environment

UN agency launches push to help African nomads preserve environment

26 November 2002
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) today announced the launch of a multi-million dollar project to help nomads and communities in three African countries boost the prospects for native flowers, shrubs and trees.

Asian countries launch action to tackle 'e-wastes' under UN-backed treaty

21 November 2002
Officials from eight Asian countries are meeting in China, under a United Nations-backed treaty on hazardous wastes, to seek solutions to the growing deluge of electrical and electronic wastes, popularly refereed to as "e-wastes."

UN agency launches $50 million project to reverse land degradation in Africa

11 November 2002
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) today launched a $50 million pioneering project that would determine the key causes of land degradation in Africa and draw up plans to stop and reverse the destruction.

UN urges limiting environmental damage in times of war

6 November 2002
Warning of the consequences war has on the environment, United Nations officials today urged the international community to limit intentional destruction of the natural surroundings during armed conflict.

Annan lauds global environment fund for key role in fight against poverty

16 October 2002
In the 10 years since its founding, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has become one of the key institutions working to ensure that the fight against poverty stays in harmony with environmental protection, the United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, said today in a message to a meeting of countries participating in the fund.

Natural disasters pose huge risks for global financial sector, UN report warns

7 October 2002
Climate change-driven natural disasters have the potential to wreak havoc across the world's stock markets and financial centres, and too few financial companies are taking seriously the risks and opportunities posed by extreme weather events, a new report released today by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) warns.

Endangered animals gain tougher protection under UN-linked treaty

25 September 2002
Species ranging from the Great White shark to a highly endangered, hairy-kneed camel are among several rare and threatened animals that have won tough, new protection under an international treaty linked to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

UN-backed meeting to work for conservation of rare animal species

18 September 2002
Government representatives meeting in Bonn, Germany, this week are hammering out tough new conservation rules for endangered animal species under an international treaty linked to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Meeting convened by UN environment agency to explore need for action on mercury

9 September 2002
A year after adopting a treaty to rid the world of hazardous chemical pollutants, government representatives gathered in Geneva today for the start of a meeting sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to consider the environmental and health effects of mercury.

New UN study details regional, global impacts of vast pollution cloud in South Asia

12 August 2002
A new study by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) suggests that a vast blanket of pollution stretching across South Asia is damaging agriculture, modifying rainfall patterns and putting hundreds of thousands of people at risk.