Press Releases
Displaying Results 901 - 925 of 1430
The countries of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) face challenges in the housing sector that directly impact their citizens’ quality of life and the environment. Desiring to assist them, the UNECE Committee on Housing and Land Management agreed on the text of a Charter
Every year on World Habitat Day, we are encouraged to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and how we can improve them. We are also called upon to remember that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape their future.For this year’s World Habitat Day on 8 October the UNECE
On 2 October 2014, Christian Friis Bach was officially sworn in as UNECE Executive Secretary by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a ceremony held at the Council Chamber in the Palais des Nations in Geneva in the form of a Town Hall meeting with UNECE staff. In his opening speech, the Secretary-
Members of the Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Greece, the Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine, have decided to develop a regional trade facilitation strategy, modelled on proposals made by UNECE, Turkey, Greece and Ukraine
On 30 September 2014 UNECE will adopt the first international quality standard for processed poultry meat. This new standard reflects the growing international trade in ready-to-eat products (RTE) and ready-to-cook preparations (RTC) of all types of poultry meat (chicken, turkey, duck and goose
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today in New York, in the aftermath of the 2014 Climate Summit. With this MoU the two organizations formalize their cooperation with a view
The Regional Ministerial Consultation “Monitoring and Accountability for the Post-2015 Development Agenda –The Regional Dimension” discussed how to give ‘teeth’ to a non-legally binding framework that will formulate an ambitious agenda of transformation towards sustainability for all countries.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the International Geothermal Association (IGA) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a globally applicable harmonized standard for reporting geothermal resources. Such a standard will ensure greater consistency
“As we work to formulate the post-2015 development agenda, the role of urbanization in supporting sustainable development is becoming increasingly important. The United Nations should continue to promote equitable urban development in our human settlements, villages, towns, cities and
Forests are ' natural' suppliers to a green economy. The sustainability of wood as a material is proven; the ecological functions and ecosystem services that they provide are undeniable. The challenge for countries is how to enhance this contribution, while strengthening the sustainability of
Following a meeting between Dr. Enrique T. Ona, Secretary of Health, and Geoffrey Hamilton, Chief of UNECE’s Public-Private Partnerships Section, at the Department of Health, Manila, Philippines, the International Specialist Centre of Excellence on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Health
In about one year, the UN Member States are expected to adopt a new development framework that will succeed the expiring Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The post-2015 development agenda will be a universal and transformative agenda with goals for all countries. It will be centered around a
Through the entry into force yesterday, 26 August 2014, of its first amendment, the Espoo Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context is now open to all United Nations Member States. “This opening will fill an important gap in international law and will further
A three-day workshop for participants from Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on simplifying and harmonizing procedures for international trade concluded at the OSCE Border Management Staff College in Dushanbe on 23 July. Its objective was to reduce trade costs, and boost commercial flows to
Responding to the clear needs of developing, least-developed and transition economies for technical assistance, capacity building and support in implementing and securing long term benefits from the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA); the United Nations Economic
The United Nations Secretary-General announced yesterday that he had appointed Christian Friis Bach of Denmark as the next Executive Secretary of UNECE.He will replace Sven Alkalaj of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his commitment and dedicated service to
Serious and fatal injuries from car accidents involving pedestrians will be dramatically reduced making walking and cycling safer as a result of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) adopting a new impact testing method for automakers. Embracing the latest technological
More than 400 participants from some 50 countries gathered in Maastricht, the Netherlands, last week to attend the fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (
The need for an energy-efficient housing sector is stronger than ever. In the UNECE region, buildings are responsible for approximately one third of total final energy consumption. Three quarters of this energy consumption is by the residential sector. Improving the energy performance of
On 23 June 2014, Montenegro joined the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) and the amendments to the Convention that allow accession by countries outside the UNECE
The TIR Executive Board (TIRExB) held its 59th session on 30 June and 1 July 2014, just hours before the announced termination of the guarantee agreement between the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation (FCS) and the national TIR guarantor (ASMAP).The restrictions placed by FCS on
On 19 and 20 June 2014, experts and representatives from environmental authorities in Belarus, Lithuania and the Kaliningrad oblast of the Russian Federation met in Vilnius to discuss the results of the draft strategic framework for basin adaptation in the Neman Basin, as well as options for
Due to rapid population growth, Uzbekistan faces challenges in the provision of housing and infrastructure. With about half of Uzbekistan’s population living in rural areas, the development and the improvement of rural living standards is particularly important. In order to address the situation
In 2012 UNECE participated in the Task Force set up by the European Union to help Greece design a holistic national Trade Facilitation Strategy. In October 2012 the Greek Government approved the Trade Facilitation Roadmap 2013-2015, which aims at helping the country develop sustainable exports.
Experts met in Geneva on June 16 for the Second Workshop on Forests and Sustainable Development Goals to discuss whether and how the essential role played by forests in sustainable development is currently reflected in the SDGs. In the day-long workshop participants agreed upon the essential