 | UNECE adopts first international trade standard for whole dried chilli peppers (18 June 2013)
UNECE adopted a new international standard for whole dried chilli peppers on 18 June 2013 at the sixtieth session of the Specialized Section on Standardization of Dry and Dried Produce. The adoption of this new standard will facilitate international trade of dried chilli peppers for both exporters ... |
 | Latin American countries express interest in UNECE experience in transboundary water cooperation (14 June 2013)
All Latin American countries, with one exception, as well as two Caribbean countries – Haiti and the Dominican Republic - met in Buenos Aires to discuss transboundary water cooperation at the invitation of UNECE and partners on 11-12 June. The strong participation from the region proved the ... |
 | UNECE to develop a methodology to quantify the benefits of transboundary water cooperation (11 June 2013)
Cooperation on transboundary waters often results in a wide range of benefits reaching well beyond the water sector. For example, better management of shared waters has helped to limit human and economic losses from floods in the Rhine river basin, reduced the costs of generating electricity from ... |
 | Conference of European Statisticians endorses recommendations to assist countries in measuring sustainable development (11 June 2013)
On 12 June, the Conference of European Statisticians (CES) held under the auspices of UNECE in Geneva, endorsed a set of recommendations for a framework to measure sustainable development and associated sets of indicators.
This framework is a key step towards harmonising the various approaches ... |
 | Implementation Committee of the UNECE Water Convention holds its first meeting in Geneva (06 June 2013)
The Implementation Committee under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) held its first meeting in Geneva on 5 June 2013.
Members of the Committee unanimously elected ... |
 | UNECE helps Sava countries to adapt to climate change and balance water use between sectors (05 June 2013)
UNECE is helping the Sava countries, namely Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, to adapt to climate change and anticipate flood risks. Through a project entitled “Building the link between transboundary flood risk management and climate change adaptation”, this has led to the ... |
 | UNECE promotes innovative entrepreneurship in Southeast Europe (05 June 2013)
Innovation is a key driver of sustainable prosperity, and entrepreneurs are key driving forces behind innovation. To promote innovative entrepreneurship, particularly in Southeast Europe, UNECE and the Croatian Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Crafts jointly organized an international conference on ... |
 | Countries of the Caucasus meet in Tbilisi to address common challenges on Water and Health issues (04 June 2013)
A workshop to address and improve the situation of water and health in the Caucasus was held in Tbilisi on 27 and 28 May 2013. Specifically, the meeting gathered over 40 representatives of major governmental and non-governmental stakeholders from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to discuss the ... |
 | Preparations for census in Bosnia and Herzegovina in October 2013 are on track (31 May 2013)
The International Monitoring Operation (IMO) is of the opinion that Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is ready to conduct the Population and Housing Census in October 2013, taking into account the technical preparedness so far and the willingness of the country’s authorities and Statistical ... |
 | UNECE cooperates with Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development to strengthen implementation of Rio+20 outcomes in Central Asia (31 May 2013)
The expert meeting, “Outcomes of Rio+20: challenges and opportunities for the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development” took place on 30 May 2013 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Participants at the meeting, co-organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the ... |
 | UNECE and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean to increase cooperation to support economic development in the Mediterranean (31 May 2013)
Economic development in the Mediterranean region will require increased regional integration and the implementation of international best practices in legislation and regulations. On 30 and 31 May 2013 parliamentarians from the region gathered in Geneva to discuss how the UNECE and the UN ... |
 | UNECE helps Georgia draft new Water Law (30 May 2013)
A draft new Water Law was presented at the Second Steering Committee meeting of the Georgian National Policy Dialogue (NPD) on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), held in Tbilisi on 30 May 2013. The new Water Law has been drafted by an interministerial working group, supported by UNECE. ... |
 | UNECE supports first Meeting of the Parties to Drin River Basin treaty (30 May 2013)
On 28 May 2013 in Tirana the five Drin River Riparians held the first Meeting of the Parties to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a Shared Strategic Vision for the Sustainable Management of the Drin River Basin. At the meeting, high-level representatives from the five Riparians decided on an ... |
 | Tapping into the Russian Federation’s bioenergy potential (28 May 2013)
Russia has more than a fifth of the world's forests, which makes it the largest forest country in the world. However, the considerable potential of Russian forests is underutilized and Russia's share of the global trade in forest products is less than four percent.
