July 2011: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has launched a series of “Issues Briefs” on the environmental dimension of the institutional framework for sustainable development (IFSD), one of the themes of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20).

The series aims to assist stakeholders in understanding the main concerns regarding the environmental pillar of IFSD by synthesizing information in a coherent manner. According to UNEP, the briefs aim to be informative and non-prescriptive, and address information and knowledge gaps.

To date, UNEP has released issues briefs on: the importance of the environmental pillar to IFSD; fragmentation of the environmental pillar and its impact on efficiency and effectiveness; country responsiveness and implementation and capacity support for the environmental pillar of IFSD; and legal questions and answers on proposed reforms such as establishing a World Environment Organization or a UN Environment Organization.

UNEP intends to release additional Issues Briefs on a regular basis in the remaining time leading up to the UNCSD. [UNEP Website on Environmental Governance] [Issues Brief #1: Importance of Environmental Pillar to IFSD] [Issues Brief #2: Fragmentation of Environmental Pillar and its Impact on Efficiency and Effectiveness] [Issues Brief #3: Country Responsiveness: Implementation and Capacity Support for the Environmental Pillar of IFSD] [Issues Brief #4: Legal Questions and Answers on IEG Reforms: WEO and UNEO?]