The UN Environment Programme
The UN's environment agency, born of the 1972 Stockholm Conference and based in Nairobi, which runs World Environment Day.
What the paper can ask
- Established in 1972 after the Stockholm Conference; headquarters Nairobi, Kenya.
- Executive Director Inger Andersen since 2019. (as of 23 Oct 2026)
- Co-established the IPCC with the WMO in 1988; hosts secretariats of the CBD, CITES and the Minamata Convention.
- The UN Environment Assembly (since 2012) includes all 193 UN members and meets every two years.
Why exams ask
The date of World Environment Day, the host and theme of the year, and UNEP's headquarters are the usual questions.
The full story
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) coordinates the UN's environmental work: science, treaties and support to governments. It was established in 1972 after the Stockholm Conference and is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.
In the news
Test yourself
1.World Environment Day is observed on which date?
Correct. The UN calendar lists World Environment Day on 5 June. Earth Day is 22 April.
Not quite. The UN calendar lists World Environment Day on 5 June. Earth Day is 22 April. It goes into your error book.