Since its inception in 1972, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been the global authority that sets the environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the UN  system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.
UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.UNEP works on delivering transformational change for people and nature by drilling down on the root causes of the three planetary crises of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. UNEP employs seven interlinked subprogrammes for action: Climate Action, Chemicals and Pollutions Action, Nature Action, Science Policy, Environmental Governance, Finance and Economic Transformations and Digital Transformations. Through its campaigns, particularly World Environment Day, UNEP raises awareness and advocates for effective environmental action.Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, UNEP works through its divisions as well as regional, liaison and out-posted offices and a growing network of collaborating centres of excellence.
UNEP works closely with its 193 Member States and representatives from civil society, businesses, and other major groups and stakeholders to address environmental challenges through the UN Environment Assembly, the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment.
The organization hosts the secretariats of many critical multilateral environmental agreements and research bodies.
The Executive Director and Senior Management Team lead the implementation of UNEP’s Medium-Term Strategy (MTS). The four-year MTS articulates UNEP’s role in delivering the promises of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) as well as its outcome document, “The Future We Want.”
UNEP supports Member States to ensure that environmental sustainability is reflected in development and investment planning and provides countries with the necessary tools and technologies to protect and restore the environment.
To deliver on its programme, UNEP’s relies on voluntary financial contributions to the programme budget. Ninety-five per cent of this funding is provided voluntarily by funding partners.

UNEP FI Based on a unique theory of impact, UNEP FI works with its members and with peer sustainability initiatives to mainstream impact analysis and management in business and finance as the cornerstone to closing the $2.5 trillion SDG funding gap.
The UN Environment Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is a Unit within the UN Environment Programme’s Resources & Market Branch, based in Geneva, Switzerland, itself a Branch of one of the UN Environment Programme’s eight core divisions, the Economy Division.

GRI was founded in Boston (USA) in 1997 following public outcry over the environmental damage of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Our roots lie in the non-profit organizations CERES and the Tellus Institute (with involvement of the UN Environment Programme). The aim was to create the first accountability mechanism to ensure companies adhere to responsible environmental conduct principles, which was then broadened to include social, economic and governance issues. The first version of what was then the GRI Guidelines (G1) published in 2000 – providing the first global framework for sustainability reporting. The following year, GRI was established as an independent, non-profit institution. In 2002, the GRI’s Secretariat relocated to Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and the first update to the guidelines (G2) launched. As demand for GRI reporting and uptake from organizations steadily grew, the guidelines were expanded and improved, leading to G3 (2006) and G4 (2013).
GRI is not tied to any one majority interest or funder, which means our funding model allows us to set truly independent reporting standards. The majority of GRI’s funding come from commercial services, events, corporate engagements and memberships, while around 40% is provided by program grants from governments and foundations.
Our strategic partnerships with governmental and institutional funders support programs that empower companies, promote fair and responsible value chains, and create a more inclusive world economy through the practice of sustainability reporting.

• UN Global Compact At the UN Global Compact, we aim to mobilize a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders to create the world we want. That’s our vision. To make this happen, the UN Global Compact supports companies to:
  • 1 – Do business responsibly by aligning their strategies and operations with Ten Principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption; and
  • 2 – Take strategic actions to advance broader societal goals, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with an emphasis on collaboration and innovation.