Press Releases
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A new United Nations Regulation on Driver Control Assistance Systems (DCAS), adopted by the UNECE World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) at its session in March 2024, has entered into force.
Regulation No. 171 defines DCAS as systems which assist the driver in
Many low- and middle income households across Europe continue to be burdened by an affordable housing crisis, warns the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in a new report.
Housing stress is experienced by over one third of households in Europe belonging to the lower 40% of
A new report by UNECE and UNESCO sounds the alarm on the lack of international cooperation to manage shared rivers, lakes and aquifers, calling for urgent collaboration among countries. Slow progress threatens to delay joint strategies needed to address the intensifying impacts of droughts and
Indicators are vital tools in environmental and economic policymaking. They simplify complex issues into manageable metrics, guiding decision-making, assessing performance and ensuring accountability. By providing a structured approach, indicators help set objectives, monitor progress and evaluate
Kharkiv, the second most populous city in Ukraine, is among the urban areas most affected by the war and has been the target of intense shelling over the last weeks. Despite these hugely challenging circumstances, Kharkiv is looking ahead and planning for its future.
As part of the new concept
Critical raw materials (CRMs) such as copper, lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements are essential for the energy transition, but their extraction often causes deforestation, water pollution, and social disruption, especially in vulnerable communities.
To help shift current CRM governance
In response to severe drought and ongoing water scarcity, Zambia has joined the UN Water Convention to improve water management both within and across its borders. The country, which declared a National Crisis and Emergency in February 2024 due to a drought that has severely impacted food and
Cities are on the front lines of addressing humanity’s most pressing challenges, from climate change to migration as well as natural disasters and socioeconomic inequalities.
City leaders from across the globe will convene for the 4th Forum of Mayors (Geneva, 30 September – 1 October) to discuss
While the world is gearing up for the summit of the future and the climate COP 29 to find solutions to global crises, another problem related to the planet we all share is often overlooked: air pollution. On International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, celebrated on 7 September every year, we
The UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, will be in Milan on 2 September to launch the UN global campaign #MakeASafetyStatement, in partnership with JCDecaux. The launch event will gather Mr. Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan and Mr. Matteo Salvini, Vice-President of the
Zimbabwe, a landlocked country in drought-stricken Southern Africa, has joined the UN Water Convention in a clear demonstration of political will for water cooperation across borders. Home to some 17 million people, Zimbabwe faces pressing water challenges linked to climate change and competing
Faced with increasing water stress and climate change impacts on the water resources it shares with its neighbours, Cote d’Ivoire has joined the United Nations Water Convention – a UN treaty to improve joint water management across borders.
It is the 53rd Party to the Convention and 10th African
The UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, is visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 16 to 17 July 2024. During the visit, he will meet with key government officials, representatives of the international community, private, and public sectors in Bosnia and
The rise of fast-fashion, marked by rapid turnover of collections, has led to a sevenfold increase in the global trade of used clothing in the last 4 decades. With more than 80% of all purchased clothing items globally (62% in the EU) being disposed of as general garbage, which is incinerated or
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and The United Nations Climate Change High-Level Champions (Climate Champions) have launched a call for advanced-stage clean energy projects in the Western Balkans, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Eastern and Southeast Europe to be presented to
UNECE and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Digital Standards Initiative (DSI) today issued a joint call to action to accelerate the adoption of globally interoperable standards essential for achieving digital trade worldwide.
The Call to Action was launched at UNECE-hosted 42nd Forum of
UNECE’s World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) has adopted an amendment to the United Nations Rule No.1 of the 1997 Agreement that allows for the introduction of a more robust test procedure to measure exhaust particle emissions during periodic technical inspection tests for
Young entrepreneurs and changemakers must be equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills, and mindsets to navigate complex challenges and lead change towards a healthier and more sustainable world. At first of its kind international Forum for Europe, Central Asia and North America, held this week
UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety Jean Todt will launch the UN Global Road Safety Campaign #MakeASafetyStatement, in partnership with JCDecaux, in New York City on 1 July.
The campaign aims to promote road safety and create safe, inclusive, and sustainable streets worldwide.
The United Nations’ Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles (GRVA) has adopted the new regulation for Acceleration Control for Pedal Error (ACPE), and regulatory provisions for the introduction of a new generation of braking systems for electric vehicles.
The new UN
Three years ago, the European Union and UN Member States challenged UNECE to demonstrate that traceability and transparency were possible in the clothing and footwear sector. Today, after more than 20 project pilot projects, and 110 pledges from leading brands, manufacturers, non-governmental
In many countries in Europe, North America and Central Asia, more than one in four older persons is affected by depression. Later life brings transitions such as retirement, bereavement, chronic illness, and changes to living arrangements and caregiving responsibilities that can increase stress,
More than two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the country has experienced considerable environmental destruction with both immediate and longer-term consequences on human health, ecosystems, the Ukrainian economy and beyond. Attacks on infrastructure and industry have resulted
Kharkiv, the second most populous city in Ukraine situated just 30 km from the Russian border, is among the urban areas most affected by the war and the target of renewed shelling over the last weeks.
According to its Mayor, Ihor Terekhov, 150,000 of the approximately 1.3 million people in the
Ahead of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin on 11 – 12 June 2024, UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean visited Kyiv from 4 to 6 June to discuss UNECE support for the country’s reconstruction and recovery with Ukrainian government officials, the United Nations Country Team, the