Multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) are the preeminent legal method for addressing transboundary environmental problems. However, rapid proliferation of MEAs (totaling over 300 agreements) with complex reporting and compliance procedures has severely burdened the meagre financial, technical and human resource capacities of developing states.

Despite the obvious need for capacity building in international environmental law, there has been a dearth of comprehensive and intensive programmes in this realm. Realizing this gap, UNITAR has launched a Fellowship Programme on International and Comparative Environmental Law.