Press Releases
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Ecosystems such as forests, heaths and surface waters are more sensitive to atmospheric nitrogen pollution than previously thought, according to a new report published by the Coordination Centre for Effects under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (Air Convention).
Without scaled-up efforts to finance and sustainably manage the Critical Raw Materials needed for a rapid renewables and clean energy shift, countries of the pan-European region and North America will face huge challenges to deliver on the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals, the
UNECE Executive Secretary Olga Algayerova took part in a panel discussion at the Russian Energy Week today aimed at fostering international cooperation on hydrogen (H2).
Hydrogen offers the prospect to decarbonize the energy sector and large sectors of the economy. The shift to a
The 9th Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference closed today in Nicosia, Cyprus, with the adoption of a ministerial declaration affirming countries’ commitment to transition to a green economy with sustainable infrastructure at its core.
The declaration also calls on countries to
New assessment reveals progress on air quality and protected areas, but calls for urgent action to tackle emissions, waste, pollution and biodiversity loss
A circular economy and sustainable infrastructure offer solutions
Despite progress in certain areas, governments in
75 years ago, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) started working on forests. Today, we recognize their enormous potential not only for humans, fauna, flora, and the environment, but also for cities. In an urbanizing world, the contribution of forests to cleaning our air and
Countries have taken a step to translate rising commitment for sustainable urban development into concrete changes to the fabric of our cities with the adoption of a UN-backed Declaration.
Today, governments attending the 83rd session of the UNECE Committee on Urban Development,
If business as usual continues greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are projected to rise, leading to a median global warming of 3.2°C by 2100. Deep and quick decarbonization of heavy industries is needed, and sustainable hydrogen could be the key ingredient.
Hydrogen is already strongly
Bold and sustained action must start now and maximize the use of all low- and zero-carbon technologies if we are to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, warns the Roadmap to carbon neutrality for Europe, North America, and Central Asia released today by UNECE in the lead up to critical climate talks
Renewables and energy efficiency offer an opportunity for a secure and sovereign energy supply in the region, find REN21 and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in their latest regional status report.
The region has seen an unprecedented growth in
The application of the UN’s flagship framework for sustainable resource classification (UNFC) reached a new milestone with the decision by Queensland, Australia, to legislate application of UNFC to geothermal energy.
Queensland’s Geothermal Energy Regulation 2022 includes the UNFC Geothermal
Due to the increasing popularity of the UNECE Environmental Performance Review (EPR) Programme, the Government of Mauritania has asked the UNECE secretariat to review the country’s environmental performance. On 10–11 August 2022, the EPR Programme Manager met in Nouakchott with Ministry of
Nigeria has taken a significant step towards ensuring the sustainable management of its cross-border waters with a milestone commitment to join and implement a United Nations treaty known as the Water Convention.
This commitment, guided by a road map, will be the key outcome of the
More than 3 billion people depend on water that crosses national borders. As climate impacts – from drought to flooding – are felt more and more acutely worldwide, and with rising demands, pollution and tensions threatening increasingly scarce water resources, cooperation on shared waters
Desertification, water scarcity, droughts, and the shrinkage of the Aral Sea are some of the challenges that Uzbekistan faces due to climate change. Given their vital role in regulating ecosystems, protecting biodiversity and landscapes, and supporting livelihoods, trees and forests are at the
From insufficient drinking water supply to contamination by sewage overflow and disease outbreaks from improper wastewater treatment, existing risks from climate change to water, sanitation and hygiene in the pan-European region are set to increase significantly, UNECE and the WHO Regional Office
Representatives from the water, energy, and environment sectors of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia - the three riparians of the Drina River Basin - met on 4 May 2022 to discuss ways forward on sustainable development and transboundary cooperation.
The meeting of the Steering
The centrality of transboundary water cooperation for peace and sustainable development has been stressed in recent years at the global and regional levels, notably in the Sustainable Development Goals, at the United Nations Security Council, and at the African Ministers’ Council on Water.
However
The 75th anniversary session of the Inland Transport Committee (ITC) concluded at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), after a week of forward progress in the fields of inland transport connectivity, road safety, accessibility, and sustainability.
Among the week’s
While agriculture and food production cause significant air pollution, air pollution can also have significant impacts on crops, other vegetation and entire ecosystems. This, in turn, can impact on agricultural yields and food production and can lead to significant economic losses.
To review new
Spending extended periods of time at home under COVID-19 restrictions highlighted the need for accessible green spaces like never before, particularly for city dwellers who sought out green spaces for fresh air, exercise and a break from the confines of their apartments. Access to
Uganda has 98 per cent of its water resources within the Nile River Basin. The Nile River is the longest transboundary river in Africa. Cooperation on the Nile Basin water resources, according to Uganda’s Minister for Water and Environment, His Excellency, Hon. Sam Cheptoris, is therefore “not a
The Conference of European Statisticians Framework on Waste Statistics, published today by UNECE, provides a new perspective on defining and measuring the waste products of our economies.
Every household, enterprise and institution produces waste.
If not properly dealt with, this waste can pose a
The second edition of UNECE’s Road Map on Statistics for Sustainable Development Goals, released today, provides comprehensive guidance for countries to help them strengthen their systems for producing and disseminating data on the SDGs.
In 2015 the world embarked on a journey to the future, to
Developed in the first half of the 20th century, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been regulated or banned as widespread public concern over their toxicological effects for human health and the environment has increased. Research has shown that exposure to POPs can lead to