Articles on 16 September 2025

International Environmental Organisations are key players in global environmental governance. Their primary aim is to protect, conserve, and sustainably manage natural resources, while ensuring that economic development does not come at the cost of ecological balance. They coordinate international efforts, set environmental standards, provide guidance, and assist countries in implementing sustainable policies.

International Environmental Organisations

An International Environmental Organisations is an entity that arises from conservation or environmental movements and works to protect, monitor, and manage natural resources against human-induced degradation. These organisations can take various forms, charities, trusts, NGOs, governmental, or intergovernmental bodies and operate at global, national, regional, or local levels. Their work focuses on pressing environmental issues such as pollution, resource depletion, waste management, overpopulation, and climate change.

List of International Environmental Organisations

With growing environmental awareness, numerous International Environmental Organisations have been established to tackle global issues like pollution, deforestation, climate change, and wildlife conservation. These organisations coordinate efforts across countries, provide scientific assessments, and promote sustainable practices to protect natural resources.

Also Read: Environmental Organisations in India

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading international authority on environmental issues, tasked with shaping the global environmental agenda and promoting sustainable development. It facilitates the effective implementation of the environmental dimension of the United Nations Sustainable Development Programme and serves as a global advocate for environmental protection.

• Role: Sets global environmental priorities, supports sustainable development, and addresses environmental challenges at regional and global levels.
• Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya.
• Leadership: Led by an Executive Director.
• Significance: UNEP plays a critical role in coordinating international environmental efforts, providing policy guidance, and supporting countries in environmental governance.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a global development network that connects countries with resources, knowledge, and expertise to help people improve their lives. It provides technical assistance, expert advice, training, and financial support, with a special focus on developing and least developed countries.

• Role: Promotes investment, technical cooperation, and sustainable development; helps countries achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• Funding: Entirely funded by voluntary contributions from member nations.
• Scope: Operates in nearly 170 countries, coordinating the 40 UN funds, programmes, specialised agencies, and other bodies under the UN Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG).
• Governance: Considered an executive board within the UN General Assembly; the UNDP Executive Board comprises representatives from 36 countries serving on a rotating basis.
• Significance: Acts as a key facilitator for development projects, capacity-building, and policy guidance in partner countries.

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is an international partnership and funding mechanism established to tackle global environmental challenges. It was founded in 1991 under the World Bank on the eve of the Rio Earth Summit (1992) and supports developing countries and economies in transition in implementing international environmental agreements.

• • Role: Provides strategic funding for projects addressing climate change, biodiversity, pollution, desertification, and other environmental issues. Acts as an innovator and catalyst for multi-stakeholder partnerships promoting clean energy, ecosystem preservation, food security, and greener cities.
  • Structure: Comprises 18 agencies, including UN bodies, multilateral development banks, national entities, and international NGOs. Works closely with civil society organisations (CSOs) and the private sector.
  • Scope: Engages 183 countries and supports projects under major environmental conventions.
  • Funding Mechanism: The GEF Trust Fund is available to developing countries and economies in transition to meet international environmental objectives.

• Conventions Supported:

• • Minamata Convention on Mercury
  • Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
  • United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)
  • United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
  • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
• Significance: Supports scientific, technical, and policy inputs to address pressing environmental challenges while promoting sustainable development.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

The IPCC is an international scientific body focused on assessing climate change and its impacts. It was established in 1988 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) to provide policymakers with regular, objective scientific assessments.

• Role: Evaluates the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts, future risks, and options for mitigation and adaptation.
• Purpose: Provides a reliable foundation for governments to create climate-related policies and strategies.
• Global Influence: IPCC reports guide international negotiations, including those under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• Significance: Ensures that climate policies are informed by up-to-date, peer-reviewed scientific evidence, bridging the gap between science and policy.

International Tropic Timber Organization (ITTO)

The ITTO is an intergovernmental international organisation established in 1986 under the United Nations framework, created in response to growing global concerns over tropical forests.

• • Purpose: Promotes the conservation and sustainable management, use, and trade of tropical forest resources.
  • Objectives: Supports sustainable development through tropical forest management, conservation, and a sustainable tropical timber trade.
  • Membership: 73 members divided into:
    • Producer countries: 35 members
    • Consumer countries: 38 members (including the EU)

• Activities:

• • Develops internationally agreed policy documents for sustainable forest management.
  • Assists member countries in adapting and implementing these policies through field projects.
  • Funds pilot projects, human resource development, research, and development initiatives.
  • Collects, analyses, and shares data on tropical timber production and trade.
• Impact: Facilitates forestry projects in producing countries, covering forest management, reforestation, industry development, and market promotion, benefiting both local communities and industrial stakeholders.

