Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit

The Advisory Group on Environmental Emergencies (AGEE)

Programme of Work of the Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit
Disaster Response Branch

EU/AG/23
31 October 2000
English only

Advisory Group on Environmental Emergencies
Fourth Meeting
Brussels, 20-21 November 2000

Note by the Secretariat

BACKGROUND

The role of UNEP and OCHA in the mobilization of international assistance for countries facing environmental emergencies is becoming increasingly important, as despite ongoing efforts to prevent and reduce accidents resulting in environmental impacts, emergencies have continued to occur and will continue doing so into the foreseeable future.

The Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit, established by UNEP and OCHA as an operational mechanism for the coordination of emergency response activities, plays a pivotal role in ensuring the rapid mobilization and deployment of response assistance. In accordance with the principal mandate of OCHA, relevant decisions of the UNEP Governing Council, and recommendations of the Advisory Group on Environmental Emergencies, the Unit will consolidate the joint UNEP/OCHA project in order to strengthen the international capacity to respond to environmental emergencies.

It will continue focusing on practical assistance to countries facing disasters with environmental consequences, keeping in mind that all the major elements of the established response system require permanent maintenance and further improvement. In order to ensure the timely and efficient provision of assistance to countries experiencing environmental emergencies, a fully integrated international response network and a high level of preparedness is necessary.

It is proposed that the Joint UNEP/OCHA capacity to respond to environmental emergencies be strengthened in a number of identified areas, capitalizing on cooperative arrangements and strong relationships with key partners.

FUTURE ACTIVITIES

1. Emergency Coordination and Management

a) Notification and Reporting

The ability for efficient management and coordination of any environmental emergency event relies on a number of important factors. Accurate and timely information and communication is an important component of overall emergencies management. To achieve this the Unit will continue monitoring of vulnerable regions and tracking emerging events for potential environmental threats to ensure rapid dissemination of critical emergency information for early notification and mobilization of international assistance.

Action:

Rapid information exchange with key partners and permanent monitoring of media resources

Result:

Prompt notification and dissemination of emergency information in the event of an emergency

b) Brokerage of Information and Assistance

Following the initial notification on an environmental emergency event, the Unit will continue rapidly moving into its brokering and management role. Once a request for assistance is received, the Unit will make the necessary steps to match the needs of the affected country with the resources available through the international donor community, and more specifically through a global list of designated National Focal Points.

Action:

Identification of the needs of countries requesting assistance, and matching them with resources available through National Focal Points and the donor community

Dissemination of incident information, situation reports and updates during the course of the emergency

Result:

Creation of a basis for timely mobilization of international assistance to countries facing environmental emergencies to minimize the environmental impacts from these events

c) Clearinghouse

In addition to its brokering function, the Unit will, during the course of the emergency event, become a focal point and clearinghouse to channel information and response related tools such as maps, environmental data, and other resources to relevant end users. These may be obtained through internal partners such as GRID, UNEP Chemicals Programme, and UNEP APELL or through external partners such as the Unit’s list of National Focal Points.

Action:

Establishment of an inventory of possible emergency information resources and tools, and facilitation of access to these during emergency incidents

Result:

Better quality emergencies management, mitigation and response through rapid access to tools and resources

d) Internal Preparedness

When not facing an emergency, the Unit will continue undertaking a number of activities aimed at improving its overall level of preparedness and its ability to manage environmental emergency events. This includes activities such as review and assessment of standard operating procedures to identify potential opportunities for automation of functions, improved information management and communications taking maximum advantage of current office technology and software for integrated emergency coordination and management. Exploring options for improved notification and reporting of environmental emergency events and requests for international assistance is also an important component of this process.

Action:

Continuous assessment and implementation of best practices, improved use of technology and more extensive reliance on automated system

Result:

Improved response, more efficient and timely dissemination of information and overall emergencies coordination and management

2. Mobilization of Assistance

The primary objective of the Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit is to ensure the efficient and coordinated delivery of environmental emergency services to Governments, upon request, for early mitigation and reduction of the environmental impacts from such occurrences. Specifically, this signifies timely mobilization, coordination and deployment of urgent international assistance to assess the extent of environmental damage and design remedial measures to mitigate the resulting environmental impacts.

In order to have the assurance of timely mobilization of assistance in the event of environmental emergencies, a number of functions must be undertaken in preparation for such events. The first is the maintenance of a list of international focal points representing key donor countries and countries vulnerable to environmental emergencies that serves as the single window for accessing expertise, resources, financial assistance and information when an emergency strikes. In between emergency events, relationships with NFPs and donors must be maintained through regular contact and face to face meetings, where possible.

Through its integration with OCHA’s Disaster Response Branch, the Unit also has access to special military and civil defense resources and to the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) system, all of which serves to expedite and facilitate the provision of assistance during an emergency.

