International Government Organizations

Arctic Environmental Atlas
United Nations Environment Programme/GRID-Arendal
An interactive map presenting environmental information on the Arctic region. This map includes everything north of 50° north of the equator. Its themes concentrate on issues of biodiversity and conservation, and include Topography, Land Cover, Permafrost, Population Density, Human Impact & Wilderness. Featured are Protected areas, Ramsar areas, Glaciers Polar ice, Pack ice, Lakes, Rivers, Drainage Basins, and WWF Global 200 ecoregions. Also covered are ecological footprint, land-based pollution, and climate change. World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) maintains and updates the Protected area and Ramsar area databases. In English.
http://maps.grida.no/arctic

Bulletin of the World Health Organization
The International Journal of Public Health
The Bulletin aims to give public health policy and practice guidance based on the best evidence available, while also encouraging closer links between scientific investigation and the art of helping populations to lead healthier lives. In selecting articles for publication, the editors continue to give priority to original findings that advance understanding of health problems - and ways to solve them - in a world where health concerns every country and diseases respect no boundaries.
http://www.who.int/bulletin/

CITIES - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
CITES Secretariat (Switzerland)
Known as CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora has a membership of 150 countries. These countries act by banning commercial international trade in an agreed list of endangered species and by regulating and monitoring trade in others that might become endangered. The Checklist of CITES Species and the Annotated CITES Appendices are produced from databases maintained by the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, this information is available here in an interactive format. This information resource is a result of collaboration between the CITES Secretariat, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (UK), the European Commission and WCMC. The Database may be queried for all CITES-listed Fauna, or by Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Species, or Common Name. In English, French and Spanish.
http://www.wcmc.org.uk:80/CITES/

Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) / Commission de Cooperation Environnementale / Comision para la Cooperacion Ambiental
CEC is an international organization created by the North AmericanAgreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), the environmental side agreement to the North American Free Trade Agreement, signed by Canada, Mexico and the U.S. The CEC's mandate is to facilitate cooperation and public participation to foster conservation, protection and enhancement of the North American environment for the benefit of present and future generations, in the context of increasing economic trade and social links between the NAFTA partners. CEC administers the North American Fund for Environmental Cooperation (NAFEC), a source of funding for community-based environmental projects in Canada, Mexico and the United States. The site contains Transboundary Agreements Infobase, Laws Infobase, Regional Action Plans and Contacts search features. In English, French and Spanish.
http://www.cec.org/

Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response
HealthMap
World Health Organisation
Find information on infectious diseases and global health security. Features communicable disease surveillance and response, epidemic alert and response, index of reported disease outbreaks, anti-infective drug resistance and biosafety. HealthMap provides information on how mapping helps public health programmes. With Document Centre in English and French.
http://www.who.int/emc/
http://www.who.int/emc/healthmap/healthmap.html

Earthwatch
United Nations System-Wide Earthwatch
United Nations Environment Programme
The mission of Earthwatch is to coordinate, harmonize and integrate observing, assessment and reporting activities across the UN system in order to provide environmental and appropriate socio-economic information for national and international decision-making on sustainable development and for early warning of emerging problems requiring international action. Includes links to sources of near-real-time information on the state of the planetary environment, including Atmospheric Aerosols, Fires, Oceans, and Coral Reefs. In English.
http://www.unep.ch/earthw/introd.htm
http://www.unep.ch/earthw.html

Environmental Agencies "On the Web"
World Bank (NIPR)
Highlights of materials available on-line from environmental agencies around the world
http://www.worldbank.org/nipr/epas/index.htm

Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference (2003)
UN Economic Commission for Europe
The fifth Ministerial Conference .Environment for Europe. (EfE) concluded on 23 May 2003, in Kiev, Ukraine, with the adoption of the Ministerial Declaration, which underlined the importance of the EfE process as a tool to promote environmental protection and sustainable development in the region. During the Conference, three Protocols to Conventions of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe were adopted and opened for signature. Thirty-five countries and the European Community signed the new Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment to the UNECE Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention); Twenty-two countries signed the new Protocol on Civil Liability and Damage Caused by the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents on Transboundary Waters to the UNECE Conventions on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents and on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Waters and International Lakes; and Thirty-six countries and the European Community signed the new Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers to the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention). The Ministers and Heads of delegation also endorsed the Guidelines for Strengthening Compliance with and Implementation of MEAs in the UNECE region. Governments of all seven countries of the Carpathian region adopted a Convention on Environment Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians, which was opened for signature on 22 May and signed by Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia and Ukraine. With proceedings, source documents and links to the above-mentioned legal instruments. In English, French and Russian.
http://www.unece.org/env/wgso/index_kyivconf.htm

Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), The
World Meteorological Organization, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO,
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Council for Science (ICSU)
GCOS provides an operational framework for integrating observational systems of participating countries and organizations into a comprehensive system focussed on the requirements for climate issues. GCOS builds upon, and works in partnership with, other existing and developing observing systems such as the Global Ocean Observing System, the Global Terrestrial Observing System, and the Global Observing System and Global Atmospheric Watch of the World Meteorological Organization. In English.
http://www.wmo.ch/web/gcos/gcoshome.html

Global Fire Monitoring Center
Fire Ecology Research Group
Freiburg University, Germany
The Global Fire Monitoring Centre provides access to near-real-time reports on the status of forest and wildfires around the world. Includes Global Fire Inventories and Models, Fire Literature, Databanks and extensive links. In English.
http://www.uni-freiburg.de/fireglobe/

Global Health Network (GHNet), The
An alliance of experts in health and telecommunications who are actively developing the architecture for a health information structure for the prevention of disease in the 21st century. Represented are experts from the World Bank, NASA, AT&T, IBM, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and the World Health Organization (WHO) and from the field of epidemiology. Together we have formed ideas and learned to "speak the same language" to achieve our common goal of structuring a system for tele-preventative medicine. In English, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, German, Chinese, Turkish & Taiwanese.
http://www.pitt.edu/HOME/GHNet/GHNet.html

Global Observing System Information Center (GOSIC), The
University of Delaware, College of Marine Studies
US National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Global Observing System Information Center (GOSIC) provides information on the observing requirements, the operational data systems, and the access procedures for finding and obtaining data and products of the G3OS. The G3OS consists of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), and the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS). In English.
http://www.gos.udel.edu/

Global Oceans Observing System (GOOS), The
International Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO,
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment Programme
GOOS is a permanent global system for observations, modelling and analysis of marine and ocean variables to support operational ocean services worldwide. GOOS provides accurate descriptions of the present state of the oceans, including living resources; continuous forecasts of the future conditions of the sea for as far ahead as possible; and the basis for forecasts of climate change. Includes Research Programmes, GOOS Products and Services Bulletin. In English.
http://ioc.unesco.org/goos/

Global Resource Information Database (GRID), The
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Established within the framework of the United Nations Environment Programme's Global Environmental Monitoring System (UNEP/GEMS) in 1985, GRID's mission is to provide timely and reliable georeferenced environmental information and access to a unique international data service to help address environmental issues at global, regional, and national levels. Using GIS, GRID converts environmental data into integrated information usable by both national and international scientists and decisionmakers, thus helping to bridge the gap between scientific understanding of earth processes and sound management of the environment.
http://www.igc.org/wri/wri/wri/sdis/global-g/g-disc/unep-grd.html

Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS), The
The central mission of GTOS is to provide data for detecting, quantifying, locating and giving early warning of changes in the capacity of terrestrial ecosystems to sustain development and improvements in human welfare. GTOS will help find answers to five key questions:
  1. What are the impacts of land use change and degradation on sustainable development? Can the land produce enough food for the world's future population?
  2. Where, when and by how much will demand for freshwater exceed supply?
  3. Where and when will toxic pollutants cause major threats to human and environmental health and the capacity of ecosystems to detoxify them?
  4. Where and what type of biological resources are being lost, and will these losses irreversibly damage ecosystems or human progress?
  5. What are the impacts of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems?
GTOS will be a permanent observing system for the world's key managed and natural ecosystems. The system is based on a five-tier data sampling strategy involving large-scale studies of the Earth's major environmental gradients, agricultural and ecological research centres, field stations and a gridded series of some 10,000 sampling sites. In English, French and Spanish.
http://www.fao.org/gtos/

