Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environment, Conservation, Forestry, Fisheries, Oceans and Coasts

UNECE supports countries in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) thanks to its:

• role as a platform for governments to cooperate and engage with all stakeholders on norms, standards and conventions
• unique convening power across the region
• multisectoral approach to tackle the interconnected challenges of sustainable development in an integrated manner
• transboundary focus, which helps devise solutions to shared challenges

Partnerships (SDG 17) between stakeholders including governments, international and regional organizations, businesses, academia and civil society are a driving force of UNECE’s work.  This covers three main strategic areas:

• Improving connectivity within the region (SDGs, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13)
• Reducing environmental pressures and using resources more sustainably (SDGs 3, 6, 7, 12, 13, 15)
• Contributing to creating more dynamic and resilient economies (SDGs 7, 8, 9, 11, 13)

UNECE works for member countries by:

• Supporting evidence-based decision-making through reliable statistics and improved monitoring, analysis, and policy advice 
• Fostering cooperation among all stakeholders at the country and regional level
• Building countries’ capacities to implement its norms, conventions and standards, which offer practical tools to improve people’s everyday lives

UNECE promotes women’s economic empowerment and mainstreaming of gender equality in all its activities (SDG 5) 

The sustainable management of water resources is fundamental to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UNECE provides an effective platform to strengthen cooperation and works with countries to build capacities and address key water policy challenges and their integration in other policy areas.

Facilitating cooperation on shared water resources

UNECE’s Water Convention enables effective cooperation between countries for the sustainable management of shared water resources that is essential for environmental protection, drinking water and sanitation, agriculture, industry and energy production.

Improving access to clean water

The UNECE/WHO Europe Protocol on Water and Health is the only international treaty spelling out countries’ obligations arising from the human right to water and sanitation. It helps countries design policies to increase access to drinking water and sanitation for all citizens, especially for the most vulnerable members of society.

Improving water management in cities

UNECE works with countries to integrate Improved water and sanitation management as a core component of all urban and housing strategies and policies (Country Profiles on Housing and Land Management and Smart Sustainable Cities Profiles).

Safeguarding forest ecosystems for water generation and purification

UNECE works to protect forests so they may continue to provide vital ecosystem services such as water generation and purification. In particular, UNECE supports the valuation of forest-water-related ecosystem services through payment schemes.

Ensuring environmentally friendly inland water navigation

UNECE promotes the use of inland waterways as a sustainable complement to the transport of goods by road and rail and works to reduce the environmental impact of vessels travelling on them. 

Sustainable energy underpins attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UNECE works with countries and stakeholders to attain sustainable and clean energy for all and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint of the energy sector.

Supporting sustainable future energy systems

UNECE assists countries in developing sustainable energy systems, national action plans and green economy policies that embrace the energy transition holistically. Through development of appropriate indicators and improving the quality of energy statistics, UNECE also supports enhanced measurement and decision-making for improved energy system management.  

Advancing energy efficiency

UNECE helps countries improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  

Performance guidance developed by UNECE supports enhanced energy efficiency of buildings, which in developed countries account for over 70% of electrical power generated and 40% of primary energy.

Enhancing interconnected energy systems

UNECE is assisting countries in providing energy services sustainably through enhanced electric system integration and interconnection with distributed generation sources and smart energy distribution and use.

UNECE is engaged with governments and the gas industry to enhance the emergence of a global gas market and the uptake of natural gas in transport while reducing methane emissions.

Reducing the ecological footprint of fossil fuels

UNECE is working with countries and industry to reduce the ecological footprint of fossil fuels: disseminating best practices for deploying high efficiency, low emissions fossil technology with carbon capture and storage; developing standards, technologies and best practices for reporting and reducing methane emissions; and modernizing classification systems to support sustainable resource management.

Supporting green and renewable energy

UNECE provides a platform for policy makers, financial institutions and technology developers to increase investment in renewable energy technology in the region based on improved data and policy dialogues.  

UNECE supports countries in increasing their use of green and renewable energy through the development of classification systems to improve the international management and coordination of alternative energy resources, including solar, geothermal, wind, bioenergy and energy from waste. 

UNECE supports the use of hydropower by facilitating international cooperation on shared water resources (Water Convention) and by advancing integrated and sustainable water management as part of the water-food-energy-ecosystem nexus.

UNECE also supports the sustainable use of forests for wood energy, which is the region’s primary renewable energy source representing 50% of renewable energy use. This includes monitoring, policy advice and review in addition to reporting on current and emerging market trends.

Promoting energy efficient transport

UNECE promotes energy efficient transport through UN vehicle regulations on improved fuel efficiency and by ensuring that more sustainable fuel technologies including electric, hybrid and hydrogen, become widely available.