Referring to ongoing ... |
 | UN to discuss avenues for harnessing trade for growth in the Mediterranean region (28 May 2013)
The UNECE in collaboration with the United Nations Inter-Agency Cluster on Trade and Productive Capacity and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), is organizing a conference on 30-31 May 2013 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva to support economic growth in the Mediterranean ... |
 | UNECE supports modernization of water legislation in Tajikistan (24 May 2013)
The fifth meeting of the Steering Committee of the European Union (EU) Water Initiative’s National Policy Dialogue on Integrated Water Resources Management was held in Dushanbe on 23 May 2013, to discuss a new Water Sector Reform Strategy, drafted by an interministerial working group supported by ... |
 | UNECE signs tripartite Memorandum of Understanding with UNESCAP and the Eurasian Economic Community (23 May 2013)
A Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) was signed on 22 May 2013 in Astana, Kazakhstan.This new MoU builds on ... |
 | Water and Biodiversity: UNECE Water Convention puts ecosystems at the heart of water management (22 May 2013)
This year “Water and Biodiversity” is the topic of the International Day for Biological Diversity, which is celebrated annually on 22 May. In 2013 — the International Year of Water Cooperation — the International Day for Biological Diversity aims to raise awareness of the intricate ... |
 | Environmental Performance Review of Romania shows waste management and wastewater treatment remain top priorities (21 May 2013)
Access to clean water and improved sanitation and waste management remain some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing Romania according to the second Environmental Performance Review of Romania published today. The Review, performed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe ... |
 | Multi-stakeholder workshop in Vilnius will address adaptation to climate change in the Neman River Basin (15 May 2013)
Representatives of different water users and authorities in the Neman (Nemunas) River Basin — shared by Belarus, Lithuania and the Kaliningrad Oblast of the Russian Federation — will discuss potential measures to minimize risks and protect the population, infrastructure and natural landscape at ... |
 | With housing construction doubling, key challenges in Tajikistan will include energy efficiency and management of multi-apartment houses (14 May 2013)
Housing availability has been one of Tajikistan’s key challenges. The country has a rapidly growing population, but limited land resources due to the mountainous landscape, high seismicity and soils prone to landslides.
Reform of the housing sector started in 2009 following a Presidential ... |
 | UNECE and Eurasian Economic Commission recommend next steps in trade facilitation and the Single Window in the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia (03 May 2013)
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE and the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) organized a second joint Conference on Trade Facilitation and the Single Window on 23-24 April, in Moscow. The Conference issued recommendations for action to EEC Member States.
Russian President ... |
 | Innovation policy and financing for green technologies in Turkmenistan (02 May 2013)
Two UNECE capacity-building events for policymakers, Ashgabat, 15-17 May.
Countries wishing to adopt innovative green technologies need the right policies and enabling environment. They also need suitable infrastructure, good access to external knowledge, and well-trained personnel.
From 15 to ... |
 | UNECE assists Azerbaijan and Georgia in making good progress towards the joint, sustainable management of the Kura River Basin (01 May 2013)
On Tuesday, 30 April 2013, representatives of Azerbaijan and Georgia met in Tbilisi to discuss a draft bilateral agreement on the shared water resources of the Kura River Basin as part of a joint United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)-Organization for Security and Cooperation in ... |
 | UNECE calls for better integration of safety aspects in land-use planning at Europe and Central Asia Housing Forum (25 April 2013)
In the framework of the Europe and Central Asia Housing Forum held in Geneva from 22 to 24 April 2013, experts from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents and the UNECE Committee on Housing and Land Management ... |
 | Housing poverty - a headache for Eurasia (25 April 2013)
Eurasia is often thought of as having more developed housing than many other parts of the world. Recently, however, international attention has been focusing on several types of “housing poverty” in the region.
