.
COUNTRIES FUEL
POLICIES
works closely with its partners and
governments to accelerate action in
these areas. In the last two years, UNEP
provided assistance to 31 countries to
implement initiatives to improve energy
efficiency or invest in renewables, far
exceeding the target of 20 countries set
for December 2015. UNEP complements
these efforts with major partnerships to
enable a broader reach than would be
possible on its own.

CLIMATE CHANGE
Major partnership initiatives on climate change
The 1 A coalition of 25 countries and 40 organizations that supports

Gigaton
Coalition
nations to report on savings from renewable energy and energy
efficiency measures. The first report, released in Paris, found
25 40
potential savings of 1.7 gigatonnes a year by 2020. COUNTRIES ORGANIZATIONS
Portfolio
Decarbonization
25 institutional investors have joined the coalition of
investors committed to fighting climate change through green
$ 25
$600
INSTITUTIONAL BILLION
Coalition (PDC) investment, run by the UNEP Finance Initiative. Two of the
worlds biggest institutional investors Allianz and ABP
ASSETS UNDER
joined in December 2015. Some $600 billion of assets INVESTORS MANAGEMENT WILL
under management will be decarbonized. BE DECARBONIZED
The Climate The 110 partners of the CCAC are implementing high-
110
and Clean impact measures to reduce black carbon, methane and
Air Coalition hydrofluorocarbon in agriculture, brick production, cooking,
(CCAC) heating, diesel vehicles, oil and gas production, and municipal PARTNERS 5 YEAR
solid waste. Members pledged tens of millions of dollars to
a new five-year plan at the Paris climate meeting. PLAN
The Climate The CTCN, which UNEP manages in partnership with the
Technology
Centre and
UN Industrial Development Organization, assists 10 countries
on their climate technology challenges including waste 10
Network and energy efficiency in Colombia, refrigerant technologies COUNTRIES
(CTCN) in Namibia and Mauritius, and efficient lighting in the ASSISTED
Dominican Republic.
Including the 25 members of the REDD+

Portfolio Decarbonization Coalition,
a total of 67 finance institutions have Global momentum on conserving forests
committed to clean technology increased with the adoption of the New
investments, exceeding UNEPs York Declaration on Forests, which
2015 target of 55 such institutions. aims to halve the rate of loss of natural
In addition, at the Paris climate meeting forests by 2020 and end it by 2030. The
the international community pledged UN Collaborative Initiative on Reducing
over $10 billion to the UNEP-supported Emissions from Forest Degradation in
Africa Renewable Energy Initiative, Developing Countries (UN-REDD)
an African-led plan to add 10,000 jointly implemented by UNEP, the Food
MW of additional renewable energy and Agriculture Organization and the
on the continent by 2020. UN Development Programme scaled
up support to 64 countries to help them
For more information on UNEPs work become ready for the expanded REDD+
on climate change, visit unep.org approach, up from 48 in December
or follow us on Facebook or Twitter. 2013. Twenty-six of these countries had
national programmes; half of those went
on to develop or adopt national REDD+
strategies in 2014-2015. A total of 20
countries have begun the process of
developing, adopting or implementing
national REDD+ strategies, exceeding
UNEPs target of 15 countries by
December 2015.
A view under the Altesch Glacier in Fiesch,

Switzerland, which coils 23 km through the
Swiss Alps. The glacier has retreated about 3 km
(1.9 miles) since 1870 and that pace is quickening.
Denis Balibouse / Reuters

IN FOCUS
ADAPTATION IMPROVING Colombian farmer Carlos Lopez shows lettuce

crops damaged by a lack of rain. Ecosystem-based
LIVES OF COLOMBIAN FARMERS

adaptation can help farmers build resilience to
erratic weather. John Vizcaino / Reuters
For years, Raul Sarmiento and The drip irrigation system and other But EbA projects will only be meaningful
Margot Quintero, farmers from EbA measures such as organic if matched with policies to promote
Rionegro in Colombia, struggled fertilizer use, crop diversification and private sector participation and the
to cope with the changing climate. terracing increase the resilience of implementation of sustainable and
Once, the rains were predictable. small farmers through better use of cost-effective adaptation options, on
Now they are scarce. When they ecosystem services. They also reduce which UNEP is collecting more and
do come, it is often as storms. production costs, increase productivity more evidence. UNEP is working with
Both extremes damage their and diversify income streams. governments in the Latin American
crops. However, as the result region to promote such policies, and
of a microcredit project that Their credit is one of nearly 3,300 with national and regional development
funds climate change adaptation credits delivered under the project, banks to make the case on EbA and
measures, the husband and wife resulting in roughly $4.6 million of create MEbA-specific credit lines.
are among thousands of farmers private investment towards sustainable
in Colombia who can thrive despite adaptation alternatives. And the project For Raul, such wide-ranging support
such erratic weather. is growing. is essential to safeguard traditional
rural lifestyles, which produce the
They are on their third loan of $2,000 Partner institutions have committed food needed to support the planets
from Crezcamos, a partner of the to allocate $20 million over the next growing population.
Microfinance for Ecosystem-based five years, delivering 24,000 credits
Adaptation (MEbA) project, which is and training 14,000 clients on EbA. We say that it would be good for
implemented in Colombia and Peru by The challenge is to replicate the young people not to leave for the
UNEP and the Frankfurt School with MEbA concept in vulnerable rural town or city. But how are they going
German government funding. The drip areas throughout the developing to stay in the fields if they have
irrigation system Raul installed with world, increasing climate resilience no support? he says. If we dont
the money has strengthened his farms and improving livelihoods to achieve look for systems to help us produce
resilience to drought proving that such the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable despite climate change, like these
projects can help communities adapt to Development. Public-private MEbA systems, harvests will be lost.
the coming climactic changes that even partnerships like MEbA could reduce After we all leave our farms, people
emissions cuts envisioned under the the current global shortfall of $2 billion will start biting their cell phones;
Paris Agreement cannot head off. in adaptation financing. that is how they will eat.
We used to lose around 50% of
$20M
our crops, now we only lose about
COMMITTED
20%, says Margot. Last year, there
was a drought, but since we had
our irrigation system we were able
to save our entire production. TO OVER NEXT
5 YEARS
We harvested over 1,000 boxes
of mandarins, which are sold in the
market at between $6 and $12 each. IN FUNDING
MINIMIZING
ENVIRONMENTAL
THREATS
16 UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME Image Sandra Boles ANNUAL REPORT 2015 17
DISASTERS AND CONFLICTS
In its work on disasters

and conflicts, which aims
to minimize threats to
human well-being from
environmental degradation,
UNEP focuses on achieving
results in two areas:
Risk reduction Improving
countries ability to use environmental
management to prevent and reduce
the risks of natural hazards, industrial
disasters and conflict.
Response and recovery Supporting

countries in the aftermath of a disaster
or conflict to identify and address
environmental risks that could have
serious social and economic impacts.
Risk reduction
Over the last two years, UNEP
supported 28 countries to reduce
the risks of natural disasters, industrial
accidents and conflicts.
At the global level, a key measure of

success is how well UNEP can integrate
ecosystem-based solutions for disaster A grain miller at work in Les Anglais, Haiti, where a sustainable micro-grid is providing
risk reduction (DRR) and peacebuilding energy to households and small businesses part of long-term support for recovery
into the wider UNs guidelines, policies from the 2010 earthquake. Marc Lee Steed
and programmes. Ten significant UN
policies, guidelines and programmes
now reflect best practice in sustainable
natural resource management, bringing
the total number to 23. This exceeds the Highlights of UNEP support on risk reduction
target of 20 for the end of 2015. UNEP
is now also directly reaching the next
Madagascar UNEP conducted an assessment
generation of policymakers through
of major risks posed by hazardous
online training on DRR (see In Focus
ammonia storage in an industrial site.
feature on page 19).
The containers were safely removed
and neutralized.
28
Peru, Thailand Emergency preparedness was improved
through regional (Asia-Pacific and
Latin America) training of trainers in
the Awareness and Preparedness for
Emergencies at Local Level (APELL)
methodology.
Tajikistan Environmental emergency preparedness

COUNTRIES training; support to dam safety; training
and support in the safe management of
SUPPORTED TO REDUCE debris and asbestos waste; training in
THE RISKS OF NATURAL ecosystem approaches to Disaster Risk
DISASTERS, INDUSTRIAL Reduction (eco-DRR).
ACCIDENTS AND CONFLICTS.

UNEP policy influence on crisis reduction
Who we influenced What we influenced What we did Why its important
Member states, the The Sendai Framework on UNEP worked to ensure the The Sendai Framework sets
humanitarian and Disaster Risk Reduction environment was included as the goals for disaster risk
development communities (SFDRR) a key factor in disaster risk reduction policies for the
and taken into account as next 15 years.
a solution.
The UN, World Bank and EU Post Disaster Needs UNEP led the environmental The PDNA is the principal
Assessments (PDNA) section of the development framework used by the UN,
of the PDNA guidelines, the World Bank and the
including a guideline on EU to gauge post-disaster
environmental issues. needs. The inclusion of the
environment should ensure
more sustainable spending
of billions of dollars of post-
disaster assistance.
The High Level Independent Uniting our Strengths for UNEP provided input on This high-level review will
Panel on UN Peace Peace report the environmental impacts shape the future of UN
Operations of peacekeeping operations peace operations.
and the potential of green
technology.
Response and recovery

UNEP responds to acute environmental
emergencies as part of humanitarian
response teams. It also conducts post-
crisis assessments of environmental
damage and recovery needs, and
provides guidance to those involved
in recovery. UNEP responded to crises
and supported recovery in 22 countries
over the last two years ten of which
were acute environmental emergencies.
UNEP has carried out post-crisis or
rapid environmental assessments in
29 countries since 2010. Between 2010
and 2014, in 88% of the assessments
where UNEP identified serious risks,
national governments or the UN took
action to reduce those risks.
BETWEEN 2010-2014 IN
88%
OF THE ASSESSMENTS
WHERE UNEP IDENTIFIED
SERIOUS RISKS, ACTION
WAS TAKEN* TO
REDUCE THOSE RISKS.
UNEP provided advice to the Government of Nepal, international agencies, and the UN system on dealing
with environmental issues linked to the earthquake, which killed over 8,000 people in April 2015. UNEP
also participated in a Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA). UNEP is now developing a multi-year
*BY NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS OR THE UN. programme to support green recovery and environmental resilience in Nepal. Adnan Abidi / Reuters

DISASTERS AND CONFLICTS
Highlights of UNEP emergency response to crisis situations
Country UNEP support Result
Serbia Assessment of flood-related risks Follow-up activities have been conducted

of chemical leaks and landslides by the Serbian government to implement the
recommendations from the assessment. Post-flood
planning has been integrated into a regional climate
change adaptation project for South East Europe.
Solomon Islands Assessment of flood-weakened gold The government is using UNEPs assessment to
mining tailings dam pursue a claim against the previous mine owner.
Plans and the equipment to lower the level of water
are now in place.
Ukraine Recovery and post-conflict needs The assessment informed the development of the
assessment as part of the UN team Donbas Recovery Programme, which was the basis
with the EC and the World Bank for 1.4 billion in loans.
Highlights of long-term support
Haiti 430 households and business have been provided

with clean and reliable electricity as part of a project aiming
to provide 1,600 households with electricity by 2016.
1600
HOUSEHOLDS
ELECTRICITY
BY 2016
Afghanistan Four major projects linked ecosystem-based

disaster reduction with climate action to deliver capacity
building to seven government departments, and support
35 LOCAL WATERSHED
MANAGEMENT
35 local communities in projects for watershed management COMMUNITIES
across four provinces.
Sudan More than 10,000 people from 20 villages benefited

