The General Assembly, in its resolution 2997 (XXVII) of 15 December 1972, established the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme, composed of fifty-eight members elected by the General Assembly for three-year terms on the following basis:
(a) Sixteen seats for African States;
(b) Thirteen seats for Asian States;
(c) Six seats for the eastern European States;
(d) Ten seats for Latin American States;
(e) Thirteen seats for Western European and other States”
Within one year, in 1973, the first meeting of the Governing Council was held in Geneva to discuss organizational matters. In 1974, the second meeting was held in Nairobi and the UNEP Headquarters was established.
The General Assembly, in its resolution 67/213 of 21 December 2012, decided to establish universal membership in the Governing Council of UNEP.
The General Assembly, in its resolution 67/251 of 13 March 2013, decided to change the designation of the “Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme” to the “United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme”.
| Session | Venue and date | Documents | |
| 27th and First Universal Session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum | Nairobi, 18-22 February 2013 | UNEP/GC.27/17 | A/68/25 |
| 26th | Nairobi, 21-24 February 2011 | UNEP/GC.26/19 | A/66/25 |
| 11th special session/Global Ministerial Environment Forum | Bali, 24-26 February 2010 | UNEP/GCSS.XI/11 | A/65/25 |
| 25th | Nairobi, 16-20 February 2009 | UNEP/GC.25/17 | A/64/25 |
| 10th special session/Global Ministerial Environment Forum | Monaco, 20-22 February 2008 | UNEP/GCSS.X/10 | A/63/25 |
| 24th | Nairobi, 5-9 February 2007 | UNEP/GC.24/12 | A/62/25 |
| 9th special session/Global Ministerial Environment Forum | Dubai, 7-9 February 2006 | UNEP/GCSS.IX/11 | A/61/25 |
| 23rd | Nairobi, 21-25 February 2005 | UNEP/GC.23/11 | A/60/25 |
| 8th special session/Global Ministerial Environment Forum | Jeju, 29-31 March 2004 | UNEP/GCSS.VIII/8 | A/59/25 |
| 22nd | Nairobi, 3-7 February 2003 | UNEP/GC.22/11 | A/58/25 |
| 7th special session/Global Ministerial Environment Forum | Cartagena, 13-15 February 2002 | UNEP/GCSS.VII/6 | A/57/25 |
| 21st | Nairobi, 5-9 February 2001 | UNEP/GC.21/9 | A/56/25 |
| 6th special session/Global Ministerial Environment Forum | Malmö, 29-31 May 2000 | UNEP/GCSS.VI/9 | A/55/25 |
| 20th | Nairobi, 1-5 February 1999 | UNEP/GC.20/48 | A/54/25 |
| 5th special session | Nairobi, 20-22 May 1998 | UNEP/GCSS.V/7 | A/53/25 |
| 19th | Nairobi, 27 January-7 February 1997 | UNEP/GC.19/34 | A/52/25 |
| 18th | Nairobi, 15-26 May 1995 | UNEP/GC.18/40 | A/50/25 |
| 4th special session | Nairobi, 18 June 1994 | UNEP/GCSS.IV/3 | A/49/223 |
| 17th | Nairobi, 10-21 May 1993 | UNEP/GC.17/32 | A/48/25 |
| 3rd special session | Nairobi, 3-5 February 1992 | UNEP/GCSS.III/* | A/47/25 |
| 16th | Nairobi, 23-31 May 1991 | UNEP/GC.16/27 | A/46/25 |
| 2nd special session | Nairobi, 1-3 August 1990 | UNEP/GCSS.II/3 | A/45/25 |
| 15th | Nairobi, 15-26 May 1989 | UNEP/GC.15/12 | A/44/25 |
| 1st special session | Nairobi, 14-18 March 1988 | UNEP/GCSS.I/7 | A/43/25 |
| 14th | Nairobi, 8-19 June 1987 | UNEP/GC.14/26 | A/42/25 |
| 13th | Nairobi, 14-24 May 1985 | UNEP/GC.13/16 | A/40/25 |
| 12th | Nairobi, 16-29 May 1984 | UNEP/GC.12/19 | A/39/25 |
| 11th | Nairobi, 11-24 May 1983 | UNEP/GC.11/18 | A/38/25 |
| 10th | Nairobi, 20-31 May 1982 | UNEP/GC.10/14 | A/37/25 |
| Session of special character | Nairobi, 10-18 May 1982 | UNEP/GC.10/14 | A/37/25 |
| 9th | Nairobi, 13-26 May 1981 | UNEP/GC.9/15 | A/36/25 |
| 8th | Nairobi, 16-29 April 1980 | UNEP/GC.8/10 | A/35/25 |
| 7th | Nairobi, 18 April-4 May 1979 | UNEP/GC.7/19 | A/34/25 |
| 6th | Nairobi, 9-25 May 1978 | UNEP/GC.6/19 | A/33/25 |
| 5th | Nairobi, 9-25 May 1977 | UNEP/GC/106 | A/32/25 |
| 4th | Nairobi, 30 March -14 April 1976 | UNEP/GC/85 | A/31/25 |
| 3rd | Nairobi, 17 April -2 May 1975 | UNEP/GC/55 | A/10025 |
| 2nd | Nairobi, 11-22 March 1974 | UNEP/GC/26 | A/9625 |
| 1st | Geneva, 12-22 June 1973 | UNEP/GC/10 | A/9025 |