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New UN regulation paves way for deployment of driving assistance systems worldwide
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…
Leaders from cities worldwide have reaffirmed the value of sharing experience, knowhow and partnerships as part of an inclusive multilateral process at the 4th UNECE Forum of Mayors.
At the Forum of Mayors, themed "Cities Summit of the Future," city leaders exchanged concrete…
UN urges action to tackle persistent housing affordability crisis in Europe
Many low- and middle income households across Europe continue to be burdened by an affordable housing crisis, warns the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in a new report.
Housing stress is experienced by over one third of households in Europe belonging to the lower…
A new report by UNECE and UNESCO sounds the alarm on the lack of international cooperation to manage shared rivers, lakes and aquifers, calling for urgent collaboration among countries. Slow progress threatens to delay joint strategies needed to address the intensifying impacts of droughts and…
UNECE issues guidelines to sharpen data-driven policies on environmental challenges
Indicators are vital tools in environmental and economic policymaking. They simplify complex issues into manageable metrics, guiding decision-making, assessing performance and ensuring accountability. By providing a structured approach, indicators help set objectives, monitor progress and…
Kharkiv, the second most populous city in Ukraine, is among the urban areas most affected by the war and has been the target of intense shelling over the last weeks. Despite these hugely challenging circumstances, Kharkiv is looking ahead and planning for its future.
As part of the new…
Youth-Led solutions for sustainable resource management
Critical raw materials (CRMs) such as copper, lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements are essential for the energy transition, but their extraction often causes deforestation, water pollution, and social disruption, especially in vulnerable communities.
To help shift current CRM…
Zambia joins UN Water Convention to boost cooperation to address drought and water challenges
In response to severe drought and ongoing water scarcity, Zambia has joined the UN Water Convention to improve water management both within and across its borders. The country, which declared a National Crisis and Emergency in February 2024 due to a drought that has severely impacted food and…
4th Forum of Mayors to convene global Cities Summit of the Future
Cities are on the front lines of addressing humanity’s most pressing challenges, from climate change to migration as well as natural disasters and socioeconomic inequalities.
City leaders from across the globe will convene for the 4th Forum of Mayors (Geneva, 30 September – 1 October)…
Reducing air pollution saves lives and money – it’s time to invest in #CleanAirNow
While the world is gearing up for the summit of the future and the climate COP 29 to find solutions to global crises, another problem related to the planet we all share is often overlooked: air pollution. On International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, celebrated on 7 September every year, we…
The UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, will be in Milan on 2 September to launch the UN global campaign #MakeASafetyStatement, in partnership with JCDecaux. The launch event will gather Mr. Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan and Mr. Matteo Salvini, Vice-President of the…
UNECE Trees in Cities Challenge surpasses goal with over 18 million trees planted
The UNECE Trees in Cities Challenge, a global effort to enhance urban greening, reduce extreme heat events and improve air quality, has reached a significant milestone. Since its launch in 2019, the initiative has facilitated the planting of 18.5 million trees in cities worldwide, more than…
UN Special Envoy for road safety visits Latin America to battle silent pandemic on the roads
The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, will visit Ecuador (20-21 August), Peru (22-24) and Chile (24-28) this week. During the visit, he will meet with key government officials, representatives of the international community,…
Despite a rapid increase in motorization over the past 20 years, the number of people killed in road crashes in the Republic of Moldova has decreased by 51% from 2011 to 2022, from 443 to 217. With 8.3 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, this is, however, still 1,8 times higher than the average in…
Zimbabwe joins UN Water Convention, leading wave of countries in Southern Africa
Zimbabwe, a landlocked country in drought-stricken Southern Africa, has joined the UN Water Convention in a clear demonstration of political will for water cooperation across borders. Home to some 17 million people, Zimbabwe faces pressing water…
La Côte d'Ivoire est le 10e pays africain à adhérer à la Convention des Nations unies sur l'eau
Face à l'augmentation du stress hydrique et aux effets du changement climatique sur les ressources en eau qu'elle partage avec ses voisins, la Côte d'Ivoire a adhéré à la Convention des Nations unies sur l'eau, un traité des Nations unies visant à améliorer la gestion commune de l'eau par-delà…
Faced with increasing water stress and climate change impacts on the water resources it shares with its neighbours, Cote d’Ivoire has joined the United Nations Water Convention – a UN treaty to improve joint water management across borders.
It is the 53rd Party to the Convention and…
The UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, is visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 16 to 17 July 2024. During the visit, he will meet with key government officials, representatives of the international community, private, and public sectors in Bosnia and…
The rise of fast-fashion, marked by rapid turnover of collections, has led to a sevenfold increase in the global trade of used clothing in the last 4 decades. With more than 80% of all purchased clothing items globally (62% in the EU) being disposed of as general garbage, which is incinerated or…
UNECE and Climate Champions launch call for clean energy projects for investor showcasing at COP29
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and The United Nations Climate Change High-Level Champions (Climate Champions) have launched a call for advanced-stage clean energy projects in the Western Balkans, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Eastern and Southeast Europe to be presented…