This site is maintained by UNEP/GRID-Europe
 
Last Update
12 Sep 2007
 
We would appreciate
your feedback
 
 

  

Major Assessments

A selection of environmental assessments and planned assessments,
mostly produced by partners in the UN system-wide Earthwatch.

General Assessments

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

     
Global Assessment Reports
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005/2006 , ISBN: 1-59726-042-8
The MA synthesized information from the scientific literature and relevant peer-reviewed datasets and models. It incorporated knowledge held by the private sector, practitioners, local communities, and indigenous peoples. The MA did not aim to generate new primary knowledge, but instead sought to add value to existing information by collating, evaluating, summarizing, interpreting, and communicating it in a useful form.
 
     

Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Synthesis Report
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005.
ISBN: 1-59726-040-1
Island Press, 8.5x11, 160 Pages, Maps.
The first set of products presenting the findings of the assessment consists of one over-arching synthesis and 5 others that interpret the MA findings for specific audiences. The MA, World Resources Institute, and Island Press will publish these reports.

 
     
Living Beyond our Means : Natural assets and Human well-being
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005.
This statement was developed by the Board governing the MA process, whose membership includes representatives from U.N. organizations, governments through a number of international conventions, nongovernmental organizations, academia, business, and indigenous peoples..
 
     

UN MDGs

Report of the Secretary Général on the Work of the Organisation
United Nations, New-york, 2007. ISSN 0082-8173
This, my first annual report, comes at a time when the Member States and the peoples of the world are asking the United Nations to do more — in more spheres of activity, in more locations, in more challenging circumstances — than at any point in the Organization’s history. While the surging demand for our services is daunting, we must not shrink from this challenge. Indeed it should be welcomed. This is a sign not only of the many pressing needs in the world today, but also of the increasing recognition that they can best be addressed collectively, through the world’s only truly universal instrument, the United Nations.
   
     
Report of the Secretary Général on the Work of the Organisation
United Nations, New-york, 2006. ISSN 0082-8173
In this, my tenth and last annual report, I have sought to provide an overview of the Organization’s main achievements and challenges during the past 12 months in the light of the critical developments in the decade since I took office at the beginning of 1997. I have also subsumed in a single report both the work of the Organization as such and the progress made in implementing the Millennium Declaration, which in previous years has been the subject of a separate report.
   
     

Progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, 1990-2005
United Nations, 2005.
A status report prepared by 25 UN agencies and international organizations on reaching the internationally endorsed Millennium Development Goals.

 
     

UNEP

GEO Yearbook 2007
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2007.
ISBN: 978-92-807-2786-9
Earthscan Publications Ltd, London.
The GEO Year Book 2007 is essential, informative, and authoritative reading for anyone with a role or an interest in our changing environment. The 2007 edition covers fisheries to forestry and climate to freshwater management underlining risks and opportunities of globalization.

 
     

GEO Yearbook 2006
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2006.
ISBN: 92-807-2668-4
Earthscan Publications Ltd, London.
The GEO Year Book 2006 is the third annual survey of the changing global environment produced by the United Nations Environment Programme, in collaboration with many world experts in environmental research and action.

 
     

One Planet, Many People: Atlas of Our Changing Environment
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2005.
ISBN: 92 807 2571 8
One Planet, Many People: Atlas of Our Changing Environment provides a comprehensive, visual presentation of scientifically variable information, on changes in the global environment—both the good and the bad—acquired and assessed through state-of-the-art remote sensing technology.

 
     

GEO Yearbook 2004/05
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2005.
ISBN: 92-807-2544-0
Earthscan Publications Ltd, London.
GEO Year Book 2004/5, is the second in the annual GEO series. The report highlights significant environmental events and achievements during the year, raises awareness of emerging issues from scientific research and presents indicators of progress towards environmental sustainability. In particular there is a chapter in response to the Tsunami disaster and the potential effects on the environment.

 
     

GEO Yearbook 2003
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2004.
ISBN: 9280724150
Earthscan Publications Ltd, London.
GEO Year Book 2003 highlights the most significant environmental developments in the year in a visually appealing and reliable volume.

 
     

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK 3 (GEO-3)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2002.
ISBN: 1853838454
Earthscan Publications Ltd, London, 2002. 416 p.

 
     

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK 2000
UNEP'S Millenium Report on the Environment. Second Edition.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Earthscan Publications Ltd, London, 1999. 398 p.

   
     

PACHAMAMA: OUR EARTH - OUR FUTURE
by young people of the world
GEO for youth, based on GEO-2000 - the Global Environment Outlook Report of UNEP.
A joint project of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Peace Child International.
Evans Brothers Ltd, London, 1999. 96 p.

   
     

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK - 1997
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Oxford University Press, New York and Oxford, 1997 - 264 p.
Web version: Japan: http://www-cger.nies.go.jp/geo1/
Kenya: http://www.unep.org/unep/eia/geo1/
Norway: http://www.grida.no/geo1/
Switzerland: http://www.grid.unep.ch/geo1/

   
     

THE WORLD ENVIRONMENT 1972-1992: Two Decades of Challenge
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
M. K. Tolba, O. A. El-Kholy et al., editors
Chapman & Hall, London, 1992 - 884 p.
(The next decadal state of the world environment report is planned for 2002.)

   
     

GLOBIO Report - 2001
Global Methodology for Mapping Human Impacts on the Biosphere.
UNEP/GRID-Arendal (Norway).

   
     

WRI

WORLD RESOURCES 2002-2004: Decision for the Earth: Balance, voice and power
United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme, World Bank, World Resources Institute. 2003.
ISBN: 1-56973-533-6.
 

 
     

WORLD RESOURCES 2000-2001: People and Ecosystems: The Fraying Web of Life - 2000
A joint publication of the World Resources Institute (WRI), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank. World Resources Institute, Washington, D.C., 2000. 390 p.
Published every two years.
Web version: http://www.wri.org/wr2000
The executive summary, A Guide to World Resources 2000-2001: People and Ecosystems: The Fraying Web of Life can be downloaded at http://www.wri.org/wri/wrr2000.

   
     

WORLD RESOURCES 1998-1999: Environmental Change and Human Health - 1998
A Guide to the Global Environment. A joint publication of the World Resources Institute (WRI), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank.
Oxford University Press, New York and Oxford, 1998 - 370 p.

   
     

OECD

Policies for a Better Environment: Progress in Eastern, Caucasus and Central Asia
In coordination with:UNEP; UNDP; UNECE; WHO; The World Bank; PPC/EBRD; REC Russia; REC Central Asia; REC Caucasus; REC Moldova; Eco-Forum Network
ISBN: 9789264027350 . No. Pages 148.
In 2003, the Ministers of Environment of the 12 countries of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA), together with their partners in the “Environment for Europe” process, adopted the EECCA Environment Strategy. This book provides a review of progress in achieving the Strategy's objectives, and provides a solid analytical base for discussions on future environmental co-operation between EECCA countries and their partners. Part I of the book looks at progress across the areaa on such strategic objectives as pollution prevention and control and environmental policy integration. Part II provides country profiles.
 
     

OECD ENVIRONMENTAL OUTLOOK - 2001
OECD, 2001. Code 972001011P1.
ISBN: 9264186158. No. Pages 328.
The OECD Environmental Outlook provides projections to 2020 of environmental pressures from key economic sectors (agriculture, forestry, fishery, transport, energy and selected industry sectors) and changes in the state of the environment for selected environmental issues (freshwater, biodiversity, climate change, air quality and waste). Cross-sectoral issues are also examined, such as human health and the environment, the social and environmental interface and resource efficiency.

 
     

Regional Assessments

Africa

FAO

Forestry Outlook study for Africa
2003, ISBN 92-5-004913-7
The Forestry Outlook Study for Africa (FOSA), initiated on the recommendations of the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission and
the Near East Forestry Commission, is one of the series of regional outlook studies undertaken by FAO in partnership with the countries and institutions concerned about forests and forestry in the region.

 
     

Sustainable Management of Tropical Forests in Central Africa
In Search of Excellence

FAO, 2003. FAO Forestry Paper 143. 140p.
ISBN:9251049769.
To highlight the numerous efforts undertaken in forest management in Central Africa within the past 20 years, FAO, within the framework of the FAO/Netherlands Partnership Programme and in close collaboration with regional and international organizations, launched an initiative entitled “In search of excellence” to identify and document successful examples of sustainable management of Central African forests.

 
     
Forestry Outlook for Africa (FOSA)
FAO, 2003.
The Forestry Outlook Study for Africa (FOSA) is one among the series of regional sector outlook studies initiated by FAO in collaboration with member countries to examine the direction of development of forests and forestry. The study was endorsed by African countries at the eleventh session of the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission, held in Dakar, Senegal in April 1998.
FAO Press release: FAO calls for enhanced role of forests in Africa
   
     

UNEP

Soudan Post conflict Environment Assessement
UNEP, 2007 , ISBN No: 978-92-807-2702-9
The Sudan Post Conflict Environmental Assessment provides an overview of environmental status and issues for Sudan and its territorial waters of the Red Sea. It focuses on linkages between the environment, conflict and the ongoing humanitarian and development programmes. Topics addressed include environmental institutions and legislation, the marine and freshwater environments, agricultural land use and degradation, forestry, wildlife conservation and protected areas and the impact and environmental resource needs of displaced populations. The report is based upon a combination of desk study work, remote sensing and field reconnaissance missions.

 
     

Africa's lakes: Atlas of Our Changing Environment
UNEP, 2006.
ISBN: 92-807-2694-3.
Water is vital for our survival. Africa is the second largest and the second most populous continent after Asia. It is endowed with both natural and artificial lakes and is home to some of the largest lakes in the world. These lakes are used for fishing, recreation, transport, irrigation, power generation, disposal of waste and a variety of domestic purposes. Over the years, human factors combined with natural conditions of climate and geology have influenced their water quality and quantity to some extent. Negative impacts have resulted in environmental disruptions to some of the Lakes basins. This atlas vividly illustrates some of the changes people and nature have brought about on Africa’s lakes -both good and bad- over the last decades and presents an overview analysis of Africa’s lakes situation.

 
     
Africa Environment Outlook 2 - Our Environment, Our Wealth
UNEP, 2006.
ISBN: 92-807-2691-9.
Profiles Africa’s environmental resources as an asset for the region’s development. The report highlights the opportunities presented by the natural resource base to support development and the objectives of the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). The report underscores the need for sustainable livelihoods, and the importance of environmental initiatives in supporting them. Emphasis is put on what should and can be done with existing (remaining) environmental assets, in the context of identified constraints (issues), rather than focusing on what has been already lost.
 
     
Seychelles Post-Tsunami Environmental Assessment
UNEP, 2006.
ISBN: 92-807-2654-4.
 
     
Africa Environment Outlook, Case studies:
Human Vulnerability to Environmental Change

UNEP, 2004. 188p.
ISBN: 9280723650.
A follow up to 2003’s African Environment Outlook (AEO), these case studies are designed to stimulate interest and action in similar situations at national, sub-regional and regional levels. Written by experts in their fields these case studies are an essential companion to the original AEO publication. Also available in French.
 
     
Desk Study on the Environment in Liberia
UNEP, 2004. 118 p.
ISBN 92-807-2403-7.
The report was compiled by the Post Conflict Assessment Unit of UNEP. It carries 60 recommendations for improving the environment and development prospects for Liberia. The report was prepared as part of the United Nations Development Group’s (UNDG) Needs Assessment for Liberia.
 
     

Mangroves of East Africa -
UNEP-WCMC, 2003. Biodiversity Series 13.
ISBN: 1 899628211.
Michelle Taylor, Corinna Ravilious, Edmund P. Green.
This publication provides a concise account of the available information and current issues facing mangroves in East African countries. It comprises a regional summary of the factors and activities that affect mangroves across East Africa, and a series of reports that focus on South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, the Seychelles, Kenya and Somalia.

 
     
Regionally Based Assessment of Persistent Toxic Sunstances
Sub-Saharan Africa

UNEP/CHEMICALS, 2003. 132p.
GE.03-00151.
   
     

Regionally Based Assessment of Persistent Toxic Substances
Mediterranean

UNEP/CHEMICALS, 2003.
GE.03-00149.

   
     

African Environment Outlook:
Integrated Environmental Assesment Reporting

UNEP, 2002. 400p.
ISBN: 9280721011.
Africa Environment Outlook is the first comprehensive integrated report on the African environment. The AEO assessment methodology is derived from UNEP’s cutting edge Global Environment Outlook (GEO) Process.

 
     

Vital Climate Graphics Africa: The Impacts of Climate Change
UNEP/GRID, 2002. 29p..
ISBN: 8277010192.
UNEP, African experts and GRID Arendal have combined to create this easily understandable scientific information for policy makers and others interested in the impact of climate change in Africa. The main points of the IPCC 2001 report are presented in easily understandable graphics and short texts with a special focus on Africa.

  vital climate graphic
     

Asia and Pacific

ADB

Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Atlas of the Environment
ADB & UNEP, 2004.
ISBN: 971-561-499-X.
This report champions the environment of a unique part of Asia, an area straddled by rivers great and small, with bountiful watersheds, wetlands, and forests. The subregion is made up of Cambodia, Yunnan Province of the People's Republic of China, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam. They are linked together by the longest river in Southeast Asia, the Mekong. In many ways this Atlas is the story of the Mekong on its 4,2000-kilometer journey from the mountains in the southwestern People's Republic of China to the sea.

 
     

Asian Environment Outlook 2001
ADB, 2001.
ISBN: 971-561-290-3.
The people of Asia and the Pacific are paying a heavy toll for the region’s environmental degradation—in human health and economic terms. But the environmental decline can be stopped. The Asian Environment Outlook 2001 (AEO) provides the blueprint for doing that.
Website: http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/AEO/2001/

 
     

FAO

People, forest and trees in West and Central Asia, Outlook for 2020
FAO, 2007, Rome
In West and Central Asia, governments, the private sector, communities, farmers and civil society organizations are making substantial efforts to improve the management of forest and tree resources. However, most countries face enormous challenges in this regard. This publication, the main report of the Forestry Outlook Study for West and Central Asia (FOWECA), provides a long-term perspective of changes in the forest sector. Implemented in partnership with the countries, the study covered 23 countries in West Asia, Central Asia and the southern Caucasus. This report outlines the probable developments, including broader regional and global issues which need to be taken into account in developing national policies and programmes.
 
     

Forestry Outlook for Asia-Pacfic (FOSA)
FAO, 1998.
The APFSOS study attempted to draw together the myriad of forestry dimensions to provide a coherent description and analysis of the situation and prospects for forestry in the region. The study comprised almost 50 working papers and profiles, on a variety of forestry themes. The formal aspects of the study culminated in a comprehensive main report, published in November 1998.

 
     

UN-ECAP & ADB

State of the Environment in Asia and the Pacific -2000
ESCAP/ADB/UN, 2000.
ISBN: 92-1-120019-9.
The State of the Environment in Asia and the Pacific 2000 is the fourth in a series of reports published every five years on environmental trends in the region.
Previous issues (1995).

 
     

UNEP

After the Tsunami: UNEP's Rapid Environmental Assessment Report
UNEP, 2005.
ISBN 92807 25653.
This report is based on surveys by UNEP teams in the field working with other UN agencies, governments and non governmental organizations in the effected Tsunami regions. It looks at how the regions affected are rebuilding and how future tragedy can be avoided by adequate planning.

 
     

DPR Korea: State of the Environment 2003
UNEP, 2003.
ISBN 92-807-2144-5.
The State of the Environment report was produced in partnership with UNDP.
The report uses a “pressure-state-response” methodology and identifies priority issues related to forests, water, air, land and biodiversity. It also acknowledges a paucity of research and data on which to base reliable environmental assessments.

