The United Nations Development Programme is an institution branching from the U.N. to put its goals into action. Two of their main foci are sustainable development and climate and disaster relief (Overview 2015). They are working to implement many solutions to air pollution and disease.
The UNDP hosted a seminar to educate world leaders on the dangers of indoor air pollution (Smoke in the Kitchen 2006). They also do research on and publish statistics on the progress of the Millennium Development Goals across the globe (MDG Goals 2010). The most relevant of these goals is Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability (UN 2002).
2000: U.N. Millennium Summit; Millennium Development Goals adopted.
2005: WHO releases Air quality guidelines
2010: “Turning evidence into practice: Learning from what works to accelerate MDG
Progress” event at U.N. Summits encourages further success(MDG Goals 2010)
2015: Deadline for Millennium Development Goals Project
Current: Proposal of Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda
These events show the UNDP’s commitment to growth and maintenance of better
infrastructure, greater global health, and environmental stability. The Sustainable Development Agenda is an extension of the MDG’s so that the gains made in the last 15 years will not be lost.
4.) The UNDP combines many MDGs when addressing environmental public health. When
funding projects to reduce pesticides and other pollutants in farmland, they also keep
poverty and equality in mind. The UNDP incorporates environmental progress with economic progress. This highlights an issue created by other environmentally-friendly efforts, cost. Many poor farmers cannot afford pesticide alternatives, and even if they can it can decrease their production and affect their livelihoods. In addition, if they cannot meet some of the new environmental standards, they may be unable to sell their product at a fair price (Biodiversity 2013, Towards Green 2015).
5.) In “Towards Green and Inclusive Prosperity”, the UNDP compiles data from many
countries and international studies to show environmental progress combined with equal
economic growth. The UNDP-DESA-UNEP Joint Programme Supporting a Green Economy Transition in Developing Countries and LDCs is responsible for many of these studies (Towards Green 2015). They have developed a theoretical model showing the connection between an environmentally-friendly economy and poverty rates (Towards Green 2015).
6.) In the past decade, UNDP has relied on MDG data and data from the
UNDP-DESA-UNEP to track the development of environmental policy and sustainable
growth over the past decade.
7.) The UNDP, as an offshoot of the U.N. relies heavily on government infrastructure to
attain its goals.
8.) The UNDP is an international diplomatic humanitarian organization. Therefore, it must
work both on a high profile political scale, and also on an individual volunteer level. The
UNDP would take on asthma as global disease, however, has yet to have any large
publications, research, or projects specifically based on it.
9.) **The Millennium Development Goals are the main, current, motivation for the UNDP’s
work on environmental public health.
10.) Nations contribute to the UNDP’s funds, along with approximately $5 million in donations
and money donated from organizations to fight specific issues. This funding makes sure
that the UNDP is working on a global scale.
11.) The UNDP was created out of the United Nations in 1965 to aid underdeveloped
countries. This resulted in their present commitment to aiding less fortunate countries and diplomatic work (IAACA 2012).
12.) The UNDP works in many Less Developed Countries (LDCs) so the infrastructure in
those countries proves challenging when trying to bring new products and reform.
13.) The UNDP calls for more sustainable methods of farming and building. In addition, any
new venture should also consider its effects on poverty.
14.) The Asthma Files can help link small research and humanitarian efforts with the UNDPs
UNICEF is a U.N. sponsored organization that supports children around the globe and fights for their rights, health, and prosperity. They have a commitment to children’s health and are concerned about environmental change (Who We Are 2015).
UNICEF has works through political channels and education reform to bring about change. They influence policymakers to include children’s rights, especially on environmental issues such as climate change. In addition, they work to include environmental education across the globe to children (Global Action 2015).
UNICEF achieves permanent status in UN 1953 (History 2015)
Declaration of the Rights of a Child 1959
World Summit for Children 1990 (World Summit 1990)
Publication of Progress of Nations 2000 (Progress 2000)
Publication A Post-2015 World Fit for Children 2014 (Post-2015 2014)
These events include a formal declaration of Goals for the protection of Children and the
environment (World Summit), research on the success of those goals (Progress), and new plans for the future that fit with the Sustainable Development Agenda (Post-2015).
UNICEF’s unique approach focuses on children’s rights. This suggests that many environmental agencies and governments often overlook children’s right when making policy.
To track progress on the MDGs, UNICEF created several indicators and follow the data in each country. For example, an indicator for health is the statistics on childhood pneumonia, a respiratory illness. Also, indicators for environmental sustainability include emissions of pollutants and amount of forestland still intact (MDG 2014).
