Nineteenth Session of the Committee on Environmental Policy

22 - 25 October 2013

Palais des Nations Geneva Switzerland

The 19th session of the UNECE Committee on Environmental Policy (CEP) was held in Geneva from 22 to 25 October 2013. Meeting documents are available in the table below.

The session focused on:

-> electing the CEP Bureau

-> considering the outcomes of the 65th session of the Economic Commission for Europe of relevance to CEP, including the outcome of the review of the 2005 UNECE reform

-> carrying out the "Environment for Europe" mid-term review of the Astana Conference main outcomes, including on (a) joining and implementing the relevant multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs); (b) implementing the Astana Water Action; (c) promoting a green economy in the region and the Green Bridge Partnership Programme; (d) conducting a third cycle of environmental performance reviews (EPRs); (e) establishing a regular process of environmental assessment and developing a Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS); and (f) continuing the work of the Environmental Action Programme Task Force (EAP Task Force) and strengthening the work of the Regional Environmental Centres (RECs)

-> commencing the discussion on the preparation of the next "Environment for Europe" Ministerial Conference

-> reviewing the environmental performance of Croatia, the Republic of Moldova and Morocco

-> deciding on the work related to environmental monitoring, assessment and reporting

-> considering the issue of strengthening national implementation and compliance of UNECE MEAs

-> considering the progress of work in a number of cross-cutting activities, such as: (a) education for sustainable development; (b) Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme; (c) environment and security; (d) European Environment and Health process; and (e) green building

-> deciding on the programme of work for 2014-2015 of the Environment subprogramme and other related issues, including (a) review of programme performance in the biennium 2012-2013; (b) resource requirements and criteria for financial support; and (c) publications in the biennium 2014-2015

-> deciding on the CEP rules of procedure

-> deciding on the calendar of CEP meetings 2014-2016.

Three side events were organised on the margins of the 19th session of CEP. The programmes of the side events are available in the table below.

