International organizations within and without the United Nations system have a range of environmentally-related mandates. These include providing local and national level assistance in environmental and natural resources management, coordinating regional and sub-regional development programmes, guiding intergovernmental negotiations on convention protocols, financing arrangements, conflict resolution and global-level environmental assessment. Establishing clear responsibilities, eliminating overlap and duplication, and improving information exchange remain major challenges.
This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities. Agenda 21 recommends that UNEP strengthens its catalytic role in stimulating and promoting environmental activities and considerations throughout the UN system.
Increased support to international environmental organizations will enable them to improve international cooperation at regional and global levels, strengthen conflict-resolution mechanisms, and implement environmental programmes and projects more effectively.