10,000 HARVEST
from the first successful harvest in the area of the Seil Gideim
water-spreading dam, North Darfur. PEOPLE CROPS
While UNEP provides environmental

assessments immediately after a crisis
on request from the country or UN
system, the organization also provides
long-term support to countries that
require more-sustained environmental
assistance for recovery, which
has meant longer-term support in
Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC), Haiti, South Sudan
and Sudan.
For more information on UNEPs

work on Disasters and Conflicts,
visit unep.org or follow us on
Facebook or Twitter.
The natural beauty of Bamyan, Afghanistan. The nation is working with UNEP on ecosystem-based
disaster reduction and climate action. AFP Photo / AFP

IN FOCUS
NEW ONLINE APPROACH TO TRAINING Floods in India inspired Heba Anna Philip
to join UNEPs course and learn more
on how to prepare for natural disasters.
BUILDS RESILIENCE TO DISASTERS Reuters / Rupak De Chowdhuri
Over the last ten years, UNEP and majoring in desertification and natural Dr. Naeem Shahzad,
its partners have run in-person resources. To complement his studies,
training courses on how to manage he signed up for UNEPs course.
Pakistan
ecosystems to increase resilience to The course inspired him to build a
Following the 2005 earthquake
natural disasters. These courses have grassroots organization, The Rural
and 2010 flooding in Pakistan, which
reached hundreds of people in over Women Resilience Bedrock, which helps
killed tens of thousands of people,
40 countries. But this hasnt been rural women become more financially
the National University of Sciences
enough to meet demand, or to tackle resilient to the effects of climate change
and Technology (NUST) developed a
the scale of the problem. through cultivating fruit trees.
graduate-level programme on disaster
management, the first of its kind in
In 2015, UNEP launched the worlds In the face of a changing climate,
the country. Dr. Naeem Shahzad, an
first Massive Open Online Course no development can be sustainable
Assistant Professor in the programme,
(MOOC) on Disasters and Ecosystems. if disaster risk reduction and
signed up for UNEPs course to broaden
Run in collaboration with the Cologne climate change adaptation are
his view of disaster management.
University of Applied Sciences, not integrated in development
Global Universities Partnership on planning, he says.
Interactions with international
Environment for Sustainability and
experts [in] this course helped me
the Partnership for Environment and Heba Anna Philip, India gain knowledge and experience,
Disaster Risk Reduction, the course
he says. We learned how disaster
reached over 12,000 people in 183 In the summer of 2013, Heba Anna risk reduction, climate change
countries. Focusing on ecosystem- Philips homeland in the Kuttanad region adaptation and ecosystem[s] are
based approaches to disaster risk of Kerala, southern India, suffered interrelated.
reduction (Eco-DRR) and climate change devastating floods. Many people lost
adaptation, the course aims to reach their property, others their livelihoods. The course is going to have long-
one million people over the next five As a result, she took the course, lasting effects, Dr. Shahzad says,
years and enable a new generation which taught her how to work with because the measures it advocates
to promote more sustainable and communities to reduce disaster risk. are economical, effective, and easy
resilient development. The community Ms. Philips, now a 9th-grade student, to implement. He is working to have
is growing; its MOOC Facebook group is helping farmers in her home region the course included as an elective
now has over 10,000 members, and prepare for floods, encouraging them to in the curriculum of his universitys
students experiences show change is invest in growbags sacks of soil that masters programme.
already happening. can be used to grow vegetables even
if fields have flooded. A minimum of
Nkembeteck Henry Nkwa, 25 growbags would make households
Cameroon more food secure during three months THE COURSE REACHED OVER
12,000
of heavy rains and floods. For a place
A row of mature trees protected like Kuttanad, implementing green
Nkembeteck Henry Nkwas family home infrastructure, such as Eco-DRR and
until road developers tore them down. ecosystem-based adaptation measures,
Three days later, a storm damaged his is an effective solution.
house. The experience prompted him PEOPLE IN 183 COUNTRIES.
to learn more about how the natural We hope to bring awareness to
world can buffer disaster impacts. He is people at the grassroots level the
working toward a masters at the Higher simple villagers whose voices are
Institute of the Sahel in Cameroon, often not heard or ignored by the
government, she says.

SUPPORTING HUMAN
WELL-BEING THROUGH
HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS
22 UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME Image Nicolas Andrew Suryono ANNUAL REPORT 2015 23
ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT
In its work on ecosystem

management, which is of
particular significance to the
Sustainable Development
Goals on conserving and
sustainably managing
terrestrial and ocean
ecosystems, UNEP focuses
on the following areas:
The Enabling Environment
Assisting countries in incorporating
the value and the long-term function
of ecosystems in planning and
accounting frameworks.
The productivity of terrestrial

and aquatic ecosystems Assisting
countries to use an ecosystem
approach to managing terrestrial
and aquatic ecosystems.
The productivity of marine

ecosystems Assisting countries Kenya has valued its ecosystems, including the Mount Kenya water catchment
to use an ecosystem approach in area, pictured here during a forest fire in 2012. Thomas Mukoya / Reuters
17
marine ecosystem management.
Building knowledge Productivity of terrestrial

and enabling conditions and aquatic ecosystems
Ecosystems complex webs of living UNEP supported 58 countries to enable
organisms and other natural resources different sectors to use an ecosystem
play a critical role in supporting approach. The result of this support is
COUNTRIES
human well-being and driving economic that eight countries, over the last two
growth through the services they years, have taken steps to integrate the
provide such as food, water, pollination ecosystem approach into sector-based
and climate regulation. As such, their natural resource management, bringing COMPLETED A
VALUATION
continued health will be vital to the the total to 25 countries, in line with
worlds sustainable development targeted results.
OF THEIR
aspirations. To help create an enabling
environment for countries to understand
and conserve these services, UNEP
assists governments to quantify and
understand the value of ecosystems and ECOSYSTEMS
how to best use that information in their
national decision-making processes.
Over the last two years, 17 countries

from a total of 61 working on the
subject with UNEP, including through
the Economics of Ecosystems and
Biodiversity (TEEB) completed a
valuation of their ecosystems. Seven
countries including Guatemala, Kenya
and the United States were able to
use valuation data on priority ecosystem
services in their national accounting
and budgeting processes, meeting
the target set for December 2015. For
a good example of this work, see the
UNEPs Europe Director, Jan Dusik,
In Focus feature on UNEPs flagship speaks on mountain agriculture during
ProEcoServ project (page 25). Mountain Week in Milan. UNEP

UNEP support to countries to use an ecosystem approach
Country Result
Angola In conjunction with the Mayombe Transboundary Conservation Agreement, Angola

which will host World Environment Day 2016 to draw attention to the fight against the
illegal wildlife trade gazetted a first protected area.
Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Finance secured for the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan for Volta Basin.
Ivory Coast, Mali, Togo
Democratic Republic of Congo, Signature of the Treaty of the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration,
Rwanda, Uganda which aims to protect mountain gorillas and their landscapes, as well as the
communities that depend on them through tourism, in Rwanda, Uganda and
the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Indonesia The ecosystem approach was used in Sumatra to establish a spatial plan and a strategic
landscapes document.
South Africa Increased its investment by $4 million to restore the water catchment area of the
Ntabelanga Dam.
Great apes survival communities and governments in the UNEP also enabled 14 countries to
conservation of wild populations in use an ecosystem approach to sustain
partnership responds ecosystem services from coastal and
West Kalimantan. GRASP has added
to Borneo fires 21 partners since 2013, with 102 marine systems. Viet Nam launched
governments, research institutions, its National Integrated Coastal Zone
As fires ravaged Southeast Asia United Nations agencies, conservation Management Strategy, while Palau
last year, the Great Apes Survival organizations and private supporters in October created the Palau Marine
Partnership (GRASP) stepped up committed to the protection of great Sanctuary an area in which no fishing,
its support to affected great ape apes and their habitats. or other uses such as drilling for oil,
populations. Annual fires set to clear will be permitted. The Bahamas, which
land for agricultural development on has been supported in its endeavours
Borneo, where the majority of the Productivity of by UNEP and the Global Environment
remaining 70,000 orangutans in the marine ecosystems Facility since 2009, also announced
wild live, were whipped beyond control the creation of 24 new marine protected
by El Nio meteorological conditions, Country action towards addressing areas and the expansion of 3 existing
resulting in the loss of one-third of marine litter increased substantially national parks, thus adding around 3
the orangutans forests. over the last two years with the G7 million hectares to its marine protected
and the Barcelona, Cartagena, Helsinki areas and reserves system. Caribbean
The fires left orangutan rehabilitation and OSPAR Conventions agreeing upon states signed up to the Caribbean
marine litter action plans. At national Challenge Initiative (CCI) have agreed
centers overwhelmed by rescued apes.
and sub-national levels, Brazil, Chile, to a goal of protecting 20% of their
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm
Colombia, Ecuador, Nigeria, Panama coastal and marine ecosystems
Oil donated $100,000 to GRASP
and Samoa are working on action by 2020.
projects in Borneo, which were
used to fund orangutan rescue and plans on marine litter.
rehabilitation, fire-fighting, and habitat
protection projects. Efforts in Borneo UNEPs Regional Seas Programmes and
were further boosted when two the Global Programme of Action for the
new organizations joined GRASP in Protection of the Marine Environment
December: Orangutan Appeal UK, from Land-Based Activities (GPA) are
the main vehicles UNEP utilizes to
which provides direct support to
support countries in integrating the
the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation
ecosystem approach in their efforts to
Centre in Sabah, and the Gunung
sustain coastal and marine ecosystems.
Palung Orangutan Conservation
Program, which engages local

ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT
Biodegradable plastics
not the answer
To mark the 20th anniversary of
the GPA, a report was released in
November to highlight concerns
over the widespread adoption of
products labelled biodegradable.
Biodegradable Plastics and Marine
Litter. Misconceptions, Concerns
and Impacts on Marine Environments
found that complete biodegradation
of plastics occurs in conditions that
are rarely, if ever, met in marine
environments. There is also evidence
suggesting that labelling products as
biodegradable increases the publics
inclination to litter.
Another highlight was the adoption

of the Biodiversity Protocol by the
parties to the Tehran Convention,
which obliges the Parties to work
together beyond national borders in Delicate marine ecosystems were increasingly protected in 2015. David Gray / Reuters
the conservation and restoration of
the Caspian Sea. Governments also
agreed to establish a permanent
Secretariat of the Convention,
under the administration of UNEP.
For more information on

UNEPs work on ecosystems,
visit unep.org or follow us on
Facebook or Twitter.
ISLAND COMMUNITIES HAVE
BEEN AMONG THE HARDEST
HIT BY THE THREATS FACING
500,000
THE OCEAN. CREATING THIS
SANCTUARY IS A BOLD MOVE
THAT THE PEOPLE OF PALAU
SQ / KM RECOGNIZE AS ESSENTIAL
TO OUR SURVIVAL. WE WANT
SET ASIDE FOR TO LEAD THE WAY IN RESTORING
THE HEALTH OF THE OCEAN
PROTECTION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
IN PALAU PALAU PRESIDENT TOMMY E. REMENGESAU JR.
(A 2014 UNEP CHAMPION OF THE EARTH)