 
     

Afghanistan Post-conflict Environmental Assessment
UNEP, 2003.
ISBN 92-1-158617-8.
This UNEP Post-Conflict Environment Assessment report, produced in close cooperation with the Afghanistan Transitional Authority shows how conflict has put previous environmental management and conservation strategies on hold, brought about a collapse of local and national governance, destroyed infrastructure, hindered agricultural activity and driven people into cities already lacking the most basic public amenities.
Available in PDF format (3.5 Mb) from http://postconflict.unep.ch/afghanistan/report/ afghanistanpcajanuary2003.pdf

 
     

Asia-Pacific Environment Outlook 2002
UNEP/ASEAN/MRC/SACEP/ICIMOD/SPREP, 2002. 127p.
ISBN: 92-807-2225-5.
Previous issues (1997).

     

The Asian Brown Cloud: Climate and other Environmental Impacts
UNEP RRC.AP,2002.
ISBN: 92-807-2240-9.
Report commissioned by UNEP and prepared by the Center for Clouds, Chemistry and Climate (C4).
It is a seven-year study by 200 scientists indicating that the "Asian Brown Cloud" reduces the amount of solar radiation reaching the ground, leading to a drop in crop productivity, as well as trapping heat, altering rainfall and causing deadly respiratory diseases.

  brown_cloud
     

South Asia: State of the Environment 2001
UNEP, 2001.
ISBN: 92-807-2137-2.
The report was prepared through a consultative and participatory process soliciting input from various government agencies, NGOs, and intergovernmental organizations. With the substantive support from Development Alternatives (DA), the designated regional Collaborating Center, and regular feedback and support from the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP).

 
     

Pacific Islands Environment Outlook 2005
UNEP, 2005.
ISBN 9280725246.
The Pacific Environment Outlook was prepared simultaneously with the Pacific Regional Assessment on Sustainable Development to feed into the Barbados + 10 process and ensure consistency of much of reporting.
Previous issues (1999).

 

Western Indian Ocean Environment Outlook 1999
UNEP, 1999.
ISBN 9280717936.

   
     

WRI

Empowering People:A Governance Analysis of Electricity; India, Indonesia,Phillipines, Thailand
WRI, 2007. 100p, Smita Nakhooda, Shantanu Dixit, and Navroz K. Dubash
ISBN 978-1-56973-645-6
Policymakers, regulators, citizens, and the international community are grappling with the challenges of providing access to reliable and affordable electricity, and addressing major environmental challenges. The advent and rapid spread of a new "standard model" for electricity reform built around private ownership and competition, in the context of significant need for investment, have all left their mark on the electricity sector. But fundamental questions of public interests and sustainable development have not been adequately addressed.

 
     

Reefs at Risk in Southeast Asia
WRI, 2002.
ISBN 1-56973-490-9.
This publication provides a detailed analysis of threats to coral reefs across Southeast Asia. The goal of the project is to raise awareness about human pressure on coral reefs and to provide resource managers with specific information and tools to manage coastal habitats more effectively. The project was implemented in collaboration with twenty partner institutions in the region.

  risk
     

Europe

European Environment Agency (EEA)

Europe's environment — The fourth assessment 2007
Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2007
ISBN: 978-92-9167-932-4
Where possible the report evaluates progress, primarily against the objectives of the Sixth Environment Action Programme of the European Community and the Environment Strategy for Countries of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia.
  report
     
EEA : environment Statement 2007
Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2007
ISBN 978-92-9167-936-2
This publication is the EEA's third environmental statement. It presents our environmental policy and describes our performance. The next statement is planned to be published in June 2008.
 
     

The European environment - State and outlook 2005
EEA, 2005.
ISBN: 92-9167-776-0.
This is the third state and outlook report on the European environment produced by EEA since 1994. Looking back, the last report, published in 1999 concluded that, despite 25 years of Community environmental policy, environmental quality in the European Union (EU) was mixed and that the unsustainable development of some key economic sectors was the major barrier to further improvements.

 
     

EEA Signals 2004
A European Environment Agency update on selected issues

EEA, 2004.
ISBN: 92-9167-669-1.
The 2004 edition of the EEA's annual survey of environmental trends in its member countries covers aspects of agriculture, water pollution, nature protection, packaging waste, energy, transport, air pollution and climate change. It also provides an environmental perspective on the economic and social situation in Europe, including trends in demography and resource use, in the context of progress towards sustainability.

 
     

High nature value farmland
Characteristics, trends and policy challenges

EEA, 2004.
ISBN: 92-9167-664-0.
Farmland supports many habitats and species of European conservation concern. In 2003, Europe's environment ministers agreed to identify all farmland areas with high nature value and take conservation measures. This report shows that these areas cover roughly 15-25 % of the European countryside and suffer from land abandonment and intensification. Current policy measures appear insufficient to prevent further biodiversity decline.

 
     

Europe's Environment: The Third Assessment
EEA, 2003. Environmental assessment report No 10.
ISBN: 92-9167-574-1.
This is the third pan-European state of the environment report produced by the EEA. It was prepared for the 'Environment for Europe' Ministerial Conference being held under the auspices of the UN Economic Commission for Europe in Kiev, Ukraine on 21-23 May 2003.
Previous issues (1998, 1995).

 
     

Environmental Signals 2002 - Benchmarking the millennium
EEA, 2002. Environmental assessment report No 9. 149p.
ISBN: 92-9167-469-9

 
     

Environment in the European Union at the Turn of the Century
EEA, 1999. 446p.
ISBN: 92-9157-202-0.
Report on the state of the european environment.

  env turn century
     

OSCE & UNECE & UNEP

Technical workshops on Innovative techniques and techonologies for contaminated mine waters assessment, management and remediation
March 26 – 29, 2007; Brestovacka Spa, Bor, Serbia. Workshop summary report. ENVSEC, 2007.


The immediate outcome of the workshop and site visit package was to provisionally identify and
design a possible remediation solution for at least one site per country visited to enable well defined
and more concrete follow up work at three to five mining sites in the Western Balkans countries.

 
     

Environment and Security: Transforming risks into cooperation "Central Asia - Ferghana / Osh / Khujamd area"
UNEP, UNDP, OSCE, NATO, 2005.
ISBN: 82-7701-035-4
Also available in russian
.
This assessment has been produced upon the request of the countries of the Ferghana Valley – Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan – and has widely benefited from their inputs. It shows how the ‘Environment and Security’ initiative has helped identify both environmental threats to regional security and opportunities for cross-border dialogue.

 
     

Environment and Security: Transforming Risks into Cooperation "The Case of the Southern Caucasus”
UNDP/ UNEP/OSCE, 2004.
ISBN: 82-7701-027-3.
This report—available in both Russian and English—presents through maps and graphics the linkages between environmental stress, potential social tension and areas of particular vulnerability in the Southern Caucasus, as identified by stakeholders from the countries.

 
     

Environment and Security - Transforming risks into cooperation "The Case of Central Asia and South Eastern Europe"
UNDP/ UNEP/OSCE, 2003.
ISBN: 82-7701-023-0.
This report focuses on the environmental stress affecting security in two case regions, Central Asia and South Eastern Europe. It provides maps with an overview on major environmental risks to human development and security.

 
     

UNECE

Forest Condition in Europe: 2006 technical report of ICP Forest
UNECE/European Comission, Hamburg, septembre2006
Forest condition in Europe has been monitored since 1986 by the International Co- operative Programme on the Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests (ICP Forests) in close cooperation with the European Commission (EC). ICP Forests is working under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
   
     

The Condition of Forests in Europe 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
UNECE/European Comission, 2002.
This report describes the actual damage observed on trees and forests, the report also presents computer model calculations of future risks.

  europe_forest
     

UNECE & FAO

European Forest Sector Outlook Study
UNECE/FAO, 2005. ISSN 1020 2269.
he European Forest Sector Outlook Study presents long term trends for supply and demand of forest products (roundwood, sawnwood, panels, pulp, paper, non-wood products) and services and outlook to 2020, in western and eastern Europe and four major CIS countries, including Russia. It reviews trends for the forest resource, trade, markets and recycling. It stresses the future shift in the balance of the sector to the east, and the importance of cross-sectoral issues, notably consequences for the forest sector of energy, environment and trade policies, which are examined in some detail.

  europe_forest
     

UNECE & UNEP

Assessment of Progress in Sustainable Developmet since Rio 1992
for Member States of the United Nations Economic Comission for Europe

UNECE and UNEP/ROE secretariats, 2001.

   
     

UNEP

Carpathians Environment Outlook (KEO)
UNEP, 2007.
ISBN: 978-92-807-2870-5
The KEO report is a sub-regional examination and synthesis of the environmental situation in the greater Carpathian region, that includes parts of seven countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia & Montenegro, the Slovak Republic and Ukraine). KEO is being carried out in a "bottom-up", collaborative and consultative style, similar to its parent products, UNEP's Global Environment Outlook (GEO) assessments at the global level.

  report
     

Reducing Environment & Security Risks from Mining in South Eastern Europe
UNEP, 2004.
Desk-assessment study for the Environment and Security Initiative Project, November 2004.
This study addressed mining activities in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo (Territory under UN interim administration), the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Serbia and Montenegro, and has identified and catalogued a large number of mineral resources related sites that can be of high hazard.

   
     

Rapid Environmental Assessment of the Tisza River Basin
UNEP, 2004.
The report notes that the Tsiza river basin ecosystem is regenerating itself after the cyanide accident, with wildlife largely recovering. But, it says more concerted action is needed to address environmental threats or “insecurities”, and recommends an “Integrated Sustainable Development Strategy” for the entire catchment area of the river Tisza, which includes Romania, Ukraine, Slovakia, Hungary and Serbia and Montenegro.

 
     

Freshwater in Europe - Facts, Figures and Maps
UNEP/DEWA, 2004.
UNEP/DEWA~Europe capitalised on its activities and data available on freshwater for the pan-European region and produced a new report: “Freshwater in Europe - Facts, Figures and Maps”. This publication is an overview, through a set of graphics, maps and other illustrations, on the state of Freshwater in Europe and Central Asia. The review has been compiled in support of UNEP’s reporting work on freshwater.

 
     

Caucasus Environment Outlook 2002
UNEP, 2002.
ISBN - 99928-803-2-5.

 
     

Regionally Based Assessment of Persistent Toxic Substances
Europe

UNEP/CHEMICALS, 2003. 500p.
GE.03-00151.

   
     

Regionally Based Assessment of Persistent Toxic Substances
Mediterranean

UNEP/CHEMICALS, 2003. 500p.
GE.03-00149
.

   
     

WHO

Water and Health in Europe
WHO, 2002. WHO Regional Publications. European Series No 93.
Bartram, J., Thyssen, N., Gowers, A., Pond, K., Lack, T.
A Joint Report from the European Environment Agency and the WHO Regional Office for Europe.
ISBN: 92 890 1360 5.

 
     

Climate Change and Stratospheric Ozone Depletion:
Early Effects on our Health in Europe

WHO, 2000. WHO Regional Publications, European Series, No. 88
ISBN: 92 890 1355 9.
A balanced assessment, based on currently available scientific knowledge, of the effects that climate change may have on the environment in Europe and the health of its populations.

 
     

WWF

 

Freshwater and Tourism in the Mediterranean
WWF, 2004.
The expansion of the tourism industry in the Mediterranean is destroying valuable wetlands and contributing to the depletion of the water resources that local communities and the tourism industry depend on.

   

 


Latin America and Caribbean

UNEP

Caribbean Environment Outlook 2005
UNEP ROLAC, 2005.122p.
ISBN 92-807-2526-2.
The Caribbean Environment Outlook assesses the state of the environment in the Caribbean SIDS and Low-Lying Coastal States in terms of the environmental concerns identified in the BPOA and the driving forces of the environmental change.
Spanish version. English version. Previous issues (1999).

 
     

El Cambio Climático en América Latina y el Caribe
(versión preliminar)

UNEP ROLAC/SEMARNAT, 2004. 98p.
ISBN: 968-817-677-X.
The present document makes a balance of the situation in Latin America and the Caribbean in relation to the climate change, in a while in which the Kyoto protocol is a fact.
Spanish version. English version.

 
     

GEO Report for Latin America and the Caribbean:
Environment Outlook 2003

UNEP ROLAC, 2003. 279p.
ISBN: 92-807-2294-8.
This report is the most complete and updated evaluation on the state of the regional environment, problems and trends in Latin America and the Caribbean region. The assessment covers land, forests, biodiversity, freshwater, marine and coastal resources, upper atmosphere and ozone, urban areas and natural and man-made disasters.
Spanish version. English version. Previous issues (2000)

 
     

GEO Juvenil para América Latina y el Caribe
Manual de Capacitación

UNEP ROLAC, 2003. 120p.

ISBN:
This book has been designed as a complement to the precedent Youth GEO Report. It aims to help the young leaders, the students, the professors and all the interested ones in the environment and in the education of the sustainability, with the purpose of translating it in concrete actions and of generating positive changes at local level.
Previous issues (2000).

 
     

Andean Environmental Outlook
UNEP ROLAC/CAN/CIUP, 2003. 120p.
ISBN: 92-807-2333-2
This report is the most complete and updated evaluation on the state of the environment, problems and trends in the Andean region. It covers land, forests, biodiversity, freshwater, marine and coastal resources, urban areas and natural and man-made disasters. It raises possible ways to improve the environmental and social conditions in the region.
Spanish version. English version.

 
     

Regionally Based Assessment of Persistent Toxic Substances
Eastern and Western South America

UNEP CHEMICALS, 2002. 101p.
This report represents the effort of data compilation on Persistent Toxic Substances (PTS) for the eastern and western South America region (Region XI). It is the first attempt to gather a comprehensive collection of data and analyse information covering eight countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. The region covers a wide diversity of ecosystems and climatic conditions with different patterns of use and disposal of chemicals both in agriculture and in industry.
Spanish version. English version.

 
     

Regionally Based Assessment of Persistent Toxic Substances
Central America and Caribbean

UNEP CHEMICALS, 2002.145p.
This report represents the effort of data compilation on Persistent Toxic Substances (PTS) for the the Central American and the Caribbean Region (Region X). Within the often severe constraints of available data, the project identified major regional sources of PTSs; summarized the evidence on their impact on environment and on human health; assessed their transboundary transport; explored the sources of PTS-related problems; evaluated the regional capacity for the containment and abatement of PTSs; identified regional priorities for PTS-related environmental and health issues; and contributed to the identification of global priorities related to PTSs.
Spanish version
. English version.

 
     

CCAD

State of the Environment and Natural Resources in Central America
CCAD, 1998.

   
     

North America

UNEP

Environmental Indicators for North America
ISBN No: 92-807-2683-8
UNEP, 2006.

This report sets out a methodology for selecting and developing potential indicators to portray changes in the environments shared by Canada and the United States. Then, using a few feasible indicators, it demonstrates how indicators can be used to show the progress - or lack thereof - being made in protecting the region's environment.

 
     

NORTH AMERICA'S ENVIRONMENT: A THIRTY–YEAR STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND POLICY RESTROPECTIVE
ISBN: 92-807-2234-4
UNEP, 2002.

 
     

REGIONALLY BASED ASSESSMENT OF PERSISTENT TOXIC SUBSTANCES - NORTH AMERICA -
UNEP/CHEMICALS/2003/2.
GE.03-00147–January 2003 –500.

   

 

 

 

   
WHO    

Chlidren's Health and the environment in North America

WHO, January 2006

The CEC, in partnership with public health organizations and the governments of Canada, Mexico and the United States, released the first-ever report on children's health and environment indicators in North America

 
     

Polar Regions

UNEP

Regionally Based Assessment of Persistent Toxic Substances
Artic. Regional Report

UNEP/CHEMICALS, 2003.

   
     

Regionally Based Assessment of Persistent Toxic Substances
Antarctica. Regional Report

UNEP/CHEMICALS, 2003.

