Press Releases
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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 UNECE Country Profile on Housing and Land Management for
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 territory of the European Union, including around 14 million
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 immediate impact on the ground
Azerbaijan brings degraded land restoration commitments in Caucasus and Central Asia to 3 million ha
Azerbaijan has announced it will restore 170,000 ha of degraded lands by 2030, and an additional 100,000 ha conditional upon receiving funding, under the Bonn Challenge. The Bonn Challenge is a global effort to bring 350 million ha of degraded and deforested land into restoration by 2030.
Many communities around the world rely heavily on healthy forests for the social, economic and environmental benefits they bring. But without the required skills and capacities to monitor and measure the status of forests, they cannot guarantee the sustainable management of these precious
The forests of the Caucasus and Central Asia are vital in fighting erosion and desertification in the harsh climates of the region. They host a rich biodiversity and provide livelihoods for the rural population, who have few other sources of revenue. These forests also serve as important sources
Cities play an essential role in addressing some of today’s major sustainability challenges, whether it comes to reducing the impact of climate change, giving people a home, strengthening resilience to disasters or reducing pollution. Mayors meeting today at the United Nations in Geneva for the
Forests are life in its essence. Through education and training we can help safeguard these important and highly diverse ecosystems, providing clean air and water, while supplying food, wood and shelter. Today, the global community celebrates the International Day of Forests (IDF) 2019 under the
Forests cover 42 percent of the UNECE region, which embraces countries of North America, Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Forests are not only the dominant type of land cover but also a critical element for ecosystem maintenance and sustainability. While studies and reports on the region’s
The 24th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24), taking place in Katowice, Poland, from 2 to 14 December 2018, is discussing global action to reduce emissions and keep global warming within the temperature limits of the Paris Agreement. While
Forests are rare in the Caucasus and Central Asia, and, as any rare good, should be valued, protected and cared for. This is because as of today still little is known about their values and state. To enhance the knowledge of forests in this
Innovative and sustainably produced wood products, when coupled with sustainable forest management, can ‘build the future’ and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In a sector like construction, which globally accounts for 6% of total energy consumption
Spruce, pine and fir are the main families of coniferous trees fueling the global forest products sector. They provide the raw material for just under 60% of wood products in the world. Products derived from these species are used as construction materials for buildings, for paper and paper
Given the many threats to global water supply, forest management and planning will increasingly need to deploy strategies for optimizing watershed services – such as water purification, the regulation of surface flows, and erosion control. The services provided by forest ecosystems for water
The global financial crisis of 2008 led to more inequality in the UNECE region. The past two decades have witnessed a general trend towards increasing home ownership. According to the Habitat III Regional Report on Housing and Urban Development for the UNECE Region (2016), many local governments
The Secretary General of the Organization for International Economic Relations (OiER), Ms. Kari Aina Eik, and the Executive Secretary of the UNECE, Ms. Olga Algayerova, signed today a Memorandum of Understating (MoU) to establish a Geneva UN Charter Centre of Excellence on Smart Sustainable
In 2017 UNECE adopted the Framework Guidelines for Energy Efficiency Standards in Buildings which promote the adoption of aggressive, performance-based codes for buildings. To support the deployment of the Framework Guidelines and to advance the performance of buildings broadly, UNECE is
Malaysian-born film star and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Michelle Yeoh will attend the High Level Political Forum in New York today to put the spotlight on the role that clothing manufacture and consumer fashion can have for a better planet with a new video, called “Made in Forests.”“The connection
The fashion industry has seen a spectacular growth in the early 21st century. It is now valued at more than 2.5 trillion dollars and employs over 75 million people worldwide. Between 2000 and 2014, clothing production doubled with the average consumer buying 60 percent more pieces of garment
The Grenfell Tower fire in London in June 2017 has brought under the spotlight the need for a coherent global approach to fire safety. That fire - the worst in the UK for almost a century that claimed 72 lives - not only focused attention on building and fire safety in the United Kingdom
Over 2.5 million ha of forest landscape will be restored by countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia under the Bonn Challenge by 2030. The commitment was made by Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan at the first Ministerial Roundtable on Forest Landscape
According to United Nations estimates, around two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas by 2050. Smart sustainable cities technologies and approaches, including those based on ICT solutions and Internet of Things (IoT) are already helping people to overcome multiple
If we try to picture how humanity can “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by the year 2030” (Sustainable Development Goal 7), solar panels, wind turbines, geothermal plants, heat pumps, tidal power plants or other technical solutions come to mind. But
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are key to reach the objectives set out by the United Nations for cities, particularly the Sustainable Development Goal 11 “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. They are also crucial to help
Ukraine is facing multiple challenges related to its housing sector. Housing is not affordable, especially to vulnerable groups of the population, including young people entering the labor market and low-income families. The housing affordability index, which is calculated as a ratio between the