IN FOCUS
PROECOSERV PROJECT HELPING Surakit Laeaddee stands outside his sustainable

shrimp farm in Thailand. Shrimp farms have eroded
TO CONSERVE ECOSYSTEMS
mangrove forests, but many across the region are
now recognizing the benefits of better practices.
Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters
Much of Viet Nams mangrove forests Ecosystem benefits The concepts are also gaining
are located in the southern Ca Mau traction across the Greater Mekong
Province, where they play a vital
in Ca Mau province Subregion, an economic area bound
role in maintaining the health of together by the Mekong River
Inshore fishing and traditional
ecosystems and provide services encompassing a population of 326
aquaculture play an important role
to 1.53 million people. million across Cambodia, the Peoples
for livelihoods in the Ngoc Hien
Republic of China, Lao Peoples
District in Ca Mau $87.5 million
Yet, over the last 30 years, large Democratic Republic, Myanmar,
from aquaculture in 2012. But farmers
areas of mangroves around half in Thailand, and Viet Nam.
are now realizing that production
the wider Mekong Delta, by some
will fall without the mangroves, which
estimates have made way for We recognize that natural capital
also provide protection from natural
shrimp farms and other development. lies at the heart of economic
disasters and extreme weather events.
A continuation of this trend would lead development, underpins inclusive
During the period of ProEcoServ
to the decimation of the remaining and sustainable development
project, mangrove coverage in the
mangroves, with huge implications and sustains the livelihoods
area increased by 5.67%, resulting
for both ecosystems and livelihoods. and wellbeing of all people in
in increased aquaculture production
the Greater Mekong Subregion,
valued at more than $4 million.
However, with the assistance of especially the rural poor,
UNEPs ProEcoServ project, which environment ministers from
Forest area in my land is less than
aims to integrate the economic value of the six countries said in
the required 50%. Many of my
ecosystems into government policies, a joint statement.
shrimp died from disease, especially
attitudes are changing. The four-year
on the land not protected by
project identified almost one billion The ProEcoServ work adds further
mangrove forest. I could see then
dollars of annual benefits in four weight to the body of evidence proving
that the forest is useful for raising
countries including soil retention ecosystems are crucial to sustainable
shrimp, says Shrimp Farmer
services worth $622 million in Trinidad development, and is also changing
Van Cong To.
and Tobago and $166 million in savings policy in other countries. In South Africa,
through ecosystem-based disaster risk the role of ecosystem services is now
ProEcoServ supported land-use
reduction in South Africa. In Ca Mau, recognized as a part of an ecological
planning at the Ca Mau level, helping to
the Global Environment Facility-funded infrastructure, with an active contribution
consolidate and protect land devoted to
project showed that the economic to the $93 billion National Infrastructure
mangroves. Furthermore, ProEcoServ
benefits of the 45,523 hectares of Development Plan. In Chile, meanwhile,
work, carried out by the Institute
mangrove forest reach up to $2,985 per the first tourism development plan
of Strategy and Policy on Natural
hectare per year. This value extends far for the Municipality of San Pedro
Resources (ISPONRE), and the Ministry
beyond resource exploitation such as de Atacama recognizes the role of
of Natural Resources and Environment in
shrimp farming. ecosystem services in sustainable
Viet Nam, provided input to the National
and tourism management.
Green Growth Strategy to 2020, and
the National Strategy for Environmental
Protection to 2020.

STRENGTHENING GLOBAL
GOVERNANCE IN AN
INTERCONNECTED WORLD
28 UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME Image Brent Stirton / Getty Images ANNUAL REPORT 2015 29
ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE
In its work on environmental Coherence and synergy Environmental sustainability and

climate neutrality in the UN system
governance, the overarching
In a complex world, in which many
element that needs to be bodies and personalities work Heads of UN agencies adopted a
strengthened to implement and interact on issues that affect common approach on environmental
the 2030 Agenda for the environment, UNEP promotes management systems to reduce
emissions and environmental impacts.
Sustainable Development coherence and synergy in the
Twenty-one UN organizations are
multilateral system to ensure the
and other international international community embraces pursuing climate neutrality, up from
frameworks, including the a sustainable future in a united and six in 2013, of which 18 organizations
recently adopted Paris streamlined way. Coherence increased have emission reduction strategies
and five Environmental Management
Agreement, UNEP focuses in the way the UN system and
Systems. Furthermore, the UN system,
multilateral environmental agreements
on three areas: (MEAs) handled environmental issues through the Environment Management
over the last two years, resulting in Group (EMG), is developing system-
Coherence and synergy Improving several initiatives, some of which are wide strategies on the environment
the manner in which the UN system highlighted below. to enhance coherence. The aim is
and multilateral environmental to have a framework for aligning
agreements achieve policy coherence. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable agencies respective strategies on the
Development (see page 50 for environmental dimension of the 2030
21
Law and institutions Enhancing more on UNEPs role) Agenda for Sustainable Development.
the capacities of countries to
establish and enforce legal and The environment is a key component
institutional frameworks to address of the Agenda and in specific
environmental priorities. Sustainable Development Goals, targets
and indicators. Governments agreed
Mainstreaming the environment to an integrated approach, which will
into development processes require environmental issues to be
Assisting countries to integrate addressed as part of a wider agenda
environment into sectoral and
UN
for change that includes social and
development processes and plans, economic aspects.
including those on poverty reduction.
ORGANIZATIONS
ARE PURSUING
CLIMATE
NEUTRALITY
UP FROM 6
IN 2013
Residents of Mazatlan, Mexico release Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings as part of a programme
to recover the endangered species, highlighting the harmony between people and planet
that sustainable development strives for. Stringer Mexico / Reuters

Human rights and the environment
CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE RESULT
A resolution was adopted at the OF CHOICES MADE BY HUMAN
28th session of the Human Rights
Council, strengthening the mandate BEINGS AND HAS DEVASTATING
of the Special Rapporteur on human
rights and the environment and
IMPACTS ON A WIDE RANGE OF
encouraging further coordination INTERNATIONALLY GUARANTEED
HUMAN RIGHTS THE RIGHTS
with UNEP. The UNDG Working Group
on Human Rights issued a guide on
supporting human rights at the country
level, which includes links between
TO FOOD, WATER, SANITATION,
human rights and the environment.
At the Paris Climate Meeting, UNEP
ADEQUATE HOUSING, AND
released a report detailing the many HEALTH FOR MILLIONS
negative effects of climate change on
human rights, and calling on nations to OF PEOPLE.
recognize this in their climate responses.
ZEID RAAD AL HUSSEIN, UNITED NATIONS
Additionally, collaborative arrangements HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
with the secretariats of MEAs resulted
in advances in terms of joining forces
on common issues, including:
The consideration of a set of

options to enhance synergies
on programmatic, institutional and
administrative areas of work across
six biodiversity-related MEAs.
The agreement between MEA

secretariats and UNEP partner
organizations of a common multi-
stakeholder thesaurus for the field
of environmental law and conventions.
This resulted in enhanced integration
of knowledge available to users
through INFORMEA, an information
portal for MEAs, across over 50
global and regional multilateral
environmental agreements.
A Regional Seas Strategic Directions

2017-2020 plan adopted at the 17th
regional seas conventions and action
plans meeting.
For more information on the work

of UNEP-hosted global MEAs,
see page 52.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals. UN PHOTO

ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE
Law and institutions At the international level, UNEP

convened processes to promote
Through UNEPs support, 11 countries effective transboundary freshwater
undertook new legal and institutional governance, the concept of
measures to improve implementation environmental rule of law and Access
of internationally agreed environmental to Information, Public Participation
goals over the last two years. Two and Access to Justice in Environmental
countries also undertook initiatives Matters (Principle 10) to enhance
to monitor and achieve compliance capacities of government stakeholders.
and enforcement of international A regional forum was held in Panama
environmental obligations. for Latin America and the Caribbean
to share practices. Noteworthy is
Partnerships with regional and global progress in the negotiation of a
organizations, such as the Organization regional agreement on Principle
of American States (OAS) and Globe 10, which benefited from UNEPs
International (a global legislators support. On environmental rule
organization), have helped to scale of law, partnerships were developed, Oyun Sanjaasuren, who presided over the
regional colloquia held and a global first UNEA and will stand down in 2016.
up UNEPs work on law, leading to the
report initiated. Francis Dejon
uptake of the concept of environmental
rule of law in regional contexts and
to more systemic approaches to the Mainstreaming
engagement of parliamentarians. environmental sustainability Implementing United
UNEP also aims to increase the number
Nations Environment
Fifteen countries finalized, in
of initiatives and partnerships of major the past year, UN Development
Assembly (UNEA)
groups and stakeholders in support of Assistance Frameworks (UNDAFs) resolutions
the development and implementation that incorporated the principles
of national and international of environmental sustainability. Air Quality (UN Environment
environmental law. UNEPs target Furthermore, the Poverty- Assembly resolution 1/7)
was achieved with the conclusion Environment Initiative, which UNEP The World Health Assembly adopted
of partnership agreements with the runs in collaboration with the UN a resolution on Health and the
Stakeholder Forum and the Konrad Development Programme, resulted Environment: Addressing the health
Adenauer Foundation. UNEPs in the integration of environment impact of air pollution. Air quality data
partnership with the Stakeholder objectives into a total of 21 policies, was made accessible via UNEP Live,
Forum aims to embed the perspectives plans and processes focusing on and regional plans were adopted. An
of major groups and stakeholders poverty reduction over the past air policy quality catalogue was made
in the work of UNEP, including two years. available as a step toward a global
access to information, justice and air quality report for UNEA 2. See In
public participation in environmental Eight sub-regional and regional Focus feature in the Environment Under
matters. UNEPs partnership with the fora incorporated the principles of Review chapter (page 49) for more
Konrad Adenauer Foundation aims environmental sustainability in 2014- information on air quality.
to enhance the capacities of judges 2015. These intergovernmental
and legal stakeholders in the field of sessions, which covered several Illegal Trade in Wildlife
environmental rule of law, particularly regions and sub-regions (Africa, Arab (UN Environment Assembly
in Africa. States, Asia and the Pacific, Central resolution 1/3)
Asia, Europe, Latin America and the
15
30 projects totaling $2 million were
Caribbean and Small Island Developing funded from African Elephant Fund.
States), provided a strategic link Analyses of environmental impacts of
between global and regional priorities. the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife
The fora promoted the uptake of global products were initiated. See In Focus
environmental priorities at the regional feature on page 31 for more on UNEPs
and national levels. They also came
work on the illegal wildlife trade.
up with messages that feed into global
processes, such as the upcoming
COUNTRIES second United Nations Environment
Assembly (UNEA-2).
work on environmental governance,
FINALIZED, IN THE PAST YEAR, visit unep.org or follow us on
UN DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE Facebook or Twitter.
FRAMEWORKS (UNDAFS) THAT
INCORPORATED THE PRINCIPLES OF
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.