INFOTERRA - The Global Environmental Information Exchange Network,
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
INFOTERRA is a mechanism to "facilitate the exchange of environmental information within and among nations". Together with IRPTC, the Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) and the Global Resource Information Database (GRID), INFOTERRA is a complement of UNEP's Earthwatch Programme and plays an important part in monitoring, assessment and dissemination of information on the environment at international, regional and national levels. INFOTERRA national focal points are usually situated in the information and documentation sections of environment ministries, and national environmental protection agencies which are often also the focal points for national information networks. They act as the primary access points through which queries from users are channelled to INFOTERRA sources and through which users receive their replies. Each national focal point compiles a "Who's Who" of environmental expertise in their country, and selects the best sources for inclusion in INFOTERRA's main publication the International Directory of Sources, which is compiled by the Programme Activity Centre in Nairobi. The International Directory of Sources exists as both printed 'hardcopy' and as a database, and is often referred to as the INFOTERRA Database. It does not contain all the world's environmental information in itself, but is the means of access to more than 7,000 sources of information on over 1,000 environmental subjects. Sources can be accessed by country, by name of organization and by environmental subject-area. INFOTERRA network partners use four working languages to communicate: English, French, Russian and Spanish. Contact:
INFOTERRA Programme Activity Centre
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
P.O. BOX 30552
NAIROBI
KENYA
Cable: UNITERRA, NAIROBI
Telex: 22068 UNITERRA
Telefax: (254 2) 22 69 49 or 62 42 69
Telephone: (254 2) 62 12 34 or 62 32 74
E-mail:spen@cedar.univie.ac.at
http://www.cedar.univie.ac.at/unep/infoterra/

Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IOMC)
The IOMC is designed to be a cooperative undertaking among intergovernmental organizations that work together as partners to promote international work in the environmentally sound management of chemicals. The Participating Organizations are UNEP, ILO, FAO, WHO, UNIDO, UNITAR, and OECD.
http://www.who.int/iomc/

International Cancer Information Center (ICIC)
The ICIC serves as the U.S. National Cancer Institute's focal point for the collection and dissemination of scientific information regarding cancer screening, prevention, treatment, and supportive care.

http://wwwicic.nci.nih.gov/icicinfo.html

International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), The
ICLEI is an association of local governments dedicated to the prevention and solution of local, regional, and global environmental problems through local action. Over 300 cities, towns, counties, and their associations from around the world are Members of the Council.
http://www.iclei.org/

International Directory of Environmental Education Institutions (revised Sept. 1999)
UNESCO
UNESCO offers a large list of environmental education training and research institutions around the world. It also gives information on names, addresses, geographical coverage, working-language, type of institution area of interest, target groups, services and publications of about 500 institutions worldwide. The directory is based on the edition prepared in the framework of the UNESCO-UNEP International Environmental Programme (IEEP) first published in 1971 and revised in 1981 and 1989. UNESCO is seeking comments and corrections on this revised version of the Directory.
http://www.unesco.org/education/educprog/environment/index.html

International Energy Agency (IEA)
An autonomous agency linked with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the IEA acts as the energy forum for 24 member countries. IEA member governments are committed to taking joint measures to meet oil supply emergencies. They have also agreed to share energy information, to co-ordinate their energy policies and to co-operate in the development of rational energy programmes. The site includes statistics, energy efficiency and technology, oil market and climate change information.
http://www.iea.org/homechoi.htm

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), The
ICANN is the non-profit corporation that was formed to assume responsibility for the IP address space allocation, protocol parameter assignment, domain name system management, and root server system management functions previously performed under U.S. Government contract by IANA and other entities. The site contains information about ICANN and its Supporting Organizations, Advisory and Board Committees; ICANN Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and Organizational Chart; Corporate Documents, Major Agreements and Related Reports, and Corporate Policies; Conflicts of Interest, Independent Review, and Reconsideration policies; Financial Information; and Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations. In English.
http://www.icann.org/

Local Agenda 21
International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), The
ICLEI is an association of local governments dedicated to the prevention and solution of local, regional, and global environmental problems through local action. Approximately 300 cities, towns, counties, and their associations from around the world are members. ICLEI launched a global LA 21 Initiative at the United Nations "Earth Summit" in 1992. Presently, more than 1,800 local governments in 64 countries are working with their communities to prepare LA 21 action plans. ICLEI's serves as an information clearinghouse on local environmental initiatives. Newsletters, case study series, and a variety of technical materials are available on-line. In English, with some materials in French, Portugese and Spanish.
http://www.iclei.org/iclei.htm

National Environmental Data Index (NEDI)
NEDI provides users with direct access to environmental data collected by U.S. state, federal, and international agencies. Users may request three types of data, including texts and publications, regulations and legislation, and metadata, which are links to Internet sites that hold information pertinent to the user's query.
http://www.nedi.gov