UNECE also promotes the shift to more energy efficient modes of transport such as rail and inland waterways for long distance haulage.

By simplifying and standardizing business processes and fostering the environmental and social sustainability of international trade, UNECE helps countries and companies ensure that economic growth is a catalyst for sustainable development.

Accelerating growth through simplified international trade

As host to UN Conventions on border crossing, UNECE helps over 70 countries in Europe, the Middle-East and Asia to develop sustainable and resilient cross-border infrastructure to drive economic growth and open new trade routes (TIR Convention). 

This is complemented by over 480 standards and recommendations on trade facilitation and electronic business (UN/CEFACT, UN/EDIFACT, Single Window) which help countries and companies cut trading costs, reduce bureaucracy and implement the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.

Removing non-tariff barriers to trade

UNECE conducts evidence-based studies to help countries identify and remove regulatory barriers to trade, develop action plans for generating efficiency gains throughout supply chains, and diversify exports.  

Cutting costs and opening access to markets

UNECE norms and standards ranging from agriculture to vehicle regulations help to reduce costs through economies of scale, eliminating technical barriers to trade and enabling countries to access new export markets.

UNECE acts as a convening platform to support partnerships among standards bodies, and between standards bodies and decision-makers in businesses, administrations, donor agencies and local communities. This helps bring innovative technological solutions to scale, reducing fragmentation in regulatory requirements and the duplication of standards. It supports coherent regulatory frameworks for sustainable economic growth and competitiveness that limit environmental and social risks (Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies).

Enhancing agricultural production

Food production is increasingly threatened by air pollution, which affects soil quality and crop yields. UNECE supports countries with guidance on reducing ammonia emissions from agriculture.

Recommendations and training on the use and implementation of UNECE’s international agricultural quality standards and best practice also help producers, traders and national authorities to increase quality production and yields. This in turn fosters the development of sustainable domestic and international markets.

Nurturing the green economy

UNECE fosters the development of the green economy by mobilizing public and private stakeholders to develop, commit to and deliver on concrete actions ranging from investment in green technologies to promoting sustainable production and consumption (Batumi Initiative on Green Economy (BIG-E), to which 40 countries and organisations have submitted more than 120 commitments).

UNECE also helps strengthen the forest sector’s contribution to the green economy in the region through the implementation of the Rovaniemi Action Plan. The holistic plan promotes sustainable production and consumption of forest products, a low-carbon forest sector, decent green jobs, the long-term provision of forest ecosystem services and policy development and monitoring.

Supporting green jobs

Through the Transport, Health and Environment Pan European Project in partnership with WHO/Europe, UNECE is working with a range of stakeholders to identify and promote green jobs in the transport sector.

Sustainable forest management and green jobs go hand in hand. UNECE works on identifying and promoting green jobs in the forests sector, supporting the implementation of the Rovaniemi Action Plan

Promoting sustainable growth of real estate markets

UNECE supports sustainable growth in the real estate sector through guidelines and capacity building on land registration, by promoting the use of e-governance, land tenure, spatial information and cadastres, and through recommendations on improving market sustainability.

Supporting economic growth through statistics

Through statistical work on economic growth and employment, UNECE provides countries with internationally harmonized tools to strengthen knowledge-based decision-making on economic issues, labour market dynamics, gender equality and business processes.

Supporting the development of gender statistics and gender equality indicators

UNECE conducts methodological work to ensure appropriate measurement of gender issues in official statistics, builds related capacities in national statistical systems, and facilitates the exchange of knowledge and experience between countries. The UNECE Gender Statistics Database highlights key issues and trends in gender equality in the region helping to inform targeted action.

Monitoring progress towards achieving gender equality in the region

UNECE leads the 5-yearly regional review of progress in the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, helping countries and other stakeholders to assess trends in gender equality in the region, identify current challenges, highlight good practices and commit to concrete actions in a range of key areas.

Making economies inclusive for all ages

Population ageing is a both a major challenge and opportunity for countries of the UNECE region. As part of wide-ranging support to help countries realize the potential of living longer, UNECE tracks progress, shares best practices and develops recommendations for inclusive and flexible employment for older persons and the elimination of all forms of discrimination. Promoting gender-responsiveness is a consideration throughout this work.

UNECE supports countries’ to ensure that industry, innovation and infrastructure provide robust foundations for sustainable development.

Fostering innovation & entrepreneurship

Innovation Performance Reviews enable countries to identify needs and opportunities to build knowledge-based economies. Through policy advice on how to boost investment in technology and R&D, this helps countries to diversify their economies and upgrade technological capabilities across various sectors, helping to create the conditions where entrepreneurship and innovation can thrive.