IN FOCUS
SOUTH AFRICAN ANTI-POACHING Members of the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching

Unit, who won UNEPs 2015 Champions of
UNIT INSPIRES GLOBAL ACTION

the Earth Award. UNEP
Collet Ngobeni and Felicia Mogakane where more than 100,000 elephants implications of the illegal trade,
are most at home in the wide open were killed in a three-year period alone. helping countries to strengthen legal
spaces of Balule Private Game More Black Mambas are clearly needed. frameworks and by increasing the
Reserve in South Africa. There, they evidencebase to enable countries
form part of the Black Mamba Anti- Community-led initiatives are crucial to hone their policies.
Poaching Unit, a majority-women to combating the illegal wildlife
ranger group facing up to criminal trade, said UNEP Executive Director UNEP has also been asked by the
gangs poaching rhinos for profit. Achim Steiner. The Black Mambas Secretary-Generals Policy Committee to
are an inspiration not only locally, facilitate the coordinated UN response
But last September the two women but across the world to all those to the illegal trade. It also facilitates
found themselves in New York City working to eliminate the scourge access to the Global Environment
to receive the UNEP Champions of of the illegal wildlife trade. Facility and other resources, including
the Earth award on behalf of the Black the African Elephant Fund.
Mambas providing inspiration and The Black Mambas are part of a
action in the fight against the illegal growing global movement. Last year, Further momentum will be generated
trade in wildlife. 32 countries pledged tougher action this year as the UNs flagship day for
during the Conference on Illegal public environmental outreach, World
Aims like the Sustainable Wildlife Trade in Kasane, Botswana. Environment Day, hosted by Angola,
Development Goals may seem This followed a resolution adopted by will focus on the ITW theme and support
beyond the scope of an ordinary 157 countries gathered for the first-ever for Sustainable Development Goal 15.
person, said NoCry Mzimba, UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) in
another member of the Black 2014. Then, in July 2015, the UN General NoCry knows that everybody must play
Mambas. But we are all ordinary Assembly adopted a resolution calling their part to put an end to the slaughter.
people. UNEP gave us the for wildlife crime to be treated as a
Champions of the Earth award serious crime, both nationally and across I do not know who you are, but
for what weve accomplished borders. The international community I am sure that you can help, she
as ordinary people. has undertaken other steps to address said. We all have the power to get
the crisis on the demand side. For informed, make smart choices and
The Black Mambas walk up to 20km a example, nine internet enterprises in influence others.
day, seeking out poachers, their camps China have committed to not offering
and snares. When not on patrol, they publicity or trading services for illegal For more information on the
discourage community members from wildlife products on their networks. Champions of the Earth award,
joining the poachers ranks. Such work including the other 2015 laureates,
is vital in South Africa, where 1,215 UNEP is now concentrating on see page 56 or visit web.unep.org/
rhinos were killed in 2014. The rapid the implementation of the UNEA- champions
rise in rhino poaching, from under 20 1 Resolution on Illegal Trade in
in 2007, has been driven by organized Wildlife through coordinating a One
syndicates capitalizing on demand. This UN and Partners Global Campaign
is representative of the situation facing to raise awareness on the social,
many species across the continent, security, economic and environmental

ENSURING SOUND
MANAGEMENT OF
CHEMICALS AND WASTE
34 UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME Image Anders Andersson ANNUAL REPORT 2015 35
CHEMICALS AND WASTE
To achieve sound with assistance from UNEP, now has 128 The Secretariat of the Special
signatories and 20 Parties, up from 94 Programme is now fully operational with
management of chemicals signatory countries and only one Party 11 million from the European Union,
and waste, essential to the in 2013. $180,000 from Sweden, 200,000 from
attainment of Sustainable Finland and $750,000 from the United
Development Goal 3 on The Global Mercury States of America.
healthy people, UNEP Partnership Supporting In addition, 2015 was a key year for
focuses on three areas: implementation of the the UNEP-hosted Montreal Protocol
Minamata Convention on Substances that Deplete the
The enabling environment Ozone Layer, under which nations
Supporting countries to build the have prompted the healing of the
Ratification and early implementation
institutional capacity and policies to ozone layer by almost completely
of the Minamata Convention on
manage chemicals and waste soundly. phasing out Ozone-Depleting
Mercury is facilitated by UNEPs
Global Mercury Partnership an Substances. The 197 parties agreed
Chemicals Assisting countries, to work on an amendment to the
alliance that enables countries to
including major groups and Protocol to control hydrofluorocarbons
address the adverse effects of
stakeholders, to implement sound (HFCs), a replacement in cooling
mercury. By December 2015, 50
chemicals management and the systems that does not damage the
countries were carrying out initial
related Multilateral Environmental ozone layer but may eventually act
assessments for the convention.
Agreements (MEAs). as a climate warming gas (see page
The Global Mercury Partnership and 52 on MEAs for more details).
Waste Assisting countries, including
the Strategic Approach to International
major groups and stakeholders, to
implement sound waste management
Chemicals Management (SAICM) are The Strategic Approach
and the related MEAs.
important vehicles to support countries to International Chemicals
to create the appropriate enabling
environment for action. They facilitate
Management (SAICM)
The enabling environment wide-ranging action to achieve results
SAICM, for which UNEP provides the
with direct benefits to human health and
Over the last two years, 17 countries Secretariat, promotes chemical safety
the environment. A voluntary trust fund,
adopted policies promoting sound around the world. All projects funded
known as the Special Programme on
management of chemicals and by SAICMs Quick Start Programme
institutional capacity strengthening
waste, exceeding UNEPs target (QSP) Trust Fund contribute to the
designed to support nations on SAICM
for December 2015. This increase achievement of the 2020 goal of sound
and the Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm
stemmed from countries that ratified chemicals management. A recent
(BRS) and Minamata conventions
the Minamata Convention on Mercury. evaluation found the programme had
was adopted at the first United Nations
This convention, which governments met, and in many cases exceeded,
Environment Assembly in June 2014.
adopted to tackle global emissions its objective of establishing enabling
of the toxic element in 2013, environments for sound management
of chemicals at the national level.
A girl suffering from hearing and speech disorders

waits at a rehabilitation centre in Bhopal, India.
The centre only treats families they believe were
affected by the 1984 leak from a pesticide factory.
Danish Siddiqui / Reuters

STRATEGIC APPROACH TO INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS MANAGEMENT
QUICK START PROGRAMME SINCE 2006
US $49.1 MILLION
MOBILIZED BY THE TRUST FUND
COMPRISING FROM $
$39.4
MILLION
IN CASH CONTRIBUTIONS
$ 24
DONORS
AND $9.7 MILLION ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS
LEVERAGED BY PROJECT IMPLEMENTERS
$74.1 MILLION
IN ADDITION
19 IN NON-TRUST FUND
CONTRIBUTION FROM
CONTRIBUTORS
108 54
DIFFERENT
21 LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES PROJECTS WITH CIVIL
COUNTRIES AND/OR SMALL ISLAND SOCIETY PARTNERS
DEVELOPING STATES (SIDS)
163
PROJECTS WITH
14
APPLICATION
184 APPROVED
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS ROUNDS PROJECTS

CHEMICALS AND WASTE
Chemicals A key component of UNEPs approach The PCB Elimination

is the promotion of the use of waste
agricultural biomass as a source of
Network (PEN)
UNEP aims to increase the number
of governments, businesses energy. Agricultural biomass waste can
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are
and industries, and civil society replace fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse
carbon-based chemical substances that
organizations addressing priority gas emissions and provide energy
to 1.6 billion people in developing persist in the environment, accumulate
chemical issues using its risk through the food web in the fatty tissue
assessment and management tools. countries. Working with UNEP,
Cambodia, Costa Rica and India have of living organisms, including humans,
Over the last two years, 14 governments,
developed strategies to enhance the and cause adverse effects to human
21 businesses and industries and 12
conversion of agricultural biomass waste health and the environment. In the
civil society organizations addressed
into energy, with businesses putting past PCBs were used as coolants and
priority chemical issues with UNEPs
in place appropriate technologies to insulating fluids for transformers and
support. Lesotho, Swaziland and Viet
scale-up results. capacitors, such as those used in old
Nam conducted national mercury
inventories, while Madagascar identified fluorescent light ballasts. Today, up
alternatives for mercury-free products. UNEP has also placed a sharper focus to 9.3 million tonnes still need to be
Several mining companies in Chile and on waste as a resource and the eliminated, with the largest amounts
Peru implemented best practices, and circular economy. A good foundation found in Africa and the Asia-Pacific
dental associations in Tanzania and for these approaches was laid by the region. To address this challenge,
Uganda promoted the phasing out of Global Waste Management Outlook, UNEP helped to establish the PCB
dental mercury amalgam. Furthermore, which found that up to 10 billion Elimination Network (PEN), for which
several non-governmental organizations tonnes of urban waste is generated it serves as the secretariat.
advocated for the UNEP-supported DDT each year. The report pointed to
Road Map, which focuses on phasing ways to eradicate this waste, such as
out this harmful persistent organic the inclusion of informal recyclers in
pollutant (POP). Another key highlight municipal waste management systems
of UNEPs work on chemicals has been which, for example, diverts 1,200
progress on lead (see In Focus feature tonnes of waste daily from landfills
on page 37). and employs 8,250 people in Bogot,
Colombia. Together with other key
elements, such as the development of
Waste an academic consortium to create a
waste management curriculum and the
UNEP works with governments,
preparation of guidelines for a legislative
businesses and industries, and civil
framework on waste management,
society organizations to help them
this strengthens the basis for UNEPs
address priority waste issues. Over
future work on waste management and
the last two years, seven national and
prevention issues.
local governments, nine businesses
and industries, and seven civil society
organizations addressed priority waste UNEPs North America Director Patricia Beneke
work on chemicals and waste, (far right), Goodwill Ambassador Don Cheadle
issues, bringing the total number of
visit unep.org or follow us on (far left) and members of the Global Alliance
countries doing so to 22.
Facebook or Twitter. to Eliminate Lead Paint announce the goal
of eliminating lead paint by 2020 at Earth
Day celebrations in Washington, D.C.
Alexander Jones
Agricultural biomass generated per year

GLOBAL CAMBODIA INDIA COSTA RICA
140 8.3 415.5 27

BILLION MILLION MILLION MILLION
METRIC TONNES METRIC TONNES METRIC TONNES METRIC TONNES
EQUIVALENT TO EQUIVALENT TO EQUIVALENT TO EQUIVALENT TO
APPROXIMATELY APPROXIMATELY APPROXIMATELY APPROXIMATELY
50 3.6 103.9 86,487

BILLION MILLION MILLION TERAJOULES
TONNES OF OIL TONNES OF OIL TONNES OF OIL OF PRIMARY ENERGY

IN FOCUS
AFTER LEAD FUEL PHASE OUT, Children can ingest lead from old paint flakes.
Shutterstock / Mike Red
UNEP TARGETING LEAD PAINT

Abraham Berhane, who runs a paint In 2002, lead was used in fuels in 82 While paints with very high lead content
company of 40 employees in Addis countries. Today, with UNEP and its are still on the market in other countries,
Ababa, Ethiopia, had no idea that his partners support, only three countries the situation is changing. At the sessions
products held the potential to harm still have lead in fuels. This means that in Ethiopia, Mehari Wondimagegn,
Ethiopias future generations. In 2015, most of the damage comes from paint a senior official in Ethiopias Ministry
however, he and participants from which is why UNEP and WHO, leading of Environment, Forest, and Climate
government ministries and companies the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Change, announced that his department
from across Africa attended a Paint, are working across the globe to is developing regulations to establish
workshop organized by UNEP and replicate the success with fuel. UNEP, a 90 ppm standard for decorative
the International POPs Elimination WHO and partners such as IPEN are paints. Representatives of other African
Network (IPEN) part of a series of supporting nations to put in place the governments also agreed to work
events held across the continent. legal and regulatory frameworks to towards introducing legislation that
Abraham was shocked to discover control lead paints and products coated would limit the total lead content in all
the potential health effects of his with lead paints. Over the last two years, paints to 90 ppm by 2020. Movement
colourful paints, which used pigments 23 countries took action, bringing the is also taking place at a regional level,
containing lead. total number of countries with legal including the East African Community
and regulatory frameworks on lead and the Economic Community of West
Childhood lead poisoning can have in paints to 58. African States.
lifelong health impacts, including
learning disabilities, anaemia, and In the Philippines, for example, Abraham, however, knows that business
disorders in coordination, visual, spatial legislation now prohibits the use, has a responsibility to act, and is not
and language skills. According to the manufacture, import, export and sale waiting for legislation to change his
World Health Organization (WHO), of paints with total lead content above business practices.
childhood lead exposure contributes to 90 ppm, with demonstrable results.
about 600,000 new cases of children The testing of five paint brands revealed Lead in paint is a silent gun,
with intellectual disabilities every year. that the lead content has dropped from he says. You cannot hear it harming
The economic cost, due to lower IQ 2,330-126,000 ppm to 15-1,280 ppm. your childrens bodies. My company
points, translates to over $900 billion Sri Lanka and Nepal recently introduced will stop selling paint containing
around the globe ($137 billion in Africa, similar legal limits to lead in paint. lead. I will also talk to other
$142 billion in Latin America, and $700 companies in Ethiopia. Business
billion in Asia). should be like this.

