The Global Environment Outlook (GEO) is often referred to as United Nations Environment Programme’s flagship environmental assessment as it fulfills the core functions of the organization which date back to the United Nations General Assembly resolution that established the United Nations Environment Programme in 1972. These core functions include: • Keeping the world environmental situation under review in order to ensure that emerging environmental problems of wide international significance receive appropriate and adequate consideration by Governments; • Promoting the contribution of the relevant international scientific and other professional communities to the acquisition, assessment and exchange of environmental knowledge and information and, as appropriate, to the technical aspects of the formulation and implementation of environmental programmes within the UN system. • Maintaining under continuing review the impact of national and international environmental policies and measures on developing countries, as well as the problem of additional costs that may be incurred by developing countries in the implementation of environmental programmes and projects, and to ensure that such programmes and projects shall be compatible with the development plans and priorities of those countries.