About UNEP
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.Activities by UNEP
Toolkit on Digital Transformation for People-Oriented Cities and Communities
Global Not ApplicableA comprehensive guide designed to help cities and communities leverage digital technologies for sustainable development. The toolkit, developed with 13 UN entities, provides practical strategies and tools through 12 modules covering topics from governance to smart manufacturing.
Activity Type Research/Reports/AssessmentsPolicy/Regulatory GuidanceAwareness/AdvocacyIntersection between large-scale digitalization and environmental sustainability: an overview of use and impact of data centres
Global United Kingdom
Data centres are integral to the transformation underpinning modern energy systems and economies. As the backbone of digitalization, they enable critical services ranging from cloud computing to Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things ecosystems. Their rapid expansion, however, poses significant sustainability and infrastructure challenges that necessitate action to align with climate goals and ensure energy systems resilience. The document examines the evolving role of data centres in the power sector, emphasizing their growing environmental footprint and impact on grid infrastructure, offering policy recommendations on five priority areas:
1. Establishing robust key performance indicators on sustainability across the full lifecycle of data centres (including carbon, water, and material circularity metrics, sensitive to regional context)
2. Enhancing data transparency and availability to better understand and manage environmental impacts;
3. Enabling demand-side flexibility through grid integration, advanced automation, and regulatory clarity;
4. Promoting circular economy principles by extending hardware lifespan, improving reuse and recycling;
5. Fostering public-private partnerships to drive investment, innovation, and workforce development aligned with sustainable outcomes.
The document urges redefining the performance criteria for data centres, moving beyond uptime and throughput to embedding sustainability at the core of design, operation, and governance, to prevent compromising climate targets and broader resource management efforts.
Freshwater Ecosystems Explorer
GlobalThis project uses machine learning to identify areas of surface water from satellite imagery at a global level. It produces an annual dataset of surface water extent as a formal reporting indicator for SDG 6.6.1, which is the only globally derived satellite-based indicator in the SDG framework that member states can use in their national reporting.
Activity Type AI Tools/SolutionsResearch/Reports/AssessmentsEnvironmentGPT
Global Kenya
1. What is EnvironmentGPT?
EnvironmentGPT is UNEP’s first public beta chatbot designed to make trusted environmental science easier to access. Built on a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architecture, it provides accurate, cited answers drawn exclusively from UNEP-approved publications. Unlike general-purpose AI models trained on open internet data, EnvironmentGPT ensures transparency, scientific integrity, and reduced hallucinations. Future versions will be integrated into UNEP’s World Environment Situation Room (WESR).
2. Why It Was Built
UNEP’s mandate includes strengthening the science–policy interface. Policymakers, practitioners, and the public need rapid access to reliable environmental knowledge, yet information remains fragmented and complex to navigate. EnvironmentGPT helps bridge this gap by enabling users to:
- Summarize large volumes of information quickly
- Receive explanations tailored to different expertise levels
- Integrate knowledge across climate, biodiversity, pollution, water, land, health, and economic domains
-Access referenced, authoritative content in accessible formats
General-purpose LLMs cannot be assumed reliable for technical environmental topics; EnvironmentGPT offers a domain-specific, retrieval-based alternative aligned with UNEP’s priorities on climate stability, healthy ecosystems, and pollution reduction.
3. What Documents It Uses
The knowledge base is built using a three-tier selection framework prioritizing high-consensus global assessments, authoritative UN-led publications, and high-quality regional or peer-reviewed literature. Over 220 validated reports form the initial corpus, including:
- GEO-7
- Emissions & Adaptation Gap Reports
- Frontiers Reports
- IPCC & IPBES summaries
- Relevant FAO, WHO, and other UN publications
- Selected open-access scientific meta-analyses and systematic reviews
All documents were reviewed by UNEP’s Office of Science to ensure quality and thematic coherence.
4. Key Features
- Latest UNEP flagship assessments integrated from launch
- Filtering by publication or publication series
- Audience modes: Public, Policymaker, Scientist
- Multiple LLM options with sustainability profiles
- Confidence score based on breadth of supporting evidence
- Environmental impact metrics (energy, water, emissions, minerals per query), using EcoLogits
- Conversation memory for follow-up questions
- Full reference transparency
Improved AI environmental impact assessments