National Science Foundation's Long-Term Ecological Research Network
THE LTER NETWORK The Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network is a collaborative effort involving more than 1100 scientists and students investigating ecological processes over long temporal and broad spatial scales. The network promotes synthesis and comparative research across sites and ecosystems and among other related national and international research programs. The National Science Foundation established a program in 1980 to support research on long-term ecological phenomena in the United States. The network consists of 24 sites representing diverse ecosystems and research emphases and a Network Office, that coordinates communication, network publications, and research-planning activities. The mission of the LTER Network is to facilitate and conduct ecological research through:
  1. Understanding ecological phenomena over long temporal and large spatial scales,
  2. Creating a legacy of well-designed and documented long-term experiments and observations for future generations,
  3. Conducting major synthetic and theoretical efforts, and
  4. providing information for the identification and solution of ecological problems
The LTER Network is committed to long-term ecological research on the following core areas:
  1. Pattern and control of primary production
  2. Spatial and temporal distribution of populations selected to represent trophic structures
  3. Pattern and control of organic matter accumulation and decomposition in surface layers and sediments
  4. Patterns of inorganic inputs and movements of nutrients through soils, groundwater and surface waters
  5. Patterns and frequency of disturbances

http://lternet.edu

Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), The
OTS is a not-for-profit consortium of 58 universities and research institutions in the United States, Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru and Australia. OTS operates with the mission of providing leadership in education, research, and the responsible use of natural resources in the tropics, and to increase understanding of and slow the destruction of tropical forests. OTS maintains "Tropical Stations Online Datasets", including the National Bibliography in Tropical Biology; Arthropods of La Selva; La Selva, meteorological data from the Las Cruces and Palo Verde Research Stations, and research sets on lichens and fungi. In English and Spanish.
http://www.ots.ac.cr

Resource Centre for PRTR Release Estimate Techniques (RETs)
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
The Resource Centre provides a clearinghouse of guidance materials regarding release estimation techniques for the principle pollutant release and transfer registers developed by OECD member countries. The Resource Centre has been developed by the Task Force on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs) of the OECD's Environment, Health and Safety Programme, under the lead of Environment Canada.
http://www.oecd.org/env/prtr

State of the Environment Reports
A growing number of international organizations, countries, states and regional governments, and non-governmental organizations are producing reports providing and overview of the "state of the environment" in their area of responsibility and interest. These report vary in content and quality. Most national reports are in English, some in the country's major language, some in both.
-- Global Environment Outlook -1 (1997 --United Nations)
-- World Resources (1996-1997, 1998-99)
-- State of the World 1997 (excerpts).
http://www.cnie.org/stateof.htm

Sustainable Cities Programme
United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UNCHS-Habitat) United Nations Environment Programmme (UNEP) Sustainable Cities Programme works towards the development of a sustainable urban environment, building capacities in urban environmental planning and management, and promoting a broad-based participatory process. Under Programme Information you will find details of activities in SCP cities around the world, as well as general programme information, an electronic version of the programme's newsletter 'Sustainable City News' and a selection of press clippings. Programme Activities covers current events such as programme meetings and tool development. Links leads to other relevant websites.
http://www.unchs.org/scp/

United Nations Demining Database
http://www.un.org/Depts/Landmine/

United Nations Division for Sustainable Development
Contains selections on Agenda 21, UN Commission on Sustainable Development, Small Islands, Forests, National Information, Major Groups, and Technical Cooperation.
http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/

United Nations Division for Sustainable Development
Contains selections on Agenda 21, UN Commission on Sustainable Development, Small Islands, Forests, National Information, Major Groups, and Technical Cooperation.
http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/

UNEP Global Resource Information Database (GRID)
United Nations Environment Programme
http://grid.cr.usgs.gov/index.html

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
http://www.unece.org/

United Nations Population Fund
The State of the World Population. The Report of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole of the 21st Special Session of the General Assembly, adopted on 1 July 1999, with Key Actions for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development. In English, Spanish, French, Russian, Arabic and Chinese.
http://www.unfpa.org/

United Nations Population Information Network (POPIN)
UN Population Division Department of Economic and Social Affairs with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
http://www.unece.org/stats/stats_e.htm

UNAIDS
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
http://www.unaids.org/

