Evaluate UN budgets and programmes as an AI Secretary-General

Informing Policy on Climate, Nature, and Pollution through strengthening national, regional, and global indicator frameworks, and environmental economic accounting on the environme

The importance of improving the availability of and access to data and statistics related to the environment was recognized through the adoption of a range of environment monitoring frameworks related to biodiversity, climate change and disasters, environmentally Sustainable Development Goals, and circular economy. A monitoring framework on Chemicals and waste is also being developed. The ‘Measuring Progress Report (UNEP, 2023) found that of the 92 environment-related SDGs indicators, 41 per cent lack sufficient data to assess progress. This is meaningful progress compared to 2019 when 69% lacked data and indicates the success of capacity development in the past. UNEP is the custodian agency for 25 core environment indicators for Goals 6, 8, 12, 14, 15, and 17 in the global framework for the 2030 Agenda. General Assembly Resolution A/RES/71/313 on Work of the Statistical Commission pertaining to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development states the role of Custodian Agencies as (1) providing the methodologies used to harmonize country data for international comparability and produce estimates through transparent mechanisms, and (2) supporting the strengthening of data collection and statistical capacity-building, including capacity-building that strengthens coordination among national statistical offices, as appropriate and within their mandates, in a coordinated manner that recognizes national priorities and reflects national ownership of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The project contributes to 3 indicators of each of the subprogramme Science and Policy. The project’s objective is ‘Governments use high-quality open environmental data and analysis in policy making’. The project puts in place the following to achieve its objective: (1) High quality monitoring, reporting, and analysis on the environmental dimension of the SDGs at the international level; (2) Multidisciplinary integrated analysis to inform policy; (3) Tools and training for capacity building to measure, monitor and report on the environment and SDGs. To achieve the objective, it leverages expertise across and beyond the UN System, including the Secretariat entities, UNEP, UNSD, the Regional Commissions, and other UN Agencies. It also works in collaboration with other partners such as scientific institutes to improve synergies and maximize the impact. As a core activity for the PoW, all aspects of this project aim at assisting UNEP-wide strategic planning and contribute to the development and implementation of all relevant UNEP Programmes by strengthening the evidence-base for informed and integrated sustainable development policy making, as well as implementation and reporting for coherent and integrated support to implementation of the 2030 Agenda.