In a speech at the Global Ecological Governance Conference, which convened from 2-3 February 2007 in Paris, France, French President Jacques Chirac emphasized the need to create a global institution to better govern the environment, and called for the transformation of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) into a full-fledged UN Environment Organization (UNEO), “to which all countries belong, along the lines of the World Health Organization.” The conference, hosted by the French government, brought together government ministers, scientists, private sector and NGO representatives, and public figures from over 60 countries with the aim of mobilizing international efforts to strengthen environmental governance.

President Chirac also announced that the first meeting of a pioneer group of more than 40 nations pushing for a UNEO would take place in Morocco. Chirac’s proposal to create a UNEO has met with opposition from the US and Russia, as well as from China, India and Brazil. NGOs are also divided on the issue, with some questioning whether another expensive international body will reconcile the world’s environmental problems. In a video message, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon underlined his intention to strengthen the UN’s work in protecting the global environment, noting that UNEP has embarked on wide-ranging reforms and that other parts of the UN system also are mobilizing their efforts. Stressing the need for clear objectives and strong ecological governance at the global level, UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa maintained that UNGA is the ideal forum for concerted action by the international community. The conference proceedings were concluded by releasing the “Paris Call for Action” that, inter alia, called for the adoption of a Universal Declaration of Environmental Rights and Duties to enshrine a safe and protected environment as a fundamental human right.
Links to further information
Middle Eastern Times/AFP press release, 3 February 2007
Global Ecological Governance Conference website
President Jacques Chirac’s address
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s address
UNGA President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa’s address
Paris Call for Action