This is the first comprehensive report on the state of Africa's environment and its progress towards sustainable development. Produced by the UNEP in collaboration with the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), the report looks at environmental developments during 1972-2002, and considers the outlook for the next 30 years. It uses integrated environmental assessment reporting methods similar to those used for the Global Environment Outlook (ISBN 9280720872). The report seeks to set environmental concerns within the overall context of the continent's socio-economic conditions and development needs, in order to inform regional and national policy-making processes, as well as international agreements. Africa faces a number of critical challenges, such as the impact of globalisation and demographic changes, and the report highlights the fact that poverty is inextricably linked to environmental concerns.