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Ahead of the High-Level Dialogue on Energy that the UN Secretary-General is convening in September, UNECE is calling for bold, concrete actions on the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement to move the dials in the near term and to set the stage for longer-term, enduring change. Action in three
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the European Investment Bank, the financial investment arm of the European Union, have signed today a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen joint efforts to promote economic cooperation, cohesion and to support countries in the
Countries across the pan-European region and North America are intensifying efforts to make their resource use more circular: to close the loop between raw materials, products and wastes so that materials remain in use and consumption of finite resources is reduced. But the lack of an
Asserting and verifying sustainability claims in the garment and footwear sector are set to become easier thanks to a toolkit of policy recommendations, implementation guidelines and standard endorsed by UNECE member States that provide traceability and transparency solutions for tracking any
As one of the most sustainable, inclusive, safe, and healthy forms of mobility, cycling received a major boost today with the adoption of the first-ever Pan-European Master Plan for Cycling Promotion at the Fifth High-Level Meeting on Transport, Health and Environment (THE PEP). The Master Plan is
The extraction of raw materials worldwide has more than doubled since 1990 and could double again by 2060, fuelling environmental degradation and increased vulnerability to climate change. As major users and producers of natural resources, 56 countries of the UNECE region, spanning from North
The use of material resources, fuelled by economic and population growth, urbanisation and societal changes, has increased more than ten times since 1900 and is set to double again by 2030. The annual global extraction of materials has increased from 27 to 92 billion tonnes since 1970, while the
Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals at the urban level is crucial to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, stresses UNECE in a new report that advocates for a “cities-based” and “people-smart” approach to sustainable development.   With cities today as the driving force in economic, social,
Countries of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia host significant potential for CO2 storage. Using publicly available data, the analysis by geological experts identifies for the first time storage potential in oil reservoirs in excess of 62,000 million tonnes (Mt) of CO2  in the eastern
If the UNECE region follows current trends, by 2030 it will achieve only 23 of the 169 SDG targets. However, only 89 targets can be assessed while for the remaining 80, no assessment can be made due to insufficient data. For 57 targets, progress needs to accelerate if we are to achieve the targets
Recent trends suggest that the forest sector workforce across the UNECE region is facing considerable challenges. These include an ageing workforce, underrepresentation of women and minorities, as well as declining job opportunities as a result of increased mechanization, reorganization of forestry
Across the world, 153 countries share rivers, lakes and aquifers. Transboundary basins cover more than half of the Earth’s land surface, account for an estimated 60 per cent of global freshwater flow and are home to more than 40 per cent of the world’s population. Transboundary water cooperation is
A new report from the United Nations warns that time is running out to deliver on the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and calls for rapid deployment of carbon capture use and storage (CCUS) to meet carbon neutrality targets.  Carbon capture use and storage (CCUS) is
With fish production estimated to reach 204 million tonnes in 2030, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing costs up to $23 billion every year to countries and affects one in every five fish caught. UNECE member states face these issues both on the high seas and in areas within national
Industrial accidents at tailings management facilities (TMFs) - which handle and store the fine-grained waste materials remaining after extracting minerals and metals from the earth, often containing toxic and hazardous substances - have resulted in devastating effects on humans and the environment
Azerbaijan, like the other five countries in Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus (EESC) - Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine - has grown rapidly following a rocky and difficult transition from a centrally planned to a market economy over the past decades. This momentum
Armenia, like the other five countries in Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus (EESC) - Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine - has grown rapidly following a difficult transition from a centrally planned to a market economy over the past decades. This momentum, however
UN Resident Coordinators based in the countries of Europe and Central Asia have noted that most countries are prioritizing economic recovery during the COVID-19 period and that environmental perspectives are often ignored. The regional interagency Issue-based Coalition on Environment and Climate
In light of unprecedented heatwaves and series of lockdowns that hit cities across Europe and North America over the last year, ensuring there are green urban spaces that could help bring down the temperature and provide safe spaces for recreation and relaxation has never been higher on policy-
Wood energy has been the leading source of renewable energy in the UNECE region for more than a decade, accounting for 35.4% of renewable energy supply for 31 countries, according to the latest results from the UNECE/FAO Joint Wood Energy Enquiry (JWEE). For Austria, Cyprus, Finland, France,
As countries all over the world aim at ‘building back better’ from the COVID-19 pandemic , the recently-launched UNECE People-first PPP Evaluation Methodology for the Sustainable Development Goals can support  their efforts by providing a set of benchmarks and indicators to score infrastructure
Nitrogen (N) is essential for life. It is an element of chlorophyll in plants and of protein (amino acids) in animals and humans. As such, it is a major nutrient to allow food, fibre and biofuel production. However, human activities over the last century (use of synthetic inorganic N fertilizers
Micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and women-led MSMEs in particular, have been especially vulnerable to the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. However, the crisis has also caused a dramatic shift in the business-as-usual approach and paved the way for innovations, green growth, and
According to a new study published by the UNECE and FAO, altogether almost 4.3 million people work across the forest sector of North America, Europe and Central Asia; predominantly in Europe (51 percent), the United States and Canada (29 percent), the Russian Federation (14 percent) and Turkey (5
What are the critical actions driving sustainable change? Gathering at the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development on 19-20 March 2020, policy makers and other key actors from the region will kickstart the Decade of Action and boost their efforts to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (