United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

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The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is the global environmental steward that sets the global 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.  Enshrined in UNEP’s global Medium Term Strategy 2022-2025, which tackles the triple planetary crisis of pollution, biodiversity loss and climte change to help Member States achieve the 2030 Agenda, UNEP is the global custodian for the following three SDG indicators and helps Member States meet these challenges: tackling global water quality challenges, corresponding to SDG indicator 6.3.2; protecting and restoring freshwater ecosystems, SDG 6.6.1; and advancing integrated water resources management (IWRM) approaches, SDG 6.5.1.  In support of countries, UNEP operates globally and regionally at the interface of the environment, water and development.

Estimated budget for water and sanitation activities (USD):
100 million-500 million

Example of Activities

The UNEP Global Environment Monitoring System

The UNEP Global Environment Monitoring System for freshwater (GEMS/Water) Data Center. Its objectives include collecting, controlling and providing water quality monitoring data and products for regional and global water quality assessments and decision-making on the subject. The Data Centre maintains the global water quality database and information system, GEMStat. GEMS/Water supports the SDG 6 with methodology support, data management, quality assurance, indicator calculation and capacity development.
Indicator:
SDG target 6.3: Improve water quality, wastewater and safe reuse
Website:
The UNEP Global Environment Monitoring System
Entity:
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

UNEP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Currently, UNEP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) are working together on more than 30 projects, assisting over 50 countries to battle environmental degradation, secure water resources and negotiate and implement the data-based policies needed to ensure a sustainable future for all.
Indicator:
SDG target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems
Number of countries:
50 countries with project activities on protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems
Website:
UNEP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Entity:
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

UNEP

UNEP is member of the Integrated Monitoring Initiative (IMI) for SDG 6. The initiative brings together the eight UN organizations that are formally mandated to compile country data on the SDG 6 global indicators. The initiative supports countries in monitoring water and sanitation related issues within the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and in compiling country data to report on global progress towards SDG 6.
Indicator:
SDG target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems
Website:
UNEP
Entity:
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

UNEP-DHI Partnership

UNEP-DHI Partnership is a UNEP centre which conducts extensive work on integrated water resources management worldwide, including the management of a data portal, which offers a comprehensive collection of national implementation progress data drawn from global country progress surveys.
Indicator:
SDG target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management (IWRM)
Number of countries:
193
Website:
UNEP-DHI Partnership
Entity:
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Global Environment Monitoring System

The UNEP Global Environment Monitoring System for freshwater (GEMS/Water) Data Center. Its objectives include collecting, controlling and providing water quality monitoring data and products for regional and global water quality assessments and decision-making on the subject. The Data Centre maintains the global water quality database and information system, GEMStat. GEMS/Water supports the SDG 6 with methodology support, data management, quality assurance, indicator calculation and capacity development.
Indicator:
SDG target 6.3: Improve water quality, wastewater and safe reuse
Number of countries:
193
Website:
Global Environment Monitoring System
Entity:
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Global Environment Facility

Currently, UNEP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) are working together on more than 30 projects, assisting over 50 countries to battle environmental degradation, secure water resources and negotiate and implement the data-based policies needed to ensure a sustainable future for all.
Indicator:
SDG target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management (IWRM)
Number of countries:
50
Website:
Global Environment Facility
Entity:
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Integrated Monitoring Initiative

UNEP is member of the Integrated Monitoring Initiative (IMI) for SDG 6. The initiative brings together the eight UN organizations that are formally mandated to compile country data on the SDG 6 global indicators. The initiative supports countries in monitoring water and sanitation related issues within the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and in compiling country data to report on global progress towards SDG 6.
Indicator:
SDG target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems
Number of countries:
193
Website:
Integrated Monitoring Initiative
Entity:
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Current work on the Sustainable Development Goals

SDG target 6.3: water quality and wastewater
SDG target 6.5: water management
SDG target 6.6: ecosystems

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Representatives in UN-Water

Joakim Harlin

Head of Freshwater Ecosystem Unit and alternate

Hartwig Hubertus Kremer

Hartwig Kremer - Head of the Global Environment Monitoring for Water (GEMS/Water)