Oxford LibGuides: Environmental Law: UN, UNEP, UNESCO

United Nations

Landmark UN resolution confirms healthy environment is a human right
Some background posted on UNEP website 06 Dec 2021
Resolution 48/13 (5 October 2021)
Full text on official website. A/HRC/48/L.23/REV.1
Stockholm Declaration: Declaration of the UN Conference on the Human Environment
Free resource. From UN website. U.N. Doc. A/Conf.48/14/Rev. 1(1973); 11 ILM 1416 (1972)
World Charter for Nature (1982)
Free resource - from UN website.
G.A. Res. 37/7, U.N. GAOR, 37th Sess., Supp. No. 51, at 17, U.N. Doc. A/37/51 (1982); 22 ILM 455 (1983)
UN Audio Visual Library of International Law: Lecture Series
Open Access. Growing library of lectures by eminent scholars - grouped by subject area which you can select in the left hand column. The mini-lecture stream is decided to give you an overview of the topic as a whole.
It is worth clicking on Read More for Related Materials
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Official website maintained by UN's Legal Office.
UNEP: Environmental Rights and Governanec
Law Division section of official website
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Law Division is the lead Division charged with carrying out the functions of UNEP in the field of environmental law, governance and related policy issues. The Division’s work focuses on: leading the international community in the progressive development of environmental law; supporting States in the development and implementation of legal, institutional and policy measures in response to major environmental challenges; facilitating cooperation and coordination among multilateral environmental agreements and between UNEP and those agreements; working with MEA secretariats to support Parties to the respective MEAs in implementing their treaty obligations; and facilitating policy dialogue among States on issues relating to international environmental law and governance.
UNEP Environmental Rights and Governance
UNEP: World Environment Situation Room
Official website
UN: sustainable development and climate change
Section of the official UN website
UNESCO: Environment
UNESCO's Archive It: Climate change and environmental policy
Free resource Collected by: Stanford University, Social Sciences Resource Group

Archived since: May, 2008
Description: This is a collection of Intergovernmental and Non-governmental Organizations (IGOs and NGOs) that focus on the environmental policy of climate change and global warming.
UN-Habitat: for a better urban future
Official website. See Knowledge section
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
The United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change.
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The IPCC was set up in 1988 by the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to provide policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation"
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
IPBES was established in 2012 All States Members of the United Nations are eligible for IPBES membership, with a large number of NGOs, organisations, conventions and civil society groupings participating in the formal IPBES process as observers "To strengthen knowledge foundations for better policy through science, for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development"
GRID-Arendal
Free resource. GRID-Arendal is a centre collaborating with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Established in 1989 by the Government of Norway as a Norwegian Foundation, our mission is to communicate environmental information to policy-makers and facilitate environmental decision-making for change
Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB)
The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) is a balanced, timely and independent reporting service on United Nations environment and development negotiations. It is the flagship publication of the International Institute for Sustainable Development – Reporting Services Division (IISD-RS). IISD is a non-profit organization based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

To find print holdings try the following subject searches on SOLO:

Environmental policy -- International cooperation

Environmental protection -- International cooperation

Global environmental change

Sustainable development

UN publications on topic

Print resources

The Bodleian Library Official Papers has been a depository library for United Nations material since 1950. Its extensive collection (kept on open shelf in the Official Papers reading room located on Floor 0 of the Bodleian Law Library) include many publications resulting from the United Nations Environmental Programme.

States’ Human Rights Obligations in the Context of Climate Change: Guidance Provided by the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies (March 2022)
Open access download from Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)

Protecting the Environment During Armed Conflict by Elizabeth Mrema; Carl Bruch; Jordan Diamond; United Nations Environment Programme Staff (Contribution by)
Call Number: O.UNEP/2009(5)
ISBN: 9280730428
Publication Date: 2010
In Official Papers are on the Ground Floor of the Law Bod
Protecting Arctic biodiversity : limitations and strengths of environmental agreements by Katherine I. Johnsen, editor in chief ... [et al.].
Call Number: O.UNEP/2010(18)
ISBN: 9280730541
Publication Date: [2010]
Official Papers are on the Ground Floor of the Law Bod
UNEP handbook for drafting laws on energy efficiency and renewable energy Resources by United Nations Environment Programme
Call Number: O.UNEP/2007(5)
ISBN: 9280728105
Publication Date: 2007
Official Papers are on the Ground Floor of the Law Bod

Special guide to finding UN material

There are 3 specialist Official Papers staff to help you if you have any difficulty.
The online guide below has been prepared by them.

United Nations
by Hannah Chandler Last Updated Jul 18, 2024 299 views this year