Bayer - Eco-Minds

Partners

UNEP- Overview

UNEP's Mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

In 1998, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) put in place a new organizational structure to strengthen the role of regional offices. Working closely with the Division of Regional Cooperation and Representation in UNEP's Nairobi-based Headquarters, the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) looks to adapt global environmental policy to regional priorities and needs.

It acts as a catalyst, coordinator, facilitator and mobilizer of resources. It puts particular emphasis on building partnerships with regional and sub-regional intergovernmental fora, other United Nations agencies, national governments, NGOs, the private sector, academic and research institutions and civil society and the media.

Children & Youth / Tunza Program

In February 2003, the Governing Council of UNEP adopted a long-term strategy for engaging young people in environmental activities and in the work of UNEP. The strategy was entitled the Tunza Youth Strategy.

The word “Tunza” means “to treat with care or affection” in Kiswahili (a sub-regional language of Eastern Africa ). The overall Tunza Concept, therefore, is built around this theme. It is an initiative that is meant to develop activities in the areas of capacity building, environmental awareness, and information exchange, with a vision to foster a generation of environmentally conscious citizens, capable of positive action.

Important by-products of this strategy include the annual Tunza International Youth Conference, Tunza Advisory Council, Tunza magazine, and the book "A Time for Action" which provide up-to-date information and resources that support the environmental empowerment of young people.

In the region

Asia and the Pacific have some of the most affluent and impoverished nations, and it has the most populous and the smallest. It is the fastest growing region, with nearly two-thirds of the world's people. The region contains a large and diverse range of ecosystems, many of which are threatened. Priority environmental issues include land and coastal degradation, deforestation, food and water security, atmospheric pollution, bio-diversity loss, urbanization and waste, and freshwater quality.

There is a wide range of historical, cultural, trade and political differences within the region and significant socio-economic disparities even within countries.

An analysis of the environmental issues and responses to them can be found in UNEP's GEO-3 report series, accessible from the UNEP site. The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific works with a wide range of sub-regional, governmental and other collaborating agencies in addressing these areas of concern. Information and links to these organisations are provided.