   
     

Artic: pilot GLOBIO Report
GRID-Arendal, 2001.

   
     

AMAP

Artic Pollution-2006
Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme, 2006.
ISBN 82-7971-045-0
Published by AMAP, Oslo, Norway.

The third AMAP State of the Arctic Environment Report, updating the 1997 AMAP assessment on Acidification and Arctic Haze. Information is presented in a clear and readable manner for the non-scientific audience; richly illustrated and prefaced by an Executive Summary with recommendations specifically addressed to Ministers of the eight Arctic countries.
The AMAP assessment reports are available as electronic documents on the AMAP website at www.amap.no.

 
     

Impacts of a warming artic : Artic climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) - 2004
Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme, 2004.
ISBN 0-521-61778-2.
Published by Cambridge University Press,

An overview of the scientific/technical ACIA Assessment Report, presenting the information in a clear and readable manner for the non-scientific audience; richly illustrated and prefaced by an Executive Summary presenting the 10 key findings of the ACIA assessment that was produced for the Arctic Council by AMAP, CAFF and IASC.
The AMAP assessment reports are available as electronic documents on the AMAP website at www.amap.no.

 
     

Artic Pollution
Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme, 2002.
ISBN 82-7971-015-9.
Published by AMAP, Oslo, Norway.

The second AMAP State of the Arctic Environment Report, updating the 1997 AMAP assessments on Persistent Organic Pollutants, Heavy Metals, Radioactivity, and Human Health, and including a new assessment on Climate Change Effects on Contaminant Pathways. Information is presented in a clear and readable manner for the non-scientific audience; richly illustrated and prefaced by an Executive Summary with recommendations specifically addressed to Ministers of the eight Arctic countries.
The AMAP assessment reports are available as electronic documents on the AMAP website at www.amap.no.

 
     

Arctic Pollution Issues: State of the Artic Environment Report
AMAP, 1997. 188p.
ISBN 82-7655-060-6.

A condensed version of the scientific/technical AMAP Assessment Report, presenting the information in a clear and readable manner for the non-scientific audience; richly illustrated and prefaced by an Executive Summary with recommendations specifically addressed to Ministers of the eight Arctic countries.

 
     

West Asia

UN ESCWA

THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE TRANSBOUNDARY CONTEXT IN THE ESCWA REGION: SITUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
E/ESCWA/SDPD/2005/5. 2001
This study focuses on the current state of shared resources and the problems confronting them. While water ?has dominated the geopolitics of the ESCWA region for centuries, and its management has been the focus of ?regional efforts, most international bodies of water in the ESCWA region are not regulated by ?comprehensive international agreements. However, several piecemeal agreements do exist, and these have ?applied the principles of international law to water-sharing principles of cooperation, inclusive participation ?and mutual gain. The cross-national implications of water scarcity across the region are increasingly ?aggravated by the over-exploitation of water resources—and their pollution. Meanwhile, there are mounting ?challenges confronting the coastal and marine environments. These include dumping at sea, unsustainable ?fishing practices, pollution from oil spillages and discharges of land-based effluents, as well as habitat ?destruction caused by land-filling, reclamation and dredging.
   
     

ASSESSMENT OF LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE MANAGEMENT OF SHARED WATER RESOURCES IN THE ESCWA REGION
E/ESCWA/ENR/2001/3. 142p.
The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia has undertaken several activities to enhance the capacity of its member States to manage their shared surface and groundwater resources and strengthen their cooperation to achieve sustainable development and utilization of these resources.

  water_ressource
     

WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR THE ESCWA REGION -
E/ESCWA/ENR/2002/19.
The report aims to review past achievements and future challenges in moving towards sustainable development in the ESCWA region. It concludes with a platform of priorities for action and means of implementation for achieving progress towards sustainable development over the coming years.

 
     

UNEP

Energy Efficiency for industry in Asia
UNEP, 2006.
ISBN: 92-807-2647-1
With its unprecedented rate of industrial growth, Asia is the main contributor to a growing global energy demand. By consequence, the region is also bearing the brunt of resulting negative economic, social and environmental impacts such as increased air and water pollution, waste disposal, floods, and climate change.
 
     

Assessment of Environmental “Hot Spots” in Iraq
UNEP, 2005.
ISBN 92-807-2650-1
The report points out that the country “has a significant legacy of contaminated and derelict industrial and military sites”. .

 
     

DESK STUDY ON THE ENVIRONMENT IN IRAQ
UNEP, 2003.
The report by the United Nations Environment Programme on environmental conditions in Iraq offers a preliminary assessment of the main environmental threats facing the country and recommends actions for immediate relief and long-term recovery.

 
     

DESK STUDY ON THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
UNEP, 2003.
The report, Desk Study on the Environment in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, was requested from UNEP by Governments who attended the Seventh Special Session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum, which took place in Cartagena, Columbia, in February 2002.

   
     

Sectoral Assessments (by chapters of Agenda 21)

2. Sustainable Development

Millenium Ecosystems Assessment

Ecosystems and Human Well-being
A Report of the Conceptual Framework Working Group of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2003.
The 245-page report lays out the approaches, assumptions, processes, and parameters scientists are using in the study. It offers decision-makers a mechanism to identify options that can better achieve core human development and sustainability goals and better understand the trade-offs in decisions about development and the environment.
The reports are available for purchase through Island Press.

 
     

GEF

THE CHALLENGE OF SUSTAINABILITY: An Action Agenda for the Global Environment
Global Environment Facility; Sept. 2002. Washington, USA: GEF, 124p. ISBN 1-884122-79-5.
This book describes how to move from words to action for global sustainability and describes dozens of successful sustainable development initiatives that are models for the future.

  challenge_sustainability
     

IAEA

THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Produced by the IAEA Division of Public Information, June 2002.

   
     

UN-ESA

GLOBAL CHALLENGE GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY, TRENDS IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Published by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs for the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
August 2002.

   
     

UN-ESC-CSD

CRITICAL TRENDS: Global Change and Sustainable Development
Department of Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development
United Nations, New York, 1997, ST/ESA/255 - 76 p.
The next Critical Trends report is planned for 2002.

   
     

UNDP

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Oxford University Press, New York and Oxford, 2007/2008
The 2007/2008 report focusses on climate change and human solidarity. Human development is about putting people at the centre of development. It is about people realizing their potential, increasing choice and enjoying the freedom to lead the lives they value. Created in 1990, the Human Development Report has explored themes including gender equity, democracy, human rights, globalization, cultural liberty and water scarcity.

 
     

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Oxford University Press, New York and Oxford, 2003.
The 2003 report focusses on the Millennium Development Goals.
ISBN 0-19-5219 88-0

 
     

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Oxford University Press, New York and Oxford, 2002.
Published annually. The 2002 report focusses on deepening democracy in a fragmented world.
ISBN 0-19-521915-5

   
     

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Oxford University Press, New York and Oxford, 2001. 290 p.
Published annually. The 2001 report focusses on new technologies and human development.

   
     

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Oxford University Press, New York and Oxford, 2000. 290 p.
Published annually. The 2000 report focusses on human rights and human development.

   
     

UNEP

The Materiality of Social, Environmental and Corporate Governance Issues to Equity Pricing
UNEP, 2004.
11 Sector Studies by Brokerage House Analysts at the Request of the UNEP Finance Initiative Asset Management Working Group.
June 2004: UNEP Finance Initiative.
A group of 12 fund manager representing USD 1.6 Trillion of assets under management call on investors, government and business leaders to embed environmental, social, and governance best practice at the heart of our markets.
 
  

 
     

Women and the Environment
UNEP, 2004. Division of Policy Development and Law.
ISBN: 92-807-2442-8.
This publication makes the often hidden links between women and the environment visible, with an explicit focus on the gender-related aspects of land, water and biodiversity conservation and management.

 
     

IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
UNEP, November 2002. ISBN: 1 84064 913 5.
Contents: Preface Introduction Part I: Methodological Issues Towards Integrative Analysis Part II: Participatory Frameworks Part III: Perspectives in Ecological Economic Modelling Index

 
     

INDUSTRY AS A PARTNER FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 10 YEARS AFTER RIO: THE UNEP ASSESSMENT
UNEP; 2002. ISBN: 9280721976. (English and French, May 2002)

   
     

UNU

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT: Challenges for the United Nations in the New Millennium
United Nations University, ISBN 92-808-1069-3
Edited by Hans van Ginkel, Brendan Barrett, Julius Court, and Jerry Velasquez
2001, 160 pages

   
     

TRADE, ENVIRONMENT, AND THE MILLENNIUM
United Nations University, 2nd edition, ISBN 92-808-1064-2
Edited by Gary P. Sampson and W. Bradnee Chambers
2001, 280 pages.

   
     

WSSD

REPORT OF THE WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Johannesburg, South Africa,
26 August - 4 September.
United Nations • New York, 2002

   
     

 3. Combating Poverty

IFAD

IFAD : Annual Report 2006
IFAD, 2006
IFAD is a specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to eradicating poverty in the rural areas of developing countries. Seventy-five per cent of the world’s poorest people, 800 million women, men and children, live in rural areas. Most depend on agriculture to survive. IFAD works with poor rural people and their organizations, and other partners to develop solutions that enable poor rural people to overcome poverty themselves. We work with developing country governments, following their lead to design programmes and projects that fit within national systems and respond to the needs, priorities and constraints identified by poor rural people.
 
     

RURAL POVERTY REPORT 2001
Rural Poverty Report 2001 - The Challenge of Ending Rural Poverty, IFAD, 2001.
In this Rural Poverty Report 2001, the International Fund for Agricultural Development argues that, to be successful, poverty-reduction policies must focus on rural areas. To overcome disadvantages stemming from remoteness, lack of education and health care, insecure and unproductive jobs, high fertility and (often) discrimination as women or ethnic minorities, the rural poor need: legally secure entitlements to assets (especially land and water); technology (above all for increasing the output and yield of food staples); access to markets; opportunities to participate in decentralized resource management; and access to microfinance.

 

UN

Millennium Development Goals Report 2007
United Nations, New York, June 2007.
This report is based on a master set of data that has been compiled by an Inter-Agency and Expert Group on MDG Indicators led by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, in response to the wishes of the General Assembly for periodic assessment of progress towards the MDGs.

 

COMBATING POVERTY- Report of the Secretary-General
E/CN.17/2001/PC/5. Prepared by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat as task manager for chapter 3 of Agenda 21, with contributions from United Nations agencies and international organizations. March 2001.

   

UNDP

Water Governance for Poverty Reduction - Key Issues and the UNDP Response to Millenium Development Goals
UNDP, January 2004.
This booklet aims to highlight the key waterrelated challenges developing countries face, give examples of approaches that have worked based on the experience of UNDP and its partners, and make recommendations concerning policy. It is organized in chapters that correspond to the areas targeted by the Millennium Development Goals.

 
     

ATTACKING POVERTY WHILE IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT: Towards Win-Win Policy Options - 2000
Poverty and Environment Initiative sponsored by the European Commission and UNDP.

   

UNFPA

Framework for Action on Adolescents and Youth
United Nations Population Fund - UNFPA, 2007, 46p
UNFPA’s Framework for Action on Adolescents and Youth articulates a corporate strategy for working with Governments and partners in promoting the comprehensive development of young people worldwide. At a time when the global community is increasingly focused on poverty reduction and broader national development goals, the Framework outlines UNFPA’s policy and programme priorities on young people and its contributions with others to the development agenda. This Framework lays out the key elements that every UNFPA-supported adolescent and youth programme should have, while recognizing their diverse needs and regional and country-level variations. The "Four Keys" guiding UNFPA's efforts include: creating a supportive policy environment; facilitating gender-sensitive, life skills-based SRH education; promoting a core package of SRH services; and fostering young people's leadership and participation.
 
     

THE STATE OF WORLD POPULATION 2004 - Population, Reproductive Health and The Global Effort to End Poverty
United Nations Population Fund - UNFPA, 2004. ISBN: 0-89714-720-0.
Countries are making real progress in carrying out a bold global action plan that links poverty alleviation to women's rights and universal access to reproductive health. Ten years into the new era opened by the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, the quality and reach of family planning programmes have improved, safe motherhood and HIV prevention efforts are being scaled up, and governments embrace the ICPD Programme of Action as an essential blueprint for realizing development goals.

  pop_change
     

Population, Environment and Poverty Linkages
United Nations Population Fund - UNFPA, 2001.
This report provides an overview of the complex interrelations between population, the environment and poverty and the operational challenges they engender. The report documents UNFPA support for a number of programme initiatives in this area, and concludes that in order to achieve the mutually reinforcing UNCED and ICPD goals, mainstreamed in the Millennium Declaration, actions are required by both developed and developing countries.

  pop_change

WorldBank

World Development Report (WDR) 2006: Equity and development
World Bank, September 2005. ISBN: 0-8213-6249-6 SKU: 16249
This year's Word Development Report (WDR), the twenty-eighth, looks at the role of equity in the development process. It defines equity in terms of two basic principles. The first is equal opportunities: that a person's chances in life should be determined by his or her talents and efforts, rather than by pre-determined circumstances such as race, gender, social or family background. The second principle is the avoidance of extreme deprivation in outcomes, particularly in health, education and consumption levels. This principle thus includes the objective of poverty reduction.
 
     

World Development Report (WDR) 2000/2001: Attacking Poverty
World Bank, August 2000. ISBN: 0-19-521129-4 SKU: 61129.
At the start of a new century, poverty remains a global problem of huge proportions. World Development Report 2000/2001: Attacking Poverty argues that major reductions in all dimensions of poverty are possible--that the interaction of markets, state institutions, and civil societies can harness the forces of economic integration and technological change to serve the interests of poor people and increase their share of society's prosperity.

  pop_change
     

PANOS

REDUCING POVERTY: Is the World Bank's strategy working?
The Panos Institute; August 2002. Panos Report No 45. London, UK. ISBN 1-870670-60-4
Three years after the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) introduced their Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) approach as the latest template for the world’s poorest countries to get out of poverty, a Panos report examines the progress so far and the arguments about whether PRS can succeed.

  reducing poverty

4.  Consumption Patterns

UN

Changing Consumption Patterns - Report of the Secretary General
UN, 2001. E/CN.17/2001/PC/8.
Prepared by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat as task manager for chapter 4 of Agenda 21, with contributions from other United Nations agencies and international organizations.
Available through the Johannesburg Summit prepcom1 webpage: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/html/documents/ prepcom1.html

   
     

UNEP

Consumption Opportunities: Strategies for Change - A report for decision-makers
UNEP, 2001. 69p.
ISBN: 9280720716.
This Report presents UNEP's policy responses to the challenge of sustainable consumption. It has been prepared in part as a contribution to the implementation of Agenda 21 Chapter 4, and is aimed at decision-makers in government, business and civil society in general.

 
     

IIED

Finding Commom Groud : Indigenous Peoples and their Association with the Mining Sector
IIED, 2003, London, 112p.
ISBN: 1 84369 469 7

This report originated in the work of the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable
Development Project (MMSD). MMSD was a two-year participatory research
initiative designed to evaluate the role of the minerals, mining, and metals sector in
the transition to sustainable development.

   
     

Breaking New Ground: Mining, Minerals, and Sustainable Development
IIED, 2002. 450p.
ISBN: 1853839078.
This report presents an analysis of a large and heterogeneous sector through the many stages of minerals and metals exploration, production, use, re-use, recycling, and final disposal.

  breaking new ground
     

World Watch Institute

State of the World 2007: Our urban future
World Watch Institute, 2007.

 

 
     

State of the World 2004
World Watch Institute, 2004. 245p.
ISBN: 0-393-32539-3.
Special Focus: The Consumer Society.

