Too many cooks? The post-Rio reform of the United Nations

Abstract

The UN Conference on Environment and Development at Rio agreed to the creation of a new organ within the UN to coordinate the implementation of sustainable development policies. The Sustainable Development Commission represents a surprising achievement in view of the generally critical attitudes of some among the Group of Seven to creating new organs within the UN system. The UN Environmental Programme, cited for an expansion of its role has, over the 20 years of its existence, established a good reputation for pioneering small-scale catalytic programmes. It has also been unfairly burdened with nominal obligations to coordinate other UN activities in the field. However, the post-Rio future raises both problems and opportunities for UNEP. An expansion of UNEP may raise asset-stripping possibilities as well as strain donor confidence as the programme enlarges.