The contentious issues of governance of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) was resolved at the resumed 19th session of the Governing Council which ended in the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, on April 4. Delegates agreed to set up a high-level committee of ministers and officials in charge of environment as a subsidiary body of the Council.

The proposed committee will be empowered to consider international environmental agenda and to make recommendations, regarding reforms and policies to the Council. It will also enhance UNEP's collaboration and cooperation with other adequate financial resources for UNEP. The new committee will consist of 36 members who will be elected every two years from among members of the UN and its specialised agencies.

The session which began on January 27, was temporarily adjourned on February 7 after members failed to agree on the question of governance. The next session of the Governing Council will be held in May 1999. A special session will also be held sometime in November 1997 to review the results of the forthcoming Earth Summit +5 at the UN headquarters in New York from June 23-27.