UNFPA recognized long ago the importance of creating awareness of the critical issues of population, environment and resources and has sought to do so through publications, sponsorship of and participation in conferences and symposia, and support for certain activities of specialized organizations.

UNFPA’s 1988 State of World Population report, "Safeguarding the Future," for example, focused on the connected themes of population, environment and resources. This report gave rise to symposia in various countries, some of which were sponsored by UNFPA.

The cultivation of greater awareness of the issues involved is also carried out through other publications such as UNFPA’s quarterly journal POPULI.

UNFPA’s Global Programme of Training in Population and Development, undertaken in conjunction with institutions of learning in four countries, has increasingly integrated environmental concerns into its curricula.