 
     

5.  Demography

UNFPA

The State of the World Population - Unleashing the Potential of Urban Growth
UNFPA, 2007.
ISBN: 978-0-89714-807-8
In 2008, for the first time, more than half of the world’s population will be living in urban areas. By 2030, towns and cities will be home to almost 5 billion people. The urban population of Africa and Asia will double in less than a generation. This unprecedented shift could enhance development and promote sustainability—or it could deepen poverty and accelerate environmental degradation. The 2007 State of World Population report outlines the challenges and opportunities presented by the coming, inevitable urban growth. It also dispels many misconceptions about urbanization and calls on policymakers to take concerted, proactive steps to harness the potential of cities to improve the lives of all.
 
     
Change, Choice and Power : Young, Women , Livelihoods and HIV Prevention
UNFPA, 2007. 38p
The urgency of addressing the vulnerability of young women and adolescent girls of all backgrounds, but particularly the poor, cannot be over stated. Innovative, far-reaching and rapid responses are needed to impact whole generations so that the Millennium Development Goals to reduce poverty can be within reach. This paper sets out to explore the relationship between economic independence, vulnerability to HIV infection, the level of sexual and reproductive health among women and adolescent girls, and gender-based violence.
 
     

The State of the World Population - Population, Reproductive Health and The Global Effort to End Poverty
UNFPA, 2004.
ISBN: 0-89714-720-0.
Countries are making real progress in carrying out a bold global action plan that links poverty alleviation to women's rights and universal access to reproductive health. Ten years into the new era opened by the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, the quality and reach of family planning programmes have improved, safe motherhood and HIV prevention efforts are being scaled up, and governments embrace the ICPD Programme of Action as an essential blueprint for realizing development goals.
Previous issues (2002,2001, 2003).

  pop_change
     

Global Population and Water
UNFPA, 2003.
The Population and Development Branch, TSD, prepared this report as a contribution to the dialogue that took place at the Third World Water Forum held in Kyoto, Japan, and covers the population, gender and health dimensions related to the ongoing debate on water resources.

  pop_change
     

Population, Environment and Poverty Linkages
UNFPA, 2001.
This report provides an overview of the complex interrelations between population, the environment and poverty and the operational challenges they engender. The report documents UNFPA support for a number of programme initiatives in this area, and concludes that in order to achieve the mutually reinforcing UNCED and ICPD goals, mainstreamed in the Millennium Declaration, actions are required by both developed and developing countries.

  pop_change
     

UN

Demographic Dynamics and Sustainability - Report of the Secretary General
UN, 2001. E/CN.17/2001/PC/2
Prepared by the United Nations Population Fund as task manager for chapter 5 of Agenda 21, with contributions from other United Nations agencies and international organizations.

   
     
National trends in population, resources, environment and development : countries profiles
UN-ESA, 2006, New-York.
A global commitment to eradicate poverty and promote sustained economic growth and sustainable development was forged in the United Nations conferences and summits of the 1990s, was advanced in 2000 with the adoption of the Millennium Declaration, and recently was reinforced by Heads of State and Government in the outcome document of the 2005 World Summit. In the years leading up to the global conferences held during the 1990s, there was growing recognition by scholars, policy makers and the general public that population trends are inextricably linked with the availability of resources, the state of the environment, and economic and social development. At the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), held in Cairo in 1994, and the series of conferences reviewing progress achieved since those meetings, a global agreement emerged on the need for a sustainable relationship between human numbers, resources and development.
   
     

Population Environment and Development
UN-ESA, 2001.
Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division.

   
     

World Population Monitoring 2001: population, environment and development
UN-ESA, 2001.
ISBN 92-1-151359-6.

   
     

6.  Health

UNEP/UNICEF/WHO

CHILDREN IN THE NEW MILLENIUM: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON HEALTH
UNICEF/UNEP/WHO; 2002. 140p.
ISBN: 92 4 159016 5.
In the context of examining progress made since the 1990 World Summit for Children and the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, this book provides an overview of key environmental risks to children's health and the underlying causes. Specific environmental threats of major importance to children are described, including lack of safe water and sanitation, chemical pollution and radiation, indoor and outdoor air pollution and natural resource degradation.

  chldren_millenium
     

UNEP

DOMESTIC ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Edited by H.H.B. Gopalan and S. Saksena. 253 p.
United Nations Environment Programme and Tata Energy Research Institute, New Delhi, 1999.
This book is an assessment of the state of knowledge, contemporary situation, and status of scientific data that links domestic environmental parameters to the health of women and component of this study. The book provides examples of how social and political backgrounds determine women’s activity and patterns at home and work, and how this consequently affects their health.

 
     

UN

HEALTH AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - Report of the Secretary-General
E/CN.17/2001/PC/6.
Prepared by the World Health Organization as task manager for chapter 6 of Agenda 21, with contributions from other United Nations agencies and international organizations. Mars 2001.

   
     

UNICEF

The State of World's Children : Women and Children - the Double Dividend of Gender Equality
UNICEF, December 2006
ISBN-13:978-92-806-3998-8;
The State of the World's Children 2007 examines the discrimination and disempowerment women face throughout their lives - and outlines what must be done to eliminate gender discrimination and empower women and girls. It looks at the status of women today, discusses how gender equality will move all the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) forward, and shows how investment in women's rights will ultimately produce a double dividend: advancing the rights of both women and children.
 
     

WHO

Essential Environment Health Standards for Health Care
WHO , 2007
ISBN : 9789241547239
 
     
Promoting Physical and Active living in Urban Environment
WHO , 2006.
ISBN-13 9789289021814
People's participation in physical activity is influenced by the built, natural and social environments in which people live as well as by personal factors such as sex, age, ability, time and motivation. The way people organize cities, design the urban environment and provide access to the natural environment can be an encouragement or a barrier to physical activity and active living. Other barriers exit in the social environments within which people work, learn, play and live.
 
     

Environmental Health in Emergencies and Disasters
WHO, Geneva, 2003.
Wisner, B., Adams, J. 272 p.
This volume distills what is known about environmental health during an emergency or disaster. It draws on results from the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, and on experience with sustainable development between the two Earth Summits, in Rio de Janeiro and Johannesburg.
ISBN: 92 4 154541 0.

 
     

WSH CD-ROM - Water, Sanitation and Health Electronic Library
WHO, Geneva, 2003.
This second edition of WHO's water sanitation and health electronic library compiles information available from the World Health Organization on the theme.
ISBN: 92 4 154577 1.
Available for download from: http://bookorders.who.int/

 
     

The health effects of indoor air pollution exposure in developing countries
WHO, Geneva, 2002.
WHO/SDE/OEH/02.05. 40 p.
by Nigel Bruce, Department of Public Health, University of Liverpool, Rogelio Perez-Padilla, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases -Mexico, Rachel Albalak, Department of International Health, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, Atlanta.

 
     

THE WORLD HEALTH REPORT 2002: Preventing Risks, Promoting Healthy Life
WHO, Oct. 2002.
This report examines more than risks to health and identifies interventions that would reduce these risks, thereby increasing healthy life years. The risks to health include underweight, unsafe sex, high blood pressure, tobacco, alcohol, unsafe water and sanitation, cholesterol, indoor smoke from solid fuels, iron deficiency and overweight.

  world health report
     

CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT: A REVIEW OF EVIDENCE
An overview of the available evidence on the relationship between the physical environment and children’s health, identifying both research needs and policy priorities to protect children’s health from environmental hazards.
A joint report from the European Environment Agency and the WHO Regional Office for Europe.
Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2002.
ISBN 92-9167-412-5.

 
     

DEPLETED URANIUM IN KOSOVO: SOURCES, EXPOSURE AND HEALTH EFFECTS - 2001
Department of Protection of the Human Environment, World Health Organization, Geneva, April 2001.

   
     

Monitoring Ambient Air Quality for Health Impact Assessment
WHO Regional Publications, European Series, No 85.
World Health Organization, Geneva, 1999.
A guide to the principles and methods of air quality assessment aimed at measuring population exposure to ambient air pollutants and estimating the effects on health. Addressed to policy-makers as well as scientists engaged in air quality monitoring, the book responds to the failure of most monitoring systems to provide data that are useful in estimating and managing threats to health.
ISBN: 92 890 1351 6.

 
     

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - 1997
Five Years After the Earth Summit
World Health Organization, Geneva, 1997.
WHO/EHG/97.8 - 242 p.
An expert assessment of what is known about the current state of environmental degradation, its root causes, and the specific consequences for human health.

 
     

CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN HEALTH - 1996
WHO/EHG/96.7. 297 p.
McMichael, A.J., Haines, A., Slooff, R., Kovats, S.
Prepared by a Task Group on Behalf of WHO, WMOand UNEP.
An expert scientific assessment of the impact that climate change might have on the health of the world's population. The report adopts a cautious approach, using the best scientific studies to provide reasonable predictions and realistic recommendations for action. Throughout the report, the complexities of climate change, the limitations of current research methodologies, and the consequent uncertainty of future predictions are repeatedly emphasized.
Available for download from: http://bookorders.who.int/

 
     

Environmental Health in Urban Development
Technical Report Series No 807.
WHO, 1991.
Assesses what can be done to alleviate the many severe health problems associated with urban environments, where the living conditions of hundred of millions of people adversely affect their health, cause misery, and have potentially catastrophic social consequences.
ISBN: 92 4 120807 4.
Available for download from: http://bookorders.who.int/

 
     

WHO/UNICEF

 

Water for life: Making it happen
WHO and UNICEF; 2005.
ISBN: 92 4 156293 5.
Basic sanitation must reach 138 million more people every year through 2015 – close to 2 billion in total - to bring the world on track to halve the proportion of people living without safe water and basic sanitation.

  chldren_millenium
       

WEHAB

WEHAB FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION ON HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT - 2002
Prepared by WEHAB for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. August 2002.

   
     

7.  Human Settlements

UN-HABITAT

The State of the World’s Cities 2006/2007
UN-Habitat, Nairobi, 2006. ISBN: 92/1/131811-4
It is generally assumed that urban populations are healthier, more literate and more prosperous than rural populations. However, UN-HABITAT’s State of the World’s Cities Report 2006/7 has broken new ground by showing that the urban poor suffer from an urban penalty: Slum dwellers in developing countries are as badly off if not worse off than their rural relatives.

The report can be ordered on the Earthscan website: www.earthscan.co.uk/asp/bookdetails.asp?key=5001

 
     

The State of the World’s Cities 2004/2005
UN-Habitat, Nairobi, September 2004. ISBN: 92-1-131705-3.
Earthscan Publications Ltd, London and Sterling.
The State of the World's Cities 2004/2005 charts the progress and the challenges we face in this rapidly urbanising world. With contributions from some of the world's leading urban scholars, writers and experts, this report carries extensive examples, illustrations and facts that are of use to experts and non-experts alike. First published in 2001, this flagship report of UN-HABITAT now published every two years, represents a further milestone in the efforts of the United Nations to gather, promote, and disseminate information for policy makers and the public at large.

The report can be ordered on the Earthscan website: www.earthscan.co.uk/asp/bookdetails.asp?key=5001

 
     
Financing urban shelter - Global Report on Human Settlements 2005
UN-Habitat, Nairobi, 2005. ISBN No.: 92-1-131739-8
Financing Urban Shelter presents the first global assessment of housing finance systems, placing shelter and urban development challenges within the overall context of macroeconomic policies. The report describes and analyses housing finance conditions and trends in all regions of the world, including formal housing finance mechanisms, microfinance and community funding highlighting their relevance to the upgrading of slums.

The report can be ordered on the Earthscan website: http://www.earthscan.co.uk/asp/bookdetails.asp?key=4024
 
     

The Challenge of Slums - Global Report on Human Settlements 2003
UN-Habitat, Nairobi, 2003. ISBN No.: 1-844407-037-9.
Earthscan Publications Ltd, London and Sterling, VA. 300 pages.
Using a newly formulated operational definition of slums, this book presents estimates of the numbers of urban slum dwellers and examines the factors at all levels, from local to global, that underlie the formation of slums as well as their social, spatial and economic characteristics and dynamics. It goes on to evaluate the principal policy responses to the slum challenge of the last few decades.

The report can be ordered on the Earthscan website: http://www.earthscan.co.uk/asp/bookdetails.asp?key=4024

 
     

WATER AND SANITATION IN THE WORLD'S CITIES: Local Action for Global Goals
UN-Habitat, Nairobi, 2003. 304 pages.
Earthscan Publications Ltd, London and Sterling, VA. ISBN 1844070042.
This influential publication sets out in detail the scale of inadequate provision of water and sanitation. It describes the impacts on health and economic performance, showing the potential gains of remedial action; it analyses the proximate and underlying causes of poor provision and identifies information gaps affecting resource allocation; it outlines the consequences of further deterioration; and it explains how resources and institutional capacities – public, private and community – can be used to deliver proper services through integrated water resource management.
The report can be ordered on the Earthscan website: http://www.earthscan.co.uk/asp/bookdetails.asp?key=3902

 
     

THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S CITIES REPORT
UNCHS (Habitat), Nairobi, 2001.
ISBN 92-1-131476-3.
Starting with this 2001 edition, the State of the World's Cities Report takes the reader through Africa, the Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, the highly industrialized countries, Latin America and the Caribbean and countries with economies in transition to understand better how shelter, society, environment, economy, and, above all, systems of governance can contribute to urban vibrancy and viability in a globalizing world.

 
     

CITIES IN A GLOBALIZING WORLD: GLOBAL REPORT ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
UNCHS (Habitat), Nairobi, 2001.
Earthscan Publications Ltd, London and Sterling, VA. ISBN 1-85383-806-3.
Cities in a Globalizing World presents a comprehensive review of the world’s cities and analyses the positive and negative impacts on human settlements of the global trends towards social and economic integration and the rapid changes in information and communication technologies.
The report can be ordered on the Earthscan website: hhttp://www.earthscan.co.uk/asp/bookdetails.asp?key=3342

 
     

UN

SUSTAINABLE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT OF SOLID WASTES - Report of the Secretary-General
E/CN.17/2001/PC/9. prepared by the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements as task manager for chapters 7 and 21 of Agenda 21, with contributions from other United Nations bodies and international organizations. March 2001.

   
     

UNISDR

LIVING WITH RISK: A global review of disaster reduction initiatives
Prepared as an inter-agency effort coordinated by the ISDR Secretariat with special support from the Government of Japan, the WMO and the Asian Disaster Reduction Center (Kobe, Japan); 2002. Geneva, Switzerland.
Living With Risk is a 400 page study of the lessons learned by experts and communities in response to hazards presented by natural forces - volcanoes, fires, hurricanes, tsunamis, landslides and tornadoes - technological accidents and environmental degradation. This document is a preliminary version of a final publication, which will be published early 2003.

 
     

UNEP

THE KOSOVO CONFLICT: CONSEQUENCES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS - 1999
Balkans Task Force, United Nations Environment Programme, Geneva

 
     

UNU

CITIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT: New Approaches for Eco-Societies
UNU United Nations University, ISBN: 9280810235
Edited by Takashi Inoguchi, Edward Newman, and Glen Paoletto
1999, 337 pages

   
     

IFRC

WORLD DISASTERS REPORT - 2002
Focus on reducing risk- Published annually
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Geneva - 240 p.
ISBN 92-9139-082-8.

   
     

WORLD DISASTERS REPORT - 2001
Focus on recovery - Published annually
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Geneva - 248 p.

   
     

 8. Development

UNDP

Human Development Report 2006
Throughout history water has confronted humanity with some of its greatest challenges. Water is a source of life and a natural resource that sustains our environments and supports livelihoods – but it is also a source of risk and vulnerability. In the early 21st Century, prospects for human development are threatened by a deepening global water crisis. Debunking the myth that the crisis is the result of scarcity, this report argues poverty, power and inequality are at the heart of the problem.