ACCELERATING THE
TRANSITION TO
SUSTAINABLE SOCIETIES
40 UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME Image Mike Theiss / National Geographic Creative ANNUAL REPORT 2015 41
RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABLE
On resource efficiency and Enabling environment Green Economy in Europe

sustainable consumption
UNEP supports countries and UNEP supported six Eastern European
and production which is a regions to integrate green economy countries through the EU-financed
standalone goal in the 2030 and sustainable consumption and Greening Economies in the Eastern
Agenda for Sustainable production approaches into policies. Neighbourhood (EaP-GREEN)
Development, but also Green economies are low carbon, programme. Using scoping studies and
resource efficient and inclusive, and
impacts on other goals such create employment and enhance
training, this programme shows how
economic growth can be decoupled
as climate change, poverty, human well-being all essential from environmental degradation and
zero hunger, and sustained, to the implementation of the 2030 resource depletion in Armenia, Georgia,
inclusive and sustainable Agenda for Sustainable Development Azerbaijan, the Republic of Moldova,
and the Paris Agreement.
economic growth UNEP Belarus and Ukraine.
focuses on three areas: Over the last two years, with UNEPs Moldova can expect to earn back
support, eight countries and nine investments in renewable energy within
Enabling environment Supporting cities developed and/or started
ten years, for example. Investments
countries in creating an enabling policy implementing sustainable consumption
environment that promotes resource in energy efficiency in the country can
and production and green economy
efficiency, sustainable consumption offer savings in energy consumption
policies, meeting UNEPs target for the
and production and the transition to worth over 100 million by 2020.
end of 2015. This brings the total to
green economy pathways. 29 countries and nine cities that have
adopted or started the implementation The foundations were also laid for
Sectors and supply Enhancing of sustainable consumption and Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine to adopt
the ability of governments, businesses production and green economy their first sustainable public procurement
and other parties to adopt sustainable pathways since 2011 including those plans thanks to UNEP guidance.
consumption and production engaged through the Partnership for This work will boost the domestic
practices in key sectors across Action on Green Economy (PAGE). market for sustainable products.
global supply chains.
Lifestyles and consumption

The International Resource Panel,
which provides policymakers with MOLDOVA CAN
SAVE $100
Enhancing the ability of countries, scientific assessments and reports
businesses, civil society and on how to decouple economic growth
MILLION
individual consumers to make from environmental impact, is another
informed choices for sustainable important way to improve the enabling
consumption and lifestyles. policy environment. Over the last two
BY 2020
years the UNEP-hosted body has
released influential reports on metal
recycling, climate change and city-level
resource decoupling approaches.
BY INVESTING IN
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
29
COUNTRIES
AND NINE CITIES HAVE
ADOPTED OR STARTED
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION
AND PRODUCTION AND
GREEN ECONOMY PATHWAYS
SINCE 2011.
A traffic light for cyclists next to a combined heat and power plant in Hanover, Germany. The plant is
powered with natural gas and produces 255 MW electrical and 185 MW district heating at an efficiency
factor of 90%. Wolfgang Rattay / Reuters

Illustrative policy changes Changes in practices resulting from UNEP support
in countries and cities
Country Sector/Area of support Result
Mongolia adopted a Green
Development Strategy with France Tourism 34 professionals and
UNEPs assistance. eight businesses achieved
environmental certification
Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar, labels and standards. Certified
Ethiopia, mainstreamed sustainable businesses decreased their
consumption and production energy and water consumption.
and green economy approaches The city of Nantes became
into urban policy instruments. the first European city to have
co-certified hotel rooms.
Rwanda and Brazil began
implementing sustainable India Buildings and A social housing developer
consumption and production plans. Construction involved in slum re-development
adopted sustainable design
standards, increasing energy
Da Nang, Viet Nam, defined
efficiency.
its resource footprint and
established targets to become
more resource efficient.
Sectors and supply Global Eco-Innovation and 175 stakeholders exposed to

Supply Chains UNEPs operational approach to
At the core of UNEPs work is eco-innovation to boost profitability
enhancing the capacity of governments, and sustainability in three supply
businesses and other parties to chains (agri-food, metals and
adopt sustainable production and chemicals). 11 countries selected
consumption practices in global supply for implementation.
chains in building and construction,
food and agriculture (see the In Focus
feature on page 43), finance and tourism Sweden Buildings and A construction company changed
sectors. Over the last two years, with Construction its sourcing and selection of
UNEP support, 140 countries, institutions construction materials of its
and businesses improved management 50,000 suppliers. As a result
practices or strategies in these sectors, overall sustainability of its
bringing the total number reporting products has increased.
improved practices and the use of
more resource-efficient tools to 222.
The financial sector is an increasingly

vital target for UNEP engagement, which
the organization carries out through
both the UNEP Finance Initiative
(see Climate Change chapter for more
details) and the UNEP Inquiry, which in
2015 launched its report: The Financial
System We Need: Aligning the Financial
System with Sustainable Development.
THE UNEP INQUIRY REPORT DELIVERS
The report, which shows how to harness A VISION OF EMBEDDING SUSTAINABLE
the assets of the worlds financial system
for sustainability, found that financial DEVELOPMENT INTO THE CORE OF
policymakers and regulators were
increasingly taking steps to integrate FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL MARKETS.
sustainable development considerations
into financial systems to make them
YI GANG, DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF THE PEOPLES BANK OF CHINA
fit for the 21st century. In Peru,
for example, new due diligence
requirements have been introduced
for banks to help reduce social and
environmental externalities.

RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABLE
Lifestyles and consumption

UNEP aims to provide enabling
conditions for promoting more
sustainable consumption choices and
lifestyles. Progress here is demonstrated
by the number of public and private sector
institutions that put in place policies
and measures conducive to sustainable
consumption patterns. Supporting
sustainable public procurement is
one way to stimulate demand for, and
supply of, sustainable products. Over
the last two years, UNEP supported
20 countries on sustainable public
procurement. Six of these countries are
developing or implementing action plans
in close coordination with the 10-Year
Framework of Programmes on Sustainable
Consumption and Production Patterns
(10YFP), which is running programmes
on Consumer Information, Sustainable
Lifestyles and Education, Sustainable
Public Procurement, Sustainable Buildings
and Construction, Sustainable Food
Systems, and Sustainable Tourism.
Additionally, with UNEPs support, 27
companies based in Brazil, Cameroon,
Colombia, India, Peru and Uganda
have increasingly used life cycle-based
approaches and tools.
UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner and Goodwill Ambassador Yaya Tour arrive at World
Environment Day 2015 celebrations in Italy in an electric car. The event ran under the theme
Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume With Care. The worlds premier day for environmental
action engaged the global community to encourage sustainable consumption practices. UNEP
Bogot, Colombia
In Bogot, Colombia, 22 companies organized in a Life Cycle Management network and completed training in compliance.
They are now implementing environmental management systems using life-cycle approaches.
Kashipur, India
In Kashipur, India, a company in the chemicals sector integrated life-cycle approaches into management practices.
Education and awareness-raising are For more information on UNEPs

also important enabling conditions for work on Resource Efficiency,
more sustainable lifestyles. Over the last visit unep.org or follow us on
two years, UNEP supported activities Facebook or Twitter.
that catalyzed the engagement of 18
stakeholders into the promotion of
sustainable lifestyles including through
the joint UNEP/Food and Agriculture
Organization initiative on reducing food
waste, Think.Eat.Save. bringing the
total to 28 stakeholders. This brings the
cumulative total to 82.
Kaveh Zahedi, UNEPs Director for Asia and the Pacific,
explains UNEPs work on food waste to Channel News
Asia during a Think.Eat.Save event in Bangkok. UNEP

IN FOCUS
NEW RICE STANDARD BRINGS Rice farmers across Asia, such as the
Cambodian woman pictured, are set
HOPE TO SMALLHOLDER FARMERS

to benefit from a new sustainability standard.
AFP Photo / Tang Chhin Sothy
Like most small farmers in Global agribusiness giant Mars Food, The SRP Standard comes with tools
Cambodia, Rong Hom, a 44-year- one of several food industry leaders and trainings for farmers. For instance,
old from the village of Skol in the to have joined the SRP, has already farmers such as Rong will be trained
southwest, faces growing threats promised to sustainably source 100% on how to minimize their use of
from drought and rising fertilizer of its rice by 2020 through the standard. inorganic fertilizers, saving them money
prices. She doesnt know how long and reducing their greenhouse gas
her 1.5 hectare rice paddy can The benefit for us is that is that emissions, thus contributing to the
insulate her family from poverty. we are ensuring premium quality global fight against climate change.
rice, whilst also ensuring benefits Farmers will also be taught how to keep
However, the worlds first sustainability for farmers, and a better their paddies free from invasive species,
standard for rice, launched in October environment for current and and how to introduce fallow periods to
2015, gives her hope. Rong, like many future generations, said Fiona help maintain their lands fertility.
of her smallholder peers in Cambodias Dawson, president of Mars.
Takeo and Pursat provinces, believes Rice Partners Ltd, a venture-backed
that implementing a globally accepted Rice, the daily staple for 3.5 billion business in Pakistan that works with
standard, as she is set to do, can lead people, sustains the livelihoods of more rural smallholder rice farmers, is already
to higher prices, stronger markets and than 140 million smallholder farmers using the standard and has high hopes
ultimately better food security for her and is grown on over 160 million for significant impact.
and her family. hectares globally, an area larger than
Mongolia. It plays a critical role in food The standard indicators are
The 46 criteria of the Standard for security; therefore, finding a way to incredibly helpful in designing
Sustainable Rice Cultivation aim produce smarter is of major importance and implementing sustainable
to ensure that rice meets quality to the implementation of the 2030 rice supply chains worldwide.
requirements and its cultivation benefits Agenda for Sustainable Development. They have the potential to directly
the environment, the economy and Currently, the crop uses more than impact the worlds poorest farming
society at large. The standard can also 30% of the worlds irrigation water communities, said Aamer A.
be used to measure the sustainability and is responsible for 5-10% of Sarfraz, the companys founder.
of rice production systems and as a emissions of methane, a greenhouse We now have a framework against
policy tool to promote wide adoption gas. Intensive and inefficient use of which we can measure our goals
of sustainable rice farming. agrochemicals adds to farmer costs of increasing farmer livelihoods,
and undermines the long-term protecting the environment,
The standard was developed by sustainability of rice farming. improving water efficiency and
the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP), strengthening women workers.
a global alliance convened by UNEP
and the International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI) that comprises 32 rice
research institutions, supply chain
actors, and public sector and civil
society organizations.

