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A High-Level Panel on the 3rd review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) will conclude the global review of MIPAA at the 56th session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD56) and highlight how the Madrid Plan of Action can contribute to…
The current global migration and refugee situation has put migration issues high on the political agenda of many countries and the international community as a whole. Recognizing the need to act together, United Nations Member States adopted the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants in…
Cumbersome, costly and time-consuming customs procedures can be a major barrier to international trade, holding back countries’ development potential.In Iraq, this remains a significant challenge. The country requires among the highest number of documents worldwide for imports and exports, and…
Discussions on the future of transportation are often dominated by headline-grabbing ideas: autonomous or electric vehicles, intelligent transport systems focusing on mobility services; ever-faster high-speed trains. Within this debate bus transport is often an unfashionable afterthought, a…
Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by about two per cent throughout the UNECE region in the first three quarters of 2017.In the United States (US), GDP increased by 2.2 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year. In 2016, GDP grew by 1.5 per cent from 2015.In the European Union, in…
Water scarcity and droughts are occurring more and more frequently and with increased magnitude, even in previously water-rich countries. Major causes include population growth and increasing water extraction, with climate change further exacerbating the situation. OECD and the Global Water…
UNECE supports countries’ sustainable transport transition through Environmental Performance Reviews
Transport can be a powerful driver of sustainable development, but this requires balancing its economic and social value with environmental and health considerations. In order to help meet this challenge, UNECE’s Environmental Performance Reviews (EPRs) assist countries in taking an integrated…
Source: UNECE Statistical database www.unece.org/stats/dataOver the last year, most UNECE member States have experienced higher consumer price inflation, as measured by the 12-month rate of change of the consumer price index (CPI).In September 2017, the consumer price inflation in many European…
In a context of complex international supply chains, ensuring food safety is increasingly becoming a priority for governments and consumers alike. The need to guarantee the quality of food imports and exports – which is also essential for international trade – is an important feature of this,…
Responding to the findings of the 2016 Scientific Assessment Report ‘Towards Cleaner Air’, Parties to the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (Air Convention) this week discussed strategic priorities for the future of the Convention.Informed by the scientific findings of…
To ensure the successful implementation of its commitments under the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation, the Republic of Moldova has integrated the recommendations from the UNECE study on regulatory and procedural barriers to trade into its National Action Plan for Trade Facilitation. The Plan…
National Single Windows – which simplify import and export transactions by making it easier to input all regulatory and commercial information at a single electronic point – streamline cross-border data exchange, reducing bureaucracy and making it easier for businesses to engage in international…
Gender statistics “must be open, accessible, comparable, free and understandable”. This call to action from Milana Rakanović, head of UN Women Serbia, could have been referring to any area of statistics, so crucial is this message to the entire community of official statisticians in today’…
Creating favourable regulatory frameworks and incentives for renewable energy development, diversifying energy supplies, tackling greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector and ensuring the safety of oil and gas pipelines are just some of the energy-related issues addressed in UNECE…
Green approaches to development can help to ensure economic progress, social equity and the sustainable use of ecosystems and natural resources, so as to meet the needs of present and future generations.One and a half years after committing to green the economy and improving air quality across…
While emissions of key air pollutants have been reduced considerably over the past few decades as a result of integrated air pollution management strategies developed under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (Air Convention), progress has been uneven across the…
Following up on member States’ pledges to green their economies and to improve air quality across the region at the Eighth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference in Batumi, Georgia, last year, member States this week discussed progress in the implementation of these commitments and their…
Mining and production of useful energy fuels such as uranium usually proceed as if in a factory assembly line. Exploration geologists locate the resources, which are then mined by mining engineers, following which chemical engineers and metallurgists process the mined ore to produce the refined…
WHO estimates there are 35,641 road traffic fatalities in Nigeria every year, over 30 per cent of which are attributed to speed violation. Nigeria is taking action to address this urgent challenge, including through implementing its National Road Safety Strategy aiming at reducing road traffic…
Uniquely identifying locations in trade, transport and regulatory documents is vital to the smooth functioning of international trade. For over thirty years, this has been possible thanks to a five-character reference known as UN/LOCODE, which provides a coded representation for the names of…
International standards shape every aspect of our lives: from the moment we brush our teeth in the morning, to the time we wrap up in a warm – and safe - blanket at night. Standards also make the world more resilient and more sustainable: when houses, offices and plants comply with norms, they…
How can countries best ensure resilient transport infrastructure to drive progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? How can enhancing countries’ statistics on transport support this process? This was the focus of discussions at a recent workshop bringing together…
The need to ensure adequate fire-water retentionWhen being asked for causes of water pollution, most people would probably name an accidental spill of a hazardous substance or a leaking sewage system. However, contaminated fire-water — i.e. water used by firefighters to extinguish a blaze — can…
As the number of international migrants continues to grow, reaching highest levels in decades, it is becoming increasingly important for the public and the policymakers to understand its impact on individuals, societies and economies. How many migrants arrive and leave a country? Who are they…
Coal mining represents one of the main sources of anthropogenic (man-made) methane emissions. Whilst methane is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) there is much that can be done to mitigate its effect on the climate, which will be essential if countries are to attain the ambitious targets of the 2030…