 
     

Reducing Disaster Risk: A Challenge for Development
UNDP, Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery, 2004.
ISBN 92-1-126160-0
The Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR) has drawn up this global report with the aim to shed lights on the linkages between development and disaster. The increasing impact of natural disasters on development and the acknowledgement of development paths as determinant configuration factors of disaster risk are the two main issues addressed in this Report. It promotes disaster risk reduction through identifying appropriate development policies integrating both disaster risk management and actions targeting the 8 Millennium Development Goals achievement.

 
     

IMF

IMF and the Environment
IMF, September 2005,
   
     

IMF and the Environment
IMF, Gandhi, Ved P, 1998.
ISBN 1-55775-737-2

   
     

UN ISDR

Living with Risk - A global review of disaster reduction initiatives
UN ISDR, 2004.
ISBN 92-1-101050-0 (two-volume set)
Vol I: ISBN 92-1-101064-0
Vol II: ISBN 92-1-101065-9
Living with Risk: A global review of disaster reduction initiatives brings to light the urgent need for action to be taken – and the people who are doing so – towards building sustainable societies in an increasingly disaster-prone world.  

 
     

WorldBank

World Development Report 2007: Developement and the Next Generation
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank, 2006
ISBN : 0-8213-6549-5 ; 978-0-8213-6549-6
The theme of the World Development Report (WDR) 2007 is youth, aged 12 to 24. It focuses on decisions concerning the five phases with the biggest long-term impact on how human capital is kept safe, developed, and deployed. For each phase (continuing to learn, starting to work, developing a healthful lifestyle, beginning a family, and exercising citizenship) governments must increase investments directly and cultivate an environment for young people and their families to invest in themselves. The WDR suggests that a youth lens on policies affecting the five phases would help focus on three broad directions: expanding opportunities, enhancing capabilities, and providing second chances. Each pathway (opportunities, capabilities, and second chances) is applied to each of the transitions, generating reform suggestions.To mobilize the economic and political resources to stimulate such reforms, countries must resolve three issues: better coordination and integration with national policy, stronger voice, and more evaluation. In addition, the WDR examines both youth migration, and their increasing use of new technologies.

 
     

World Development Report 2003: Sustainable Development in a Dynamic World
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank, 2002.
ISBN : 0-8213-5187-7.
Available from: http://econ.worldbank.org/wdr/wdr2003/

 
     

 


 9. Atmosphere

IPCC

Climate Change 2007 : The Physical Science Basis
IPCC, 2007.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes that major advances in climate modelling and the collection and analysis of data now give scientists “very high confidence” (at least a 9 out of 10 chance of being correct) in their understanding of how human activities are causing the world to warm . This level of confidence is much greater than what could be achieved in 2001 when the IPCC issued its last major report.
 
     

Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage
IPCC, 2005.
ISBN 92-9169-119-4
This report was produced by IPCC on the invitation of UNFCCC.

 
     

Safeguarding the Ozone Layer and the Global Climate System
IPCC, 2005.
ISBN 92-9169-118-6
This report was produced by IPCC and the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) on the invitation of UNFCCC and the Montreal Protocol.

 
     

Climate Change and Biodiversity
IPCC, 2002. IPCC Technical Paper V, 77p.
ISBN 92-9169-104-7
This is a Technical Paper of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change prepared in response to a request from the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

 
     

IPCC Third Assessment Report: Climate Change 2001
Vol. I - Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis - January 2001
Vol. II - Climate Change 2001: Impacts, Adaptation & Vulnerability - February 2001
Vol. III - Climate Change 2001: Mitigation - March 2001
Vol. IV - Climate Change 2001: Synthesis Report - September 2001

   
     

Methodological and Technological Issues in Technology Transfer
IPCC Special Report, 2000.
Bert Metz, Ogunlade Davidson, Jan-Willem Martens, Sascha Van Rooijen and Laura Van Wie Mcgrory (Eds.) - Cambridge University Press, UK. 432p.
Available from Cambridge University Press
Summary for Policymakers
IPCC, 2000. 8p.
Available from IPCC Secretariat in English, French, Spanish and Russian.

   
     

Emissions Scenarios
IPCC Special Report , 2000.
Nebojsa Nakicenovic and Rob Swart (Eds.) - Cambridge University Press, UK. 570p.
Available from Cambridge University Press
Summary for Policymakers
IPCC, 2000. 20p.
Available from IPCC Secretariat in English, French, Spanish and Russian.

   
     

Land Use, Land-use Change and Forestry
IPCCSpecial Report, 2000.
Robert T. Watson, Ian R. Noble, Bert Bolin, N. H. Ravindranath, David J. Verardo and David J. Dokken (Eds.) - Cambridge University Press, UK. 375p.
Available from Cambridge University Press
Summary for Policymakers
IPCC, 2000. 20p.
Available from IPCC Secretariat in English, French, Spanish and Russian.

   
     

Climate Change
WMO/UNEP, 1995.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Second Assessment Report. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

   
     

UNEP

Vital Climate Graphics
UNEP, 2005.
Vital Climate Change Graphics was first published in 2000 by UNE) and GRID-Arendal. This updated edition, launched in February 2005, is based on the Third Assessment Report (TAR) of the IPCC that was published in 2001.

 
     

Emmission Tradings: Climate Change Working Group Statement by UNEP Finance Initiative
UNEP, 2003. Released at UNFCCC COP 9.
CCWG Emissions Trading CEO Briefing.
The report is available for download in pdf format.

 
     

Climate change and Winter Sports: Environmental and Economic Threats
IOC/UNEP, 2003.
Rolf Bürki, Hans Elsasser, Bruno Abegg. 5th World Conference on Sport and Environment, Turin 2-3 December 2003.

   
     

Climate Change and the Financial Services Industry: Module 1 & 2
UNEP, 2002.
Prepared by the UNEP FI Climate Change Working Group, July 2002.
The study shows why climate change is relevant to the financial services industry and explains the need for long-term, market-based, frameworks to foster finance sector participation.
Module 1 - 432 Kb
Module 2 - 276 Kb

   
     

The Asian Brown Cloud: Climate and other Environmental Impacts
UNEP RRC.AP, 2002.
ISBN: 92-807-2240-9.
Report commissioned by UNEP and prepared by the Center for Clouds, Chemistry and Climate (C4).
It is a seven-year study by 200 scientists indicating that the "Asian Brown Cloud" reduces the amount of solar radiation reaching the ground, leading to a drop in crop productivity, as well as trapping heat, altering rainfall and causing deadly respiratory diseases.

  brown_cloud
     

Protecting the Ozone Layer. The United Nations History
Stephen O Andersen and K Madhava Sarma (UNEP), 2002. 513p.
ISBN 1853839051
This book tells the story of the ozone layer and how the Montreal Protocol averted a grave threat to the whole of humanity through the destruction of this layer.

  ozone_layer
     

UNFCCC

Key GHG data
UNFCCC, 2005.
In this publication UNFCCC confirms that developed countries, taken as a group, have achieved sizable emission reductions. Compared to the 1990 levels, overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of these countries were down 5.9% in 2003. But the secretariat warns that further efforts are required to sustain these reductions and to cut the emissions further.

 
     

National Communications from Parties Included in Annex I to the Convention Compilation and Synthesis of Third National Communications
FCCC/SBI, 2003.
This is the executive summary of the compilation and synthesis report on third national communications from Annex I Parties. It summarizes information presented in the other parts of the report (FCCC/SBI/2003/7/Add.1–4). This document provides an overview of trends in greenhouse gas emissions in the period 1990–2000, highlights major policies and measures of Annex I Parties, presents an overview of projections of emissions and covers other information provided by Parties in their national communications.

   
     

UN

Protection of the Atmosphere - Report of the Secretary General
E/CN.17/2001/PC/12, 2001.
Prepared by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme as task managers for chapter 9 of Agenda 21, with contributions from other United Nations agencies and international organizations.

   
     

WHO

Climate change and human health - risks and responses
WHO, 2003. 250p..
ISBN 92 4 156248 X
This book, published by WHO in collaboration with UNEP and WMO, describes the context and process of global climate change, its actual or likely impacts on health, and how human societies and their governments should respond, with particular focus on the health sector.

 
     

WHO/UNEP

Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion (executive summary)
WMO/UNEP, 2002.
It contains the most up-to-date understanding of ozone depletion and reflects the thinking of 250 international scientific experts who contributed to its preparation and review. The full report is being prepared for publication. Printed copies will be available in April 2003.

   
     

Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion
WMO, 1998. WMO Ozone Report No. 44.
The Executive Summary is summarized under Ozone depletion on the Emerging Issues page for Agenda 21 Chapter 9.

   
     

Environmental Effects of Ozone Depletion
UNEP, 1997.
Interim Summary issued by the Ozone Secretariat, UNEP, Nairobi.

   
     

IUCN/UNEP

Carbon, Forests and People: Towards the integrated management of carbon sequestration, the environment and sustainable livelihoods
IUCN/UNEP, 2002.
IUCN and UNEP outline a set of strategies and approaches aimed at ensuring that forests and other land-use climate change mitigation measures deliver sustainable development benefits in an equitable and cost-effective manner.
A press release is also available in pdf format.

  carcon, forests and people
     

FAO

Climate Change and the Forest Sector - Possible National and Subnational Legislation
FAO, 2004. FAO Forestry Paper 144, 76p.
ISBN: 925105200X
This publication examines the development of international law of climate change and discusses issues that national and subnational legislative bodies may have to consider regarding climate change mitigation and forests.

  carcon, forests and people
     

WorldBank

Urban Air Quality Managment: Coordinating Transport, Environment and Energy Policies in Developing countries
Worldbank , 2001. 64p.

   
     

WRI

Building on the Kyoto Protocol: Options for Protecting the Climate
WRI (Kevin A. Baumert with Odile Blanchard, Silvi Llosa and James Perkaus), 2002.
ISBN: 1-56973-524-7
WRI report stresses need to bridge the gap between rich and poor countries to protect climate.

  building on the Kyoto Protocol
     

Pew Center on Global Climate Change

Climate Change Mitigation in developing countries: Brazil, China, India, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey
William Chandler, Roberto Schaeffer, Zhou Dadi, P.R. Shukla, Fernando Tudela, Ogunlade Davidson, Sema Alpan-Atamer, 2002.
For each of the six countries, the report profiles energy and emissions sources, identifies measures contributing to climate mitigation, and evaluates the potential for future mitigation.

 
     

Earlier Assessments

  • 1994 Report of the Halon Fire Extinguishing Agents Technical Options Committee
  • 1994 Report of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel - 1995 Assessment
  • 1994 Report of the Aerosols Sterilants and Miscellaneous Uses and Carbon Tetrachloride Technical Options Committee
  • 1994 Report of the Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee, 1995 Assessment
  • 1994 Report of the Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps Technical Options Committee, 1995 Assessment
  • 1994 Report of the Flexible and Rigid Foams Technical Options Committee, 1995 Assessment
  • 1994 Report of the Solvents, Coatings and Adhesives Technical Options Committee, 1995 Assessment
  • Technology and Economic Assessment Panel, Part I, II, III, IV, V, and VI, March 1996 Report
  • UNEP Technology and Economic Assessment Panel, Vol. I & II, April 1997 Report
    Issued by the Ozone Secretariat, UNEP, Nairobi.
   
     

 10. Integrated Management of Land Resources

UN

AGRICULTURE, LAND AND DESERTIFICATION - Report of the Secretary-General
E/CN.17/2001/PC/13. Prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as task manager for chapters 10 and 14, and the United Nations Environment Programme as task manager for chapter 12, of Agenda 21, with contributions from other United Nations agencies and international organizations and major groups. 29 March 2001.

   
     

UNEP

THE MESOPOTAMIAN MARSHLANDS: DEMISE OF AN ECOSYSTEM - 2001
UNEP GRID-Geneva in collaboration with GRID-Sioux Falls and the UNEP Regional Office for West Asia

  mesopotamian_marshlands
     

 11. Forests

FAO

Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005
FAO, 2006.
ISBN: 9251054819
FAO has been coordinating global forest resources assessments every five to ten years since 1946. The Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005 (FRA 2005) was carried out between 2003 and 2005.
Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005 Key findings

 
     

State of the World's Forests 2005
FAO, 2005. 168p.
ISBN: 9251051879.

The State of the World's Forests reports every two years on the status of forests, recent major policy and institutional developments and key issues concerning the forest sector. This edition presents a global picture of the forest sector and the latest information on activities and developments. Its theme, "realizing the economic benefits from forests", recognizes that the economic viability of the forest sector is a prerequisite to safeguarding the environmental, social and cultural functions of the resource.

Previous issues (2003, 2001, 1999, 1997, 1995) are also available on: www.fao.org/forestry/fo/sofo/sofo-e.st

 
     

People and Forests
FAO, 2004. Participatory forestry publications, CD-ROM.
ISBN:9250052081
This CD-ROM contains 15 years of publications produced by FAO and its partners under the Forest, Trees and People Programme. It includes a selection of more than 70 publications on participatory forestry and related subjects, and the final output of one of the best-known community forestry development programmes.

 
     

Forest Resources Assessment 2000
FAO, 2001. 102p.
ISSN: 02586150
The Forest Resources Assessment 2000 compiled and analysed a wide range of information about the extent, composition, protection and utilization of forests for each country.

   
     

Forest products outlook study
FAO.
Working papers have been commissioned on a few topics that have been considered as most important for the future wood product market outlook, including: likely future changes in the nature and type of wood and fibre supplies; trends in processing; and the future outlook for fuelwood supply and demand.

   
     

UNECE

The Condition of Forests in Europe 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
UNECE/European Comission, 2002.
This report describes the actual damage observed on trees and forests, the report also presents computer model calculations of future risks.

  europe_forest
     

UNEP

Cloud Forest Agenda
UNEP-WCMC, 2004.
This report provides global maps of cloud forests, alongside information on their biodiversity and watershed importance, and a regional analysis of the threats to cloud forests. It concludes with an agenda for action, identifying global to national priorities and opportunities.
The Cloud Forest Agenda has been funded by the members of the Mountain Cloud Forest Initiative, comprising UNEP, the UNEP WCMC,, UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme and International Hydrological Programme (IHP), and the Commission on Ecosystem Management of IUCN.

  world_atlas
     

Towards a Global Tree Conservation Atlas
UNEP-WCMC/FFI, 2003. UNEP-WCMC Biodiversity Series No 15.
ISBN 92 807 2344 8
The report provides the case for a need to map the status and distribution of the world’s threatened tree species. The report is a joint collaboration between UNEP-WCMC and FFI.
A Global Tree Conservation Atlas will be one of the main outputs of the
Global Trees Campaign
.

 
     

An Assessment of the Status of the World's Remaining Closed Forests
UNEP GRID-Sioux Falls in collaboration with the USGS/EROS Data Center. UNEP/DEWA/TR, 2001.
ISBN: 9280720287

   
     

Wildland Fires and the Environment: a Global Synthesis
Joel S. Levine, Atmospheric Sciences Division, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, USA; Tom Bobbe, USDA Forest Service, Remote Sensing Application Center, Salt Lake City, USA; Nicolas Ray and Ronald G. Witt, UNEP/Division of Environmental Information,
Assessment & Early Warning/GRID-Geneva, Geneva, SWITZERLAND; Ashbindu Singh, UNEP/Division of Environmental Information,
Assessment & Early Warning/North America, EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls, USA, 1999.
ISBN: 92-807-1742-1

 
     

WorldBank & WWF

Running Pure: the Importance of Forest Protected Areas to Drinking Water
World Bank/WWF Alliance for Forest Conservation and Sustainable Use, 2003.
ISBN 2-88085-262-5
A research report for the World Bank / WWF Alliance for Forest Conservation and Sustainable Use. Written and edited by Nigel Dudley and Sue Stolton. With major research and contributions by Rachel Asante Owusu, Ahmet Birsel, David Cassells, José Courrau, Lawrence Hamilton, Sedat Kalem, Wang Luan Keng, Leonardo Lacerda, Yildiray Lise, Stefano Pagiola, Sara Scherr and Claudio Sericchio

   
     

CIFOR/ Forest Trends/ Future Harvest

CIFOR Annual Report 2006 : Building on success
CIFOR, 2007, Bogor, Indonesia, 60p
ISBN: 978-979-14-1216-2.
All organisations benefit from independent scrutiny, and for this reason 2006 was a particularly important year for CIFOR. An External Program and Management Review (EPMR), commissioned by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, looked at every aspect of CIFOR’s work, from the quality of its research to its institutional health, from its research partnerships to its influence on forest policy. The review concluded that CIFOR is rightly regarded as the world’s leading international forestry research organisation.
 
