India’s engagement with United Nations Environment Programme

UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages 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.

India’s emergence as a global environmental leader has been affirmed by the world in recent years. India was the global host of 2018 World Environment Day which took place on June 5, 2018. With “Beat Plastic Pollution” as the theme, the world came together to combat single-use plastic pollution.

India’s place in the vanguard on issues ranging from climate change to plastic pollution is a natural fit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the UN's highest environmental honour 'Champions of the Earth' in 2018, for his leadership of the International Solar Alliance and pledge to eliminate single-use plastic in India by 2022. In the same year, Cochin International Airport was also given the same award for Entrepreneurial Vision, for being the world's first fully solar-powered airport.

India has had a close engagement with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since its inception and there are ongoing and implemented UNEP projects in India. Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change is the nodal Ministry dealing with India’s engagement with UNEP. India’s High Commissioner to Kenya Ms. Namgya Khampa is accredited as the Permanent Representative of India to UNEP.

India has become a Board member of the 10-Year Sustainable Framework Program (10YFP) in UNEP for 2024-2026. Mr Neelesh Kumar Sah, JS (IC), MoEFCC and Mr Amit Raj, Director (IC), MoEFCC have been nominated as Board Member and alternate Focal Point respectively for 10 YFP. 

United Nations Environment Assembly

The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) is the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment. UNEA enjoys the universal membership of all 193 UN Member States and the full involvement of major groups and stakeholders. It gathers ministers of environment in Nairobi, Kenya every 2 years.

Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Information & Broadcasting and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Prakash Javadekar, led the Indian delegation to the first UNEA in Nairobi in 2014.

The fourth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4) took place from 11-15 March 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya, as agreed during UNEA-3 in December 2017.

The theme of the UNEA-4 was Innovative Solutions for environmental challenges and sustainable production and consumption. In a significant first, India piloted resolutions on two important global environment issues relating to Single-use Plastics (UNEP/EA.4/RES.9) and Sustainable Nitrogen management (UNEP/EA.4/RES.14), and both resolutions were adopted with consensus. India also hosted, in the High-Level Segment of UNEA, a session on “Global Partnerships: Key to Unlocking Resource Efficiency and Inclusive Green Economies”.

It was highlighted that climate finance is an important lever for climate action related to both mitigation and adaption in the developing countries. The contributions to climate finance need to be in consonance with the basic principles of common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC). Climate finance is more of an obligation of the developed countries, based on their historical emissions. The availability of sufficient, additional and predictable climate finance is a key for action.

The fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.1) took place virtually from 22-23 February 2021 and in-person session (UNEA-5.2) which was held in February 2022. The theme of UNEA-5.1 was “Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”. UNEA-5 focused only on urgent and procedural decisions. 

Dr. Virander Kumar Paul, former High Commissioner & PR to UNEP & UN-Habitat delivered the Country Statement at UNEA-5.1. India also co-hosted a Side event in UNEA 5.1 titled - Addressing single-use plastic products pollution with a life cycle approach, with UNEP and the EU delegation.

Resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2) was held in Nairobi from 28 February to 2 March 2022. India proposed draft resolution on a ‘Framework for addressing plastic product pollution including single-use plastic product pollution’. Ms Leena Nandan, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change attended the assembly and delivered the National Statement for UNEA 5.2 and participated in bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the event.

Hon’ble Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Shri. Bhupender Yadav visited Nairobi from 3-4 March 2022, to represent India at the special session of United Nationals Environment Assembly - UNEP@50 (50th anniversary of UNEP) at United Nation office in Nairobi. He delivered India’s national statement, participated in Leadership Dialogues at the special session and held 11 bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the event. Hon’ble Minister also interacted with a cross-section of the Indian diaspora during his visit.

The 59th session Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) took place at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) in Nairobi from 25-28 July 2023. Mr Sharath Kumar Pallerla, Scientist-G, MoEFCC and focal point to the IPCC headed the Indian delegation. Prof Raman Sukumar, IISc Bangalore successfully contested for Vice-Chair of WG-II.

Mission regularly participate in meetings of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR). 

3rd session of the intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC-3) to develop an International legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment was held in Nairobi from 13-19 November 2023. Mr. Amitabh Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce headed the Indian delegation. High Commissioner delivered the National Statement. Indian delegation led by Mr. Naresh Pal Gangwar, AS, MoEFCC attended the INC-4 and INC-5 held in Ottawa from 21-29 April 2024 and Busan, South Korea from 25 November – 1 December 2024 respectively.

The 6th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) took place from 26 February to 1 March 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya. It was preceded by the Open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR) from 19-23 February 2024, as preparation of the UNEA-6. Theme of the UNEA-6 focused on how multilateralism can be helpful in tackling the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. A delegation led by Additional Secretary Shri Naresh Pal Gangwar visited Nairobi to attend the OECPR and UNEA-6 meetings. India submitted a resolution on Behavioral changes towards sustainable lifestyle, which was inspired by Mission LiFE. It was co-sponsored by Sri Lanka and Bolivia. The resolution was adopted by consensus, after rounds of negotiations.

UN Environment in India

United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) established a country presence in New Delhi, India on 16 May 2016. UN Environment’s high-level missions in February, March, June and October 2018 have forged a legacy of environmental leadership: from hosting the biggest and most consequential World Environment Day ever in June 2018, when India boldly pledged to go single-use plastic free by 2022, to conferring of the Champions of the Earth Award on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his environmental leadership.

UN Environment India in partnership with governments, private sector, UN agencies, civil society, communities, citizens, research and academic institutions and other organizations is working towards raising awareness and galvanizing action on critical environmental issues that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. UN Environment’s approach to environmental management revolves around partnerships – combining the values and interest of governments with the strengths of UN agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and private sector.

India makes an annual financial contribution (US$ 100,000) to the General-Purpose Funds of UN Environment and additional funds to several Multilateral Environment Agreements.

[May 2025]

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