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Advanced SearchNew UNECE guidelines will help countries measure economic and social well-being
How are we doing?
This question is at the core of many official statistics. When we measure growth in the economy, changing population health, life expectancy or prices, we do so because ultimately we want to know how well our society is doing. Is life getting better or…
Forest Market discussions show how wildfires can spark innovation in forest management
Storms, beetle infestations, and wildfires: when reading the news about forests in the past months, it is evident that it has been a tough year for the forest sector. It is estimated that in Europe approximately 25% of the 2018 timber harvest was damaged by either storms…
New UNECE/FAO Team of Specialists will strengthen transboundary boreal forest efforts
The boreal forest that circles the globe doesn’t make it to the news as often as the Amazon rainforest. However, it contains a third of all the trees on earth and in combination with its soil forms the largest storage of CO2, while refreshing the entire planet’s…
Over the past eight years, North Macedonia has taken important strides in improving its environmental performance in several areas, including reducing its dependence on fossil fuels to generate electricity in favour of renewables, and strengthening waste and chemicals…
From young gender equality advocates to high-ranking government officials, key stakeholders from North America, Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia called for the urgent realization of women’s and girl’s human rights and for turning the commitments to gender equality…
Renewable energy now accounts for around one third of global power generation capacity, with increases being led by investments in solar photovoltaics (PV) and wind energy. More than 180 GW of renewable energy were installed in 2018, of which 100 GW were solar PV. As the…
The countries of Central Asia - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - are facing an increased vulnerability of natural ecosystems. Yet, the socio-economic development of these countries is very much dependent on natural resources, particularly…
New Global Roadmap of Action to guide the future of mobility
With growing urbanization, increasing world trade and new technologies, the global mobility system is stressed. More than 1 billion people, or one-third of the global rural population, lack access to all-weather roads and transport services, constituting a major barrier…
UN Road Safety Fund opens 2019 Call for Proposals
Poor road safety is a key sustainable development issue that affects each and every one of us, but is yet to be matched by global-scale funding mobilization. The UN Road Safety Fund aims to address this gap and has opened its first formal call for project proposals.
…UNECE Forum of Mayors will strengthen engagement with local authorities to deliver on 2030 Agenda
Local authorities are on the front line in addressing some of today’s most pressing sustainability challenges, including climate change, environmental degradation, social inclusion and mobility. However, despite their responsibility for actions affecting citizens’ lives…
Entry into force of amended Gothenburg Protocol is landmark for clean air and climate action
Air pollution kills 7 million people every year according to WHO data. It is by far the world’s largest single environmental health risk and a leading cause of death by cancer. Air pollution is also closely linked to climate change and is a major cause of…
UNECE issues updated Policy Framework for Sustainable Real Estate Markets
The global financial crisis of 2008 was the result of inadequate regulation of financial and real estate markets. Real estate bubbles were allowed to inflate, mortgage lending was inadequately supervised, the financial markets were allowed to develop complex financial…
UNECE and the Norwegian City of Trondheim have agreed to establish a Geneva UN Charter Centre of Excellence to advance sustainable housing as a foundation for urban development. This is the fifth Centre to be created by UNECE.
The Geneva…
Belarus has made considerable progress in implementing sustainable housing and land management policies over the last decade, but targeted efforts will be required to address remaining challenges, according to a new UNECE report.
The Second…
Renewed cooperation on environmental security in the UNECE region
Peacefully resolving the overriding political, economic and social concerns of our time requires a multifaceted approach. This includes mechanisms to address the links between the natural environment and human security. Building up on over a decade of successful…
UNECE guidance to reduce emissions of methane from abandoned coal mines will support climate action
Methane is a powerful short-lived climate pollutant. It is also the main precursor of tropospheric ozone (O3). Over a 20-year period, methane’s effect on global warming is 84 times greater than carbon dioxide. Fossil fuel production, including coal mining, accounts for 29…
Improved water management is crucial for climate action – UN-Water policy brief
Water management must play a central role in adapting to the worst effects of climate change and reducing greenhouse gases, according to a new UN-Water Policy Brief.
Released in the context of the Climate Action Summit and the opening of the…
Caused by human activity and bio-physical factors, the degradation of land and ecosystems, exacerbated by climate change, is one of the greatest challenges facing Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Desertification affects 8% of the…
The global climate emergency cannot be addressed without the rapid transformation of the energy system. Accelerating the shift to renewable energy sources and dramatically improving energy efficiency will play a crucial role.
On the day…
UNECE and Mayors launch Trees in Cities Challenge to scale up climate action in urban areas
Urban areas are responsible for an estimated 75% of C02 emissions worldwide, making city-level action critical for global efforts to address the climate emergency. Mayors and other key urban leaders can play a pivotal role in localizing climate action, with…