UNESCO'S ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMES AND OCEAN MARGINS

In order to enhance the impact on policy-making, the environment and development related five programmes of UNESCO (International Geological Correlation Programme 'IGCP', Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission 'IOC', International Hydrological Programme 'IHP', Man and Biosphere Programme 'MAB', Management of Social Transformations 'MOST') work closely together through joint intersectoral and multidisciplinary activities within the framework of the follow-up of the 'World Conference on Sciences' (Budapest, 1999), Agenda 21 of UNCED-Rio 1991, and relevant decisions of other major UN conferences. The five programmes promote co-operative activities, including the development of joint projects in specific locations that lend themselves to an integrated approach from research and training to policy implementation.The collaboration is guided by the Steering Group of the five chairpersons of the five undertakings.

Special emphasis is given to (i) increased joint activities in relation to the post-Rio conventions (biological diversity, climate change and desertification) and other related multilateral agreements; (ii) increased co-operation in freshwater issues and ecosystems, integrated coastal area management and small islands, natural disaster reduction, social transformation and sustainability, urbanization and city governance; (iii) enhanced UNESCO leadership in the UN system-wide World Water Assessment Programme; (iv) enhanced UNESCO involvement in joint inter-agency programmes to contribute to intergovernmental consensus building through the CSD process and the ACC mechanism; (v) intersectoral and interdisciplinary public awareness raising material on sustainable development issues and contributions to the strategy development process of respective UN Conferences.