Skip to main content

Press Releases

Displaying Results 1 - 25 of 409

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 these
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
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 come
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
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 high-
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
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 27
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
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
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
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.   According to
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.  Jointly
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-Mauritania
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
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 the
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
The UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, is visiting Bangkok from 30 October to 6 November 2024. During his visit, he will meet with the Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, key government officials, representatives of the international community, private, and public
Nearly 100 countries gathered in Ljubljana for the 10th session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP10) to the Water Convention (23-25 October), organized by UNECE in cooperation with the Government of Slovenia, to discuss how the Convention can help advance transboundary cooperation and increase
Transport plays a crucial role in society and in the economy, enabling access to jobs, services and people, while driving trade and tourism. However, it also brings significant socioeconomic, environmental and health challenges. In most countries, public policies at all levels do not deal with
More than 450 government officials, civil society representatives, youth leaders, academics, UN officials, and regional organizations from 56 UNECE Member States gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, on 21-22 October 2024 for the landmark Beijing+30 Regional Review Meeting. Held every five years, this
Amid floods in Central and Eastern Europe and droughts in Southern Africa, governments are turning to the UN Water Convention to help jointly address water-related impacts of the climate crisis. The surge in extreme weather events underscores the urgent need to strengthen climate resilience through
In the past five years, the confluence of different crises has negatively affected the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action on gender equality throughout the UNECE region. The COVID-19 pandemic, escalating climate emergency, eruptions of armed conflict and
Renault Group and the United Nations, via the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), have entered into a two-year strategic partnership agreement to support the work of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt.  With this partnership, Renault Group has become
For International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (13 October), UNECE warns that climate change and the energy transition are increasing the likelihood of catastrophic accidents linked to industrial and technological facilities such as chemical plants, battery factories, mining sites and energy
A new United Nations Regulation on Driver Control Assistance Systems (DCAS), adopted by the UNECE World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) at its session in March 2024, has entered into force.  Regulation No. 171 defines DCAS as systems which assist the driver in