The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was founded fifty years ago (1972) as an outcome of the first global environmental conference, held that year in Stockholm, Sweden. To celebrate its golden anniversary, UNEP released an update on its important milestones.
UNEP Milestones
To date, the UNEP has 193 member states.
In 1973, the MARPOL treaty was signed to address ocean pollution from ships and CITES was signed to curb or control the international trade of wild species.
All in all, UNEP served as a “docking station” for 15 multilateral environmental agreements related to everything from air and water pollution to species conservation.
On June 5, 1974, UNEP initiated the first World Environment Day.
UNEP moved into its present home on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya, in 1975.
The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), founded by UNEP and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.
UNEP member states signed the Paris Agreement in 2015 to limit global warming to 1.5°C (equivalent to 2.7°F). The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were also introduced in 2015.
UNEP released its Making Peace with Nature Report in 2021.
UNEP celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022 in Stockholm, Sweden.