Poor data, weak agencies hamstring U.N. environmental oversight

UNITED NATIONS -- The global environmental management system is in disarray.

Little is known about some basic indicators about the health of ecosystems because of a lack of standardized environmental statistics and incomplete information, U.N. insiders and independent auditors say. And even if its statistics were solid, they say, the United Nations' ability to act on them is not.

With the need for data growing as governments gird to battle global warming, revitalize agriculture in developing countries, provide safe drinking water and devise schemes to protect and rebuild depleted fisheries, information-gathering is getting worse, according to several interviews and audit reports.