All publications and documents

The 2012 UNEP Year Book spotlights two emerging issues that underline the challenges but also the choices nations need to consider to deliver a sustainable 21st century— urgently improved management of the world’s soils and the decommissioning of nuclear reactors. Superficially they may seem separate and unconnected issues. But both go to the heart of several fundamental questions: how the…

The UNEP Year Book 2013 shows that changes in the Arctic will have consequences far beyond this fragile region and that they require an urgent international response. The volume of chemicals in the world continues to grow, with a shift in production from developed to developing countries. To meet the goal of producing and using chemicals in ways that minimize significant impacts on health and the…

State of the World's Forests 2003 provides information on developments and areas of current attention as regards forest resources; the management, conservation and sustainable development of forests; the institutional framework; and the international forest policy dialogue. SOFO 2003 includes contributions from non-FAO authors on such subjects as science and technology in the forest sector;…

The GEO Year Book is UNEPs response to this GC/GMEF decision. It is based on comprehensive tracking at global and regional level of issues and developments as they unfolded during the year, and collaboration between UNEP and many partners at both levels. The Year Book also becomes the latest addition to the set of products developed within UNEPs GEO process for integrated environmental assessment…

The fifth annual report on the changing environment produced by the United Nations Environment Programme in collaboration with many world environmental experts. The UNEP Year Book 2008 highlights the increasing complexity and interconnections of climate change, ecosystem integrity, human well-being, and economic development. It examines the emergence and influence of economic mechanisms and…

In the ninth year since the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification was adopted in June 1994, it is pleasing to note that the Convention has reached maturity and is moving from preparation of the national action programmes to the implementation phase. The Convention has been particularly successful in securing the participation of local communities in the decision-making…