intergovernmentalpanelonglobalenvironmental-UNEP.docVIP

Intergovernmental Panel on Global Environmental Change (IPEC) DISCUSSION DOCUMENT FOR THE EXPERT THINK TANK MEETING Losby Gods, Oslo, Norway, 15 January 2003 1. Introduction 1. Following on a recommendation of the Global Ministerial Environment Forum (Cartagena, February 2002), the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is proposing to the 22nd UNEP Governing Council (Nairobi, 3-7 February 2003) that it establish an Intergovernmental Panel on Global Environmental Change (IPEC). This panel would be a subsidiary organ to the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF) in the form of a multidisciplinary forum of government-nominated experts. With a view to strengthening the implementation of the functions and responsibilities assigned to the UNEP Governing Council by the General Assembly in 1972, the panel will have the following functions and responsibilities: keep under review the world environmental situation in order to ensure that emerging environmental problems of wide international significance receive appropriate and adequate attention by governments, having particular regard to global environmental change and its implications for social and economic development; promote the contribution of relevant international scientific and other professional communities to monitoring and assessment of global environmental change; provide the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum and, as appropriate, its other subsidiary bodies with scientific and technical advice related to the mandate of GC/GMEF; and report regularly to the GC/GMEF on all aspects of its work. 2. The Report of the Executive Director (UNEP/GC.22/4/Add.1) gives the rationale for establishing the IPEC, its composition, functions and responsibilities, working modalities, links with other assessments and agencies, and financial and administrative implications. The concept is further developed in an information document (UNEP/GC.22/4/