UN Reform Watches

by Lydia Swart
January 30, 2007

Now that the informal consultations at the General Assembly (UNGA) on the UN’s environmental activities are moving to the formulation of an Options Paper, it will become more evident whether there is sufficient political will to strengthen environmental governance at the global level.

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Separate processes are currently taking place at the UN Headquarters in New York with the aim of strengthening the UN’s environmental activities. Informal consultations are being held in the General Assembly, co-chaired by Mexican Ambassador Enrique Berruga and Swiss Ambassador Peter Maurer. In addition, the High-level Panel on System-wide Coherence, established by Kofi Annan, has made a number of recommendations on environmental governance in its report “Delivering as One.” The Co-Chairs and the High-level panel reportedly have been in close contact to ensure that the two processes are mutually supportive and complementary.¹

by Irene Martinetti
October 26, 2006

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A Resolution on the strengthening of the United Nations Economic and Social Council is expected to be adopted by the end of October. A draft resolution was distributed as early as January 2006, but its adoption has been delayed by disagreements amongst Member States on some key issues such as allocation of additional resources, the collaboration of ECOSOC with the Peacebuilding Commission, and its enhanced role in humanitarian affairs, among others.