UNICEF utilizes Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys in many countries to gather data. These studies help compile data that UNICEF bases many of its programs off of (Statistics 2015).
UNICEF has linked many resources with the MICS service. In each country there is technical support for the surveyors. Also, UNICEF would not be able to function without the support of local and national governments (Statistics 2015).
UNICEF exists in a world where child and maternal mortality and illness rates are fairly high, education is unequal, and pollutants from homes and factories pollute the environment. These issues are international, and daunting to face. Therefore, UNICEF created a vast network of collaborators and volunteers to help at national and local levels. These objectives need to be met to have a safe, fruitful future, so UNICEF works off a clear structure, with clear goals to meet some of the world’s most complex problems.
UNICEF is motivated by the amount of people who live in extreme poverty, gender
disparity in all nations, the staggering number of people who die every year of malnutrition, and by the amount of pollution contaminating our environment (Statistics 2015).
Most countries in the United Nations contribute to UNICEF. Japan was the top donor in 2010. The main funding for UNICEF comes from member nations through regular donations, trust funds, and other earmarked donations (Finance 2012).
UNICEF was created after World War II to support children in war-torn Europe. Today, UNICEF continues to support children, especially those living in high conflict areas or who have had to flee their home countries to seek refuge (History 2015).
One of the main conflicts that UNICEF seek to solve is the lack of representation for children’s rights in government and law-making. They seek to give a voice to the children who will be inheriting the problems caused today. For example, UNICEF seeks to make environmental reforms now, so that they do not become irreversible in the future.
Reduction of pollution, especially in areas of high population density, is called for by the U.N.. They believe that every child should have the chance to grow up in a clean, safe, helpful environment. In addition, UNICEF explicitly calls for sustainable methods in farming and industry.
The Asthma Files can aid in providing more research to UNICEF. In addition, the Asthma Files can look at how pollution and sustainable methods are affecting women and children in different local environments.
Greenpeace is an organization that fights for global environmental protection. They work to reduce toxins in the air and fighting for better air quality through forest preservation. Greenpeace is an example of non-government activist groups striving to make real change. Interestingly, Greenpeace accepts no donations from corporations, so large industrial influence will not affect their mission (Greenpeace 2015).
The Millennium Development Goals inspired significant change across the globe. Goal 7 aided in the movement for more sustainable energy and industrial practices. This led to more research on the environment and sustainability, and studies, such as WHO’s Air quality guidelines were published in the following years. These goals represent a global movement to protect and prepare for the future (MDG Goals 2010).
At this summit, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned of the potentially dire effects of climate change. “Severe and pervasive” impacts would follow if major industries and nations did not take immediate action. The effect of climate change would be global and would affect economies, food supplies, and almost every other aspect of life. Environmental health is now seen not only as a significant issue, but as an immediate and dangerous problem to be faced (IPCC 2014).
United Nations Development Programme
2005: WHO releases Air quality guidelines
2010: “Turning evidence into practice: Learning from what works to accelerate MDG
Progress” event at U.N. Summits encourages further success(MDG Goals 2010)
2015: Deadline for Millennium Development Goals Project
Current: Proposal of Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda
These events show the UNDP’s commitment to growth and maintenance of better
infrastructure, greater global health, and environmental stability. The Sustainable Development Agenda is an extension of the MDG’s so that the gains made in the last 15 years will not be lost.
4.) The UNDP combines many MDGs when addressing environmental public health. When
funding projects to reduce pesticides and other pollutants in farmland, they also keep
poverty and equality in mind. The UNDP incorporates environmental progress with economic progress. This highlights an issue created by other environmentally-friendly efforts, cost. Many poor farmers cannot afford pesticide alternatives, and even if they can it can decrease their production and affect their livelihoods. In addition, if they cannot meet some of the new environmental standards, they may be unable to sell their product at a fair price (Biodiversity 2013, Towards Green 2015).
5.) In “Towards Green and Inclusive Prosperity”, the UNDP compiles data from many
countries and international studies to show environmental progress combined with equal
economic growth. The UNDP-DESA-UNEP Joint Programme Supporting a Green Economy Transition in Developing Countries and LDCs is responsible for many of these studies (Towards Green 2015). They have developed a theoretical model showing the connection between an environmentally-friendly economy and poverty rates (Towards Green 2015).
6.) In the past decade, UNDP has relied on MDG data and data from the
UNDP-DESA-UNEP to track the development of environmental policy and sustainable
growth over the past decade.
7.) The UNDP, as an offshoot of the U.N. relies heavily on government infrastructure to
attain its goals.