United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF)

The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) is an intergovernmental body established in October 2000 by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) as a subsidiary body. It was created to strengthen political commitment and coordinated global action for the sustainable management of forests.

• Objectives:

• • Promote the management, conservation, and sustainable development of all categories of forests and tree lands.
  • Strengthen long-term political and financial commitments based on the Rio Declaration, the Forest Principles, Agenda 21 (Chapter 11), and outcomes of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF).
  • Enhance the role of forests in achieving internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Membership: Has universal membership, including all UN Member States and specialized agencies.
• Major Milestone: In 2017, the UNFF adopted the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030, the first-ever comprehensive plan, at its Special Session.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a leading international organisation focused on conserving nature and ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources. Established in 1948, it has grown into the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network.

• Nature of Organisation: A unique membership Union comprising both governments and civil society organisations (CSOs).
• Functions: 
  • Provides knowledge, tools, and guidance to governments, NGOs, and private entities to integrate nature conservation with economic development and human well-being.
  • Serves as the global authority on the status of biodiversity and the strategies needed to protect it.
• Membership and Reach: Brings together 1,300 Member organisations from across the globe, making it the largest environmental network.
• Role: Balances conservation priorities with development goals, ensuring that human progress does not come at the cost of ecological stability.

Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA)

The Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA), launched in 2012 at Rio+20, is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) dedicated to tackling tropical deforestation linked to global commodity supply chains such as soy, palm oil, beef, and paper and pulp. It brings together governments, civil society, and private sector partners to take voluntary, collaborative actions to reduce deforestation and promote sustainable practices.

• • Hosted by: The World Economic Forum (WEF), under its Shaping the Future of Global Public Goods platform.
  • Funded by: Governments of the United Kingdom, Norway, and the Netherlands.
  • Secretariat: Operates within the World Economic Forum.

• Aims and Objectives:

• • • Mobilise and coordinate action across governments, civil society, and private entities to reduce tropical deforestation from agricultural commodities.
    • Promote sustainable rural development and create better growth opportunities in tropical forest countries.
    • Halve deforestation by 2020 and aim to end it by 2030.

• Goals of TFA:

• • Improve planning and management of tropical forests, agricultural land use, and land tenure.
  • Share best practices in sustainable commodity production, ecosystem conservation, and agricultural intensification, including supporting smallholder farmers.
  • Encourage use of degraded lands, promote reforestation, and promote sustainable markets for commodities.
  • Enhance monitoring systems to track tropical deforestation and forest degradation, ensuring accountability and progress measurement.

International Whaling Commission (IWC)

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is an intergovernmental organisation established to conserve whale populations and regulate whaling practices. It operates under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW), signed in 1946, which makes it one of the earliest international environmental agreements.

• • Membership: Currently has 88 member governments across the world. All members are signatories to the ICRW.

• Purpose and Legal Framework:

• • • The preamble of the Convention emphasises the conservation of whale stocks to ensure the orderly development of the whaling industry.
    • The Convention includes a legally binding Schedule, which covers provisions such as catch limits.
    • The Schedule can be amended by the Commission, typically during its biennial meetings.

• Key Functions:

• • • Setting and reviewing catch limits to prevent over-exploitation.
    • Implementing a Strategic Plan for Whale Watching, ensuring this activity is developed responsibly and in line with global best practices.
    • Conducting research on cetacean populations (whales, dolphins, porpoises).
    • Developing and maintaining scientific databases and publishing the peer-reviewed Journal of Cetacean Research and Management.

• Significance:

• The IWC plays a dual role - protecting whale populations and regulating human activity connected to whaling and whale-related tourism. It remains a central body in global marine conservation.

Whale Research Programmes of International Whaling Commission

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has conducted major long-term research initiatives to improve knowledge of whale populations and their ecosystems. Two significant programmes are:

• IWC Southern Ocean Whale and Ecosystem Research Programme (IWC-SOWER)

• • • Conducted annually between 1979 and 2009, running for over 30 years.
    • Focused on the Southern Ocean, providing extensive data on a wide range of cetacean species.
    • Helped in understanding whale distribution, abundance, migration patterns, and the broader marine ecosystem.

