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United Nations Environment Programme
In 2005, the Sustainable Living Challenge was relaunched in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme to support their TUNZA capacity building strategy for young people.
The United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnerships 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.
Established in 1972, UNEP is the voice for the environment within the United Nations system. UNEP acts as a catalyst, advocate, educator and facilitator to promote the wise use and sustainable development of the global environment. To accomplish this, UNEP works with a wide range of partners including United Nations entities, international organisations, national governments, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and civil society.
The Sustainable Living Challenge liaises with the UNEP Regional Office of Asia and the Pacific and is the central distribution point for the range of UNEP educational resources.
assessing global, regional and national environmental conditions and trends
developing international and national environmental instruments
strengthening institutions for the wise management of the environment
facilitating the transfer of knowledge and technology for sustainable development
encouraging new partnerships and mind-sets within civil society and the private sector.
In February 2003, the Governing Council of UNEP adopted a long-term strategy for engaging young people in environmental activities and in the work of UNEP. The strategy was entitled the TUNZA Youth Strategy. The word “tunza” means “to treat with care or affection” in Kiswahili (a sub-regional language of Eastern Africa). The overall TUNZA concept is built around this theme. It is an initiative that develops activities in the areas of capacity building, environmental awareness and information exchange, with a vision of fostering a generation of environmentally conscious citizens, capable of positive action.
