EESC Employers' Group’s Post

Last week on Thursday 2 May 2024, the day before our conference with international stakeholders on "Climate Change, Peace and Security at COP29 and Beyond", experts from #Armenia, #Azerbaijan and #Georgia joined their European counterparts in Bonn to address pressing issues related to water resources and scarcity in the region. The workshop, entitled "Issues of Water Scarcity in the South Caucasus: a potential for future conflict or a basis for future cooperation", was organised jointly by LINKS Europe, the Restart Initiative and the Candid Foundation. In the course of the discussions, participants emphasised the need for the governments of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to start co-operating on water issues in the region, given the interconnectivity of water resources, and the increasing impact of climate change on water resources in the region. Participants noted the positive role that can be played by professionals and experts working on water management issues and agreed that space needs to be created for them to meet and work together. Participants noted that water issues can potentially be important topics around which to build trust and confidence in the region, but equally, they may easily become a source of future tensions, and possibly even conflict. Civil society engagement to provide early warning of emerging problems was necessary. Read more on the news portal commonspace.eu: https://lnkd.in/d7mHU4Bn

🌍 Water is life, and its sustainable management is more critical than ever. In a recent guest article for the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Sonja Köppel Koeppel, Secretary of Water Convention/Protocol on Water & Health, emphasizes the urgency of collective action in water management. 🌊 Recent devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe and droughts in Southern Africa remind us how vulnerable our water systems are. More than 60% of the world’s freshwater resources are shared between two or more countries. Yet, as the recent report on SDG indicator 6.5.2 highlights, only 26 countries have operational arrangements for all their shared waters. Even more alarming, only 15% of shared basins have joint climate adaptation strategies in place. The 10th Meeting of the Parties to the UN Water Convention (#MOP10) is not just another conference—it’s a call to action. Now is the time for nations to innovate and collaborate, ensuring sustainable water resources and achieving the #SDGs by 2030. 💧 Let's work together to make meaningful progress. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/ecUA9sPc Marco Keiner Francesca Bernardini Alexander Belokurov Ana Carolina Deveza Armin Bigham Ghazani Chantal Demilecamps Sèhouevi M. David AGOUNGBOME Diane Guerrier Erik Aarnos Goddey Atitsogbui Hanna Plotnykova Iulia Trombitcaia Julien Favier Komlan Sangbana, Ph.D Leonid Kalashnyk Lucia de Strasser Nataliya Nikiforova Rémy Kinna Tamara Kutonova Jean Rodriguez Thomas Croll-Knight Jovana Miocinovic United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Aleš Bizjak Tanja Miškova Kaja Češnovar Ministrstvo za naravne vire in prostor #WaterManagement #TransboundaryCooperation #SDG6 #ClimateAction #UNWaterConvention

Urgent and concerted action is needed to avoid worsening land #degradation in the face of #populationgrowth, #unprecedentedconsumption, an increasingly #globalizedeconomy and climate change. High consumption lifestyles in developed countries, coupled with rising consumption in developing and emerging economies are the dominant factors driving land degradation. Institutional, policy and governance responses to address #landdegradation are often reactive and fragmented and fail to address the ultimate causes of land degradation. While the unsustainable management of croplands and grazing lands is currently the most extensive direct driver of land degradation, #climatechange can exacerbate the impacts of land degradation and can limit options for addressing land degradation. An urgent step change in effort is needed to prevent irreversible land degradation and to accelerate the implementation of restoration measures. Delaying the implementation of proven actions to combat land degradation will result in the necessary steps becoming progressively more difficult and costly. Existing multilateral environmental agreements, coupled with coordinated policy agendas that encourage sustainable production and consumption, provide a platform for action to avoid and reduce land degradation and promote restoration. Landscape-wide approaches that integrate agricultural, forest, energy, water and infrastructure agendas, coupled with the elimination of perverse incentives and devising positive incentives, can assist in addressing the problem.

📸 ICYMI: At #MEPC82 in London, Pacific Environment hosted a panel discussion and a Q&A with a group of young climate advocates from the Global South on the urgency of a strong carbon levy on #shipping. The climate advocates were able to meet with International Maritime Organization Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez at the event and discuss the importance of #ClimateAction from the IMO. We’ve covered how climate change impacts their local communities, what role global shipping plays in this crisis, and why an ambitious levy on shipping emissions is a key part of the solution. Here are some key takeaways: 💰Although ocean shipping is vital for island life and economic growth in vulnerable countries, many people don’t know the negative impacts of the industry and the benefits of cleaning up this pollutive industry. 🌱Revenues from the levy could be a gamechanger for Global South countries if invested in zero-emission technology, climate-resilient ports and supply chains and jobs in renewable energy. 💨The levy is an important tool to get ships off fossil fuels, which means less greenhouse gas emissions overall, cleaner water and air, no more oil spills and fewer collisions with marine wildlife. Thanks to all the panelists that joined us! You can learn more about them below: Abigael Kima, Kenya Olumide Idowu (Mr. Climate), Nigeria Shania Scotland, Dominica Nicole Morson, Dominica Marcelo Rocha, Brazil Teresa Lifuka-Drecala, Tuvalu

