This is the fifth in the series of annual reports linked to the UNEP Global Environment Outlook which seeks to bridge the gap between science and policy by reviewing major global and regional environmental issues and policy developments during the year 2006. The UNEP Year Book 2008 highlights the increasing complexity and interconnections of climate change, ecosystem integrity, human well-being, and economic development. It examines the emergence and influence of economic mechanisms and market driven approaches for addressing environmental degradation. It describes recent research findings and policy decisions that affect our awareness of and response to changes in our global environment. In three sections, the UNEP Year Book 2008 focuses on recent environmental events, developments, and scientific findings

UNEP Year Book 2009: New Science and Developments in our Changing Environment presents work in progress on scientific understanding of global environmental change, as well as foresight about possible issues on the horizon. The aim is to raise awareness of the interlinkages among environmental issues that can accelerate the rates of change and threaten human wellbeing. The chapters of the Year Book track the same trajectory as our awareness of environmental change. Transformations are inherent to this trajectory and are taking place on many fronts: from industrial agriculture to eco-agriculture; from a wasteful society towards a resource efficient one; and from a triad of competing interests among civil society, the private sector, and governments to a more cooperative model based on mutual benefits.

The UNEP Year Book 2010 is essential, informative and authoritative reading and reports on new environmental science plus recent developments in our changing environment. It looks at progress in environmental governance: the effects of continuing degradation and loss of the world's ecosystems; impacts of climate change; how harmful substances and hazardous waste effect human health and the environment; environmentally related disasters and conflicts; and unsustainable use of resources. Water is a recurrent theme in this seventh edition. Each chapter considers water-related environmental changes, together with a number of challenges and opportunites.

Overview of major global and regional environmental issues and development that shaped policy decisions and actions during the course of the year; Emerging challenges--new findings presenting scientific progress made in the year that may assist society in recognizing and better understanding emerging environmental issues and help decision makers in designing adequate responses; GEO indicators highlighting some of the key global and regional environmental issues and trends that have been identified in GEO reports.

Overview of major global and regional environmental issues and development that shaped policy decisions and actions during the course of the year; Emerging challenges--new findings presenting scientific progress made in the year that may assist society in recognizing and better understanding emerging environmental issues and help decision makers in designing adequate responses; GEO indicators highlighting some of the key global and regional environmental issues and trends that have been identified in GEO reports.

This summary of UNEP's activities in 2008 provides an overview of the organization's contribution to the fight against climate change in a year in which unequivocal evidence established that global warming is the defining challenge of our era. The report also looks at the broad range of other activities carried out by UNEP as it follows its mandate to provide environmental leadership and promote sustainable development.