In somewhere just over a month, this treaty reaches a landmark with the total global phase-out of Chloroflurocarbons (CFCs).These are the chemicals identified as among the key original culprits behind the loss of ozone and the formation of the iconic hole over Antarctica.

Anyone around the world who is interested in alleviating poverty and combating climate to realizing the next generation of smart and sustainable products based on genetics and biomimicry knows that any more biodiversity losses make zero social, environmental or economic sense.

Our reliance on the Earth's non renewable resources of oil and other fuel and non fuel minerals is well understood by most people. Yet, when caught in the tide of technological advances that seem to dominate our everyday lives, we can easily forget the extent to which the modern, industrial world still depends on the biological world:

Yesterday here in Washington UNEP in collaboration with leading scientists launched a Compendium of Climate Science.It is based on peer-reviewed research papers that have been published since the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) landmark 2007 fourth assessment.If one thought the IPCC's findings and forecasts were sobering, I would urge you to glance through the Compendium.

If ever there were a time to act in a spirit of renewed multilateralism - a moment to create a United Nations of genuine collective action - it is now.

I am sure you are all familiar with these statistics: in the last 40 years the human population of the Earth has doubled to about 6 billion; the global economy has grown six fold; food production has increased about 2.5 times; total global food production as well as per capita food production have increased and food prices have decreased; the number of undernourished people has decreased.

The theme of your Symposium, taking place before the Inter-Agency Committee meeting of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, echoes to the heart of the mandates of UNEP and its sister agency, UN-Habitat which is co-headquartered here.

The theme 'Agroforestry-The Future of Global Land Use' echoes to the challenges but also opportunities of our time.

Green Growth: Challenges for Governments and Businesses

Address by Ms. Angela Cropper, Deputy Executive Director

Address by Ms. Angela Cropper, Deputy Executive Director United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)