For example, in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan around 70% of dwellings lack a ... |
 | Serbia joins the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health (24 April 2013)
On 16 April Serbia became the twenty-sixth State to join the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)-World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) Protocol on Water and Health to the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and ... |
 | UNECE/FAO survey confirms wood as leading source of renewable energy in the UNECE region (24 April 2013)
Overall wood energy accounts for 3.4% of the total primary energy supply and 38.9% of the renewable energy supply in 27 UNECE member countries[1] in 2011, confirming its role as the leading source of renewable energy. And around 40% of all mobilized woody biomass supply is used for energy purposes. ... |
 | Visible and invisible products from forests take centre stage at Geneva seminar (24 April 2013)
It’s nothing less than astounding to see the many ways that wood is being used today. Who would imagine that wood products are used in things like beauty products, gels for back pain, hip replacement material, and spacecraft?
A group of experts gathered on 22 ... |
 | First pilot project on post-project analysis under the UNECE Espoo Convention started with Belarus and Ukraine (23 April 2013)
A pilot project on post-project analysis under the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) was kicked-off during a workshop held in Brest, Belarus, on 9 and 10 April 2013. The pilot project will take stock of the environmental impacts ... |
 | UNECE supports Kazakhstan's efforts to promote innovation (23 April 2013)
UNECE is helping Kazakhstan to prepare a methodology for the development of innovation systems in its regions. The seminar organized by the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of Kazakhstan and the National Agency for Technology Development with the expert contribution of UNECE, in Astana on ... |
 | UNECE to commemorate 2013 United Nations Global Road Safety Week (22 April 2013)
To commemorate the United Nations Road Safety Week (6-12 May 2013), UNECE and key partners are organizing a series of events at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on 6 and 7 May 2013.
The key events will include:
a symposium on regional perspectives on drinking and driving organized by UNECE and ... |
 | 65th session of the Economic Commission for Europe adopts renewed strategic framework for UNECE’s work (12 April 2013)
At its 65th session, held from 9 to 11 April at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) adopted the outcome document of the review of the 2005 UNECE reform, which defines the strategic priorities for UNECE’s work for the coming years.
The ... |
 | Timber Committee renamed “Committee on Forest and Forest Industry” (11 April 2013)
As part of the review of its work, the Economic Commission for Europe has changed the name of the Timber Committee to “Committee on Forest and Forest Industry” in order to better reflect the Committee’s current focus and tasks.
Through a joint programme with the European Forestry Commission ... |
 | NPD Steering Committee in Turkmenistan adopts principles for a draft Water Code (09 April 2013)
The development of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Turkmenistan reached a new milestone on 5 April with the adoption of principles for the draft Water Code.
The draft Water Code is being developed within the framework of the National Policy Dialogue (NPD) by the Turkmen ... |
 | 65th session of the Economic Commission for Europe will discuss the shift to a sustainable future and the role of innovation in creating a dynamic and competitive economy (04 April 2013)
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) will hold its 65th session from 9 to 11 April at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The Commission is expected to make strategic decisions on the UNECE programme of work. It provides a forum for policy dialogue on the economic developments in ... |
 | UNECE and partners organize seminar on Business Planning for Energy Efficiency Projects (02 April 2013)
The International Training Course on Business Planning for Energy Efficiency Projects will be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan on 3-4 April 2013.
