Seminar paper from the year 2017 in the subject Social Studies (General), grade: 1,3, University of Hannover, language: English, abstract: This paper argues that the United Nations have played an essential role in the global institutionalisation of environmental protection measures and are still of great importance in this regard. To investigate this thesis, the sociological theoretical framework is going to be outlined in chapter 2. Chapter 2.1 deals with the basic assumption of Frank, Hironka and Schofer. Afterewards, in chapter 2.2 and 2.3, two relevant sociological concepts are going to be presented: norms and institutionalisation. In relation to the thesis, this is going to be brought together in chapter 2.4, which describes the institutionalisation of global norms. In chapter 3, the role of the United Nations is going to be presented. After briefly introducing the UN in chapter 3.1, the Charter of the United Nations - which is the founding document - is going to be analysed for hints to environmental protection in chapter 3.2. Chapter 3.3 describes the main outcomes of the United Nations Conference on the Human environment which took place in 1972. In chapter 3.4, the United Nations Environment Programme is going to be presented. Chapter 3.5 deals with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, while chapter 3.6 is concerned with the related COP 21 and the Paris Agreement. Additionally, the United Nations Development Goals are important in this context and are going to be outlined in chapter 3.7, such as the United Nations International Year, presented in chapter 3.8. Finally, the conclusion summarizes the results in regard to the thesis.