UN/ECE Statistical Division's WWW site.
In French, Russian and English
http://www.unece.org/stats/stats_e.htm

United Nations Environment Network
United Nations Environment Programme
A global portal to authoritative environmental information based on themes and regions. Search by Thematic Portals or Regional Portals.
Thematic Portals: Climate change Freshwater GEO data portal, Mountains, Socioeconomic, Urban environment.
Regional Protals: Arctic, Europe, Latin America. Additional regions will be added in future.
In English.
http://www.unep.net

United Nations Landmines Casualties and Incidents
By country.
http://www.un.org/Depts/Landmine/

USAID
The U.S Agency for International Development is the U.S. federal government agency that implements America's foreign economic and humanitarian assistance programs. The agency works in six principle areas crucial to achieving both sustainable development and advancing U.S. foreign policy objectives:
-- Economic growth and agricultural development
-- Population, health and nutrition
-- Environment
-- Democracy and governance
-- Education and training, and
-- Humanitarian assistance
USAID provides assistance in four regions of the world:
-- Sub-Saharan Africa
-- Asia and the Near East
-- Latin America and the Caribbean, and
-- Europe and Eurasia
This site contains multimedia resources and links to other development aid organizations.
http://www.info.usaid.gov/

WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water - Water Quality
World Health Organization (WHO)
The WHO released updated guidelines for drinking water quality in September 2004. The guidelines recommend a holistic, systematic approach towards water quality regulation and management in order to prevent water-related disease, including preventative measures, such as ensuring that local wells are not at risk from contamination. The new guidelines reflect reviewed and revised recommended values for chemical limits, and set out practical approaches to discount some chemicals and prioritize others. The updated guidelines also include applications for emergencies and disaster situations.
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwg/guidelines/en/

WHO Library and Information Networks for Knowledge
Supports the work of the World Health Organization by offering its knowledge bank of supportive evidence and global information resources to all. We provide access to one of the finest current collections on international public health and development, as well as a valuable historical collection. All forms of the Library's collections are referenced in its electronic database (WHOLIS), available to the world via the web. In English and French.
http://www.who.int/hlt/

World Health Organization (WHO)
http://www.who.int/

WHO Information Office
Press releases, photos, radio library and video clips, as well as fact sheets about WHO activities. A search feature is provided to help you locate items. In English and French.
http://www.who.int/inf/

Working Group on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR)
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Human Settlements Division
Established by the UNECE Committee on Environmental Policy, the PRTR Working Group is preparing a PRTR protocol under the auspices of the Aarhus Convention. The protocol should be open for accession by non-ECE countries and non-Parties to the Aarhus Convention. The protocol should be ready for signing in early 2003 at the Kiev Environment for Europe Summit. The site contains the text of the Draft Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers - Consolidated text (CEP/WG.5/AC.2/2002/10); discussion papers on diffuse sources, industrial classification, and transfers and on fundamental aspects of PRTRs; and lists of participants in the negotiation. In English.
http://www.unece.org/env/pp/prtr.htm

World Bank - New Ideas in Pollution Prevention (NIPR)
A site for researchers, government officials, and citizens interested in understanding and improving control of industrial pollution, especially in developing countries. NIPR is the primary source for materials produced by the World Bank's Economics of Industrial Pollution Control Research
http://www.worldbank.org/nipr/

World Health Report 1999
WHO Annual Report, plus past year's reports, basic indicators, statistics on public health. In English and French.
http://www.who.int/whr/

World Health Organization Publications Catalogue 1991-1999
The catalogue covers over 700 formal WHO publications organized by subject category. In addition WHO issues around 300 informal technical documents each year (identified by WHO/ prefix). These can be located by searching the online library catalogue. A full-text searchable multilingual list of publications issued since 1950 is also available online.
http://www.who.int/dsa/cat98/zcon.htm

World Summit on the Information Society, The (WSIS)
United Nation
The World Summit on the Information Society will be held in two phases. The first phase of WSIS will take place in Geneva hosted by the Government of Switzerland from 10 to 12 December 2003. The second phase will take place in Tunis hosted by the Government of Tunisia, from 16 to 18 November 2005. In English.
http://www.itu.int/wsis/

Yearbook of International Co-operation on Environment and Development
The annual review and reference work on international co-operation on environment and development-is published in its seventh volume.
http://www.ngo.grida.no/ggynet/