ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the role that environmental nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) can play within the UN system, including global conferences and within the conferences of the parties of a large number of international environmental treaties. It focuses on the reporting function of NGOs—an activity that is often overlooked in other examinations of NGOs within the UN system. The chapter focuses on the role of one NGO, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (USD) and its UN reporting service known as the Earth Negotiations Bulletin. Many have categorized and analyzed the different roles of NGOs in multilateral environmental diplomacy. There is general agreement that NGOs contribute in the following areas: advocacy, policy research and development, mobilizing public opinion, monitoring and assessing state commitments, and negotiations reporting. The Bulletin, which is published by the USD, based in Winnipeg, Canada, provides objective daily and summary reports of UN negotiations on environmental and development issues.