Activities related to the mobilization of assistance frequently include a need for an independent and neutral expert mission. This involves the identification, selection and deployment of environmental experts, as well as coordination of all contracting, travel arrangements and related details as required for such a deployment. A reserve of financial resources and the establishment of a list of associated environmental experts would greatly facilitate the Unit's ability to carry out these critical tasks as rapidly and smoothly as possible when an environmental emergency strikes.

Action:

Efficient mobilization and coordination of international assistance to requesting countries

Result:

Timely delivery of specialized service to affected countries, supplementing national efforts to respond to environmental emergencies

3. Development and Elaboration of Tools

During non-emergency periods the Unit will undertake special projects aimed at developing and elaborating tools to assist countries in improving their capacity to respond to environmental emergencies. Future project considerations include the establishment of a computerized tracking system that would compile historical emergency data, as the basis from which to identify and analyze trends in environmental emergencies for improved prevention and preparedness.

Post incident assessments

Post incident evaluations of emergency events will be carried out to examine the success of UNEP’s role. This important learning opportunity would reveal critical areas for improvement that could be incorporated into UNEP and the Unit’s emergency management practices for greater efficiency and improved quality response management.

Action:

Development of a post incident assessment framework for the assessment of internal procedures following incidents

Identification of lessons learned and areas for improvement

Result:

Increased efficiency and better coordinated emergency response management

4. Cooperation and linkages - An integrated international response network

The assurance of a strong international environmental response network and a coordinated approach to environmental emergencies relies heavily on partnerships and well-established relationships with stakeholders. As such, increased collaboration with internal partners such as relevant Branches, Desks and Units of OCHA, and UNEP’s Divisions and Programmes dealing with prevention and preparedness aspects of environmental emergencies and other disaster-related matters is needed. A close collaboration has been developed between the Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit and UNEP’s Programme on Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies at the Local Level (APELL). The Unit provides assistance related to industrial accidents in close consultation with APELL and shares lessons-learned from emergency response operations. At the same time, the development of external partnerships and alliances is also an essential component. Several mechanisms for building cooperation and partnerships include:

a) Advisory Group on Environmental Emergencies

UNEP and OCHA have established an international Advisory Group on Environmental Emergencies (AGEE) as its most important partnering and support mechanism. The AGEE is an international forum that brings together environmental experts from around the world to share information, expertise and lessons learned for improved response to environmental emergencies worldwide, and in particular to developing countries. The AGEE also provides practical recommendations on activities, areas for development and potential projects to improve the international response to environmental emergency events.

Action:

Plan, organize and conduct periodical meetings of the Advisory Group on Environmental Emergencies

Result:

Further development and harmonization of the international response to

environmental emergencies.

Better transparency of the Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit

b) Global Roster of National Focal Points

The Joint Unit has established a global network of officially designated National Focal Points (NFPs) as conduits for information and assistance. This should be further developed to ensure efficient links between both potential recipient and donor countries.

Action:

Ongoing maintenance and expansion of a list of National Focal Ponts

Result:

Closer links with requesting and providing authorities

Timely mitigation and redemption of the environmental impacts arising from

the emergency event

c) Practical Interface Procedures

One important tool for more formalized linkages with a variety of partners both inside and outside the UN system is through the establishment of Interface Procedures. Such procedures are information sharing and mutual assistance arrangements that have been developed in collaboration with key UN agencies and external partners. The development and implementation of interface procedures assists in clearly defining the role, responsibilities and areas of potential cooperation between agencies sharing similar interests in environmental disaster response. Signed Interface agreements currently exist with a number of partners with more to be pursued.

Action:

Further establishment of interface procedures with key partners

Result:

Improved cooperation and mutual assistance during emergency periods

d) Improved Awareness

It is important to raise awareness among affected countries of the consequences from environmental emergencies and the services of the Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit. This will be undertaken through participation in workshops and meetings with donor countries and countries at risk. A component of improved awareness includes a commitment to maintain and continuously improve the Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit’s website and look at potential linkages with partners’ web sites.

Action:

Promotion of the services of the Joint Unit through meetings with competent national authorities and permanent missions, participation in and presentations at relevant workshops and seminars, and maintenance and improvement of the Joint Unit web site

Result:

Raised awareness among affected countries of the consequences from environmental emergencies and the services of the Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit, so that they may benefit from more effective and timely response assistance to environmental emergencies when they occur

FINANCIAL ASPECTS

To date, the Joint Environment Unit has been financed by UNEP, which allocates resources from its Environment Fund on an annual basis. Currently, funds are provided for the salaries of three staff members of the Unit (P-5, P-3 and G-5), as well as for basic activities. Recently, OCHA has expressed its readiness to establish the principle of equitable cost-sharing with UNEP as far as staff costs are concerned, and indicated that it would agree to take over the funding of the post of Head of Unit (P-5).