Global Environmental Governance In Transition: Assessing UNEP's Influence On Climate Policy In The 21st Century

Abstract

This paper critically examines the evolving role of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) within global environmental governance, particularly focusing on its influence on climate policy throughout the 21st century. As a central yet contested actor amidst an increasingly fragmented and polycentric governance landscape, UNEP navigates complex institutional arrangements, shifting normative frameworks, and multilevel actor constellations. Employing a qualitative research design based on comprehensive secondary source analysis and in-depth case studies, including the Paris Agreement 2015, subsequent Conference of the Parties (COP) sessions, climate adaptation and finance mechanisms, and the Global Stocktake 2023, this study assesses UNEP’s normative, coordinative, and operational contributions. Findings indicate that while UNEP has been instrumental in agenda-setting, scientific synthesis, and catalysing private sector engagement, its effectiveness is constrained by chronic funding limitations, institutional fragmentation, and competing geopolitical interests. Despite these challenges, UNEP remains vital in shaping global climate norms and facilitating cooperation across diverse actors, suggesting paths for institutional reform and enhanced relevance in an evolving global climate governance architecture.