UNEP is at the center of ecological activity of the UN system, since its inception, December 15, 1972, by a resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations, following the recommendations of the Stockholm Conference in June 1972. As a reminder, this conference, which was held with representatives from 114 countries, 400 NGOs, all 6000 participants, sounded the alarm to the global ecological crisis is announced. It had the merit to devote the right to the environment and cooperation between states in the service of conservation of natural resources. Considering the international system inadequate to the scale and urgency of environmental problems, the conference participants, including representatives of Algeria, had requested the establishment of permanent institutional and financial systems which can catalyze, stimulate and coordinate a program of action for the protection and improvement of the environment. It was together all the scattered segments, formerly occupied environment in a single institution. Thus Unep, whose headquarters was established in Nairobi, Kenya was born. To UNEP aims simultaneously several objectives: to promote international cooperation, policy recommendations, advice and coordinate programs, monitor the global situation, trigger input from scientists monitor the impacts of policies and national and international environmental measures on countries developing. The impetus Unpe has prompted many countries to develop essential to the management of environmental issues with national laws and administrative regulations and technical structures.
Algeria has acceded to many international conventions and protocols, adopted under the auspices of UNEP, in particular those relating to the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution, but also the outcome of the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, June 1992, Rio de Janeiro ). Algeria has also acceded, on 23 September 1992 to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, signed in 1985 and the Montreal Protocol, signed in September 1987 and entered into force on 1 January 1989 and its amendments. Algeria ratified in April 1993, the Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Convention on Biological Diversity, also signed in June 1992 by 157 countries, including Algeria, effective December 29, 1993, was ratified in January 1995 by the National Transitional Council (which served at the time of Parliament). Our country has ratified the Convention on Desertification January 22, 1996.
These international legal instruments - conventions and protocols - are being construction under the auspices of UNEP. Our country has introduced in its legislation the elements of international law based on a set of principles, including sustainable development, environmental rights ("human beings are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature" This is the principle 1 of the Rio Declaration), the right to information and participation (Aarhus Convention, Denmark, signed in June 1998, and the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Consent Procedure certain chemicals and pesticides that are subject to international trade), the precautionary principle (mentioned in 1987 by the 2nd Conference on the Protection of the North Sea), the principle of non-damaging land use , the polluter pays principle and the principle of cooperation.
There is a year to UNEP adopted a reform of the functioning of the board of directors is now open to more countries, that is to say, to almost 200 nations of the world, when there were only 58. Achim Steiner, this approach aims to improve and strengthen international cooperation on the environment.