The programme is designed to help over 50 representatives of private and public companies from South-Eastern and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central, ... |
 | UNECE supports Afghan-Tajik cooperation on environment and hydrology in the Amu Darya Basin (28 March 2013)
Afghan and Tajik officials responsible for water and environment management met in Dushanbe from 25 to 27 March 2013 for the third bilateral meeting in the process to establish cooperation on hydrology and environment in the shared upper part of the Amu Darya River Basin. The meeting was organized ... |
 | UNECE presents its Global Assessment of Tajikistan’s National System of Official Statistics (25 March 2013)
On 7 March, UNECE presented the major findings and recommendations of its Global Assessment of Tajikistan’s National System of Official Statistics.
In partnership with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Eurostat, UNECE conducted two advisory missions to Tajikistan and drafted ... |
 | World Water Day celebrates water cooperation: UNECE Water Convention set to make a difference by supporting action on the ground (22 March 2013)
In the International Year of Water Cooperation (2013), World Water Day (22 March) will also celebrate the theme of water cooperation, focusing on enhancing cooperation and building partnerships at the local, national and transboundary levels to address freshwater-related challenges. The official ... |
 | A multi-stakeholder workshop in Minsk to address adaptation to climate change in the Neman River Basin (18 March 2013)
Representatives of different water users in the Neman River Basin — shared by Belarus, Lithuania and Kaliningrad Oblast (Russian Federation) — will discuss potential measures to minimize risks and protect the population, infrastructure and natural landscapes at a stakeholder workshop on 19 ... |
 | National Policy Dialogue Steering Committee in Kyrgyzstan approves targets on water and health (15 March 2013)
At its ninth meeting, held on 13 March 2013 in Bishkek, the Steering Committee of the National Policy Dialogue (NPD) on integrated water resources management (IWRM) in Kyrgyzstan approved national targets with regard to water quality, water supply and wastewater treatment with a view of improving ... |
 | Former UNECE Executive Secretary Gerald Hinteregger dies (07 March 2013)
UNECE mourns the death of its former Executive Secretary Gerald Hinteregger (1928-2013). As UNECE’s sixth Executive Secretary, Mr. Hinteregger headed the Commission from 1987 to 1993. During those years, Europe’s political and economic landscape changed dramatically, with the disintegration of ... |
 | Equitable access to water and sanitation in France, Portugal and Ukraine: progress being made, but challenges remain (04 March 2013)
Where do countries stand in terms of achieving equitable access to water and sanitation? To answer this question France, Portugal and Ukraine used a self-assessment procedure to determine the level of equitable access in their countries, which highlighted progress achieved in providing access to ... |
 | Water takes centre stage in discussion on Post-2015 Development Agenda (01 March 2013)
– 27 February 2013. Does water have a role to play in the post-2015 Development Agenda? If so, how will it be addressed? A global resource that affects all millennium development goals, water is a particularly challenging – and important – issue to incorporate in defining the post-2015 ... |
 | 75th Jubilee Session of the Inland Transport Committee (01 March 2013)
The Inland Transport Committee (ITC) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) held its 75th jubilee session from 26 – 28 February 2013, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The opening of the session, on 26 February (morning), was conducted as a Ministerial Meeting, which was ... |
 | Unified Railway Law: Breakthrough towards a Euro-Asian and even a global legal regime for rail transport (01 March 2013)
37 Transport Ministers and other high-level government representatives signed on 26 February, 2013 in Geneva – on the occasion of the 75th jubilee session of the Inland Transport Committee serviced by UNECE - a Joint Declaration that could pave the way towards negotiation of a ... |
 | UNECE Ministerial meeting “Making the Euro-Asian Transport Network Operational” (27 February 2013)
On the occasion of the 75th Jubilee session of the Inland Transport Committee (ITC) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), a high-level Ministerial meeting was held on 26 February 2013. More than fifty Ministers, Deputy Ministers and other high-level officials from across ... |
 | Strengthening cooperation on water issues: UNECE talks with Tajikistan (26 February 2013)
On 26 February 2013, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Executive Secretary Sven Alkalaj and the First Deputy Minister of Melioration and Water Resources of Tajikistan, Sulton Rahimov, discussed cooperation on projects and activities related to water and environment in ... |
 | UNECE and EEC agreed to establish a cooperation framework (25 February 2013)
On 25 February 2013, Mr. Sven Alkalaj, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) met Mr. Andrey Slepnev, Member of the Board, Minister for Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) on occasion of his ... |
 | Forest organizations invite you to celebrate Europe's forests (25 February 2013)
2013 is a special year for forests, with many activities and initiatives underway to recognize and strengthen the important role forests play in our lives. The 21st of March will mark the first ever official International Day of Forests and the Tree, as declared in November 2012 by the General ... |
 | Bosnia and Herzegovina joins the UNECE Industrial Accidents Convention (22 February 2013)
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) welcomes the accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents on 20 February 2013. The Convention enters into force for a State on the ninetieth day after the deposit of the State’s ... |
 | UNECE celebrates 75th Jubilee Session of its Inland Transport Committee (20 February 2013)
The Inland Transport Committee (ITC) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) will celebrate its 75th jubilee session, from 26 –28 February 2013 in Geneva.