PROMOTING EVIDENCE-BASED
DECISION MAKING THROUGH
INTEGRATED KNOWLEDGE
46 UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME Image Peter Ginter / Corbis Images ANNUAL REPORT 2015 47
ENVIRONMENT UNDER REVIEW
To keep the environment Assessment, early The UNs Chief Executives Board
(CEB) in its session of 29 April 2015
under review, UNEP focuses warning and information recognized the innovative contribution
on bridging the gap between management that UNEP Live is making to harness
the producers and users of the data revolution.
UNEPs work builds a strong foundation
environmental information, for the next generation of integrated Through UNEP Live, UNEP is offering
better linking science environmental assessments and enables countries an online reporting tool to
to policy. To do so, the access to near real-time environmental facilitate and strengthen data sharing,
organization focuses data for analysis and decision-making collection, analysis and reporting. This
allowing policy makers working on the
on three areas: implementation of the 2030 Agenda for
national reporting tool, the Indicator
Reporting Information System (IRIS),
Sustainable Development and the Paris was developed with support from the
Assessment Facilitating global,
Agreement to make decisions based on Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data
regional and national policy-making
the latest information. Initiative (AGEDI). UNEP also supports
from environmental information made
available on open platforms. initiatives to make credible nationally
The innovative online UNEP Live generated data with country-specific
platform is designed to support environmental information accessible
Early warning Enabling better policy
assessments by making available in comparable formats on public
planning that incorporates information
global, regional and national data platforms. In the context of the GeoSUR
on emerging environmental issues.
and knowledge. UNEP Live includes programme, the geographic services
national data flows from 192 countries, of Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico
Information management
lists global environmental reporting and Uruguay are now sharing spatial
Enhancing the capacity of countries
obligations for each country, and hosts environmental data and information
to generate, access, analyze, use
a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) using web-mapping services.
and communicate environmental
portal and nine Communities of Practice
information and knowledge.
with over 1,500 members. Near real-time
data and maps available in UNEP Live
cover a range of themes from air quality
and sea-level rise to resource efficiency
indicators, the Antarctic ozone hole,
marine plastics and threatened species.
UNEP LIVE INCLUDES

NATIONAL DATA FLOWS
FROM 192 COUNTRIES, LISTS
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL
REPORTING OBLIGATIONS
FOR EACH COUNTRY, AND
HOSTS A SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT GOAL
(SDG) PORTAL AND NINE
COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE
WITH OVER 1,500 MEMBERS.
A large lightning strike seen from the International Space Station. NASA / Reuters

National Reporting System Key priorities identified By strengthening the science-policy
interface, UNEP aims to increase the
for the six regional GEO-6 number of UN agencies and Multilateral
Demonstrated in 20 countries
assessments to be launched Environmental Agreements (MEAs), as
Piloted in the United Arab Emirates in May 2016 well as national, regional and global fora
by AGEDI that use data on environmental trends.
Africa: Protecting and valuing UNEP exceeded its target for December
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kazakhstan Africas natural capital 2015 for UN agencies and MEAs and
and Kyrgyzstan exploring the tool met the target set for use by fora and
and open platforms for national use Asia and the Pacific: A healthy institutions. For example, the first
environment for sustainable volume of the Uganda Wetlands Atlas
Samoa leading the charge among development of economies which used satellite observation to track
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) wetland changes in the urban areas of
Europe: Well-being as the ultimate Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso led to
goal for development the initiation of an agreement on
The sixth Global Environment Outlook a wetlands restoration programme.
(GEO-6), currently in progress, is now Latin American and the Caribbean:
able to benefit from the data flows Governing natural wealth UNEP also aims to increase the
available in UNEP Live. Six Regional number of stakeholders that are
Environmental Information Network North America: Using data leadership, taking up scenarios and early warning
conferences were convened to identify cities as living laboratories, and on emerging environmental issues
key priorities and emerging issues to governance partnerships for the in their assessment and policy
inform regional GEO-6 assessments and environment development processes. UNEPs
to discuss open access and data sharing early warning work, such as the UNEP
in the context of UNEP Live and open West Asia: Peace and good Year Book 2014, creates attention
data platforms. environmental governance for and fosters timely action on emerging
sustainable development environmental issues that threaten
sustainable development.
FACILITATING THE DIALOGUE

BETWEEN SCIENCE, CIVIL
SOCIETY AND POLICY
MAKERS IS WHAT MAKES
UNEP TICK. THERE IS NO
POINT HAVING THE BEST
SCIENTIFIC DATA
AND THE MOST BRILLIANT
MINDS IF THEIR OUTPUT
CANNOT SERVE THE NEEDS
OF PLANET AND PEOPLE.
ACHIM STEINER,
UNEP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Shoebill is facing extinction as a result of human encroachment on wetlands. The Uganda Wetlands
Atlas has played a part in a new wetlands restoration programme. STR New / Reuters

ENVIRONMENT UNDER REVIEW
To track progress towards the

implementation of the environmental
dimension of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, countries
need to be empowered to monitor
trends and manage data. A new SDG
portal hosted on UNEP Live visualizes
the linkages from the proposed
indicators to targets and goals. Earth
observation offers new opportunities
to keep the environment under review.
At the 2015 Eye on Earth summit,
major players in environmental data
committed to implementing a set of
practical mechanisms to close the data
gap that hampers decision- and policy-
making for sustainable development.
UNEP is committed to working with
partners in the framework of the Global
Earth Observation System of Systems,
including on SDG indicators based on
remote-sensing data, to ensure that
countries have access to the relevant
data flows that allow them to undertake
regular indicator-based assessments
and to report on progress towards
relevant SDG targets.

work on keeping the environment
under review, visit unep.org or
follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
Progress towards sustainability can only be achieved if women and men are equally involved in
development. UNEP is working with others on the first Global Gender and Environment Outlook.
Olivia Harris / Reuters
Eye on Earth is part of a movement to harness big data for policy-making. Kim Kyung Hoon / Reuters

IN FOCUS
LOW-COST DEVICE HELPS PREVENT Children ride their bicycles while wearing face
masks to protect them from pollution in Indonesia.
DEATHS FROM AIR POLLUTION

UNEPs air quality monitor can help track pollution
hotspots to inform policy-making. AFP / Subex
A ground-breaking air quality 88% of deaths related to outdoor governments to assemble or fabricate
measuring device prototyped pollution occur in low and middle- the units themselves, creating
by UNEP, expected to cost up income countries. Yet it is these same opportunities for innovation, enterprise
to 100 times less than high-end developing countries that typically development and green job creation.
solutions, can revolutionize air lack access to data on their air quality. Since the launch in September, many
quality measurement in UNEPs device can spark a data boom requests have been received from
developing countries and help to help countries reduce the negative companies, researchers, institutions
prevent deaths from air pollution. effects of air pollution. and agencies.
The device will cost around $1,500 Many African cities suffer the The prototype is being tested in Nairobi,
per unit, allowing governments and consequences of poor air quality, Kenya home to UNEPs headquarters.
local authorities to establish low-cost mainly due to high levels of particulate The testing is being conducted in
networks of stationary and mobile air matter, containing hazardous airborne cooperation with the Kenyan Ministry
monitoring stations. chemicals. Most fine particulate matter of Environment and Natural Resources
comes from fuel combustion, both from and the Nairobi County.
Currently, the UNEP Live platform vehicles and stationary sources such as
enables viewing of near real-time power plants, industry and households. We would like to establish as many
monitoring data of air quality from 2000 as 50 more units with the assistance
stations across the world. However, UNEPs device can measure the of UNEP, said Prof. Judi Wakhungu,
only a few of those stations are located concentration of fine particulate Kenyas Cabinet Secretary for
in developing countries and their setup matter, considered by the World Health Environment, Natural Resources and
and calibration varies. Large-scale Organization to have the greatest effect Regional Development Authorities.
deployment of the new device can on human health. It also records the With more such units, Kenya will
bridge this data gap and contribute concentration of sulphur and nitrogen easily map air pollution hotspots
to standardization of data collection. oxides and can be extended to measure in the urban and rural areas.
other gases such as ozone.
Each year, air pollution causes 7
million premature deaths around The unit was designed for affordability,
the world, with outdoor pollution with less frequent calibration required
responsible for more than half of and a durability of up to a couple of
that total. Tragically, these deaths years before replacing the device
are wholly preventable, said UNEP sensors. A built-in GPS system means
Executive Director Achim Steiner. that the device can also be used as
a mobile unit. UNEP is making the
blueprints publically available to

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
UNEPs role in Protect, restore and Ensure availability
environmental
15 LIFE ON LAND promote sustainable use
of terrestrial ecosystems,
6 CLEAN
WATER AND
and sustainable
management of water
SANITATION
sustainably manage and sanitation for all
sustainability for forests, combat
the 2030 Agenda desertification, and 1 12 15
halt and reverse land
degradation and halt
In September, the 2030 Agenda biodiversity loss
for Sustainable Development
was adopted. The 17 Sustainable 1 3 6 8
Development Goals (SDGs) aim to End hunger, achieve
end poverty, protect the planet, and
9 11 12
2 ZERO HUNGER food security and
improved nutrition
ensure peace and prosperity for all. and promote sustainable
agriculture
About half of the SDGs are directly Take urgent action to
environmental in focus or address 13 CLIMATE
ACTION
combat climate change
and its impacts
1 5 10
the sustainability of natural 11 12 14
resources: poverty, health, 1 7 8 11 12
food and agriculture, water and
sanitation, human settlements,
energy, climate change, sustainable
consumption and production,
oceans, and terrestrial ecosystems.
UNEP promotes environmental Promote sustained,

sustainability as a crucial enabling 8 DECENT WORK
AND ECONOMIC
inclusiveand sustainable
economic growth,
factor in ensuring the health of our GROWTH
full and productive
planet, and is committed to working employment and
with all parties to ensure the decent work for all
success of the ambitious agenda.
1 10 12
End poverty in all its Ensure sustainable

1 NO POVERTY forms everywhere 12 RESPONSIBLE
CONSUMPTION
consumption and
production patterns
AND
5 10 12 16 PRODUCTION
1 2 8
11 14 15
Make cities and human

11 SUSTAINABLE
CITIES AND
settlements inclusive,
safe, resilient and
COMMUNITIES
sustainable
1 2 3 8
9 12 13 Ensure access to
7 AFFORDABLE
AND CLEAN
affordable, reliable,
sustainable and
ENERGY modern energy for all
1 2 3 4 6
10 12 14 15
Build resilient
9 INDUSTRY,
INNOVATION AND
infrastructure, promote
inclusive and sustainable
INFRASTRUCTURE
industrialization and
foster innovation
1 2 4 8
10 12 13
X = Related goal

HEALTHY
ECOSYSTEMS
IMPROVE
SOIL & WATER
COMBAT
CLIMATE
CHANGE PAR
TN
CA UILD
E RS H
B
I PS
PA ING
CIT
E
FIN AN C
SAFEGUARD
Y
THE OCEANS
PLANNIN L
G
NATIONA
LIVE &
E
PROSPER ENVIRONMENTAL
NC
HE ICY
DIMENSION OF
RE
CO POL
SUSTAINABLY
SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT IN
G
TECHN
R
ITO
O N
M
GOVERN THE
O
LOGY
TR SYSTEMATIC ENVIRONMENT
INCREASE A DE ISSUES
RESOURCE
EFFICIENCY
REDUCE
BOOST POLLUTION
RENEWABLE & WASTE
ENERGY
Reduce inequality within Ensure inclusive Conserve and

10 REDUCED
INEQUALITIES
and among countries 4 QUALITY
EDUCATION
and equitable
quality education
14 LIFE
WATER
BELOW sustainably use
the oceans, seas
1 12 14 15 and promote and marine resources
lifelong learning for sustainable
opportunities development
for all
1 2 8 15
1 8 12
Promote peaceful and Achieve gender Ensure healthy lives

