This report outlines findings from a UNEP study that, with support from the Government of Switzerland, has catalogued and analyzed existing Global Environmental Goals contained in the international agreements and conventions. It asks the fundamental question as to why the aims and goals of these policy instruments have often fallen far short of their original ambition and intentions. One possible reason is that many of the goals are simply not specific enoughthe few goals that are specific and measurable appear to have a much better record of success.