ABSTRACT

Most observers agree on the need to reform and strengthen the current system of global environmental governance. This chapter argues that one element of such reform would be to upgrade the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to a specialized agency of the United Nations. This proposal is motivated by the imbalance between UNEP, currently a modest UN sub-programme, versus the plethora of influential intergovernmental organizations in the fields of labour, shipping, agriculture, communication, culture, or economic policy. As a mere programme, for example, UNEP has no right to adopt treaties or any regulations upon its own initiative, it cannot avail itself of any regular and predictable funding, and it is subordinated to the UN Economic and Social Council. UNEP's staff hardly exceeds 450 professionals-a trifle compared to its national counterparts such as the German Federal Environment Agency with over 1,000 employees and the United States Environmental Protection Agency with a staff of roughly 19,000. This situation has led to a

variety of proposals to grant the environment what other policy areas have long had: a strong international agency with a sizeable mandate, significant resources and sufficient autonomy.