CEP-19 documents

Post-session documents
Decision [by ECE Executive Committee] approving the programme of work for the Environment subprogramme for the biennium 2014-2015 and the establishment, mandate and terms of reference of the Group of Friends of SEIS (ECE/EX/11)	ENG	FRE	RUS
Report of the meeting (ECE/CEP/2013/2)	ENG	FRE	RUS
List of participants (as at 31 October 2013)	ENG	---	---
Pre-session documents
Item 1. Opening of the meeting and adoption of the agenda
Provisional annotated agenda for the nineteenth session of CEP ECE/CEP/2013/1	ENG	FRE	RUS
Provisional organization of work of the nineteenth session of CEP Information paper No.1/Rev.1	ENG	---	---
Item 2. Election of officers
The CEP Bureau Information paper No.11 and Information paper No.11/Rev.1	ENG/ ENG	---	---
Item 3. Outcomes of the work of the CEP Bureau
Outcomes of the work of the CEP Bureau in the period of April 2012–June 2013 ECE/CEP/2013/22	ENG	FRE	RUS
Item 4. Outcomes of the 65th session of the ECE of relevance to CEP
Outcome of the review of the 2005 ECE reform Excerpt from the ECE Biennial Report (as adopted by the ECE-65 on 9-11 April 2013)	ENG	FRE	RUS
Summaries of discussions on follow-up to Rio+20 and the post-2015 development agenda Excerpt from the ECE Biennial Report	ENG	FRE	RUS
ECE Biennial Report (1 April 2011-11 April 2013) E/ECE/1464	ENG	FRE	RUS
Item 5. Multilateral environmental agreements: strengthening national implementation and compliance
Informal meeting of representatives of the governing bodies of ECE MEAs and CEP (link to the webpage presenting the outcomes of the three informal meetings held thus far)	ENG	---	---
Presentations will be made by representatives of MEAs	---	---	---
Item 6. The "Environment for Europe" mid-term review of the Astana Conference main outcomes
(a) Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)
Assisting countries in joining and implementing the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe multilateral environmental agreements ECE/CEP/2013/8	ENG	FRE	RUS
(b) Astana Water Action
Implementation of the Astana Water Action: fostering progress towards improved water management ECE/CEP/2013/9	ENG	FRE	RUS
Questionnaire to review progress in implementing the Astana Water Action (as circulated to the AWA stakeholders)	ENG	---	---
(c) Greening the economy
Greening the economy in the pan-European region: progress and future prospects ECE/CEP/2013/10	ENG	FRE	RUS
(d) Environmental performance reviews (EPRs)
Environmental performance reviews: progress made in preparation for the third cycle ECE/CEP/2013/12	ENG	FRE	RUS
(e) Environmental assessment and reporting
A review of Shared Environment Information System-related developments with an impact on environmental assessment and reporting since the Seventh “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conference ECE/CEP/2013/18	ENG	FRE	RUS
Outline on the establishment of a regular assessment and reporting process underpinned by the gradual development of a Shared Environment Information System ECE/CEP/2013/15	ENG	FRE	RUS
Input by the “Environment for Europe” partners into the gradual development of a Shared Environment Information System ECE/CEP/2013/13	ENG	---	RUS
Proposed coordination mechanism for the development of the Shared Environmental Information System ECE/CEP/2013/23	ENG	FRE	RUS
Terms of reference of "Friends of SEIS" group (as approved by CEP on 25 October 2013; will be annexed to the report of CEP-19)	ENG	---	---
Side event "SEIS in practice and the way forward in the pan-European region" Programme of the side-event	ENG	---	RUS
(f) Work of the EAP Task Force and the RECs
Progress since the Seventh “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conference within the framework of the Environmental Action Programme Task Force: promoting better policies and tools for water resources management and green growth ECE/CEP/2013/19	ENG	FRE	RUS
Regional Environmental Centres: promoting green economy and governance for sustainability ECE/CEP/2013/14	ENG	---	RUS
(g) Main findings of the review
Results of the survey on the promotion of the “Environment for Europe” process and the outcomes of its ministerial conferences ECE/CEP/2013/21 and Corrigendum 1	ENG/ ENG	FRE	RUS
Compilation of comments included in the responses to the survey on the promotion of the “Environment for Europe” process and the outcomes of its ministerial conferences Information paper No.13/Rev.2 (in PDF and Word format)	ENG ENG	---	---
Survey on the promotion of the “Environment for Europe” process and the outcomes of its ministerial conferences (As circulated by email to CEP on 3 June 2013. The Russian version of the document is an unofficial translation and includes only the part V. Survey, starting on page 5. For convenience, the official Russian version of the EfE Reform Plan is provided in the annex. The responses received will be posted in this table under a separate tab)	ENG	---	RUS
Item 7. The Eighth "Environment for Europe" Ministerial Conference
Requirements for hosting the Eighth “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conference ECE/CEP/2013/16	ENG	FRE	RUS
Proposed framework for preparing the Eighth "Environment for Europe" Ministerial Conference ECE/CEP/2013/17	ENG	---	---
Implementing the UNECE Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development post 2015 Information paper No. 3	ENG	--	--
Item 8. Environmental Performance Review (EPR) Programme
Second EPR of Croatia Information paper No.4	ENG	---	---
Third EPR of the Republic of Moldova Information paper No.5	ENG	---	---
EPR of Morocco Information paper No.6	ENG	FRE	---
Item 9. Environmental monitoring, assessment and reporting
Guidelines for developing national strategies to use biodiversity monitoring as an environmental policy tool for countries of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, as well as interested South-Easter European countries ECE/CEP/2013/7	ENG	---	RUS
Report of WGEMA on its thirteenth session, November 2012 ECE/CEP/AC.10/2012/2	ENG	FRE	RUS
Report of Joint Task Force on Environmental Indicators (JTFEI) on its fifth session, July 2012 ECE/CEP-CES/GE.1/2012/5	ENG	---	RUS
Report of JTFEI on its sixth session, October-November 2012 ECE/CEP-CES/GE.1/2012/10	ENG	---	RUS
Item 10. Cross-sectoral activities
(a) Education for sustainable development (ESD)
Report of the Steering Committee on ESD on its eighth meeting, March 2013 ECE/CEP/AC.13/2013/2	ENG	FRE	RUS
(b) Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme (THE PEP)
Report of the Steering Committee of THE PEP on its tenth session, November 2012 ECE/AC.21/SC/2012/9 - EUDCE1206040/1.9/SC10/9	ENG	FRE	RUS
(c) Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC)
Overview of ongoing contributions by the UNECE to ENVSEC Information paper No.7/Rev.1	ENG	---	---
(d) Environment and Health process
Report of the European Environment and Health Ministerial Board (EHMB) to the WHO Regional Committee for Europe and to CEP EUR/RC63/10	ENG	FRE	RUS
Report on the European Environment and Health Process Background document	ENG	---	RUS
63 session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe: membership of WHO bodies and committees EUR/RC63/7 Rev.1	ENG	FRE	RUS
63rd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe: resolution on governance EUR/RC63/R7	ENG	FRE	RUS
63 session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe: draft report of the session EUR/RC63/REP	ENG	FRE	RUS
(e) Green building
Presentation by the UNECE secretariat	---	---	---
Item 11. Programme of work
Draft Strategic Framework 2016-2017: Environment subprogramme Information paper No.12/Rev.1	ENG	---	---
(a) Review of programme performance in the biennium 2012-2013
Biennial evaluation report of the Environment subprogramme for 2012–2013 ECE/CEP/2013/5	ENG	FRE	RUS
(b) Work in the biennium 2014-2015
Programme of work of the Environment subprogramme for the biennium 2014-2015 ECE/CEP/2013/3	ENG	FRE	RUS
Biennial evaluation plan of the Environment subprogramme for 2014–2015 ECE/CEP/2013/4	ENG	FRE	RUS
(c) Publications for the biennium 2014-2015
List of publications of the Environment subprogramme for 2014–2015 ECE/CEP/2013/6	ENG	FRE	RUS
(d) Resource requirements and criteria for financial support
Overview of resources for activities relating to the Environment subprogramme Information paper No.8	ENG	---	---
Assessment of criteria for providing financial support for participation in meetings and events ECE/CEP/2013/20	ENG	FRE	RUS
Criteria for financial support for participating in meetings and events for 2014 Information paper No.9	ENG	---	---
(e) Mainstreaming a gender perspective into environmental activities
Presentation by the UNECE secretariat	---	---	---
Item 12. Rules of procedure of CEP
Draft rules of procedure of the Committee on Environmental Policy ECE/CEP/2013/L.1	ENG	FRE	RUS
Item 13. Calendar of meetings
Proposed schedule of meetings of CEP and its Bureau for the period of 2014-2016 Information paper No.10	ENG	---	---
Item 14. Other business
Presentation by Sweden of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC)	---	---	---
AOB that may be brought to the attention of CEP	---	---	---
Item 15. Closure of the meeting
List of CEP-19 decisions In-session paper (as approved by CEP on 25 October 2013)	ENG	---	---
Side events on the margins of the 19th session of CEP
SEIS in practice and the way forward in the pan-European region Programme of the side-event (Wednesday, 23 October 2013, 1.15-2.45 p.m., salle XII, organized by EEA)	ENG	---	RUS
Briefing on the First Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly of UNEP Programme of the side event (Thursday, 24 October 2013, 1.15-2.45 p.m., salle XII, organized by UNEP)	ENG	---	---
UNEP's contribution to the post-2015 development agenda and update on the implementation of the 10 Years Framework of Programmes for SCP Programme of the side event (Friday, 25 October 2013, 1.15-2.45 p.m., salle XII, organized by UNEP)	ENG	---	---

