ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the role of two of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN) the General Assembly and the Security Council. The General Assembly serves as a universal forum for environmental policy-making, giving states an opportunity to exchange ideas and to build an international consensus on controversial issues. Its resolutions are expressions of world opinion and they can have a significant political and moral influence. In addition to its policy role, the General Assembly, through Resolutions adopted over the last 20 years, has made a contribution to the development of international law. The power of the Security Council to adopt binding decisions gives it the potential to exercise an influential role in relation to environmental disputes or hazards that threaten international peace and security. The World Charter for Nature (WCN) is part of the quest to formulate general principles of international environmental law. The WCN is divided into four sections: the preamble; general principles; functions and implementation.
