• 
• Japanese
• 
• IETC's Focal Area
• Waste Management
• Publications & Tools
• Meetings & Workshops
• Global Partnership on Waste Management
• Water and Sanitation
• Publications & Tools
• Meetings & Workshops
• Resources
• Publications & Tools
• About IETC
• Background and History
• Director
• Activity Reports
• Supporting Foundations
• Contact Us

PROFILES

The UNEP - DTIE International Environmental Technology Centre

Established in April 1994, the International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC) is an integral part of the Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It has offices at two locations in Japan - Osaka and Shiga.

The Centre's main function is to promote the application of Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. IETC pays specific attention to urban problems, such as sewage, air pollution, solid waste, noise, and to the management of fresh water basins.

IETC is supported in its operations by two Japanese foundations: The Global Environment Centre Foundation (GEC), which is based in Osaka and handles urban environmental problems; and the International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC), which is located in Shiga Prefecture and contributes accumulated knowledge on sustainable management of fresh water resources.

IETC's mandate is based on Agenda 21, which came out of the UNCED process. Consequently IETC pursues a result-oriented work plan revolving around three issues, namely: (1) Improving access to information on ESTs; (2) Fostering technology cooperation, partnerships, adoption and use of ESTs; and (3) Building endogenous capacity.

IETC has secured specific results that have established it as a Centre of Excellence in its areas of specialty. Its products include: an overview on existing information sources for ESTs; a database of information on ESTs; a regular newsletter, a technical publication series and other media materials creating public awareness and disseminating information on ESTs; Local Agenda 21 documents developed for selected cities in collaboration with the UNCHS (Habitat)/UNEP Sustainable Cities Programme (SCP); advisory services; Action Plans for sustainable management of selected lake/reservoir basins; training needs assessment surveys in the field of decision-making on technology transfer and management of ESTs; design and implementation of pilot training programmes for adoption, application and operation of ESTs; training materials for technology management of large cities and fresh water basins; and others.

The Centre coordinates its activities with substantive organisations within the UN system. IETC also seeks partnerships with international and bilateral finance institutions, technical assistance organisations, the private, academic and non-governmental sectors, foundations and corporations.

UNEP Division of Technology, Industry and Economics

The mission of the UNEP Division of Technology, Industry and Economics is to help decision-makers in government, local authorities, and industry develop and adopt policies and practices that:
are cleaner and safer;
make efficient use of natural resources;
ensure adequate management of chemicals;
incorporate environmental costs;
reduce pollution and risks for humans and the environment.

The UNEP Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (UNEP TIE), with its head office in Paris, is composed of one centre and four units:

- The International Environmental Technology Centre (Osaka), which promotes the adoption and use of environmentally sound technologies with a focus on the environmental management of cities and freshwater basins, in developing countries and countries in transition.

- Production and Consumption (Paris), which fosters the development of cleaner and safer production and consumption patterns that lead to increased efficiency in the use of natural resources and reductions in pollution.

- Chemicals (Geneva), which promotes sustainable development by catalysing global actions and building national capacities for the sound management of chemicals and the improvement of chemical safety world-wide, with a priority on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and Prior Informed Consent (PIC, jointly with FAO)

- Energy and OzonAction (Paris), which supports the phase-out of ozone depleting substances in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and promotes good management practices and use of energy, with a focus on atmospheric impacts. The UNEP/RISØ Collaborating Centre on Energy and Environment supports the work of the Unit.

- Economics and Trade (Geneva), which promotes the use and application of assessment and incentive tools for environmental policy and helps improve the understanding of linkages between trade and environment and the role of financial institutions in promoting sustainable development.

UNEP TIE activities focus on raising awareness, improving the transfer of information, building capacity, fostering technology cooperation, partnerships and transfer, improving understanding of environmental impacts of trade issues, promoting integration of environmental considerations into economic policies, and catalysing global chemical safety.

Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD)

The Arab countries established the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) in 1971 as an autonomous intergovernmental organization under the auspices of the League of Arab States, with headquarters in Damas, Syrian Arab Republic.

The principal objectives of ACSAD are the enhancement of knowledge and generation of information required for the agricultural and socio-economic development of the arid and semi-arid zones of the Arab countries. ACSAD conducts research and studies relating to the assessment; development and management of water resources; and transfers promising technologies in these areas through training, workshops, seminars, information systems and publications.

ACSAD achievements in the field of water resources in the past two decades included the implementation of national and regional projects, organization of seminars and workshops and training more than 2,000 trainees from various Arab countries. ACSAD has cooperated, within the framework of its training and research activities with 22 Arab and international organizations. Among the important outputs of ACSAD activities, is the development of ACSAD legend of water resources maps of the Arab countries, and in this regard ACSAD contributed to the preparation of international guides for hydrogeological maps, groundwater vulnerability and water resources assessment.

ACSAD has gained increasing support and growing recognition as a specialized center in the field of water resources and water use at both Arab and international levels. The Arab Minister for agriculture and Water Resources, decided in the 23^rd Session of ACSAD General Assembly convened in Cairo in 1996 that ACSAD is a center of excellence in the sphere of water in the Arab region. Such recognition which is in line with ACSAD mandate has given a new impetus and encouraged ACSAD to expand its activities and develop its capacity for addressing the increasing complexities of water problems in the Arab world.

 

Table of Contents

• Brochure
• 
• 



• International Year of Forests
• 
• 



• World Environment Day
• 
• 



• UNEP Campaign
• 
•