The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system. It was established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in June 1972. Its mandate is to provide leadership, deliver science and develop solutions on a wide range of issues, including climate change, the management of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and green economic development. The organization also develops international environmental agreements; publishes and promotes environmental science and helps national governments achieve environmental targets.
Model United Nations, also known as Model UN or MUN, is an educational simulation of the United Nations to teach students about diplomacy, international relations, and global issues. During a MUN conference, students assume the roles of representatives of countries, organizations, or individuals to collaborate and address global challenges.
AIESEC is an international "youth-run" and led, non-governmental and not-for-profit organization that provides young people with business development internships. The organization focuses on empowering young people to make a progressive social impact. The AIESEC network includes approximately 40,000 members in 120+ countries.
The United Nations International School (UNIS) is a private international school in New York City which was established in 1947. Many members of the United Nations staff arriving with young families found unexpected difficulties with the school system in New York. Among them was K. T. Behanan and his wife, who arrived from India in May 1947 with their five-year-old son to help the UN's Trusteeship Council with educational policy. The Behanans banded together with other UN families who were in a similar situation to establish the United Nations International School at Lake Success, with Dr. Behanan as chairman of its board. The school was founded to provide an international education for students, while preserving its students' diverse cultural heritages. Today, UNIS has over 1,600 students in one campus in Manhattan, close to the Headquarters of the United Nations. The Manhattan campus, overlooking the East River, is K-12; until 2022, the school also ran a K-8 school at a campus in Jamaica Estates, Queens.
The Harvard World Model United Nations (WorldMUN) is an annual traveling model United Nations conference that is run by Harvard University and a local university team from a host city. WorldMUN moves to a new city each year and is regarded as one of the most prestigious international MUN conferences today. The Conference was first held in 1992. The Conference targets college students from all over the world who have a passion and interest to become a diplomat in the future.
The Harvard International Relations Council(HIRC) is a non-profit organization that seeks to promote awareness of international relations based out of Harvard University. As several semi-independent but centrally funded programs, the IRC focuses on a number of different outreach areas in an attempt to engage and inform people on international issues and policy-making. Programs within the IRC include:
United Nations General Assembly resolution 60/7 on Holocaust remembrance called for the establishment of a programme of outreach on the subject of the "Holocaust and the United Nations" and measures to mobilize civil society for Holocaust remembrance and education, in order to help to prevent future acts of genocide. Since its establishment by the Department of Public Information in January 2006, the Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme has developed an international network of civil society groups and a multi-faceted programme that includes: innovative online educational products, youth outreach, DVDs, seminars and training programmes, a film series, book signings, a permanent exhibit at United Nations Headquarters in New York City, and the annual worldwide observance of the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.
Catherine Pollard is a diplomat who has been serving as Under Secretary-General of the United Nations for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance since 2019. From 2015 until 2019, she was the Coordinator for Multilingualism for the United Nations; in this capacity, she also served as Under Secretary-General of the United Nations for General Assembly and Conference Management.
The United Nations Information Service at Geneva is part of a network of United Nations Information Centres across the world working to promote greater public understanding of the aims and activities of the United Nations.
The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) is a reporting service providing daily coverage on a variety of global environmental and sustainable development negotiations.
The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development (ICSD), is a nonprofit organization, founded and directed by Rabbi Yonatan Neril in 2010. Based in Jerusalem, ICSD connects religion and ecology and mobilizes faith communities to act. ICSD's director has spoken at the World Economic Forum in Davos, multiple UN climate conferences, and the Parliament of World Religions.
Geneva International Model United Nations is an entirely student-run Non Governmental Organization in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations since 2007. GIMUN is based in Geneva, Switzerland. It was created in 1999 by students of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. Its aim is to promote the ideals and principles of the United Nations by giving students a chance to participate in educative events.
I.I.M.U.N. is a youth organisation which simulates the workings of Indian Parliament and multilateral organisations. It engages students in debates about international relations, current affairs and world politics. It comprises 26,000 young organisers who put together student conferences in 220 cities and 35 countries; over 7,500 schools and 10 million students take part annually. The aim of the organisation is for Indian students between 13 and 19 to become global citizens with an Indian mindset.
TechOlympics is an information technology (IT) conference for high school students. It connects students with IT professionals and with companies in order to promote the field of IT. The conference was originally held at the Millennium Hotel from 2010–2019, until it was moved to the Great American Ball Park in 2020. The conference went virtual in 2021 and remained virtual in 2022 due to the global pandemic. In 2023, TechOlympics returned to the Great American Ball Park. The 2024 conference changed the venue again to the Procter & Gamble Global Headquarters in Cincinnati, where it will remain for TechOlympics 2025. The event is run by the INTERalliance of Greater Cincinnati, a non-profit organization seeking to empower students through a robust knowledge of IT. Colleges and other organizations are present at the event as well. Schools often attend as groups, but individual attendance is also permitted. The conference takes place over the course of one weekend, starting of Friday and going until midday Sunday. The events that take place during the conference fall into one of five categories: a Breakout, a Competition, a Workshop, a Showcase Demonstration, or a Speaker Presentation. However, there are other events that do not fit into one of these categories. Each year, the theme of the conference changes, and as such, so do the Breakouts and competitions offered, as well as the speakers presenting.
Model United Nations of the University of Chicago (MUNUC) is a high school Model UN conference hosted by the University of Chicago in downtown Chicago, Illinois.
The Paris International Model United Nations (PIMUN) is an annual model United Nations (MUN) conference taking place in Paris, France. It is run by the students of 23 Parisian universities belonging to the Paris Intercollegiate United Nations Committee (CINUP). While PIMUN organizers indicate that it was formed in 2011, some evidence links its foundation to 2008, making it the oldest MUN conference in France. The participants of the conference are university students looking to debate and negotiate about international affairs and diplomacy.
The Bratislava Model United Nations (BratMUN) conference is an annual three-day event for high-school Model United Nations students. The conference is organized and held by a diverse organizational team from the National and IB program at Gymnasium Jur Hronec. BratMUN is funded by the Novohradská Foundation and supported financially or product-wise by numerous sponsors throughout the years. It is currently in its 21st installment.
Kehkashan BasuMSM is a Canadian environmental and human rights activist from the United Arab Emirates. Basu also advocates for peace, children’s rights, education for sustainable development, nuclear disarmament, gender equality and climate justice. She is the Founder-President of Green Hope Foundation, the youngest Councillor of World Future Council, the youngest Trustee of the Parliament of the World's Religions, a KidsRights Youngsters member, and winner of the International Children's Peace Prize 2016.
The United Nations Information Center (UNIC) Tokyo, Japan, is based in Tokyo and serves as a communication arm of the United Nations. Established in April 1958, UNIC Tokyo has been operational for over 50 years, making it the only UNIC in Northeast Asia.