EfE survey

Responses received from Governments and other Environment for Europe stakeholders (the responses below are posted in the way they were received from their author)
Austria	ENG	---	---
Azerbaijan	ENG	---	---
Belarus	---	---	RUS
Belgium	ENG	---	---
Bulgaria	ENG	---	---
Croatia	ENG	---	---
Czech Republic	ENG	---	---
Finland	ENG	---	---
France	ENG	---	---
Georgia	ENG	---	---
Germany	ENG	---	---
Greece	ENG	---	---
Hungary	ENG	---	---
Israel	ENG	---	---
Italy	ENG	---	---
Kazakhstan	---	---	RUS
Kyrgyzstan	---	---	RUS
Republic of Moldova	---	---	RUS
Monaco	ENG	---	---
Netherlands	ENG	---	---
Norway	ENG	---	---
Poland	ENG	---	---
Romania	ENG	---	---
Slovakia	ENG	---	---
Slovenia	ENG	---	---
Sweden	ENG	---	---
Switzerland	ENG	---	---
Ukraine	ENG	---	---
United States of America	ENG	---	---
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)	ENG	---	---
European Environment Agency (EEA)	ENG	---	---
Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (Kazakhstan)	ENG	---	---
BIOTICA Ecological Society (Republic of Moldova)	ENG	---	---
Eco-Accord (Russian Federation)	ENG	---	---
International Environmental Association of River Keepers (Eco-TIRAS) (Republic of Moldova)	ENG	---	---
European ECO-Forum/ European Environmental Bureau (Belgium)	ENG	---	---
Green Liberty (Latvia)	ENG	---	---
Friends of Siberian Forests (Russian Federation)	---	---	RUS
Society for Sustainable Development (Czech Republic)	ENG	---	---
Union “Mountain Club ‘Zhabagly-Manas’” (Kazakhstan)	---	---	RUS

