UNEP
The United Nations Environment Programme, which coordinates environmental work across the UN system and supports countries on environmental policy.
Example
UNEP publishes assessments and guidance on topics including methane, waste and circular economies.
The catch
UNEP convenes and advises governments, and it has no power to enforce national environmental law.
Related terms
Methane, 1.5°C goal, Carbon pricing, Carbon tax, Climate justice, Conference of the Parties
In more depth
UNEP, explained.
UNEP's most quoted climate output is its annual Emissions Gap Report, which compares the emissions implied by national pledges with pathways consistent with the Paris Agreement goals. It also helped establish the IPCC and hosts the secretariats of several environmental treaties.
Based in Nairobi, UNEP answers to the UN Environment Assembly, where all UN member states sit. On methane, its Global Methane Assessment (2021) found that cutting human-caused methane by 45% this decade would avoid nearly 0.3°C of warming by the 2040s, and it operates a satellite-based service that notifies governments and companies of large leaks. When citing UNEP, name the specific report and edition, since its figures are updated over time.
In the journal