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International Bodies

Because environmental issues are truly global, international organisations are crucial to the development of new knowledge, standards, policies and agreements needed to address them. The following bodies are particularly active in environmental work:

British Council
Council of Europe
Environment Directorate-General (European Commission)
European Environment Agency
European Environment Information and Observation Network (EIONET)
Food & Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)
Geneva Environment Network (GEN)
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Stakeholder Forum for Our Common Future
Sustainable Development International
The United Nations and the United Nations Environment Programme
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
The World Bank
World Health Organisation (WHO)
World Meteorological Organization
World Trade Organisation

British Council Science The UK’s principal agency for cultural relations with other countries. One of its three strategic objectives is to build appreciation of the UK's creativity and scientific innovation among people overseas, and to strengthen their engagement with the diversity of UK culture. ZeroCarbonCity is a British Council campaign looking at the role of cities in the climate change debate worldwide. The British Council supported the NorthSouthEastWest exhibition at the G8 summit at Gleneagles.

Council of Europe (Environment) Focuses on the conservation of nature and landscapes. The Council of Europe was set up to defend human rights, parliamentary democracy and the rule of law, to develop continent-wide agreements to standardise member countries' social and legal practices, and to promote awareness of a European identity based on shared values and cutting across different cultures. Environment activity is now integrated within Culture and Cultural and Natural Heritage.

Commonwealth Forestry Association Exists to promote the well-being of the world's forests and those who depend on them. It is involved in activities concerned with: education in the global importance of trees and forests in relation to climate, conservation and people; sustainable forest management for the production of wood and other forest products; the development of national and international policies in support of good forestry practice; collaboration with national, international and non-government organisations with similar interests and training and employment opportunities, including professional exchange between countries.

Environment Directorate-General of the European Commission Based in Brussels. Its main role is to initiate and define new environmental legislation and to ensure that the measures which have been agreed are actually put into practice in the
Member States. Its mission is to:

promote sustainable development, preserving the rights of future generations to a viable environment
work towards a high level of environmental and health protection and improvement of the quality of life
promote environmental efficiency, and
encourage the equitable use, as well as the sound and effective management, of common environmental resources.

European Environment Agency Providing decision-makers with the information they need to make sound and effective policies to protect the environment and support sustainable development. See also EIONET below.

European Environment Information and Observation Network (EIONET) A real and virtual collaborative network of the European Environment Agency and its Member Countries, connecting National Focal Points in the EU and accession countries, European Topic Centres, National Reference Centres. To enhance information sharing for policy-making.

Food & Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) leading international efforts to defeat hunger by providing a forum to negotiate agreements and debate policy and by acting as a source of knowledge and information. Interested in helping developing countries and countries in transition 'modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices and ensure good nutrition for all.' Focus on rural areas.

Geneva Environment Network (GEN) brings together UN organizations, government agencies, NGOs and industry to cooperate on environment issues. It is based in Geneva, Switzerland, at the International Environment House.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessing, on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis, the scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant to understanding the scientific basis of risk of human-induced climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) a grouping of 30 member countries sharing a commitment to democratic government and the market economy. OECD publications and statistics cover economic and social issues from macroeconomics, to trade, education, development and science and innovation. In the Environment the OECD provides governments with the analytical basis to develop environmental policies that are effective and economically efficient, including performance reviews, data collection, policy analysis, and projections.

Stakeholder Forum for Our Common Future Formerly the UNED UK Committee which promoted the engagement of UK stakeholders in national sustainable development processes, now facilitates stakeholders internationally in implementing international sustainable development agreements and the Millennium Development Goals.

Sustainable Development International An information provision organisation using cross-media platforms. Working in co-operation with the United Nations Agencies, the World Energy Council, Investment, Banking Authorities and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and others.

The United Nations. Its purpose is to maintain international peace and security; to develop friendly relations among nations; to cooperate in solving international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems and in promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in attaining these ends. See also the United Nations World Food Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme

United Nations Environment Programme Provides leadership and encourages partnerships that care for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. See, for example, the World Summit on Sustainable Development - Johannesburg 2002 and the Rio Declaration 1992. The United Nations Environment Programme has a number of environmental centres including:

A number of United Nations Divisions are also engaged in Environment work:

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation An organisation working towards peace by promoting international co-operation among its 190 Member States and 6 Associate Members. UNESCO sees itself as a laboratory of ideas and a standard-setter to forge universal agreements on emerging ethical issues. It also disseminates and shares information and knowledge, helping Member States to build their human and institutional capacities in the fields of education, science, culture and communication. See also UNESCO Science and UNESCO Water.

The World Bank a development Bank which provides loans, policy advice, in the developing world. It also provides technical assistance and knowledge sharing services to low and middle income countries to reduce poverty. The World Bank's major topic areas include the environment, sustainable development, energy, water and agriculture.

World Health Organisation (WHO) Tthe United Nations specialized agency for health. The Organization's objective is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. In this context health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not the absence of disease or infirmity.

World Meteorological Organization A United Nations Specialised Agency in Weather, Climate and Water. Its aim is to facilitate world-wide cooperation and to establish and maintain systems, networks, standards, stations, applications and research required in metrology, hydrology and related subjects.

World Trade Organisation Aims to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business. This global organization deals with the rules of trade between nations. Its agreements are negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. Environment is a horizontal issue that cuts across different rules and disciplines in WTO. The issue has been considered by Members both in terms of the impact of environmental policies on trade, and of the impact of trade on the environment.

On to International Conventions

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