UN Documentation: Environment

The UN leads environmental policy development through the work of some key bodies.

• High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
• Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
• UN Forum on Forests

The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development was established in follow-up to the outcome of the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) to replace the Commission on Sustainable Development. The Forum is a subsidiary of the Economic and Social Council and General Assembly. 

• Established by General Assembly resolutions 66/288 of 27 July 2012, 67/203 of 21 December 2012, and 67/290 of 9 July 2013
• Will convene annually at the ministerial level under the Economic and Social Council, and every four years at the level of Head of State under the General Assembly
• Working documents series symbol
  • ​E/HLPF/year/-
  • example: E/HLPF/2016/1

The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) is a subsidiary of ECOSOC with primary responsibility for environmental questions. 

• The General Assembly, in its resolution 47/191 of 22 December 1992, requested the Economic and Social Council to establish a high-level Commission on Sustainable Development to ensure effective follow-up to the Conference on Environment and Development (1992).
• While General Assembly resolution 47/191 contains its mandate, the Commission was established by Economic and Social Council decision 1993/207 of 12 February 1993 (p. 94 of E/1993/93).
• The Commission was superseded by the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 67/203. The 20th and last session was held in 2013.
• The Commission met annually and reported to the Economic and Social Council.
• The Commission often served as the preparatory body for major conferences on environmental issues.
• Working documents series symbol
  • E/CN.17/year/-
  • example: E/CN.17/2013/2
• Sessional reports
  • Supplement 29 to the Economic and Social Council Official Records (ESCOR)
  • dual symbol: E/year/29 - E/CN.17/year/-
  • example: E/2013/29-E/CN.17/2013/4
• Press release series symbol
  • ENV/DEV/-
  • example: ENV/DEV/1294

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a specialized expert body to review scientific research and report to policy makers.

• IPCC website;
• Established jointly by the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) and World Meterological Organization (WMO) in 1988, and endorsed by General Assembly resolution 43/53 of 6 December 1988;
• Network of scientists and experts who review scientific research on the climate change and prepare reports for policy makers;
• Reports aim to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts;
• Five Assessment Reports have been completed in 1990, 1995, 2001, 2007 and 2013. The sixth is expected in late 2022 or early 2023.

The UN Forum on Forests is a subsidiary of ECOSOC; it took over the tasks of the two predecessor bodies listed below.

• Established by ECOSOC resolution 2000/35 of 18 Oct. 2000 to "strengthen political commitment to the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests" (p. 64-66 of E/2000/99);
• The Forum meets annually and reports to the Economic and Social Council;
• Working documents series symbol
  • E/CN.18/year/-
  • example: E/CN.18/2021/4
• Sessional reports
  • Supplement 42 to the Economic and Social Council Official Records (ESCOR)
  • dual symbol: E/year/42 - E/CN.18/year/-
    • example: E/2021/42-E/CN.18/2021/8
• Press releases series symbol ENV/DEV/-

Predecessors of the UN Forum on Forests

The Inter-governmental Forum on Forests (IFF) was a predecessor body of the UN Forum on Forests, 1997-2000.

• Established by ECOSOC resolution 1997/65 of 25 July 1997;
• The Forum met annually from 1997 to 2000 and reported to the Economic and Social Council;
• Working documents series symbol
  • E/CN.17/IFF/year/-
  • example: E/CN.17/IFF/2000/1

The Ad hoc Inter-governmental Panel on Forests (IPF) was a predecessor body of the Inter-governmental Forum on Forests, 1995-1997.

• Established by ECOSOC decision 1995/226 of 1 June 1995;
• The Forum met at irregular intervals between 1995 and 1997 and reported to the Economic and Social Council;
• Working documents series symbol
  • E/CN.17/IPF/-
  • example: E/CN.17/IPF/1996/2