     

Forest Carbon and Local Livelihoods: Assessment of Opportunities and Policy Recommendations
Joyotee Smith and Sara J.Scherr, 2002. CIFOR Occasional Paper No.37.
ISSN 0854-9818.
A new report from CIFOR and Washington D.C.-based Forest Trends challenges conventional wisdom that carbon-trading between industry and tree growers in developing countries will damage the environment and have negative social consequences.

  forest_carbon
     

 12. Desertification

FAO-GEF-UNEP-UNCCD

Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands
Preparatory Process
The GEF in partnership with FAO, UNEP, Global Mechanism of the UNCCD and other partners, has provided resources to catalyse an international undertaking in supporting a Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands (LADA) project to develop and test an effective assessment methodology for land degradation in drylands.
The LADA Secretariat is hosted by FAO:
http://www.fao.org/ag/agl/agll/lada/

   
     

UN

Agriculture, Land and Desertification - Report of the Secretary-General
UN, 2001. E/CN.17/2001/PC/13
Prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as task manager for chapters 10 and 14, and the United Nations Environment Programme as task manager for chapter 12, of Agenda 21, with contributions from other United Nations agencies and international organizations and major groups.

   
     

UNCCD

Implementing the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Africa :Ten African Experiences
UNCCD, 2006.
ISBN: 92-95043-12-X
This publication was initiated and compiled by the secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) as part of a Global Environment Facility (GEF) regional project entitled “Supporting Capacity Building for the elaboration of national reports and country profiles by African country Parties to the UNCCD”, co-funded by the World Bank (implementing agency) through the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD and executed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
 
     

Preserving our common ground - UNCCD 10 years on
UNCCD, 2004.
ISBN 92-95043-00-6.
The 10th anniversary publication of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

 
     

UNEP

 

Global Deserts Outlook
UNEP, 2006.
ISBN: 9280727222.
The Global Deserts Outlook presents a panorama of the environmental status of the world's deserts : their location and extent, uniqueness and vulnerability, biodiversity and natural resources. The report provides a balanced picture of deserts as ecosystems which form a special part of the world's natural and cultural heritage, and not simply as land that is the end result of the process of desertification. Few places on earth contain a richer collection of natural adaptations to the environment.

 
       
 

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa
UNEP, 1997.
ISBN: 9280714864
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is a major achievement of the international community. Stemming from the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the Convention is an innovative document, which breaks new ground in international environmental law.
http://www.unccd.int/convention/menu.php
Available from Earthprin

   
       
 

World Atlas Desertification
UNEP, 1997. 182p.
ISBN: 0340691662
Available on Earthprint

 
       

 13. Mountains

UNEP

MOUNTAIN WATCH: environmental change and sustainable development in mountains
UNEP-WCMC; Oct. 2002. ISBN 1 899628 20 7
The report, the first map-based assessment of environmental change in mountain areas and the implications for sustainable development, has been compiled by the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) as a contribution to the International Year of the Mountains.

  mountain watch
     

UN

SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT - Report of the Secretary-General
A/62/292 . August 2007

The present report was prepared in response to General Assembly resolution 60/198, in which the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to report to it at its sixty-second session on the status of sustainable development in mountain regions. The report describes the status of sustainable mountain development at the national, regional and international levels, including an overall analysis of the challenges ahead, and provides suggestions for consideration by the Assembly as to how to continue to promote effectively sustainable development in mountain regions around the world within the existing policy context, including chapter 13 of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and the Millennium Development Goals.

   
     

SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT - Report of the Secretary-General
E/CN.17/2001/PC/14. Prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
as task manager for chapter 13 of Agenda 21, with contributions from other United Nations agencies and international organizations. March 2001.

   
     

International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions

THE BISHKEK MOUNTAIN PLATFORM - 2002
The Bishkek Mountain Platform will be the concluding declaration from the Summit, and will provide a framework for action for sustainable development of mountain regions.

   
     

Other Sources

THE STATE OF WORLD'S MOUNTAIN'S : A GLOBAL REPORT - 1992
Peter B. Stone (editor). Zed Books, London and New Jersey, 1992
ISBN :1-85649-115-3

 
     

 14. Agriculture and Rural Development

FAO

Improving Nutrition Programmes : An Assessment Tool for Action
FAO, 2006.
ISBN 978-92-5-105588-5
FAO has developed a methodology that allows countries to carry out in-depth assessments of their community-based food and nutrition programmes. This was done by carrying out an analysis of a number of successful programmes in developing countries, for the purpose of identifying and understanding best practices which contribute to improving the impact and sustainability of such programmes. Based
on the lessons learned from them, a technical guide entitled Improving Nutrition Programmes: an Assessment Tool for Action (AT) was developed and published by FAO.
 
     

The State of Food and Agriculture 2006
FAO, 2006.
ISBN 978-92-5-105600-4.
The State of Food and Agriculture 2006 examines the issues and controversies surrounding international food aid and seeks to find ways to preserve its essential humanitarian role while minimizing the possibility of harmful secondary impacts.
Previous issues (1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003-4, 2005).

  2002
     

World Agriculture: towards 2015/2030
FAO, 2003. 444p.
ISBN 9251048355.
This report is FAO's latest assessment of the long-term outlook for the world's food supplies, nutrition and agriculture. It presents the projections and the main messages. The projections cover supply and demand for the major agricultural commodities and sectors, including fisheries and forestry.
A hardcopy of this report, as well as of the Summary report, can be ordered at http://www.fao.org/icatalog/inter-e.htm.
Previous issues (2002).

 
     

Food Insecurity: when people live with hunger and fear starvation
Fao, 2001.108p.
ISBN 925104628X.
The state of food insecurity in the world reports on global and national efforts to reach the goal set by the 1996 World Food Summit: to reduce by half the number of undernourished people in the world by the year 2015.
Previous issues (1999, 2000).

  food_insecurity
     

UN

Agriculture, Land and Desertification - Report of the Secretary General
UN, 2001. E/CN.17/2001/PC/13
Prepared by the FAO as task manager for chapters 10 and 14, and the UNEP as task manager for chapter 12 of Agenda 21, with contributions from other UN agencies and international organizations and major groups.

   
     

WEHAB

WEHAB Framework For Action on Agriculture
WEHAB, 2002.
Prepared by WEHAB for the World Summit on Sustainable Development 2002.

   
     

 15. Biological Diversity

UN

Global Status of Biological Diversity - Report of the Secretary General
UN, 2001. E/CN.17/2001/PC/18
Prepared by the United Nations Environment Programme as task manager for chapter 15 of Agenda 21, with contributions from other United Nations agencies and international organizations.

   
     

UNEP

Global Marine Assessments : A survey of global and regional assessments and related scientific activities of the marine environment
UNEP-WCMC, Fev 2007. Biodiversity Series No 27.
ISBN: 978-92-807-2800-2
Today, the urgency to understand the state and functioning of our oceans is greater than ever. The fact that water covers more than two-thirds of the Earth’s surface (over 335 million square kilometres) is often quoted; the big question is why is the ocean so important?
 
     

In the front line - Shoreline protection and other ecosystem services from mangroves and coral reefs
UNEP-WCMC, 2006. Biodiversity Series No 24.
ISBN: 92-807-2681-1
Sue Wells, Corinna Ravilious and Emily Corcoran.
The tragic and devastating consequences of the Asian tsunami, December 2004 , and the hurricanes and cyclones of 2005 were a wake up call for the global community, dramatically drawing attention to the dangers of undermining the services that coastal ecosystems provide to humankind.

  bamboo
     

Protected Areas and Biodiversity: An Overview of Key Issues
CBD Secretariat and UNEP-WCMC, February 2004. Biodiversity Series No 21.
ISBN: 92 807 2404 5
Protected Areas and Biodiversity: An Overview of Key Issues synthesizes key aspects in the development of protected areas: the level of international commitment, the relationship of protected areas to sustainable development, and critical issues related to their effectiveness. This publication has been compiled by the Secretariat of the CBD and UNEP-WCMC as an input to the Seventh Meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

  bamboo
     

Bamboo Biodiversity - Africa, Madagascar and the Americas
UNEP-WCMC/INBAR, 2004. Biodiversity Series No 19. 340p.
ISBN: 92 807 2383 9
Nadia Bystriakova, Valerie Kapos, Igor Lysenko.
Publisher University of California Press.
Order directly from the University of California Press on: http://www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/9941.

  bamboo
     

World Atlas of Biodiversity
UNEP-WCMC, 2002. 340p.
ISBN: 0-520-23668-8
Order directly from the University of California Press on: http://www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/9941.

world_atlas
     

Global Biodiversity Assessment
UNEP, 1995. 1140p.
ISBN: 0521564808
Available through Earthprint from http://www.earthprint.com/

 
     

Global Biodiversity 1992: Status of the Earth's Living Resources
Compiled by World Conservation Monitoring Centre in collaboration with The Natural History Museum, London, and in association with IUCN, UNEP, WWF & WRI.
Chapman & Hall, London, 1992. 585p.

 
     

UNEP-CITES

CITES Handbook
CITES, 2001. 360p.
ISBN 2-88323-009-9,
The CITES Handbook has been compiled to provide for the Parties to CITES and others who are interested the most essential texts for the implementation of the Convention in one single reference book.

  handbook
     

UNEP & CI

Tourism and Biodiversity: Mapping Tourism’s Global Footprint
UNEP/CI, 2003.
The publication illustrates the overlap between tourism development
(present and forecasted) and biodiversity hotspots highlighting tourism related threats and opportunities for biodiversity conservation and improved human welfare.

  handbook
     

UNEP & IUCN

United Nations List of Protected Areas
IUCN/UNEP in collaboration with the IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), 2003.
ISBN 2-8317-0746-3, 92-807-2362-6.

  handbook
     

UNEP-SBCD

Biodiversity and Sustainable Development
UNEP/Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD), 2002.
SBCD published texts to promote general understanding of the importance of, and the measures required for, the conservation of biological diversity.
Newsletter and brochures are available on SBCD website: http://www.biodiv.org/outreach/ awareness/publications.asp.

  cbs
     

Global Biodiversity Outlook
UNEP/Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD), 2001.
This release is the result of an ambitious collective effort that point at some of the critical issues that must be adressed if the Convention is to succeed in meeting its three objectives, namely, the conservation of the biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of genetic resources.

   
     

Handbook of the Convention on Biological Diversity
UNEP/Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD), 2001.
ISBN 1-85383-737-7
This Handbook is intended to provide a reference guide to decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity as well as a guide to ongoing activities in relation to particular Articles and/or thematic areas of the Convention.

   
     

UNESCO

Biosphere Reserves: Special Places for People and Nature
UNESCO, 2002. 208p.
ISBN 92-3-103813-3

   
     

WEHAB

WEHAB Framework For Action on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management
WEHAB, 2002.
Prepared by WEHAB for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, August 2002.

   
     

MA-Secretariat

Millenium Ecosystems Assessments
(in preparation)
http://www.ma-secretariat.org/

   
     

WWF

Living Planet Report 2004
WWF, 2004.
ISBN: 2-88085-265-X.
The Living Planet Report is WWF's periodic update on the state of the world's ecosystems - as measured by the Living Planet Index - and the human pressures on them through the consumption of renewable natural resources - as measured by the Ecological Footprint.

     

Money talks: Economic Aspects of Marine Turtle Use and Conservation
WWF, 2004.
Troëng, S. and Drews C.
The study – the first to assess the economic value of sea turtles on a global scale – compared the revenue generated from killing turtles or collecting their eggs with that generated from tourism at a total of 18 sites in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. It shows that the worldwide decline in sea turtle populations jeopardizes jobs, tourism and coastal economies, especially in developing countries, two thirds of which have sea turtles.

 
     

Switching Channels: Wildlife trade routes into Europe and the UK
WWF/TRAFFIC, 2002. 15p.
Illegal wildlife trade routes are difficult to uncover.By their very nature they are covert, sometimes run by organised criminals,and often used to smuggle other commodities such as drugs and guns.This report attempts to uncover some of these complex trade routes into Europe and the UK,as well as the techniques used to smuggle wildlife.

   
     

IPCC

Climate Change and the Biodiversity
IPCC, 2002. IPCC Technical Paper V, 77p.
ISBN 92-9169-104-7.
This is a Technical Paper of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change prepared in response to a request from the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

 

 16. Biotechnology

FAO

Pest Risk Analysis for Quarantine Pests, including Analysis of Environmental Risks and Living Modified Organisms
FAO, 2004. Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention, Publication No. 11.
Guidelines for determining if a living modified organism (LMO) poses a hazard to plants.
The guidelines also cover other LMOs that may be harmful to plants, such as insects, fungi and bacteria.

   
     

UN

Transfer of Environmentally Sound Technologies, Cooperation and Capacity Building: environmentally sound management of biotechnology - Report of the Secretary General
UN, 2001. E/CN.17/2001/PC/11
Prepared by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat as task manager for chapter 34 of Agenda 21 and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization as task manager for chapter 16, with contributions from United Nations agencies and international organizations.

   
     

UNEP -SCBD

Convention on Biological Diversity :Voluntary Guidelines on Biodiversity-Inclusive Impact Assessment
UNEP/CBD, March 2006, Brazil
At its sixth meeting the Conference of the Parties, in decision VI/7 A endorsed the draft guidelines for incorporating biodiversity-related issues into environmental impact assessment legislation and/or processes and in strategic environmental assessment. In the same decision, the Executive Secretary was requested to compile and disseminate, through the clearing-house mechanism and other means of communication, current experiences in environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment procedures that incorporate biodiversity-related issues, as well as experiences of Parties in applying the guidelines.
   
     

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity: text and annexes
UNEP/Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2000.
ISBN: 92-807-1924-6.
The objective of this Protocol is to contribute to ensuring an adequate level of protection in the field of safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health, and specifically focusing on transboundary movements.
(Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish)

  cartagena
     

 17. Oceans

AIMS

STATUS OF CORAL REEFS :in Tsunami Affected Countries - 2005
edited by Clive Wilkinson, David Souter and Jeremy Goldberg
Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, ISSN 1447-6185
The tsunamis of Sunday 26 December 2004 caught many people unprepared and unaware in Indian Ocean countries. This unexpected event struck without apparent warning on a clear day; many local people and tourists were on the beach and some walked over coral reef flats as the water receded to investigate a hidden realm. Within minutes, a series of massive waves returned to carry them away and invade the land. The tsunamis resulted in more than 250,000 people killed or missing and caused massive destruction to coastal resources and infrastructure. Our focus in this book is on the impacts on the natural coastal resources, especially the coral reefs and associated ecosystems, and the responses by the international community. But we cannot ignore that far more damage was done to the lives of people of the region and the world.
 
