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Volta basin

UN Water Convention supports climate change adaptation and cooperation in shared basins through 101 joint institutions

Parties to the UN Water Convention work together through 101 joint bodies for transboundary water cooperation, including 58 bilateral and 25 basin commissions. These joint institutions drive cooperation and strengthen resilience in shared basins by working on data exchange (in 90% of…

Filling in water

Pan-European countries launch the Equitable Access Score-card 2.0 – a tool to shape future water and sanitation policies and realize the human rights to water and sanitation

The equitable provision of water and sanitation services is now more critical than ever in the face of increased frequency of extreme weather events, natural disasters, public health crises, and economic pressures. Ensuring that all individuals, especially the most vulnerable, have access to…

Energy infrastructure

Parties to Espoo Convention and its Protocol adopt declaration stressing the key role of both treaties in accelerating the sustainable energy transition and the SDGs

After a year-long deferral, the Parties to the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment (the Espoo Convention) and its Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (the Protocol on SEA) have again met at the resumed sessions of the Meetings of the Parties to the Espoo Convention and the…

Air Convention Executive Body meeting - 45th anniversary

In times of tension, look to 45 years of cooperation for clean air

As temperatures in the Northern hemisphere plunge and geopolitical relations continue to fracture and freeze, winter is also when air pollution is at its worst. But faced with complex environmental crises and tensions between countries, history can show us that the international community can…

Ore containing critical minerals

UN and EU collaborate to align critical minerals governance with global principles

With demand for minerals critical to renewable energy technologies expected to almost triple by 2030, global and regional leaders gathered at the EU Raw Materials Week 2024 to address the critical challenge governing mineral resources essential for the energy transition. In a key session, UN…

ES at One Water Summit

Transboundary water cooperation takes centre stage at One Water Summit, showcasing UN Water Convention 

The One Water Summit, held in Riyadh on 3 December 2024 and co-organized by France, Kazakhstan, and the World Bank, in partnership with Saudi Arabia, brought together leaders and experts to address global water challenges. Transboundary water cooperation emerged as a key theme throughout the…

Wind turbines

UN Regional Commissions call for urgent and equitable energy transition at 13th International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development

At the close of the Thirteenth International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development, the United Nations Regional Commissions (UNRCs) issued a unified call for accelerated global action to achieve an equitable and sustainable energy future. Convened in Bangkok, the Forum brought together…

CoP-13 TEIA

UNECE Industrial Accidents Convention’s CoP-13 Marks 20 Years of Assistance and Cooperation for transition economies and strengthens support for member States  

Countries from across the pan-European region have reaffirmed the need for multilateral cooperation to address major and emerging industrial safety challenges at  the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UNECE Industrial Accidents Convention (CoP-13), held in Geneva on…

Aerial view of wind turbine and solar panels

Energy transition safety gaps prompt states to step up work on industrial accidents risks 

In response to rising risks of accidents as the scale and scope of industrial activities increases to meet the demands of the energy transition, governments from across the pan-European region have decided to strengthen cooperation to ensure safety by expanding work under the UNECE Convention on…

SPECA Economic Forum in Dushanbe

Central Asian countries adopt Dushanbe Declaration to advance green development and internationally agreed goals

Representatives of Central Asian countries today acknowledged the urgent need for regional cooperation in green development and committed to strengthen collaboration across critical sectors, including energy, trade digitalization, trade integration, trade facilitation, investment promotion, SME…

View of Banc d'Arguin National Park, Mauritania

La Mauritanie doit encore progresser vers une gestion environnementale plus efficace, et faire des efforts accrus dans la gestion durable des pêches, de l’énergie et des activités minières

L’intégration du changement climatique dans toutes les politiques publiques ; l’amélioration du système d’information sur l’environnement, de la conformité, de la surveillance des eaux de surface et souterraines et de la biodiversité ; l’application de la loi en matière de gestion de l’…

View of Banc d'Arguin National Park, Mauritania

Mauritania must progress towards more effective environmental management including for fisheries, energy and mining activities

Integrating climate change into all public policies; improving the environmental information system, compliance, surface and groundwater monitoring and biodiversity; enforcing the law on environmental, waste and chemicals management; and stepping up efforts for the sustainable management of…

UNECE Executive Secretary at COP29

COP29: UNECE advocates for energy transition financing, environmental cooperation, decarbonization of transport, and local climate action 

The acceleration and financing of energy transition, enhancing international cooperation in environmental protection, decarbonization of all modes of transport, and advancing climate action at the local and regional level were in the focus of UNECE’s engagements at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The…

All transport modes

At COP29, UNECE ICAO and IMO join forces to decarbonize transport

Transport has traditionally propelled economic growth and connected nations. Yet, as a formidable contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for nearly a quarter of energy-related emissions worldwide, the transport sector now finds itself at a crossroads.  

Port of Aktau Kazakhstan

COP29 ministerial roundtable advances cooperation to promote a sustainable and digital Middle Corridor

A ministerial roundtable held at COP29 today aimed to strengthen regional cooperation to promote sustainable development and digitalization, interoperability and climate action in the Middle Corridor, linking Europe and Asia via the Caspian Sea, and other international corridors. 

BASM Ministerial meeting MOP10

Ministers advance joint efforts on Regional Transboundary Cooperation Initiative for the Senegal-Mauritania Aquifer Basin

On the sidelines of the Tenth Session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention (MOP 10), ministers responsible for water resources in The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Senegal convened to take a significant step toward enhancing regional cooperation over the Senegal-…

BASM Ministerial meeting MOP10

Les ministres font avancer le dialogue sur l’initiative régionale de coopération transfrontière sur le bassin aquifère sénégalo-mauritanien 

En marge de la dixième session de la Réunion des Parties à la Convention sur l'Eau (MOP 10) en Slovénie, les ministres en charge de l’eau des quatre États (Gambie, Guinée-Bissau, Mauritanie et Sénégal) partageant le Bassin aquifère sénégalo-mauritanien (BASM) ont franchi une étape décisive dans…

AZ EPR mission

Azerbaijan must further progress towards implementing low-carbon strategies, reducing pollution and improving waste management, highlights UNECE report  

Over the past 13 years, Azerbaijan has taken important steps in improving its environmental performance, in particular in strengthening its policy framework, developing protected areas and establishing a Commission on Water Management. However, a number of key issues remain to be addressed…

Mountains and lake in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan recognizes need for enabling policies and frameworks for adaptation in mountainous and climate-vulnerable areas in UNECE Environmental Performance Review

The third Environmental Performance Review (EPR) of Kyrgyzstan, undertaken by UNECE, will support the government to strengthen climate action and address pressing environmental challenges, including in mountainous areas. 

The main findings of the EPR were presented by UNECE and…

Southern Kazakhstan

COP29 ushers in the SPECA Multi-Partner Trust Fund and SPECA Climate and Innovation Dialogue

A high-level meeting at COP29, co-organized by the COP29 Presidency, Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, UNECE and UNESCAP, saw the introduction of the SPECA Multi-Partner Trust Fund, while high-level representatives of SPECA participating States of the United Nations Special Programme for the…