A Delhi-based professor has submitted a proposal to the United Nations for upgrading its Environment Programme into a full fledged organisation to deal with related matters.
Bharat Desai, who holds the Jawaharlal Nehru chair in International Environmental Law Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, has also suggested making the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) into a more authoritative organisation with a secure mandate and proper funding.
"The existing UNEP is merely a subsidiary organ of United Nations General Assembly, it lacks the legal authority of an 'organisation' like other UN bodies," he said.
Desai said India should play a leading role in the UN in energising UNEP to function effectively as the global environment conscience. The proposal has been forwarded to the UN General Assembly for consideration.
The existing structure dwarfs the role of UNEP, it should be upgraded to United Nations Environment Protection Organisation (UNEPO), he said.
Desai has been invited to an informal consultative process on International Environment Governance launched by UNGA, for "in-depth" discussion about his proposal titled "UNEP: A Global Environment Authority?"
If Desai's proposal finds its way, it will give the UNEP the organisational capacity to address wide ranging environmental threats.
Like other UN organisations, the new agency, can have separate councils for Science and Technology, Environmental Policy and Law, and Environmental Relief Council which will mark a new chapter in the current international environment governance scene. PTI VU SKU LMS ZH 10070957 DEL