     

STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF THE WORLD: 2002 - 2002
edited by Clive Wilkinson,
Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Dec. 2002. Australia.
ISSN 1447-6185.

  status of coral reefs
     

STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF THE WORLD: 2000
edited by Clive Wilkinson, Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network
Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, 2000
Issued every two years
1998 edition web version: http://www.aims.gov.au/scr1998
2000 edition web version: http://www.aims.gov.au/scr2000

   
     

FAO

Rewiew of the Curent State of World Aquaculture Insurance- 2006
FAO, Rome 2006. van Anrooy, R.; Secretan, P.A.D.; Lou, Y.; Roberts, R.; Upare, M. ISBN 92-5-105532-7

Due to the rapidly changing production processes in aquaculture worldwide (e.g. submergible cages, sea ranching, intensification, aquaponics and recirculation systems), which sometimes increase vulnerability to disease outbreaks and which generally require large investments from aquaculturists, over the last decades the demand for insurance to share and cover the risks involved has increased significantly within the aquaculture sector. Risk management is increasingly gaining attention within the aquaculture sector, which is reflected in the development and increasing implementation of Better Management Practices (BMPs), Codes of Conduct and Codes of Good Practice, Standard Operational Procedures, certification and traceability. Aquaculture insurance is one of the tools used in aquaculture risk management, but there is considerable ignorance within the aquaculture industry about its availability, the process of obtaining insurance cover, especially on aquaculture stock mortality, and the constraints to insurers providing its services.

 
     

AQUACULTURE IN THE THIRD MILLENIUM - 2001
NACA/FAO, 2001. Subasinghe, R.P., Bueno, P., Phillips, M.J., Hough, C., McGladdery, S.E., & Arthur, J.E. (Eds.) Technical Proceedings of the Conference on Aquaculture in the Third Millennium, Bangkok, Thailand. 20-25 February 2000. NACA, Bangkok and FAO, Rome. 471pp. ISBN: 974-7313-55-3.

  aquaculture
     

WORLD FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE ATLAS CD-ROM - 2001
FAO Fisheries Department, FAO, Rome, 2001

  cd
     

THE STATE OF WORLD FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE (SOFIA) - 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002 , 2004
FAO Fisheries Department, FAO, Rome
The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) is the Fisheries Department's premier advocacy document. It is published every two years with the purpose of providing policy-makers, civil society and those who derive their livelihood from the sector a comprehensive, objective and global view of capture fisheries and aquaculture, including associated policy issues.


  sofia04
     

GESAMP

THE REVISED GESAMP HAZARD EVALUATION PROCEDURE FOR CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES CARRIED BY SHIP
GESAMP (IMO/FAO/UNESCO/WMO/ WHO/IAEA/UN/UNEP Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection)
IMO; 2002. London. Rep. Stud. GESAMP: No.64, 126 pp. Pub. no. 491/01, ISSN 1020-4873, ISBN 92-801-5131-2
This report provides an updated set of criteria for evaluating the hazards of chemical substances that may enter the marine environment through operational discharge, accidental spillage, or loss overboard from ships.

  hazard
     

A SEA OF TROUBLES - 2001
PROTECTING THE OCEANS FROM LAND-BASED ACTIVITIES - 2001

GESAMP (IMO/FAO/UNESCO/WMO/ WHO/IAEA/UN/UNEP Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection)
UNEP/GRID-arendal; 2001. Rep. Stud. GESAMP: No.70, 15 jan, 35 pp. ISBN 82-7701-010-9
UNEP/GRID-arendal; 2001. Rep. Stud. GESAMP: No.71, 15 jan, 162 pp. ISBN 82-7701-011-7
seaThese reports are a major contribution to our understanding of the state of the marine environment and the impact of human activity. GESAMP is an advisory body consisting of specialized experts nominated by the Sponsoring Agencies. Its principal task is to provide scientific advice concerning the prevention, reduction and control of the degradation of the marine environment to the Sponsoring Agencies.

  ocean
     
Estimate of Oil Entering the Marine Environment from Sea-Based Activities
GESAMP , IMO, 2007
Reports and Studies. N° 75, 96p

   
     

THE STATE OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT - 1990
GESAMP (IMO/FAO/UNESCO/WMO/WHO/IAEA/UN/UNEP Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection)
UNEP; 1990. Nairobi. Reports and Studies: No. 115, 111 p., and Technical Annexes RSRS: No. 114/1 and 114/2, 676 p

More Reports and Studies are available at GESAMP website: http://gesamp.imo. org/publicat.htm

   
     

ICRAN

Status of Coral Reefs of the World
ICRAN, 2004
The Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2004 report documents how human activities continue to be the primary cause of the global coral reef crisis. The report details many new initiatives aimed at reversing this degradation such as by conserving the biodiversity, the economic value and beauty of coral reefs. The report recognises that the major stresses to coral reefs are: natural forces that they have coped with for millions of years; direct human pressures, including sediment and nutrient pollution from the land, over-exploitation and damaging fishing practices, engineering modification of shorelines; and the global threats of climate change causing coral bleaching, rising sea levels and potentially threatening the ability of corals to form skeletons in more acid waters. If reefs are to survive as our natural heritage, we need to act locally to reduce direct human impacts and, globally, to combat greenhouse emissions.
 
     

REPORT OF THE MEETING OF THE REGIONAL GROUP OF EXPERTS ON THE INTERNATIONAL CORAL REEF ACTION NETWORK (ICRAN) - 2002
UNEP/(DEC)/EAS/ICRAN-GEO, 21 March 2002.
Report of the meeting which was held at Phuket, Thailand, from the 28th to 30th January 2002. ICRAN partners have created a globally integrated action plan to manage and protect coral reefs, based on recommendations from the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI).

   
     

UN

OCEANS AND SEAS- REPORT TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL
E/CN.17/2001/PC/16. prepared by the Subcommittee on Oceans and Coastal Areas of the Administrative Committee on Coordination as task manager for chapter 17 of Agenda 21, with contributions from international agencies and organizations. March 2001.

   
     

UNEP/GIWA

Challenges to International Waters ; Regional Assessments in a Global Perspective
UNEP/GIWA, February 2006, 120p
ISBN : 91-89584-47-3
The GIWA Final Report provides a comprehensive review of the most important findings from the GIWA regional reports. It summarises the major transboundary concerns and their environmental and socio-economic impacts. To better understand these concerns and develop solutions to address them, the Report identifies the root causes and draws policy relevant conclusions. It also outlines knowledge gaps which impede the sustainable management of international waters.

 
     

Arctic Greenland, East Greenland Shelf, West Greenland Shelf
UNEP, 2004.
GIWA Regional assessment 1b, 15, 16
Pedersen, S.A., Madsen, J. and M. Dyhr-Nielsen
ISSN 1651-940X
Major concerns are due to overexploitation of fish, seabirds and marine mammals and toxic contamination of the marine resources due to long-range transport from chemical emissions to water and air in industrial areas in northern Asia, Europe and America. In the Northern part, severe impacts on the arctic habitats can be expected, if global warming continues unabated.

  status of coral reefs
     

Baltic Sea
UNEP, 2005.
GIWA Regional assessment 17
Lääne, A., Kraav, E., and G. Titova
ISSN 1651-940X
The Baltic Sea region is one of the largest brackish water areas in the world. It is a semi-enclosed sea, which together with other physical as well as socio-economic characteristics makes it very sensitive to anthropogenic pressures. Eutrophication remains the most pressing problem in the region, as nitrogen and phosphorus inputs are still too high, despite considerable efforts to reduce discharges. The issue of overexploitation of fish is also considered as a severe problem, mainly due to the overutilisation of fishing quotas, high exploitation rate and oversized fleet capacity.

  Baltic Sea
     

Barents Sea
UNEP, 2004.
GIWA Regional assessment 11
Matishov, G., Golubeva, N., Titova, G., Sydnes, A. and B. Voegele
ISSN 1651-940X
Overfishing of cod and haddock, nuclear waste storage, the invasion of the Red King crab and a projected six-fold increase in oil and gas transportation are some of the issues threatening the unique Barents Sea Arctic ecosystem.

  Barents sea
     

Caspian Sea
UNEP, 2003.
GIWA Regional assessment 23
Stolberg, F., Borysova, O., Mitrofanov, I., Barannik, V. and P. Eghtesadi
The Caspian Sea is the largest land-locked water body on earth, bordered by five countries and influenced by three more in the catchment area. The assessment of the current situation and historical trends identified that Habitat and community modification exerts the greatest impact on the ecosystem of the Caspian Sea.

  caspian sea
     

UNEP

Cold-water coral reefs, Out of sight – no longer out of mind
June 2004 by the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre as part of the Centre's Biodiversity Series.
The document describes the various cold-water coral reef ecosystems and associations together with their known and potential worldwide geographical distribution. Case studies and observations from several locations illustrate the state of these reefs and highlight their vulnerability to threats caused by human activities, which have already destroyed or affected a large number of cold water coral reefs.

  status of coral reefs
     

World Atlas of Seagrasses - 2003
UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 2003
Edited by Edmund P. Green and Frederick T. Short
310 pages .ISBN 0-520-24047-2.
The Atlas is a collaboration of more than 50 authors from 25 nations. Fully illustrated, the Atlas contains the first global and regional maps of seagrass distribution and a wealth of information on key issues concerning this 'forgotten' ecosystem.
Available from University of California Press, Tel +1 510 642-4243, website: http://www.ucpress.edu
URL: http://www.unep-wcmc.org/marine/seagrassatlas/.

  status of coral reefs
     

From Ocean to Aquarium: The Global Trade in Marine Ornamentals - 2003
UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 2003
Citation: Wabnitz, C., Taylor, M., Green, E., Razak, T. 2003.
From Ocean to Aquarium. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, UK.
URL: http://www.unep-wcmc.org/resources/publications/UNEP_WCMC_bio_series/17.htm.

  status of coral reefs
     

WORLD ATLAS OF CORAL REEFS - 2001
United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)
Mark D. Spalding, Corinna Ravilious, and Edmund P. Green.
424 pages, ISBN 0-520-23255-0.
The most detailed assessment ever of the status and distribution of the world's coral reefs prepared by the
Available from University of California Press, Tel +1 510 642-4243, website: http://www.ucpress.edu

 
     

WorldFish Center

REEF BASE - 2002
Project by the WorldFish Center, with support from the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN) and UNEP
ReefBase is an online information system on coral reefs, and was designed to provide relevant data and information to reef managers and scientists, as well as the general public.

   
     

Other Sources

REEFS AT RISK: A Map-Based Indicator of Threats to the World's Coral Reefs - 1998
by Dirk Bryant, Lauretta Burke, John McManus and Mark Spaulding. 56 p.
WRI/ICLARM/WCMC/UNEP. World Resources Institute, Washington, D.C., 1998.
This publication is a map-based indicator of threats to the world's coral reefs. This global analysis evaluated human pressure on coral reefs for 55,000 coral reef locations worldwide.

  risk
     

The Ocean...Our future - 1998
Report of the Independent World Commission on the Oceans, M. Soares (ed.).
Report to the UN General Assembly assessing the state of ocean management.
Cambridge University Press, 1998.

 
     

A Global International Waters Assessment (GIWA) is now in preparation, with a secretariat under UNEP hosted by the University of Kalmar, Sweden, and with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), UNEP and other donors. It is to develop a comprehensive strategic framework for the identification of priorities for remedial and mitigatory actions in international waters (both fresh and marine)

   
     

 18. Freshwater

WWAP

World Water Development Report 2
WWAP, 2006.
The triennial UN World Water Development Report is a joint undertaking of 24 UN agencies comprising UN-Water in partnership with governments and other stakeholders, and coordinated by WWAP.

  wwdr
     

World Water Development Report
WWAP, 2003.
The World Water Development Report is a periodic, comprehensive review giving an authoritative picture of the state of the world's freshwater resources, and aiming to provide decision-makers with the tools for sustainable use of our water. The first edition of this report, Water for People, Water for Life, will be launched on World Water Day (March 22nd) at the Third World Water Forum in Kyoto, Japan.
Executive Summary Available online in 7 languages: Arabic ; German ; Japanese ; English ; Russian ; French ; Spanish.

  wwdr
     

World Water Development Report: Fitting the pieces together
WWAP, 2002.
This pamphlet was published by the World Water Assessment Programme. It offers an evaluation of our stewardship abilities, an authoritative picture of the state of the world's water resources, and a description of critical problems. The UN ACC Subcommittee on Water Resources has decided to begin the preparation of a periodic World Water Development Report (WWDR), with the first edition to be published in 2003.

  wwdr
     

Water Security: a Preliminary Assessment of Policy Progress since Rio
WWAP/WWDR, 2001.
This publication was released by the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) for the International Conference on Freshwater (Bonn, December 2001). It reviews national policy developments since 1992, and prepares the way for the water agenda at Johannesburg and the 3d World Water Forum. Now also available online in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish on WWAP website.

  water_security
     

GIWA

Challenges to International Waters; Regional Assessments in a Global Perspective
The GIWA Final Report provides a comprehensive review of the most important findings from the GIWA regional reports. It summarises the major transboundary concerns and their environmental and socio-economic impacts. To better understand these concerns and develop solutions to address them, the Report identifies the root causes and draws policy relevant conclusions. It also outlines knowledge gaps which impede the sustainable management of international waters.

 
     

FAO

Modern Water rights
FAO, 2006.
Throughout history the fugitive nature of water has posed conceptual and practical challenges to lawmakers. The vital importance of water to human activity is such that most societies and cultures have sought to establish legal rules over its use and allocation. But its fluidity and constant renewal as part of the hydrologic cycle has necessarily limited the appropriateness of traditional legal approaches to natural resources such as the concept of ownership.

 
     

Unlocking the Water Potential of Agriculture
FAO, 2003.
On the occasion of the third World Water Forum (WWF-3), being held in Kyoto, Japan, from 16 to 23 March 2003, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) presented an overview of the priority issues facing the agricultural decision-makers of the world in the field of agricultural water development and their implications for the management of water resources in a wider context.
The publication is available for download in PDF format at:
ftp://ftp.fao.org/agl/aglw/docs/unlocking_e.pdf

 
     

UNEP

Trishna and the dream of water
UNEP, May 2006.
ISBN No: 92-807-2723-0
A children's environmental storybook based on deserts and desertification. Trishna and the Dream of Water is part of the Tunza Environmental Series for Children."Tunza" means " to treat with care of affection" in Kiswahili. UNEP hopes to inspire caring for the Earth through creative literature that sparks the interest and awareness of children, their parents and teachers. See also 'Tore and the Town on Thin Ice', 'Tessa and the Fishy Mystery', 'Theo and the Giant Plastic Ball' and 'Tina and the Green City'.
 
     

Groundwater and its susceptibility to degradation: A global assessment of the problem and options for management
UNEP, 2003.
ISBN: 92-807-2297-2.
The publication provides an overview of groundwater occurrence and of the main issues affecting its quantity and quality. Produced with the support of the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Belgian Development Corporation (DGDC), this review is intended for planners and other decision-makers at national/provincial government level and for the general reader.

  virtual_water_graphics
     

Water for the Future: An annotated bibliography for World Water Day and the International Year of Freshwater
UNEP, 2003.
ISBN: 92 807-2306-3.
To mark World Water Day and the International Year of Freshwater, the United Nations Environment Programme has compiled a bibliography of more than 600 water publications, from a wide range of UN bodies and specialized agencies, featuring material in three languages (English, French and Spanish).

  virtual_water_graphics
     

Atlas of the International Freshwater Agreements
UNEP, 2002.
ISBN: 9280722328.
The Atlas of International Freshwater Agreements was compiled under the direction of Aaron T. Wolf, Oregon State University, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. "The World'S International Freshwater Agreements" was authored by Meredith A. Giordano and Aaron T. Wolf. "Thematic Maps: Visualizing Spatial Variability and Shared Benefits" was authored by Aaron T. Wolf.

  virtual_water_graphics
     

Virtual Water Graphics:
An Overview of the State of the World's Fresh and Marine Waters

UNEP/GRID-arendal, 2002.
ISBN: 9280722360
This publication produces a clear overview, through a set of graphics, maps and other illustrations, of the state of the world's fresh and marine waters.
 

  virtual_water_graphics
     

UNESCO/WHO/UNEP

Water quality assessments:
A guide to the use of biota, sediments and water in environmental monitoring

UNESCO/WHO/UNEP, 1992.
ISBN 0 419 21590 5
This second edition of a highly successful guide has been completely updated to take in the latest developments in strategies and methodologies. It gives comprehensive and practical advice on designing and setting up monitoring programmes to obtain valid data for water quality assessment in all types of freshwater bodies.

  virtual_water_graphics
     

UN

Water: a Key Resource for Sustainable Development - Report of the Secretary-General
UN, 2001. E/CN.17/2001/PC/ 17
Prepared by the ACC Subcommittee on Water Resources as task manager for chapter 18 of Agenda 21, with contributions from other United Nations agencies and international organizations. March 2001.

