Press Releases
Displaying Results 751 - 775 of 1431
The draft Bridging Document between the Oil and Fuel Gas Reserves and Resources Classification of the Russian Federation of 2013 and the United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009 (UNFC-2009) was issued today for public comment until 14 August
Food waste, ecosystem services and green public procurement among pledged topics forming new Batumi Initiative on Green EconomyCountries and stakeholders from the pan-European region have today agreed on a roadmap to speed up the transition to a Green Economy between now and 2030 and made an
Poor air quality, climate change, unhealthy lifestyles and the disconnection between people and the environment are increasingly affecting human health in the region, finds the latest Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6) assessment for the pan-European region, prepared by UNEP and UNECE with
Education for sustainable development (ESD) is increasingly included in the education policies and frameworks of UNECE member States, and hundreds of initiatives have been launched in recent years to integrate ESD into formal, non-formal and informal education, moving from policy to practice.
Specifications for the application of the United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009 (UNFC) to geothermal energy resources were released today for public comment until 4 August 2016. Growing interest in renewable energy has highlighted a
Increased municipal and industrial waste, the continued use of asbestos, the need for effective radiation monitoring at the Ostrovets nuclear power plant and improved conditions for public participation are some of the most pressing environmental sustainability issues in Belarus. These are the
Air quality has improved significantly in North America and Europe over the past three decades, largely thanks to the UNECE Air Convention and EU air pollution policies. Average life expectancy in Europe has increased by one year and hundreds of thousands of premature deaths every year have been
On 20 May 2016, Malta acceded to the UNECE Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers, becoming the thirty-fifth 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
UNECE will strengthen its support to Turkmenistan’s development efforts through the implementation of the United Nations Partnership Framework for Development (UNPFD) for the period 2016-2020, which was officially signed today in Geneva. In the next five years, UNECE will provide technical
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are key to achieve the urban climate targets of lowering energy use and GHG emissions while boosting socio-economic growth. Many cities around the world already claim to be “smart and sustainable”, but statistics and studies, show that they
Yesterday, on 2 May 2016, Ukraine ratified the UNECE Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers, becoming the thirty-fourth Party to join this Protocol to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (
World fish stocks are being depleted by overfishing and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. This threatens not only the fish, but also the coastal communities that rely on fisheries for economic survival and a dependable food source. The importance of protecting this resource is
UNECE International Specialist Centre on PPPs in Public Transport and Logistics inaugurated in China
The international Specialist Centre on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in Public Transport and Logistics in China was officially inaugurated on 22 April in Beijing, in front of over 250 experts from the public and private sectors as well as top PPP experts from the academic community in
In August 2015, massive explosions at a chemical warehouse in Tianjin, China, left some 139 people dead, more than 700 injured and 6,000 displaced, and damaged 17,000 homes in close proximity to the industrial site. Back in 2001, a chemical explosion at a warehouse in Toulouse, France, led to the
On 12 April 2016 in Dushanbe, the Steering Committee of the National Policy Dialogue (NPD) on integrated water resources management marked the fifth anniversary of the dialogue process in the country and celebrated the Government approval of the Water Sector Reform Programme for 2016–2025. The
UNECE will strengthen its support to Montenegro’s development efforts for the period 2017-2021. This will be achieved through the implementation of a United Nations Development Assistance Framework, which was signed on 25 March 2016. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and
Forest ecosystems safeguard clean water supply, aquatic wildlife and increase landscape resilience to water-related hazards. As global demand for freshwater rises and demand for water resources increase, land managers and policy-makers need to carefully manage this resource. “One third of
A major regulatory milestone towards the deployment of automated vehicle technologies will be attained on 23 March 2016 with the entry into force of amendments to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. As of that date, automated driving technologies transferring driving tasks to the vehicle
Developing a system to monitor the SDGs in different areas will be key to measure progress and ensure that targets can be met. In order to strengthen member States’ capacities for the development of evidence-based policies for sustainable housing and urban development, UNECE and UN-Habitat are
“Silent cars” will no longer be dangerously silent thanks to a new regulation adopted by the UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) which requires acoustic warning devices on hybrid and electric cars. While no car is completely silent unless it is turned off,
A human rights perspective on environmental protection not only promotes human dignity, equality and freedom, but also improves the effectiveness of policymaking generally. Ensuring that those most affected by development and environmental policies are able to obtain information, freely express
Wood energy accounts for 3.5% of the total primary energy supply (TPES) and 38.2% of the renewable energy supply (RES) in the UNECE region, making it the first source of renewable energy in the region. Woody biomass covers 21 to 23% of the primary energy demands of Finland and Sweden and 14 to
Europe has managed to decouple the increase in motorization and death on roads in the last several decades, due to the strong embrace of road safety measures and their enforcement, coupled with uniform high safety regulations for cars and systematic education of drivers, according to a new study
The United Nations Secretary General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, and UNECE Executive Secretary Christian Friis Bach call on Governments and the automotive industry to implement the United Nations road safety legal instruments. The call was made today at a meeting with the Geneva
With Georgia’s ratification of the amendment on genetically modified organisms (GMO amendment) to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) the total number of the amendment's Parties raises