Press Releases
Displaying Results 1176 - 1200 of 1420
The United States and Canada have experienced large changes in their forest sectors over the past 50 years. The UNECE/FAO North American Forest Sector Outlook Study (NAFSOS) looks at these changes and projects possible futures for the forest sector in 2030. This study is a companion to the
A new growth model in the pan-European region — one which increases human development, advances equality and reduces the ecological footprint — is both necessary and possible. This is the main conclusion of the report "From Transition to Transformation: Sustainable and Inclusive Development
Upon request from the Moroccan authorities, UNECE will carry out an Environmental Performance Review (EPR) of Morocco. A review mission is planned for September 2012, with the aim of finalizing the report in the first half of 2013. The review will cover 14 areas of particular importance to
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (UNECE Water Convention), adopted in Helsinki, Finland on 17 March 1992, celebrates its twentieth anniversary today. It is the only international framework
No one left behind: Good practices to ensure equitable access to water and sanitation, launched today, 13 March 2012, at the sixth World Water Forum in Marseille, France, highlights significant inequities in access to water and sanitation in the pan-European region and provides guidance on how
GenevaThe United Nations Secretary-General announced yesterday the appointment of Sven Alkalaj of Bosnia and Herzegovina as the new Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).Mr. Alkalaj served as Foreign Minister of his country and Ambassador in Washington
UNECE will present its work and actively contribute to discussions at the 6th World Water Forum, to be held on 12- 17 March in Marseille, France. The largest water event in the world, the Forum brings together, every three years, more than 25,000 stakeholders from the worldwide water community,
GenevaDeveloping countries must do more to create transparent, accountable business conditions if they are to raise the capital needed to finance critical infrastructure. This was a key theme underscored at PPP Days 2012, the premier global meeting for senior policy makers on Public
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) launched a jointly produced handbook on border crossing policies in Vienna, Austria on 22 February 2012. The Handbook of Best Practices at Border Crossings – A Trade and
In Kyrgyzstan for every 1000 inhabitants there are only 210 housing units. This is less than half the EU average, which is 446. Average floor space per capita is also extremely low (around 5 m2, compared to Europe, the United States and China, where floor space per capita is around 48, 81 and 26
GenevaThe consequences of the opening of the UNECE Water Convention to non-UNECE countries - its “globalization” - and its implications for the future programme of work will be a key priority for the future of the Convention. This was one of the main conclusions of a strategic workshop held on
Bangkok Mr. Hongpeng Liu, Chief of the Energy Security and Water Resources Section at ESCAP, opened a workshop on the United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009 (UNFC) in Bangkok on 9 February. Mr. Liu highlighted the critical role of fossil
Geneva From 21st to 24th February, the United Nations office in Geneva will host over 500 delegates representing more than 80 governments at the premier global event in the public-private partnerships calendar, ‘PPP Days 2012’. This event is being jointly organized by the United Nations Economic
GenevaWood energy accounts for 3% of the total primary energy supply (TPES) and 47% of the renewable energy supply (RES) in the UNECE region[1] in 2009, confirming its role as the leading source of renewable energy. Wood covered almost 20% of the total energy demands of Sweden, Finland and
On 1 February 2012, following two years of negotiations, the Legal Board of the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) finalized the proposal for a mechanism to facilitate implementation of and compliance with the
GenevaThe spotlight will be on the green economy at Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development to be held in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012. Much has been published and discussed about this new concept and how it might shape the future of humanity and its development
Moscow The Forum on “Sustainable Real Estate Markets: Principles and Guidance for Development” was held today to draw attention to ways in which secure and well protected property rights, and accurate and accessible information, can attract greater investment and increase economic growth. The
GenevaOn 19 January 2012, the Working Party on Pollution and Energy, approved a proposal for an amendment to Regulation No. 49, concerning more stringent emission requirements for heavy duty vehicle engines. The proposal will be submitted to the World Forum in June 2012 for its final adoption.
Geneva/BrusselsFiscal austerity programmes in force across Europe and the sovereign debt crisis that erupted in Greece last May — which subsequently spread, first to Ireland and Portugal, then to Spain and Italy — have shaken the European economy and raise the chances of another global recession
GenevaMr. Ján Kubiš, UNECE Executive Secretary, met with His Excellency Mr. Boris Tadić, President of the Republic of Serbia, on Tuesday, 10 January 2012, to discuss issues of mutual interest. The discussion touched upon the various activities where UNECE and Serbia already cooperate closely
GenevaA web-based resource tool based on the joint FOREST EUROPE/ECE/FAO State of Europe's Forests 2011 report was released today; containing the new unpublished data on forests, forest management and forest industry in the pan-European region. In addition to the English version, for the first
For the first time, more than 80 high-level representatives from Asian and European States gathered in Geneva to discuss cooperation on the management and protection of transboundary waters along the borders of the two continents.Many transboundary river basins lie at the border between Europe
The “Global Trade Facilitation Conference on Single Window and Supply Chains in the next decade” , which ended Tuesday in Geneva, requested the United Nations regional commissions to prepare a roadmap for enhanced Single Windows and information exchange in global supply chains. The roadmap will
GenevaWhat will European and North American forests look like in 2030? Will they store carbon, preserve biodiversity or help countries meet renewable energy commitments? Are trade-offs unavoidable? A distinguished group of experts from governments, international organizations, NGOs and industry
GenevaThe Executive Committee of UNECE approved the creation of a “Group of experts on risk management in regulatory systems” on 12 December 2011. This Group will now lead the ongoing work of the UNECE Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies (UNECE WP.6) in the area