United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Mission
The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) is the voice for the environment within the United Nations system. UN Environment acts as a catalyst, advocate, educator and facilitator to promote the sustainable development of the global environment. To accomplish this, UN Environment works with a wide range of partners, including United Nations entities, international organizations, national governments, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and civil society.
Disaster Reduction Goal
Disaster Risk Reduction is a key pillar in the Disasters and Conflicts Sub-Programme, one of seven priority areas in UN Environment.
UN Environment aims to address the environmental causes and consequences of natural hazards and environmental emergencies and reduce their impacts on vulnerable communities and countries, through sound environmental management, improved preparedness, and environmentally-sustainable response and recovery. UN Environment’s work on prevention promotes sustainable ecosystem management solutions for disaster risk reduction and building resilience to climate extremes.
Disaster risk reduction in UNEP has historical precedence, dating as far back as 1989, when UN Environment’s then Governing Council endorsed UN Environment’s pro-active role in preparing for, preventing and responding to environmental emergencies due to industrial and natural hazards.
At the 26th session of the Governing Council (February 2011), Agenda Item No.9, the Governing Council (GC) recognized UN Environment’s role in DRR with special emphasis on addressing and managing environmental emergencies and promoting greater cooperation on the environmental dimensions of natural and man-made (i.e. industrial) disasters. The GC also requested UN Environment to “strengthen integrated approaches to reducing the risk of natural and man-made disasters and adapting to the impacts of climate change.”
At the first UN Environment Assembly in June 2014, UNEA Resolution 1/8 on Ecosystem-based Adaptation was adopted. The Assembly reaffirmed that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, and that all countries, particularly developing countries, are vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change and are already experiencing increased impacts, including persistent drought and extreme weather events. The Assembly invites all countries to take into consideration ecosystems in their development planning for all relevant sectors, and support the development and implementation of programmes, projects and development policies for adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change.
Focus Areas
Through its broad-based portfolio on disaster risk reduction which encompasses disaster prevention, preparedness and response and sustainable recovery and reconstruction, UN Environment advances implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
Main areas of work include the following:
• Ecosystem-based Approaches to Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation (Eco-DRR) ;
• Mainstreaming Environmental Sustainability and Resilience in Post-Disaster Reconstruction;
• Environmental Emergency Preparedness and Response;
• Mainstreaming Environment in Humanitarian Action;
• Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies at the Local Level (APELL) working with industries;
• Promoting Principles for Sustainable Insurance. ;
The main entities within UN Environment who carry out DRR-related activities include:
Crisis Management Branch in the Policy and Planning Division, based in Geneva, Switzerland, has responded to crisis situations in more than 40 countries since 1999, delivering high-quality environmental expertise to national governments and partners in the UN family. The Branch has expanded its operational range, adding ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR) and supporting sustainable post-disaster reconstruction to its core services.
The UN Environment/OCHA Joint Unit mobilizes and coordinates the international emergency response to acute environmental risks caused by conflicts, natural disasters and industrial accidents and works to enhance the sustainability of humanitarian action. The Unit is housed with the UN Office of the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Emergency Response Support Branch, in Geneva, Switzerland. Since its establishment in 1994 the unit has enabled over 200 technical support missions in almost 100 countries.
The The Environment and Security (ENVSEC) Initiative ,is a partnership whose members include UN Environment, UNDP, OSCE, UNECE and REC, and performs three key functions: assessment of environment and security risks, capacity-building and institutional development to strengthen regional cooperation. ENVSEC projects are implemented in Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. The ENVSEC Secretariat sits with UN Environment’s Regional Office for Europe, based in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Responsible Industry and Value Chain Unit in UN Environment's Economy Division, based in Paris, France, leads the Flexible Framework Initiative for Addressing Chemical Accident Prevention and Preparedness (or the Flexible Framework Initiative) which promotes improved chemical accident prevention and preparedness, particularly in rapidly industrializing economies. The unit also manages the APELL (Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies on a Local Level) Programme.
UN Environment’s Principles for Sustainable Insurance Initiative (PSI), based in Geneva, Switzerland, is the largest collaborative initiative between the UN and the global insurance industry. Endorsed by the UN Secretary-General and insurance industry CEOs, the Principles for Sustainable Insurance serve as a global framework for the insurance industry to address environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities—and a global initiative to strengthen the insurance industry’s contribution as risk managers, insurers and investors to building resilient, inclusive and sustainable communities and economies. The PSI was developed by UN Environment’s Finance Initiative and was launched at the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development.
UN Environment is a founding member of the Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction (PEDRR), a global partnership of 24 other international and regional organizations, which promotes ecosystem-based DRR and adaptation.
UN Environment is a Steering Committee member of the International Recovery Platform, which identifies gaps and constraints experienced in post disaster recovery and serves as a catalyst for the development of tools, resources, and capacity for resilient recovery.
Environment and Emergencies Forum (EEF)
The EEF is a biennial global forum that brings together key government, industry, academic, and non-governmental representatives – policy makers, environmental experts and disaster managers – from around the world to improve prevention, preparedness, response and overall resilience to environmental emergencies.
Environment and Humanitarian Action Network
The Environment and Humanitarian Action Network was established in 2013 with the objective to promote collaboration on addressing the environmental impacts of humanitarian action. Specifically, the network seeks to maximize the outcomes of humanitarian action by avoiding, minimizing or mitigating environmental impacts and promoting environmentally responsible humanitarian programming.
UN Environment works with national and local government authorities responsible for environment and natural resource management; development and land-use planning; disaster management and preparedness; climate change; Sendai Framework focal points; and National Platforms for DRR. UN Environment also cooperates with the private sector and industries, civil society organizations, and universities and academic networks.
Crisis Management Branch (CMB)
UN Environment DRR Focal Points – Mr. Muralee Thummarukudy / Ms. Marisol Estrella
www.unenvironment.org
www.unenvironment.org/explore-topics/disasters-conflicts
www.unenvironment.org/explore-topics/climate-change/what-we-do/climate-adaptation
OCHA Environmental Emergencies Section (Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit)
www.unocha.org/unep
www.eecentre.org
www.pedrr.net
www.envsec.org
www.unepfi.org/about/index.html
Voluntary Commitments
The Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments (SFVC) online platform allows stakeholders to inform the public about their work on DRR. The SFVC online platform is a useful toolto know who is doing what and where for the implementation of the Sendai Framework, which could foster potential collaboration among stakeholders. All stakeholders (private sector, civil society organizations, academia, media, local governments, etc.) working on DRR can submit their commitments and report on their progress and deliverables.
