Environmental management is increasingly recognized as vital to economic and human development. Translating that understanding into effective action is, unfortunately, not easy. Ecosystems and natural resources often straddle state borders, diminishing incentives for individual countries to manage them sustainably. Therefore issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation and air and water pollution require international agreements and coordinated responses.

The United Nations plays a leading role in guiding environmental governance. UNOPS contributes to such efforts by working with other members of the UN family,  international and non-governmental organizations and national governments, providing specialized services to ensure project success.

Key environmental sectors

On behalf of partners UNOPS helps reverse environmental damage, mitigate environmental risks, raise local, regional and global awareness and facilitate better resource management. The value of UNOPS services is reflected in the volume of projects it supports in the sector, averaging more than $100 million annually.

International waters

Collaborating closely with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank, UNOPS facilitates international cooperation to prevent and reverse the degradation of international waters by pollution, overfishing, drought, habitat changes, and invasive species. Learn more about UNOPS support for international waters projects.

Post-conflict and post-disaster

War and natural disasters cause enormous environmental damage, jeopardizing the livelihoods of the many in developing countries who rely directly on natural resources. In recent years UNOPS has supported the work of the UNEP Post-Conflict Branch in Afghanistan, Albania, Iraq, Sudan and the former Yugoslavia. To allow UNEP to concentrate on substantive aspects of programme delivery, UNOPS ensures effective and efficient planning and administration, including contracting personnel, procuring goods and services and handling complex environmental remediation project design.

Climate change

UNOPS provides services to other GEF-financed climate initiatives, such as the UNDP Community-based Adaptation Programme, which field tests small-scale projects and policy initiatives to research adaptation at the local level. These efforts include UNDP capacity development and technical assistance projects that help countries develop adaptation policies and frameworks, climate risk analyses and management solutions.

Small Grants Programme

UNOPS has supported the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) since its inception in 1992, executing more than 9,000 grants to support conservation projects in 104 countries. Learn more about UNOPS support for the Small Grants Programme.

Biodiversity

UNOPS promotes biodiversity conservation by administering international waters projects and regional initiatives such as the Wings Over Wetlands programme. Learn more about UNOPS support for this programme.

Environmental risk management

In addition to assisting emergency response efforts, UNOPS helps create systems to mitigate environmental risk. Following the 2002 eruption of Nyragongo Volcano in the Democratic Republic of the Congo UNOPS supported efforts to deliver emergency relief to affected populations in Goma City and its surroundings. While as part of a UNDP programme UNOPS has since 2008 supported scientific monitoring by the Volcanic Observatory of Goma, implemented an early-warning system and is helping establish a Volcano Risk Management Unit.