• IWC Pacific Ocean Whale and Ecosystem Research Programme (IWC-POWER)

• • An ongoing international research initiative coordinated by the IWC.
  • Focuses on the North Pacific Ocean, particularly areas that have not been systematically surveyed for up to 40 years.
  • Designed as a long-term project expected to extend beyond a decade.
  • Aims to fill critical gaps in knowledge about whale populations and support conservation strategies.

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is the world’s largest international non-profit conservation organisation, dedicated to protecting nature and conserving biodiversity. Founded in 1961, WWF operates across the globe and supports over 1,000 projects in partnership with governments, organisations, and communities. Its central aim is to stop the degradation of Earth’s natural environment and promote a future where humans live in harmony with nature.

• Focal Domains of WWF:

• • Climate: Advocating climate action and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Food: Promoting sustainable food systems.
  • Forests: Protecting forest ecosystems and reducing deforestation.
  • Freshwater: Conserving rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
  • Oceans: Safeguarding marine ecosystems.
  • Wildlife: Conserving endangered species and their habitats.

Species Conservation: WWF focuses on protecting some of the most vulnerable and iconic species, including tigers, elephants, gorillas, giant pandas, sea turtles, polar bears, rhinos, and whales.

• Major Campaigns and Reports:

• • Earth Hour: A global campaign encouraging individuals and communities to switch off lights for an hour to raise awareness about climate change.
  • Debt-for-Nature Swap: An initiative that allows developing countries to convert foreign debt into funding for environmental conservation.
  • Living Planet Report: Published biennially since 1998, it assesses the health of the planet and the impact of human activity on ecosystems.

Wetland International (WI)

Wetlands International is a global, non-profit environmental organisation dedicated to the sustainability and restoration of wetlands and their resources for both people and biodiversity. It works to protect these critical ecosystems that provide essential services such as water purification, flood regulation, carbon storage, and habitat for countless species.

The organisation is independent and is supported by governments, NGOs, and partners worldwide. Its presence is strongest in the developing world, where wetlands face the greatest threats from urbanisation, agriculture, and climate change.

Wetlands International operates through 20 regional, national, or project offices across all continents, with its headquarters located in Ede, the Netherlands.

Its mission is to combine science, advocacy, and field-level implementation to ensure wetlands are managed sustainably, benefiting both nature and people.

BirdLife International

BirdLife International is the world’s largest conservation partnership dedicated to the protection of birds, their habitats, and global biodiversity, while also promoting the sustainable use of natural resources. Originally known as the International Committee for Bird Preservation, it has evolved into a powerful global network that works with communities, governments, and organisations to safeguard ecosystems.

Its global headquarters is in the UK, supported by six regional offices across Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe and Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific.

BirdLife International is recognised as the official Red List authority for birds under the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species, making it a critical body for tracking and assessing the conservation status of bird populations worldwide.

The organisation also contributes to global awareness through publications such as World Birdwatch, a quarterly magazine featuring news, scientific insights, and conservation efforts related to birds and their habitats.

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)

One of BirdLife’s most significant contributions is the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs). These are sites of global importance for the conservation of bird populations, identified using internationally agreed criteria.

Initially, IBAs were identified for terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, but the methodology has since been extended to the marine realm.

In 2012, BirdLife published the first Marine IBA e-atlas, documenting over 3,000 IBAs in coastal waters, territorial seas, and even the high seas.

While being identified as an IBA highlights the ecological value of a site, legal protection is granted only if the site overlaps with existing protected areas.

To qualify as an IBA, a site must support endemic species or be crucial for the survival of species with restricted ranges.

Conservation International (CI)

Conservation International is a global non-profit environmental organisation focused on safeguarding rainforests and the biodiversity they support. Unlike many conservation groups, CI is largely science-driven, with teams of specialists in botany, ornithology, marine biology, and other related fields. Its core approach is to balance ecological protection with economic development, especially in developing nations, by empowering local communities, governments, and organisations with resources and technical support.

• Nature: Non-profit, private international environmental organisation
• Primary Focus: Protecting endangered rainforests, plants, and animals dependent on these ecosystems
• Distinguishing Feature: Strong scientific base, staff includes experts in botany, ornithology, herpetology, marine biology, entomology, and zoology
• Approach: Financial and technical support to local communities, NGOs, and governments in developing countries
• Broad Themes of Work: Ecosystem-level focus, Linking economic and ecological interests,  Building scientific knowledge for conservation decisions, Enabling conservation at the local level