AWA survey

Responses received from AWA stakeholders (the responses below are posted in the way they were received from their author)
Austria	ENG	---	---
Bosnia and Herzegovina	ENG	---	---
Bulgaria	ENG	---	---
Croatia	ENG	---	---
Czech Republic	ENG ENG ENG ENG ENG ENG ENG ENG	---	---
Estonia	ENG	---	---
Georgia	ENG	---	---
Germany	ENG ENG ENG	---	---
Hungary	ENG ENG ENG ENG ENG	---	---
Italy	ENG ENG ENG	---	---
Portugal	ENG ENG ENG	---	---
Republic of Moldova	ENG	---	---
Romania	ENG ENG	---	---
Serbia	ENG ENG ENG	---	---
Switzerland	ENG	---	---
United States of America	ENG ENG	---	---
UNECE	ENG ENG ENG	---	---
OECD	ENG	---	---
Eco-TIRAS	ENG	---	---
INBO	ENG ENG	---	---

Presentations

Presentations made at the 19th session of the Committee on Environmental Policy
Item 1. Opening of the meeting and adoption of the agenda
Opening statement by the Executive Secretary of UNECE	ENG	---	---
Items 5&6(a). Multilateral environmental agreements: strengthening national implementation and compliance; & the “Environment for Europe” mid-term review of the Astana Conference main outcomes: multilateral environmental agreements
Towards enhanced cooperation of UNECE MEAs made jointly by the Chair of the Bureau of the Industrial Accidents Convention & by the Chair of the Meeting of the Parties to the PRTR Protocol	ENG	---	---
Assisting countries in joining and implementing the UNECE multilateral environmental agreements by the UNECE secretariat	ENG	---	---
MEAs’ activities related to strengthening national implementation and compliance made jointly by the Chairs of UNECE MEAs and the secretariat	ENG	---	---
Item 6(b). “Environment for Europe” mid-term review of the Astana Conference main outcomes: Astana Water Action
Implementation of the Astana Water Action: fostering progress towards improved water management by the UNECE secretariat	ENG	---	---
Implementation of the Astana Water Action by Switzerland	ENG	---	---
Implementation of the Astana Water Action by the Republic of Moldova	---	---	RUS
Implementation of the Astana Water Action by Estonia	ENG	---	---
Implementation of the Astana Water Action by Serbia	ENG	---	---
Implementation of the Astana Water Action by the International Network for Basin Organizations (INBO)	ENG	---	---
Item 6(c). “Environment for Europe” mid-term review of the Astana Conference main outcomes: Greening the economy
Greening the economy in the pan-European region: progress and future prospects made jointly by UNEP and UNECE secretariats	ENG	---	---
Greening the economy by France	---	FRE/ FRE	---
Greening the economy by Georgia	ENG	---	---
Greening the economy: Green Bridge Partnership Programme by Kazakhstan	ENG	---	---
Greening the economy by the European ECO Forum	ENG	---	---
Item 6(d). “Environment for Europe” mid-term review of the Astana Conference main outcomes: Environmental Performance Reviews
Environmental performance reviews: progress made in preparation for the third cycle by the UNECE secretariat	ENG	---	---
Item 6(e). Environmental Assessment and Reporting
A review of Shared Environment Information System-related developments with an impact on environmental assessment and reporting since the Seventh “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conference by EEA	ENG	---	RUS
Item 6(f). “Environment for Europe” mid-term review of the Astana Conference main outcomes: Work of the EAP Task Force and the RECs
Progress since the Seventh “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conference within the framework of the Environmental Action Programme Task Force: promoting better policies and tools for water resources management and green growth by the OECD secretariat of the EAP Task Force	ENG	---	---
Regional Environmental Centres: promoting green economy and governance for sustainability by the REC for Central and Eastern Europe	ENG	---	---
Item 10(a). Cross-sectoral activities: education for sustainable development
Progress of work under the UNECE Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development by the UNECE secretariat	ENG	---	---
Item 10(b). Cross-sectoral activities: Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme (THE PEP)
THE PEP 2013 and towards the 4th High-Level Meeting by the Chair of THE PEP Steering Committee	ENG	---	RUS
Item 10(c). Cross-sectoral activities: Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC)
UNECE Activities in the framework of ENVSEC by the UNECE secretariat	ENG	---	---
Item 11(e). Programme of work: mainstreaming a gender perspective into environmental activities
Mainstreaming gender in environmental activities of UNECE: strategies and good practices by the UNECE secretariat	ENG	---	---

