ABSTRACT

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are actively involved in the implementation of Agenda 21, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The General Conference, composed of representatives from member States, meets biennially to decide the policy, programme, and budget of UNESCO. UNESCO’s role in the environmental field is: to improve understanding of the natural and human environment and of complex environmental and development issues. The General Conference elects board members on the basis of balanced geographical distribution, allocating one seat for every three member States in each of UNESCO’s five electoral groups. Operational activities are also financed by governments and institutions under funds-in-trust arrangements by the World Bank and regional development banks and funds, by governments, institutions, and individuals. Non-members of the UN may be admitted as members by a two-thirds vote in the General Conference.