Developing sustainable transport systems

Through its 58 international Transport legal instruments, UNECE provides a framework for the development of infrastructure and operations to ensure safe and sustainable transport systems, by road, rail, and inland waterways, facilitating mobility of people and movement of goods. UNECE also helps countries to harness the potential of new technologies through the integration of Intelligent Transport Systems in all modes of transport.

Facilitating investment in infrastructure

Through international standards and guidance on “People first Public Private Partnerships”, UNECE helps to bring governments and businesses together for the sustainable financing of key infrastructure developments, including in transport, energy and water management.

Supporting the sustainable planning of infrastructure & industry

UNECE supports cleaner and safer industry and infrastructure through frameworks for assessment and effective planning to ensure their economic, social and environmental sustainability (Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents, Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment, Country Profiles on Housing and Land Management).

Promoting gender-responsive standards

UNECE supports the development of standards that respond to the needs of women and promotes their participation in the development of such norms in all contexts.

Supporting women’s economic advancement and entrepreneurship

UNECE supports countries in the promotion of women’s economic advancement, including entrepreneurship, by building skills and knowledge, and fostering professional networks. In South-East Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, activities include assessing the business environment for women entrepreneurs and tackling key issues, such as the lack of networking opportunities, difficult access to credit and skills gaps. 

UNECE’s climate change mitigation work targets cross-cutting areas that help to achieve greenhouse gas reductions.

Integrating climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning

UNECE’s Environmental Performance Reviews provide concrete cross-sectoral recommendations for the integration of effective climate change measures within national policy frameworks.

Strategic Environmental Assessment offers a tool to ensure that climate change mitigation is addressed within countries’ development plans and strategies.

Reducing emissions

Reducing air pollution also has benefits for our climate. International cooperation and national commitments under UNECE’s Air Convention have helped to significantly cut air pollutants in 51 countries across Europe and North America. The Gothenburg Protocol is the only international legally-binding instrument with obligations to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants, helping to limit ground-level ozone and black carbon emissions.

UNECE helps countries achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from transport through more stringent UN Regulations on vehicle emissions and by facilitating the availability of greener fuel sources.

Promoting the development of Intelligent Transport Systems and the use of rail and inland waterwayshelps to further limit emissions by reducing traffic congestion.

UNECE helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector via best practices for methane management, through technologies and investments for cleaner energy from fossil fuels, and recommendations on Carbon Capture and Storage.

UNECE also promotes the use of innovative wooden-based construction materials, which require between five and twenty-four time less energy than concrete and steel, and contribute to carbon storage.  UNECE carries out projects to restore forests and degraded land, helping to increase the potential of forests as carbon sinks in the region.

Advancing energy efficiency and renewables

Through a comprehensive approach promoting energy efficiency from source to use, UNECE supports countries’ transition to low carbon energy systems.

UNECE’s Framework Guidelines for the energy performance of buildings – which represent 40% of combustion-related CO2 emissions in developed countries – help to promote energy efficiency in buildings.

UNECE is working with countries to accelerate the uptake of renewable energy across the region.

This is supported by the United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources (UNFC) which has been expanded to allow for the improved management of renewable energy sources and helps identify sustainable energy investments.

Strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity

By promoting strengthened cooperation and providing practical tools and policy advice, UNECE assists countries in mitigating risks and adapting to the effects of climate change – including to the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events.

UNECE supports the development and implementation of standards that help prevent and reduce disaster risks and ensure better preparedness and management of crises, including those related to climate change.  

UNECE’s Water Convention enables effective cooperation between countries to prevent and adapt to the effects of droughts and floods.

UNECE’s Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents provides a framework to reduce environmental and health risks from industrial facilities in the event of extreme weather-related accidents. This includes the promotion of appropriate land-use planning together with measures to enhance preparedness through emergency exercises and effective contingency plans.

As part of holistic support to countries in the development of sustainable transport systems, UNECE provides policy advice and develops best practices on transport resilience to climate change.

Providing tools to measure and adapt to climate change

Quality statistics provide the basis for effective decision-making for climate action. UNECE plays a leading role in global efforts to advance climate change statistics, producing the first ever Recommendations on Climate Change-Related Statistics. UNECE’s Expert Forum on Climate Change Statistics provides a key international platform to support this work.

UNECE has developed a modelling tool to help governments develop transport policies that minimize CO2 emissions (ForFITS).

UNECE also monitors the role of forests in the region in climate change mitigation and adaptation, and supports ongoing assessment of the role of forests as carbon sinks.