The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was approved by the General Assembly and established as the official entity concerned with environmental issues in 1972. UNEP is the advocate, educator, facilitator and catalyst in promoting environmentally friendly practices and policies in the United Nations. UNEP is concerned about the negative impacts other UN missions have on the environment and ensures international, regional and local coordination to tackle these. UNEP does this by promoting environmental cooperation, assisting in the establishment of environmental policies, highlighting environmental related issues, facilitating the transfer of scientific research and understanding, assisting member states in environmental matters, and by allocating its main source of finance, known as the Environmental Fund. UNEP reports to the Economic and Social Councils as well as the General Assembly. In today’s world, environmental issues are more threatening than ever before. UNEP is in charge of compressing these issues and protecting the environment.