   
     

Comprehensive Assessment of the Freshwater Resources of the World
UN, 1997.
Preparation coordinated by Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) for UN/UNDP/UNEP/FAO/UNESCO/WMO/World Bank/WHO/UNIDO. Also issued as Report of the Secretary General to CSD 5: E/CN.17/1997/9
http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/sdissues/water/Documents/ Comprehensive_Assessement_Freshwater_resources.pdf

   
     

UN ESCWA

Assessment of Legal Aspects of the Management of Shared Water Resources in the ESCWA Region
UN ESCWA, 2001. 142p.
The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia has undertaken several activities to enhance the capacity of its member States to manage their shared surface and groundwater resources and strengthen their cooperation to achieve sustainable development and utilization of these resources.

  water_ressource
     

WEHAB

WEHAB Framework For Action on Water and Sanitation
WEHAB, 2002.
This comprehensive paper on water and sanitation released during the panel discussion on water sanitation outlines the major areas of concern and need for action in the area of freshwater. Prepared by WEHAB for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. August 2002.

   
     

WHO/UNICEF

Water for life: Making it happen
WHO and UNICEF; 2005.
ISBN: 92 4 156293 5.
Basic sanitation must reach 138 million more people every year through 2015 – close to 2 billion in total - to bring the world on track to halve the proportion of people living without safe water and basic sanitation.

  chldren_millenium
     
Global Water Supply and Sanitation Assessment
WHO/UNICEF, 2000.
The WHO and UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP) provides a snapshot of water supply and sanitation worldwide at the turn of the millennium using information available from different sources.
  global_water
     

IFPRI/IWMI

Global Water Outlook to 2025: Averting an Impending Crisis
IFPRI/IWMI, 2002. 36p.
ISBN 0-89629-646-6.
This outlook reports that if current trends in water policy and investment hold or worsen, we will soon face threats to the global food supply, further environmental damage, and ongoing health risks for the hundreds of millions of people lacking access to clean water.

  water_outlook
     

IWMI

World Water and Climate Atlas
IWMI, 1999.
Geographic Information System available on CD-ROM
Prepared by International Water Management Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka
http://www.iwmi.org/

   
     

WWF

Free-flowing rivers: Economic luxury or ecological necessity?
WWF, 2006.
This report assesses the state of the world’s remaining free-flowing rivers and seeks to answer the question why we should maintain our last freeflowing rivers and whether this is a luxury or a necessity.As this report will show, few rivers remain freeflowing and a concerted effort for their conservation is urgently needed. WWF calls on governments to identify those free-flowing rivers that are ecologically important and that provide important services to people and to safeguard these rivers from being developed. WWF calls for the immediate protection of a number of rivers, including the Amur, the Salween, the Chishuihe and the Amazon.

 
     

Rivers at Risk: Dams and the future of freshwater ecosystems
WWF, 2004.
Prepared in cooperation with the World Resources Institute.
This report analyses the construction and planning of dams on a river basin scale and examines the risks of dams to freshwater ecosystems. It identifies 21 river basins at severe risk of ecological degradation as they have six or more dams over 60 m high planned or under construction in addition to existing dams.

 
     

 19. Toxic Chemicals

FAO & UNEP & WHO

Child Pesticide Poisoning: Information for Advocacy and Action
Published in May 2004 by the Chemicals Programme of UNEP (UNEP Chemicals) with the assistance of UNEP’s Information Unit for Conventions.
The main text was prepared for FAO, UNEP, and WHO by Dr. Lynn Goldmann, Professor, Environmental Health Sciences, John Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, USA. These organizations wish to acknowledge the contributions to the report from Mr. Bill Murray, FAO, Dr. Bo Wahlström, UNEP and Dr. Jenny Pronczuk, WHO.

 
     

UN

MANAGEMENT OF TOXIC CHEMICALS AND HAZARDOUS AND RADIOACTIVE WASTES - Report of the Secretary-General
E/CN.17/2001/PC/19. prepared by the United Nations Environment Programme as task manager for chapters 19 and 20 of Agenda 21 and the International Atomic Energy Agency as task manager for chapter 22, with contributions from other United Nations agencies and international organizations. March 2001.
Available through the Johannesburg Summit prepcom1 webpage: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/html/documents/ prepcom1.html

   
     

UNEP

GLOBAL MERCURY ASSESSMENT REPORT
UNEP chemicals, Geneva, Switzerland, December 2002.
This publication is produced within the framework of the
Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC).

   
     

CHEMICAL POLLUTION: A Global Overview - 1992
Earthwatch/UNEP, prepared by IRPTC and GEMS/MARC
UNEP, Geneva, 1992 - 106 p.

   
     

PIC (UNEP/FAO)

THE ROTTERDAM CONVENTION - 1998
The Convention establishes a first line of defense by giving importing countries the tools and information they need to identify potential hazards and exclude chemicals they cannot manage safely.

   
     

WWF

Causes for concern: Chemicals and Wildlife
WWF, January 2004.

 
     

 20. Hazardous Wastes

GESAMP

Estimates of Oil Entering the Marine Environment from Sea-based Activities
GESAMP (IMO/FAO/UNESCO/WMO/ WHO/IAEA/UN/UNEP Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection), 2007
As part of the global effort to reduce oil inputs into the marine environment from ships and other sea-based activities, an independent detailed
assessment of inputs from the various sources is periodically required. This has been conducted previously (GESAMP 1976, 1993; MEPC 1990; the National Research Council in the United States (NRC) 1975, 1985, 2003; amongst others). In the late 1990s, the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of IMO requested GESAMP to evaluate carefully all available data sources on oil inputs into the marine environment from sea-based activities (i.e. maritime transportation, offshore exploration and production), and particularly to develop approaches
that might be used for the provision of such input data.
 
     

THE REVISED GESAMP HAZARD EVALUATION PROCEDURE FOR CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES CARRIED BY SHIP
GESAMP (IMO/FAO/UNESCO/WMO/ WHO/IAEA/UN/UNEP Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection)
IMO; 2002. London. Rep. Stud. GESAMP: No.64, 126 pp. Pub. no. 491/01, ISSN 1020-4873, ISBN 92-801-5131-2
This report provides an updated set of criteria for evaluating the hazards of chemical substances that may enter the marine environment through operational discharge, accidental spillage, or loss overboard from ships.

  hazard
     

UN

MANAGEMENT OF TOXIC CHEMICALS AND HAZARDOUS AND RADIOACTIVE WASTES - Report of the Secretary-General
E/CN.17/2001/PC/19. prepared by the United Nations Environment Programme as task manager for chapters 19 and 20 of Agenda 21 and the International Atomic Energy Agency as task manager for chapter 22, with contributions from other United Nations agencies and international organizations. March 2001.

   
     

UNEP

Vital Waste Graphics
UNEP, 2004. The Basel Convention, GRID-Arendal and GRID-Europe. ISBN: 82-7701-028-1.
The aim of the publication is to provide an overview of relevant waste-related issues in a user-friendly manner. Different aspects are discussed, including definitions of waste, generation of waste, waste streams, transport and trade issues, cross-cutting themes linked to sustainable development such as climate change and poverty, as well as hopes and solutions.
 
     

Case Study on the recovery of Hazardous Wastes in Estonia at an Oil Shale Distillation Unit in Narva
UNEP/Secretariat for the Basel Convention, 1997

   
     

Environmental Hazards of War: Releasing Dangerous Forces in an Industrial World
PRIO/UNEP, 1990

   
     

 21. Solid Wastes/Sewage

UN

SUSTAINABLE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMETALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT OF SOLID WASTES
E/CN.17/2001/PC/9. Prepared by the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements as task manager for chapters 7 and 21 of Agenda 21, with contributions from other United Nations bodies and international organizations. Mars 2001.
Available through the Johannesburg Summit prepcom1 webpage: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/html/documents/ prepcom1.html

   
     

IMO

Global Waste Survey - final report, 1995
Prepared by S. Adrian Ross
International Maritime Organization (IMO), London, 1995 - 293 p.

   
     

 22. Radioactive Wastes

IAEA

Identification of Radioactive Sources and Devices
IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 5, 2007 .ISBN 92-0-111406-0
This manual has been produced as part of the IAEA’s Action Plan for the Safety of Radiation Sources and Security of Radioactive Material. It is intended to: assist in the recognition and identification of objects thought to be radioactive devices, sources and transport packages; provide instruction on what to do and how to obtain further help; enhance awareness of the existence of radioactive devices, sources and transport packages; and provide information on the International Catalogue of Sealed Radioactive Sources and Devices through regulatory authorities in IAEA Member States. It will also help in identifying sources for events that are reported for inclusion in the IAEA’s Illicit Trafficking Database..
 
     

Radiation, People and the Environment
Produced by the IAEA Division of Public Information, February 2004.
Produced in close co-operation with the UK National Radiological Protection Board, the book provides a broad overview on the subject of ionizing radiation, its effects and uses, as well as the measures in place to ensure it can be used safely. It also discusses the benefits and risks of practices that use such radiation in medicine, industry and energy production and considers some topical concerns about environmental pollution, waste management, emergencies and transportation safety.

 
     

Security of Radioactive Sources
STI/PUB/1165, 617 pp.; 33 figures; 2003, ISBN 92-0-107403-4, English, 12 September 2003.
The International Conference on Security of Radioactive Sources was organized with the aims of promoting information exchange on, and raising awareness of, key issues relating to the security of high risk radioactive sources, and of fostering a better understanding of the measures necessary to improve the security of such sources and to enhance preparedness for radiological emergencies. These proceedings contain the addresses and papers presented at the conference, as well as records of the discussions and the conference findings.

 
     

Radiological Conditions in Areas of Kuwait with Residues of Depleted Uranium
STI/PUB/1164, 73 pp.; 12 figures; 2003, ISBN 92-0-106603-1, English, 10 September 2003.
This report, prepared by an international group of experts, constitutes the first comprehensive radiological assessment of compliance with international radiation protection criteria and standards for areas with residues of depleted uranium munitions carried out under the auspices of the IAEA. It provides a detailed description of the IAEA’s investigation of the radiological conditions in areas of Kuwait with residues of depleted uranium, the results of the radiological assessment, the overall and site specific findings and conclusions of the assessment, and the recommendations of the expert group.

 
     

The Long Term Storage of Radioactive Waste: Safety and Sustainability
IAEA, 2003. IAEA-LTS/RW.
This position paper of international experts focuses on factors influencing decisions on the storage and geological disposal of highly radioactive wastes.

 
     

Climate Change and Nuclear Power
IAEA, 2000. This booklet summarizes nuclear power's current status, including the issues of cost, safety, waste management and nuclear non proliferation and its potential for contributing to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions called for in the Climate Change Convention.

   
     

Radioactive Waste Management - Turning Options into Solutions
IAEA, 2000. This report summarizes the presentations and discussions held during the Scientific Forum (19-20 September 2000) at the 44th Regular Session of the General Conference.

   
     

Nuclear Power for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation
IAEA, 2000. This publication briefly assesses, under the Kyoto Protocol, nuclear power's role in light of global environmental challenges and energy needs, and includes national case studies on China, India, Viet Nam and Pakistan to explore the potential role of nuclear power as a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) technology.

   
     

Sustainable Development: A Role for Nuclear Power?
IAEA, 1999. This report summarizes the presentations and discussions held during the Scientific Forum (28-29 September 1999) at the 43rd Regular Session of the General Conference.

   
     

Sustainable Development and Nuclear Power
IAEA, 1997. This brochure discusses the concerns that limit the acceptance of nuclear power - the perceived health effects, consequences of severe accidents, disposal of high level waste and nuclear proliferation. It outlines the distinct advantages of nuclear power and make extensive comparisons with other energy sources.

 
     

Ten Years after Chernobyl: What Do We Really Know?
IAEA, 1996. This booklet highlights the results of an international conference in 1996 sponsored by the IAEA, World Health Organization, and European Community on the consequences of the 1986 accident. It is based principally upon the results of an international conference, "One Decade After Chernobyl: Summing Up the Consequences of the Accident," which brought together more than 800 experts from 71 countries in Vienna in April 1996 under sponsorship of the European Commission (EC), WHO and IAEA.

 
     

Environmental Impact of Radioactive Release
Proceedings of a Symposium, Vienna, 8-12 May 1995
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1995 874 p.

   
     

UN

Optimizing the international effort to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster
United Nations, August 2003. A/58/332.
Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance: strengthening of international cooperation and coordination of efforts to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster.

   
     

Management of Toxic Chemical and Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes - Report of the Secretary-General
E/CN.17/2001/PC/19. prepared by the United Nations Environment Programme as task manager for chapters 19 and 20 of Agenda 21 and the International Atomic Energy Agency as task manager for chapter 22, with contributions from other United Nations agencies and international organizations. March 2001.
Available through the Johannesburg Summit prepcom1 webpage: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/html/documents/ prepcom1.html

   
     

UNEP

UNEP Depleted Uranium Awareness Leaflet
Post-Conflict Assessment Unit, United Nations Environment Programme, September 2003.


   
     

Depleted Uranium in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment
Post-Conflict Assessment Unit, United Nations Environment Programme, March 2003, Geneva.
This report confirms for the first time that DU from weapons used in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1994 and 1995 has contaminated local supplies of drinking water at one site, and can still be found in dust particles suspended in the air. The UNEP team who collated the information included representatives from WHO and IAEA.

  PC_yugoslavia
     

Depleted Uranium in Serbia and Montenegro: Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Post-Conflict Assessment Unit, United Nations Environment Programme, March 2002, Geneva.
ISBN 92-807-2146-1

   
     

Depleted Uranium in Kosovo: Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment
Balkans Unit, United Nations Environment Programme, Geneva, 2001.

   
     

UNSCEAR

Hereditary Effects of Radiation
United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), 2001.
UNSCEAR 2001 Report to the General Assembly, with Scientific Annex.
This report includes an evaluation of those diseases, which have both hereditary and environmental components, the so-called multifactorial diseases. This report provides a unique scientific basis for estimating radiation risk, establishing radiation protection and safety standards and regulating radiation sources for governments and organizations throughout the world.
http://www.unscear.org/reports/2001.html

 
     

Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation
United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), 2000.
2000 Report to the General Assembly, with scientific annexes.
Volume I: SOURCES: http://www.unscear.org/reports/2000_1.html
Volume II: EFECTS: http://www.unscear.org/reports/2000_2.html

   
     

WHO

Depleted Uranium Fact Sheet
WHO, Geneva 2003.

   
     

Depleted Uranium: Sources, Exposure and Health Effects
WHO, Geneva 2001 (WHO/SDE/PHE/01.1).
This scientific review on depleted uranium is part of WHO's ongoing process of assessment of possible health effects of exposure to chemical, physical and biological agents. Concerns about possible health consequences to populations residing in conflict areas where depleted uranium munitions were used have raised many important environmental health questions that are addressed.
Executive summeries are available in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Chines

   
     

 

Select an issue to list major assessments and links

 
 



 
 

Assessments

 
   
 

© UNEP/DEWA/Earthwatch 1996-2006