Press Releases
Displaying Results 151 - 175 of 340
On 4 December 2018, more than 30 years after the transboundary environmental disaster at Sandoz, Schweizerhalle, and more than 25 years after the adoption of the UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents, the 10th meeting of the Convention’s Conference of the Parties
On 19 November 2018, the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) adopted new conclusions on Water Diplomacy which underline the link between water, security and peace and promote accession to and implementation of the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses
The Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which among other areas is responsible for the development of the country’s environmental policy, has presented amendments to the national environmental legislation. The purpose of the amendments is to introduce modern environmental
The majority of disasters are water-related, either directly or indirectly. Over the past twenty years, there has been a sustained rise and frequency in the number of climate-related disasters such as floods and droughts. When disasters take place, access to water can be severely restrained
Since its adoption over 25 years ago, the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) has supported transboundary water cooperation across the pan-European region. Through a newly introduced reporting mechanism, Parties are now
Understanding the interactions between water, food, energy and water-related ecosystems in river basins can be vital in ensuring different and often competing needs are met in a coherent manner. This is even more important in transboundary basins, where identifying intersectoral synergies and
Municipal waste, rural water supply and sanitation and wastewater treatment are some of the most pressing environmental challenges in Albania. Tourism development, abandoned industrial sites and energy sector investments mean environmental risks but also represent strategic opportunities for
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
Since its adoption in 1998, the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) has been a model for application of the concept of environmental democracy as enshrined in Principle 10 of the Rio
Twenty years after its adoption in 1998, the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) remains a model example of the application of the concept of “environmental democracy” as enshrined
On 6 March the Compliance Committee of the Protocol on Water and Health initiated a consultation with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to support those countries in their efforts to improve their water and health situation and deal with emerging challenges by setting national targets under the
UNECE congratulates the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and Governments and civil society in Latin America and the Caribbean on the adoption of a regional legally binding instrument to promote Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.
In the Drina River Basin, shared mainly by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia, addressing water pollution and improving water quality and monitoring have emerged as key dimensions of the challenges of ensuring sustainable development in a transboundary context. These are among the
The International Water Assessment Centre (IWAC), the collaborative centre of the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention), was launched today in Astana, Kazakhstan.The Centre, which the Kazakh Government will be hosting in
Kazakhstan is underway to introduce a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) procedure in accordance with international standards as a tool for greening its economy. SEA enables governments to prevent irreversible and costly mistakes by integrating environmental considerations at an early
Today marks the entry into force of the second amendment to the UNECE Espoo Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context for Parties having ratified, approved or accepted it. The Espoo Convention, which celebrates the twentieth anniversary of its entry into force this
On 11 October 2017, Montenegro ratified the UNECE Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers, becoming the thirty-sixth Party to join this Protocol to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus
More than 400 participants from 58 countries gathered in Budva, Montenegro, this week to attend the sixth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention)
A series of explosions at a chemical plant in Texas following severe flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey highlight the risk of extreme weather-related industrial accidents and the urgent need to strengthen efforts for prevention and preparedness.The explosions, which were caused by the loss of
In June 2017, Ukraine ratified the Treaty between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on Cooperation in the Field of Protection and Sustainable Development of the Dniester River Basin so that the Treaty can enter into force. The ratification law was
A five-day event in Budva, Montenegro, will provide a platform for some 400 representatives of Governments, international organizations, civil society and other stakeholders to discuss achievements and challenges in promoting transparency, public participation in decision-making and access to
Strategic environmental assessment and environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context can play an important role in helping countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and address climate change. This was one of the central messages of the Meetings of the Parties (
Over 200 Government officials, representatives of international organizations, international financial institutions (IFIs), civil society, academia and other stakeholders from some 50 countries will meet in Minsk, at the invitation of the Government of Belarus, from 13 to 16 June to take stock of
Leaders of countries in Europe and Central Asia need to scale up action to prevent environment-related deaths and diseases affecting their populations. This is the call from the heads of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe), the United Nations Economic Commission
The Environmental Performance Review (EPR) of Mongolia kicked off today, 22 May 2017, with a field mission beginning in Ulaanbaatar. Fifteen experts from different countries and the United Nations secretariat will work in Mongolia for 10 days to review the country’s progress in improving