16 PEACE,
JUSTICE AND
inclusive societies for
sustainable develop-
5 GENDER
EQUALITY
equality and
empower all
3 GOOD
HEALTH AND
and promote well-
being for all at all ages
STRONG WELL-BEING
ment, provide access to women and girls
INSTITUTIONS
justice for all and build 1 8 10
effective, accountable 1 2 3 4
and inclusive institutions 11 14 15
at all levels 6 7 8 9
1 10 12 10 11 12 13
14 15 16

MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS
UNEP-HOSTED GLOBAL CONVENTIONS IN 2015
The Vienna Convention for Synthesis Report Basel, Rotterdam and

of 2014 Assessments
the Protection of the Ozone The Montreal Protocol has led to the
Stockholm Conventions (BRS)
Layer and the Montreal phase-out of nearly 100% of production
Triple Conference of the Parties
Protocol on Substances that and consumption of ozone-depleting
and associated scientific and technical
Deplete the Ozone Layer substances globally. The Synthesis
assistance activities:
of the 2014 Reports of the Scientific,
Dubai Pathway Environmental Effects, and Technology
3 carbon-neutral meetings of the
Following six years of negotiations, & Economic Assessment Panels of the
conferences of the parties to the Basel,
the 197 parties agreed on the Dubai Montreal Protocol confirmed that the
Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions;
Pathway on Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), ozone layer is healing.
a plan to work within the Montreal 1,188 participants from 171 countries
Up to 2 million cases of skin cancer
Protocol to an amendment in 2016 and 84 non-governmental organizations;
may be prevented each year by 2030.
to control climate-change-inducing In the USA alone, 283 million cases of 74 Science Fair and Side Events;
HFCs. An HFC phase-down would skin cancer may be avoided for those
avoid estimated emissions of up to 105 73 decisions taken;
born between 1890 and 2100; 1.6 million
gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent deaths from skin cancer prevented; and 135 press articles published
by 2050, and up to 0.4C of warming 46 million cases of cataract prevented. from 35 countries;
by the end of the century.
The Montreal Protocol, through halting 3 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
ozone layer depletion, could save an added to the Stockholm Convention;
estimated $1.8 trillion in health care
1 pesticide added to the
costs and almost $460 billion in avoided
Rotterdam Convention;
damages to agriculture, fisheries,
and materials. 9 Technical Guidelines adopted
on hazardous waste streams and
ON AVERAGE, THE 30th Anniversary of
the Vienna Convention
3 Guidelines on Implementation
under the Basel Convention.
MOST-COMMON HFCS In 2015, the world marked the 30th
5 Monitoring reports on POPs levels
HAVE 2,500 TIMES anniversary of the Vienna Convention
for the Protection of the Ozone Layer.
in the environment and humans from
THE GLOBAL WARMING A digital campaign organized by UNEPs
5 UN regions;
POTENTIAL OF CO2 Ozone Secretariat to commemorate the

milestone reached 1,346,012 people.
1 Global Monitoring Plan Data
Warehouse providing public access
to global POPs data;
1,525 participants benefitted
from BRS Webinars, of which
52% were female.
Photo credits, from left to right: Biosphoto / Tobias Bernhard Raff, Robert Harding / Thorsten Milse,
Robert Harding / Adam Woolfitt, Robert Harding / Jochen Tack, Robert Harding / Ann & Steve Toon

Convention on Biological Convention on Migratory Convention on International
Diversity (CBD) Species (CMS) Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora
Andorra and the State of Palestine Afghanistan and Brazil ratified
ratified the Convention in 2015, the CMS in 2015, bringing the total 1 new Party to CITES
bringing the total number number of Parties to 122. the European Union;
of Parties to 196.
Comoros, Iran, Israel, Croatia, CITES-led International Consortium
168 Fifth National Reports, an important Lebanon, Spain and the Syrian Arab on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC)
source of information for review of Republic signed the Memorandum celebrated 5th anniversary;
progress towards the implementation of Understanding Concerning the
of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011- Conservation of Migratory Birds of 19 Parties to CITES developed and
2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, Prey in Africa and Eurasia, bringing the continued to implement National
have been completed. total number to 55. Of 20 raptor species Ivory Action Plans (NIAPs);
added to the Annex on this MoU, 17 62 countries in Africa, America, Asia
184 Parties have completed National
were vultures, which are facing a crisis and Europe worked together in ICCWC-
Biodiversity Strategies and Action
in Africa. backed cross-continent initiative;
Plans (NBSAPs), while 9 Parties are
developing their first plans. New Zealand signed the 64 Notifications to the Parties sent to
Memorandum on the Conservation 181 Contracting Parties to CITES;
Connecting Global Priorities of Migratory Sharks, bringing the total
Biodiversity and Human Health, launched number of signatories to 39. Operation COBRA III resulted in 139
in June 2015 at Green Week with the arrests and more than 247 seizures,
The 3rd Meeting of the Signatories including elephant ivory, rhino horns,
World Health Organization, drew on the
to the Saiga MOU adopted new pangolins, rosewood, tortoises and
expertise of over 100 scientists to detail
measures, including mitigating or many other plant and animal specimens;
the latest biodiversity loss.
removing obstacles to saiga antelope
migration, undertaking anti-poaching 290 participants at 28th meeting of
The Nagoya Protocol on Access to the CITES Animals Committee and 22nd
action and strengthening wildlife
Genetic Resources and the Fair and meeting of the CITES Plants Committee;
health management. The CMS sent an
Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising
emergency mission to investigate the CITES Facebook reached over
from their Utilization to the
deaths of over 211,000 saiga, which 400,000 followers;
Convention on Biological Diversity
occurred in Kazakhstan in May 2015.
13 new Parties, including Croatia and CITES Trade Database passed
Cuba, ratified the Nagoya Protocol in On the 25th Anniversary of the 15 million records;
2015, bringing the total to 70. Agreement on the Conservation
of Seals in the Wadden Sea, a 190 million people reached in CITES-
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to record number of harbour seal led social media campaign to celebrate
the Convention on Biological Diversity pups were counted. World Wildlife Day 2015 on Facebook
Cte dIvoire and the State of Palestine and Twitter alone.
ratified the Cartagena Protocol in 2015,
bringing the total number of parties
to 170.

KEY FINANCIALS
2014 2015
TOTAL 245 23
PLANNED
BUDGET 114
$MILLION 202
619 35
TOTAL 238
INCOME 39
$MILLION 154
777 346
TOTAL 239
32
EXPENDITURES
$MILLION 31 146
796 348
Earmarked Environment Regular *Expenditures were able to exceed income as a result of balances brought
Contributions Fund Budget forward from the past biennium that were to be spent in the 2014-2015
biennium. ** Income inclusive of programme support.
Programme These figures are indicative and could change when the final accounts
GEF
Support are completed in April 2016.

RECOGNITION OF DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS
9%
UNEP extends its heartfelt Graph 1: 2014-2015
5% Sources20%
of Funding
thanks to the donors and
partners for their continued 9%
generosity to UNEP. 5% 20%
9%
With their support, UNEP 31%5% 20% Environment Fund
received $777 million in 9%
Earmarked Contributions
total income for 2014- 5% 9% 20%
35%
5% 20% GEF
2015 a new record in 9%
31% UN Regular Budget
Fund & UNDA
UNEPs 43-year history. 20%
Environment
31%5% European Commission
Environment Fund
35%
Several important trends could GEF
31% 35% Environment Fund
be observed during the biennium. UN Regular Budget & UNDA
31% GEF
Environment Fund
Environment Fund income did not 35%
Earmarked
NetherlandsContributions
European
UN Commission
Regular Budget & UNDA
rise in line with the approved budget. Earmarked
GEF Contributions
31% 35% Germany
Some of the impact was mitigated by Environment Fund
European Commission
GEF
UN Regular Budget & UNDA
the availability of extra-budgetary 1% France
3% 35% UN Regular
European Budget & UNDA
Commission
funding from a number of partners, Finland
Netherlands
which could be allocated across the Graph
4%
2: Top 15 Contributors to the EnvironmentGEF
Fund in
European 2015
Commission
USA
Germany
Netherlands
UN Regular Budget & UNDA
seven sub-programmes. 4%
1% 13% United
France Kingdom
Germany
European Commission
4% Netherlands
Regular Budget funding increased 3%
1% Sweden
Finland
France
Netherlands
Germany
by 134% (to $39 million). Following 4%
3% Belgium
USA
5% 12% Finland
Germany
the General Assembly adoption of 1%
4% France
4% 13% Denmark
United Kingdom
Netherlands
USA
the 2016/2017 budget, this will rise 1%
3%
4% 6% France
Finland
4% Switzerland
to $47 million for the next biennium. 3%
4% 13% SwedenKingdom
Germany
United
4% Finland
USA
Earmarked contributions exceeded 1%
4% 6% 11% Italy
Belgium
France
Sweden
5% 12% USA Kingdom
United
planned targets by 71%, reflecting a 3%
4% 13% Japan
Denmark
Finland
Belgium
strong upward trend in the demand 5%6%
6% 13% 12% United
SwedenKingdom
4% 9% Canada
Switzerland
USA
for UNEPs services. 7% Denmark
Sweden
4% 6%
5% 9% Belgium
13% 12%
11% Norway
Italy Kingdom
United
Switzerland
4% 6% Belgium
5% 12% Denmark
For 2014-2015, 5% of the total 6% 11%
Russian
Japan Federation
Sweden
Italy
6% Denmark
Switzerland
income was received from the UN 6%
6% 9% 12% Canada
Belgium
Japan
Regular Budget including the UN 5% Switzerland
6%6% 7% 9% 11% Italy
Norway
Development Account, 20% was from 9% 11% Denmark
Canada
6%
6% 7% Italy
Japan
the Environment Fund, which facilitates 6% 9% Netherlands
Russian Federation
Switzerland
Norway
Japan
Canada
the implementation of activities in all 6% 7% 9% Germany
Italy
Russian
6% 9% 9%
11% Canada Federation
Norway
areas of the Programme of Work, and 2% 7% Finland
9% Japan
75% was from earmarked contributions, 6% Norway
Russian Federation
3% France
Netherlands
including the Global Environment Facility 9% Canada
7% Russian Federation
(GEF) and the European Commission, 4% 9% USA
Germany
Netherlands
Norway
which deliver projects aligned with the 4%
2% 14% Belgium
Finland Federation
Germany
Russian
Programme of Work. Graph
4%
3%
2%
3: Top 15 Contributors to the EnvironmentNetherlands
Fund in 2014
United
France Kingdom
Finland
Netherlands
Germany
3%
4% Denmark
USA
France
In 2015, only 39% of the 193 member 2% 5% 12% Germany
Finland
states made contributions to UNEP 4%
4% 14% Sweden
Belgium
Netherlands
USA
2%
3% Finland
France
to support its programmes. 4% 6% 14%
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Germany
Belgium
3% France
USA
4%
2%
4% 9% Italy
Denmark
Finland
United Kingdom
Ensuring the stability and security USA
4%
3% 5%6% 14% 12% Belgium
Norway
of UNEPs funding is necessary to 4% Sweden
France
Denmark
4% 14% Belgium
United Kingdom
5% 7% 12% Canada
achieve the aspirations set by the 4%
4% 6% 8% Switzerland
USA
SwedenKingdom
United
Denmark
global community in the 2030 Agenda 4% 7% 8%
14% 12% Japan
Italy
Belgium
Switzerland
6%
5% 9% Denmark
and the Paris Agreement on Climate 6% Sweden
4% 5% 12% RussianKingdom
Norway
United
Italy Federation
Change in 2015. 9% Sweden
Switzerland
6%6%
7% 8% Canada
Denmark
Norway
6% 12% Switzerland
Italy
5% 7% 8% 9% Japan
6% 7% 8% 9% Sweden
Canada
Italy
Norway
6%6% 7% 8% Russian Federation
Switzerland
Japan
Norway
7% 8% Canada
9% Italy
Russian Federation
6% 7% 7% 8% 8% Canada
Japan
7% 8% Norway
Japan
Russian Federation
7% 8% Canada
Russian Federation
7% 8% Japan
Russian Federation

CHAMPIONS OF THE EARTH
Five inspirational environmental leaders from

the worlds of government, business, research
and grassroots activism received the UNs highest
environmental accolade, the Champions of the
Earth Award, at a ceremony marking the close
of the Sustainable Development Goals summit
in September 2015.
The annual prize is awarded to At the summit, we witnessed

outstanding leaders from government, a historic moment. 193 nations
civil society and the private sector committed to a sustainable path
whose actions have had a positive forward for the entire planet and
impact on the environment. its peoples through the adoption of
the Sustainable Development Goals.
H.E. Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of This is a major achievement, but the
Bangladesh, the National Geographic hard work now begins in earnest,
Society, Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, said UNEP Executive Director
the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit Achim Steiner.
and Brazilian cosmetics firm Natura were
all recognized for their achievements. With 17 goals that integrate
all aspects of our economies,
The 2015 awards, presided over by societies and the environment,
UNEP Goodwill Ambassadors, actor the challenge is formidable.
Ian Somerhalder and model Gisele Each of these five Champions of
Bndchen, as well as actress Nikki the Earth demonstrates that this
Reed, were focused on supporting the challenge can, and I believe will be
Sustainable Development Goals. met to help usher in an equitable
and sustainable future for all. Natura, for unparalleled commitment to trailblazing
sustainable business models. Marlos Bakker
The awards do so by illustrating
Fotografia LTDA
through the examples of the laureates For more information on the award,
that the transition to low-carbon, visit www.unep.org/champions
resource-efficient, inclusive and
sustainable economic models is not
just possible, but already in progress.
Clockwise from bottom left: Nikki Reed, Ian Somerhalder,

UNEP Deputy Executive Director Ibrahim Thiaw, Gisele H.E. Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh,
Bundchen, UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner. for leadership on the frontline of climate change.
Brashler / Fischer UNEP

National Geographic Society, for over a century of life-changing science, exploration and storytelling. Michael Nichols
Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, for challenging

business norms to show that sustainable,
The Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit (South Africa), for outstanding courage in fighting equitable and environmentally-conscious
the illegal wildlife trade at community level. UNEP business is smart business. UNEP

GOODWILL AMBASSADORS
BERTRAND PICCARD JACK JOHNSON

at the Paris Climate Meeting, where he became during a World Environment Day
UNEPs newest Goodwill Ambassador beach cleanup in the Bahamas.
Switzerlands Bertrand Piccard, the This designation is an encouragement to continue

showing how many incredible things can be done with
visionary behind the only airplane renewable energies, but also to implement more energy
capable of flying day and night, efficient technologies in our world, said Mr. Piccard as
without a drop of fuel, and acclaimed he took up his role during the Paris Climate Meeting in
musician Jack Johnson became UNEPs December 2015.
newest Goodwill Ambassadors in 2015. As a UNEP Goodwill Ambassador, he will use his popularity
to convince the worlds policy-makers, entrepreneurs and
To bring the worlds attention to the potential of solar energy,
communities that a carbon-neutral world is no less possible
Mr. Piccard and his colleague Andr Borschberg are flying
than flying around the world without fuel. He will also use the
around the world in an exclusively sun-powered airplane,
remaining stages of his solar journey to engage with children
Solar Impulse. They have already covered 19,957 kilometres
and youth, raising their awareness of efficient
between Abu Dhabi and Hawaii.
energy consumption.

Mr. Johnson, the multi-platinum recording artist, widely
acclaimed for his environmental work, took up his mantle
on World Environment Day (WED) the United Nations
principal vehicle for raising worldwide awareness and
encouraging action for the environment, celebrated in
more than 100 countries.
Becoming a UNEP Goodwill Ambassador is an honour

RAGHEB ALAMA YANN ARTHUS-BERTRAND for me, said Mr. Johnson. In Hawai`i, when we work
Goodwill Ambassador, Arab Region Goodwill Ambassador together we say Laulima, which means many hands.
It is always impressive to see what can be accomplished
when you build the right team and get all those hands
working together. I see this relationship with UNEP
as a way to inspire more people to be active in their
local communities.
WED 2015 held under the slogan Seven Billion Dreams.

One Planet. Consume with Care focused on the theme of
sustainable consumption as a means to achieve equitable and
LI BINGBING GISELE BNDCHEN inclusive development while minimizing the overexploitation
Goodwill Ambassador Goodwill Ambassador of natural resources and adverse environmental impacts.
Since 2001, Mr. Johnsons albums have sold over 20 million

copies worldwide. His Brushfire Records label and touring
crew have been leaders in the greening of the music industry
and his All At Once social action network has mobilized
millions of young people to become active in environmental
protection. Mr. Johnson will help to generate interest and
mobilize positive action for environmental causes in support
of UNEPs work. He will focus particularly on issues such as
DON CHEADLE PATRICK MAKAU marine litter and promoting sustainable food systems and
Goodwill Ambassador Patron for Clean Air plastic-free initiatives.
UNEPs existing 12 Goodwill Ambassadors and Patrons in 2015

continued to use their fame to raise awareness of, and prompt
action on climate change, the illegal wildlife trade and marine
protection engaging in events such as WED and the UNEP
Champions of the Earth awards. UNEP would like to express
its appreciation for the commitment of all its Ambassadors
and Patrons to changing public attitudes to the environment.
SUZANNA OWIYO LEWIS PUGH For more information, visit www.unep.org/gwa

Goodwill Ambassador, Kenya Patron for Oceans
IAN SOMERHALDER PAVAN SUKHDEV

Goodwill Ambassador Goodwill Ambassador
YAYA TOUR ERIC WAINAINA

Goodwill Ambassador Goodwill Ambassador, Kenya

MAURICE STRONG
(1929 2015)
LATE LAST YEAR, Maurice Strong was a truly

exceptional human being and a leader
At the 2014 UN General Assembly,
Maurice Strong called on world leaders
THE WORLD LOST ONE in the global family. Few individuals to rise to their historic responsibility
OF ITS GREATS WHEN can claim to have shaped the course
of history over the past 50 years in
as custodians of the planet, to take
decisions that will unite rich and poor,
MAURICE STRONG, the way Maurice Strong did, and he North, South, East and West, in a
THE FOUNDING continued to exert huge influence
until the last days of his life.
new global partnership to ensure
our common future.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF UNEP, PASSED His courageous leadership allowed
the Stockholm Conference of 1972 to
This call to action building on
the sustainability road-map which
AT THE AGE OF make history by launching a new era of started in Stockholm and continued
86 JUST DAYS international environmental diplomacy,
which saw the birth of UNEP, the first
in Rio, Johannesburg and Rio+20
became reality last year with the 2030
BEFORE THE PARIS UN agency to be headquartered in Sustainable Development Agenda
AGREEMENT THAT a developing country. He accepted
the appointment to become UNEPs
and the Paris Agreement. There can
be no more fitting tribute to Maurice
IS, IN MANY WAYS, first Executive Director and moved to Strongs legacy.
A LEGACY OF HIS LIFE Kenya to establish UNEPs iconic global
headquarters on what was then a UNEP mourns his loss, and is grateful
OF ENVIRONMENTAL coffee farm on the outskirts of Nairobi. to this day for the vision and leadership
LEADERSHIP. Maurice Strong will forever be
he brought to the environmental
challenges of our generation and
remembered for placing the his role in forging a new vision
environment on the international for sustainable development.
agenda and at the heart of
development. He shepherded global
environmental governance processes
from the original Rio Earth Summit,
Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration
to the launch of the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change and
the Convention on Biological Diversity.

UNEP LEADERSHIP
SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM
ACHIM STEINER IBRAHIM THIAW ELLIOT HARRIS MICHELE CANDOTTI

UNEP Executive Director and Under- UNEP Deputy Executive Director and Assistant Director, New York Office and Assistant Chief, Executive Office and Principal
Secretary-General of the United Nations Secretary-General of the United Nations Secretary-General of the United Nations Advisor to the Executive Director
JACQUELINE MCGLADE ELIZABETH MREMA LIGIA NORONHA THERESA PANUCCIO

Director, Division of Early Warning Director, Division of Environmental Director, Division of Technology, Director, Office of Operations
and Assessment (DEWA) Law and Conventions (DELC) Industry and Economics (DTIE) and Corporate Services
NAYSN SAHBA METTE LYCHE WILKIE

Director, Division of Communications Director, Division of Environmental
and Public Information (DCPI) Policy Implementation (DEPI)
EX OFFICIO
MEMBERS OF SENIOR
REGIONAL DIRECTORS MANAGEMENT TEAM
IYAD ABUMOGHLI PATRICIA J. BENEKE JAN DUSK MUNYARADZI CHENJE

Regional Office for West Asia Regional Office for North America Regional Office for Europe Director, Regional Support Office
LEO HEILEMAN JULIETTE BIAO KOUDENOUKPO KAVEH ZAHEDI JORGE LAGUNA-CELIS

Regional Office for Latin America Regional Office for Africa Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Secretary, ai, Secretariat of Governing
and the Caribbean (as of 1 February 2016) Bodies and Stakeholders

www.unep.org

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UNITED NATIONS

ANNUAL REPORT 2015 1

Publication: UNEP 2015 Annual Report

* All dollar ($) amounts refer to US dollars.

This publication may be reproduced in whole or

UNEP promotes environmentally sound practices

Cover photo by Tatiana Clauzet

2 UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

A VICTORY FOR THE CLIMATE IN PARIS 2

ANNUAL REPORT 2015 3

THE CLIMATE IN PARIS

On 12 December 2015, at the 21st Specific UNEP contributions to COP

4 UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

ANNUAL REPORT 2015 5

6 UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

ANNUAL REPORT 2015 7

28 AND CONFLICTS FIRST

8 UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

TOUGHER ACTION FINALIZED UN

12 CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS

AVAILABLE ON UNEP LIVE:

ANNUAL REPORT 2015 9

In its work on combating Climate Resilience

The 2015 Global

Total bilateral and multilateral financing

12 UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

182 178 Government R&D

Low-emission growth UNEP-supported achievements in energy efficiency

ANNUAL REPORT 2015 13

Major partnership initiatives on climate change

The 1 A coalition of 25 countries and 40 organizations that supports

Including the 25 members of the REDD+

A view under the Altesch Glacier in Fiesch,

14 UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

ADAPTATION IMPROVING Colombian farmer Carlos Lopez shows lettuce

LIVES OF COLOMBIAN FARMERS

We used to lose around 50% of

In its work on disasters

Response and recovery Supporting

At the global level, a key measure of

Tajikistan Environmental emergency preparedness

18 UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

Who we influenced What we influenced What we did Why its important

Response and recovery

ANNUAL REPORT 2015 19

Highlights of UNEP emergency response to crisis situations

Country UNEP support Result

Serbia Assessment of flood-related risks Follow-up activities have been conducted

Highlights of long-term support

Haiti 430 households and business have been provided

Afghanistan Four major projects linked ecosystem-based

Sudan More than 10,000 people from 20 villages benefited

While UNEP provides environmental

For more information on UNEPs

20 UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

ANNUAL REPORT 2015 21

In its work on ecosystem

The productivity of terrestrial

The productivity of marine

Building knowledge Productivity of terrestrial

Over the last two years, 17 countries

24 UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

Angola In conjunction with the Mayombe Transboundary Conservation Agreement, Angola