Founded in New York in 1985, Friends of the United Nations is an independent, non-partisan organization dedicated to increasing awareness of the United Nations' activities. We work with educational institutions, corporations, the media and entertainment industries, and other organizations to inform and educate people about the UN's efforts on behalf of peace, human rights, the environment, children and responsible development.

Our mission is to encourage individuals to learn about the UN’s efforts and be inspired to help achieve those goals. The United Nations is a vitally important organization in today's global society and can only achieve its objectives if citizens worldwide are aware of and support its activities. 

With a geographic footprint covering Oceania, South and South East Asia, the Australian Chapter was incorporated in June 2010 as a not for profit company. 

Chairman and CEO is Lance Innes; Directors are Dr Noel Brown, former Director UNEP, and Michael McIntyre. Our Patron is former High Court of Australia Justice Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG. 

Our current primary focus is advocating and initiating action toward the Millennium Development Goals. 

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are the most broadly supported, comprehensive and specific development goals the world has ever agreed upon. These eight time-bound goals provide concrete, numerical benchmarks for tackling extreme poverty in its many dimensions. They include goals and targets on income poverty, hunger, maternal and child mortality, disease, inadequate shelter, gender inequality, environmental degradation and the Global Partnership for Development.

Adopted by world leaders in the year 2000 and set to be achieved by 2015, the MDGs are both global and local, tailored by each country to suit specific development needs. 

They provide a framework for the entire international community to work together towards a common end – making sure that human development reaches everyone, everywhere. If these goals are achieved, world poverty will be cut by half, tens of millions of lives will be saved, and billions more people will have the opportunity to benefit from the global economy.

The Greentree Project is a Friends of the United Nations  program - a part of our 'BIG PUSH 2005- 2015' Millennium Development Goals initiative. 

The Greentree Project is FOUN Australia’s participation in the global BIG PUSH initiative. It is a dynamic innovative environmental and humanitarian program: Poverty Alleviation through reforestation and sustainable agriculture. The program encompasses reforestation programs, community development, and economic empowerment through implementation of micro enterprise opportunities

The Project continues to be developed in region specific modes in association with our partners.

The program encompasses reforestation programs, community development, and economic empowerment through implementation of micro enterprise opportunities.

Lance Innes, Michael Kirby Michael McIntyre		Dr Noel Brown, Lance Innes