SEIS side event

SEIS in practice and the way forward in the pan-European region (Wednesday, 23 October 2013, 1.15-2.45 p.m., salle XII, organized by EEA)
Programme	ENG	---	RUS
SEIS cookbook	ENG	---	RUS
Georgia	ENG	---	RUS
Kyrgyzstan	ENG	---	RUS
Republic of Moldova	ENG	---	---
The former Republic of Macedonia	ENG	---	RUS

Nineteenth Session of the Committee on Environmental Policy

Nineteenth Session of the Committee on Environmental Policy

CEP-19 documents

Other documents relevant for the meeting

EfE survey

AWA survey

Presentations

SEIS side event

Follow UNECE

Report of CEP-18 ECE/CEP/2012/2 (Geneva, 17-20 April 2012)	ENG	FRE	RUS
Preparation of the "Environment for Europe" mid-term review ECE/CEP/2012/5	ENG	FRE	RUS
The Reform Plan of the "Environment for Europe" process Excerpt from the Report of the CEP on its special session (Geneva, 27-29 January 2009; ECE/CEP/S/152 and corrigendum 1)	ENG	FRE	RUS
Astana Ministerial Declaration ECE/ASTANA.CONF/2011/2/Add.1	ENG	FRE	RUS
Chair's summary of the Astana Conference ECE/ASTANA.CONF/2011/2/Add.2	ENG	FRE	RUS
Report of the Astana Conference ECE/ASTANA.CONF/2011/2	ENG	FRE	RUS
Environmental Performance Review Programme: third cycle of reviews ECE/CEP/S/2011/3	ENG	FRE	RUS
Europe's Environment Assessment of Assessments: summary ECE/ASTANA.CONF/2011/8	ENG	FRE	RUS
Europe's Environment Assessment of Assessments: full report	ENG	---	RUS
Sustainable management of water and water-related ecosystems ECE/ASTANA.CONF/2011/3	ENG	FRE	RUS
Astana Water Action ECE/ASTANA.CONF/2011/5	ENG	FRE	RUS
Astana Water Action: actions by countries and organisations ECE/ASTANA.CONF/2011/INF/40/Rev.1 (as of 26 April 2013)	ENG	---	---
Second Assessment of Transboundary Rivers, Lakes and Groundwaters in the UNECE region: summary ECE/ASTANA.CONF/2011/9	ENG	---	RUS
Second Assessment of Transboundary Rivers, Lakes and Groundwaters in the UNECE region: full report ECE/MP.WAT/33	ENG	---	RUS
Greening the economy within the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication E/ECE/RPM/2011/4	ENG	FRE	RUS
Greening the economy: mainstreaming the environment into economic development ECE/ASTANA.CONF/2011/4	ENG	FRE	RUS
"Green Bridge" Partnership Programme ECE/ASTANA.CONF/2011/6	ENG	---	RUS
Astana “Green Bridge” Initiative E/ESCAP/MCED(6)/13	ENG	---	RUS
Transitioning to a green economy: the role of education for sustainable development E/ECE/RPM/2011/5	ENG	FRE	RUS
Co-Chairs' summary of the Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Rio+20 Conference E/ECE/RPM/2011/2/Add.1	ENG	FRE	RUS
Outome of the Rio+20 Conference A/RES/66/288	ENG	FRE	RUS