18th EWA Brussels Conference The first session of the conference, centered on Climate Emergency, has concluded with a compelling round table discussion on the future of the water sector with Veronica Manfredi Pietro Francesco De Lotto, Tania Pentcheva and Wendy Francken. Moderated by EWA Secretary General Arthur G. Here are some key takeaways from this passionate exchange: 💧Raising awareness is crucial for becoming water resilient 💧Aging infrastructures need to be updated—this challenge - also presents an opportunity to create better, smarter systems. 💧Wastewater is a valuable resource, not waste. 💧We have the solutions; it’s time to act and implement them. 💧Solidarity and cooperation, especially in data sharing, are essential. 💧A long-term strategy with forward-thinking vision is vital for sustainable progress. 💧Europe stands at a pivotal crossroads—the time to act is now. Let’s unite and take action because the moment to shape our water future is here💪💧 #water #waterinfrastructure #sdg6 #waterresilience #bluedeal #UWWTD #WFD

#ispot Environmental Authority urges collaboration to reduce GHG emissions Lelise Neme, the Director General of Ethiopia’s Environmental Protection Authority, has committed to enhancing collaborative efforts aimed at significantly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which are vital for promoting effective climate change mitigation. In a recent development, the Authority formalized an agreement with seven key sector institutions to jointly establish a national framework for reducing, reporting, and verifying greenhouse gas emissions. The signatories include the Ministries of Transport and Logistics, Industry, Urban Development and Infrastructure, Agriculture, Mines, and the Ethiopian Forest Development Authority. Read More (https://lnkd.in/dZDH2thP)

💧 Water is life! The global water cycle is out of balance and extreme weather events are on the rise, affecting people and the environment. The importance of #WaterQuality is often underestimated. Sound and accessible water quality data is the basis to sustain our livelihoods, industries and ecosystems. 🤝 Today, UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen and German Ambassador Sebastian Groth celebrated a new collaboration between the UN Environment Programme and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, nukleare Sicherheit und Verbraucherschutz (BMUV)) to improve water quality and ecosystem management through the Global Environment Monitoring System for Freshwater. The project will strengthen integrated data management and reporting capacity at the country level and support stronger collaboration on water quality data in the spirit of the UN System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation #UNWater. 🌍 We are proud to work together to combat the global water, climate, and biodiversity crises!

🌍 World Environment Day 5 June 2024 🌿 Today we celebrate World Environment Day, a time to reflect on the importance of protecting our planet and taking concrete actions for a sustainable future. I believe that every small gesture can make a difference. From reducing waste to promoting renewable energy, we are committed to doing our part to preserve the environment for future generations. 🌱 What can we do in our small way? Let's reduce consumption, reuse, and recycle efficiently, Choose eco-friendly products, Reduce plastic use, Join local cleanup initiatives, Raise awareness in your community, Together, we can make a difference. 💚 #WorldEnvironmentDay #Sustainability #GreenFuture #EnvironmentalAwareness #ClimateAction

Happy World Environment Day! Led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), this year’s World Environment Day focuses on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience, all issues intrinsically linked to Cultivo’s purpose: regenerating 1% of the world’s lands into healthy ecosystems. According to the UNEP, Land restoration projects can reverse the creeping tide of land degradation, drought and desertification. Restoration projects boost livelihoods, lower poverty and build resilience to extreme weather. It increases carbon storage and slows climate change. And restoring just 15 per cent of land and halting further conversion could avoid up to 60 per cent of expected species extinctions. Learn more about Cultivo’s work in land restoration and nature-based carbon removal projects at cultivo.land #worldenvironmentday #naturalcapital #investinnature #carbonremoval #naturebasedsolutions

💧Ursula von der Leyen stresses the need for a new European Water Resilience Strategy in her Political Guidance for 2024-2029. As a part of her candidature, Von Der Leyen’s has declared the need for a European Strategy for Water Resilience, calling for the proper management of water sources, the addressing of water scarcity and enhancing “the competitive innovative edge of our water industry”.    📃The guidelines also include:    🧮Highlighted the need for data and early warning systems as a part of the climate resilience effort. 🌳Placing importance on the protection of forests, woodlands, wetlands and grasslands for ensuring water security. 🗺️Stepping up the work to map the risks and preparedness needs for water in both cities and rural areas.   📣“Water is an indispensable resource for the security of our food, energy and economy but is increasingly under stress from climate change and increasing demands”   This inclusion by Ursula von Der Leyen’s is a clear demonstration of water’s priority in her agenda, and, if she is to be elected, we hope these assurances will materialise, furthering a Water-Smart Society in Europe.    🔗Find here the link Von der Leyen’s Political Guidance for 2024-2029 https://lnkd.in/eZhTcXRr   #Water #WaterSector #WaterResilience #WaterSecurity #WaterScarcity #WaterManagement #WaterWiseEU #ReWaterEU #Freshwater #Wetlands #WaterSmartSociety #WSS #EUBlueDeal #EUWaterStrategy #WaterStrategy #BlueTransition #GreenTransition #ResearchandInnovation #ClimateChange #ClimateAction #Droughts #Floods #Sustainability #Mitigation #Environment #Competitiveness #Agriculture #Industry #FoodSystem #HungarianPresidency Hans Goossens Gonzalo Delacámara Ilari Aho Alexis de Kerchove Tiffany McCullen Atwell Dominique Gatel Pär Larshans George (Giorgos) Sachinis Nuno Brôco Arthur Valkieser Claudia Topalli Sophie Borgne Jonas Fredsted Villadsen Jorge J. Malfeito-Sánchez Jan Hofman