8.) The UNDP is an international diplomatic humanitarian organization. Therefore, it must
work both on a high profile political scale, and also on an individual volunteer level. The
UNDP would take on asthma as global disease, however, has yet to have any large
publications, research, or projects specifically based on it.
9.) **The Millennium Development Goals are the main, current, motivation for the UNDP’s
work on environmental public health.
10.) Nations contribute to the UNDP’s funds, along with approximately $5 million in donations
and money donated from organizations to fight specific issues. This funding makes sure
that the UNDP is working on a global scale.
11.) The UNDP was created out of the United Nations in 1965 to aid underdeveloped
countries. This resulted in their present commitment to aiding less fortunate countries and diplomatic work (IAACA 2012).
12.) The UNDP works in many Less Developed Countries (LDCs) so the infrastructure in
those countries proves challenging when trying to bring new products and reform.
13.) The UNDP calls for more sustainable methods of farming and building. In addition, any
new venture should also consider its effects on poverty.
14.) The Asthma Files can help link small research and humanitarian efforts with the UNDPs
large scale efforts.
Overview 2015 http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/operations/about_us.html
Smoke in the Kitchen 2006 http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/environment-energy/sustainable_energy/smoke_in_the_kitchenhealthimpactsofindoorairpollution.html
MGD Goals 2010 http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/mdg/mdg-reports/lac-collection.html
UN 2002 http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/goals/
Biodiversity 2013 http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/ourwork/ourstories/biodiversity-conservation-yields-organic-tea-in-china.html
Towards Green 2015 http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/poverty-reduction/towards-green-and-inclusive-prosperity/
IAACA 2012http://www.iaaca.org/AntiCorruptionAuthorities/ByInternationalOrganizations/InterGovernmentalOrganization/201202/t20120215_805478.shtml
UNICEF
Declaration of the Rights of a Child 1959
World Summit for Children 1990 (World Summit 1990)
Publication of Progress of Nations 2000 (Progress 2000)
Publication A Post-2015 World Fit for Children 2014 (Post-2015 2014)
These events include a formal declaration of Goals for the protection of Children and the
environment (World Summit), research on the success of those goals (Progress), and new plans for the future that fit with the Sustainable Development Agenda (Post-2015).
disparity in all nations, the staggering number of people who die every year of malnutrition, and by the amount of pollution contaminating our environment (Statistics 2015).
Who We Are 2015 __http://www.unicef.org/about/__
Global Action 2015 __http://www.unicef.org/environment/index_60511.html__
History 2015 __http://www.unicef.org/about/who/index_history.html__
World Summit 1990 __http://www.unicef.org/wsc/declare.htm__
Progress 2000 __http://www.unicef.org/publications/index_5628.html__
Post-2015 2014 __http://www.unicef.org/post2015/files/Environmental_2pager_FINAL_web.pdf__
Statistics 2015 __http://www.unicef.org/statistics/__
MDG 2014 __http://www.unicef.org/statistics/index_24304.html__
Finance 2012 __http://www.unicef.org/about/execboard/files/UNICEF_finance_and_budget_17Jan2012.pdf__
Greenpeace is founded. 1971
Image: http://people.rit.edu/njg7832/140/project3/necipspage.html
Greenpeace is an organization that fights for global environmental protection. They work to reduce toxins in the air and fighting for better air quality through forest preservation. Greenpeace is an example of non-government activist groups striving to make real change. Interestingly, Greenpeace accepts no donations from corporations, so large industrial influence will not affect their mission (Greenpeace 2015).
Greenpeace 2015 http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/how-it-works/
The Millennium Development Goals are issued. 2000
Image: __http://www.youthaward.org/united-nations-millennium-development-goals__ 2013
The Millennium Development Goals inspired significant change across the globe. Goal 7 aided in the movement for more sustainable energy and industrial practices. This led to more research on the environment and sustainability, and studies, such as WHO’s Air quality guidelines were published in the following years. These goals represent a global movement to protect and prepare for the future (MDG Goals 2010).
United Nations Climate Summit 2014
Image: __http://o.canada.com/news/canada-joins-pledge-at-united-nations-climate-summit-to-cut-emissions__ 2014
At this summit, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned of the potentially dire effects of climate change. “Severe and pervasive” impacts would follow if major industries and nations did not take immediate action. The effect of climate change would be global and would affect economies, food supplies, and almost every other aspect of life. Environmental health is now seen not only as a significant issue, but as an immediate and dangerous problem to be faced (IPCC 2014).
IPCC 2014 http://www.un.org/climatechange/blog/2014/03/ipcc-report-severe-and-pervasive-impacts-of-climate-change-will-be-felt-everywhere/