On Monday, 25 February, UNECE will host an international Conference on Road and Rail Financing. This pre-ITC ... |
 | Japan to increase the safety of trucks and buses through the implementation of UNECE regulation (19 February 2013)
Japan will adopt the highest level of active safety for trucks and buses when United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Regulation No. 13 on “motor-vehicle braking systems” becomes effective in the country on 24 February 2013. This decision brings the number of countries ... |
 | Launch of new online training course to help prevent, prepare for and respond to Industrial Accidents (18 February 2013)
With the rise of new technologies, online learning has become very popular in recent years, using new interactive tools for teaching various subjects. In line with this trend, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United ... |
 | International Year of Water Cooperation: UNECE offers global legal framework for action (12 February 2013)
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is prepared to play a key role in addressing global water issues and, in particular, the vital need to further develop transboundary water cooperation. This was the message of Marco Keiner, Director of the UNECE Environment Division, ... |
 | UNECE Water Convention goes global (06 February 2013)
17 years after its entry into force, the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) is turning into a global convention. Having received the necessary number of ratifications, the amendments to the UNECE Water Convention ... |
 | UNECE to discuss Public Private Partnerships options to renovate the Palais des Nations (01 February 2013)
The fifth Session of the UNECE Team of Specialists on Public Private Partnerships (TOS PPP) will be held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva from 5-6 February 2012.
The meeting will focus on the activities of the UNECE International PPP Centre of Excellence - a coordinating hub based within UNECE ... |
 | Iran discusses the benefits of the UNECE Water Convention (23 January 2013)
An International Workshop, “Transboundary Waters, Challenges and the Way Forward” was held in Tehran on 20 January 2013 to discuss how Iran can take advantage of the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) in order to ... |
 | Stronger real estate markets can help US economy grow, says UN advisory group (18 January 2013)
Secure and well-protected property rights and accurate and accessible information for lenders and borrowers can promote economic growth. This was the main message from the 15 January 2013 forum, “UNECE Policy Framework for Sustainable Real Estate Markets: Sound rules to improve the real estate ... |
 | Economic performance in Commonwealth of Independent States is weakening — UN (17 January 2013)
Economic growth in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Georgia, measured by aggregate Gross Domestic Product—GDP—rose by around 3.8 per cent in 2012 and growth is expected to remain at a similar level 2013, well below potential, as the world economy continues to provide a difficult ... |
 | Europe’s debt crisis reverberations continue to depress the region (17 January 2013)
The euro area is in recession and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the region is expected to reach only 0.3 per cent in 2013, strengthening marginally to 1.4 per cent in 2014, said the United Nations in the annual report, World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2013.
The full WESP report, ... |
 | Israel accedes to the UNECE Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (17 January 2013)
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) welcomes the accession of Israel to the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus ... |
