Energy transition safety gaps prompt states to step up work on industrial accidents risks
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
UNECE fosters sustainable development by translating #GlobalGoals into norms and conventions that impact people’s lives
In response to rising risks of accidents as the scale and scope of industrial activities increases to meet the demands of the energy transition, governments from across the pan-European region have decided to strengthen cooperation to ensure safety by expanding work under the UNECE Industrial Accidents Convention, which held its 13th meeting of the Conference of the Parties this week in Geneva. A dedicated report and seminar highlighted that the massive scaling-up in production, storage, use and distribution of renewables (e.g. solar and wind), ammonia, hydrogen and battery energy storage systems is expected to create additional accident risks and require further control measures and greater awareness among policymakers, operators and the public. Experts under the Convention warn that a key area of risk is the huge quantities of critical minerals that will be required over the next decades to produce renewable energy and battery technology. This will require strengthened safety measures throughout minerals’ lifecycles – in mining, processing, refining and storage and in technology production facilities. Read more
SPECA
Central Asian countries adopt Dushanbe Declaration to advance green development and internationally agreed goals
At the 2024 SPECA Economic Forum and Governing Council meeting, convened this week in Tajikistan, representatives of States participating in the United Nations Special Programmes for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) adopted the Dushanbe Declaration, acknowledging the urgent need for regional cooperation in green development and committed to strengthen collaboration across critical sectors, including energy, trade digitalization, trade integration, trade facilitation, investment promotion, SME development, water cooperation and innovation ecosystems. This year’s Forum focused on key priorities, such as climate action, technology and innovation, and sustainable transport and energy. High-level participants from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan highlighted how climate change is impacting the economies and ecosystems of the region, and they discussed operationalization of the SPECA Multi-Partner Trust Fund, as well as new initiatives, such as the SPECA Climate and Innovation Dialogue, SPECA Forum of Climate Smart Cities and SPECA Concept of Development until 2030. Read more
Trade
UNECE adopts quality standard for whole dried rosehip to boost trade in Central Asia
Whole dried rosehip is traded as whole fruit or in pieces in several countries in the Central Asian region, used to make tea and infusions. The recent adoption of a UNECE recommendation (standard on trial) for whole dried rosehip is expected to open new trade opportunities for producers worldwide by reducing barriers for export to high-value markets, enabling producers to tap into growing consumer demand for natural, high-quality nutritional products. The standard defines quality requirements for whole dried rosehip produced from the Rosaceae Juss Rosa L. plant family, covering rosehip intended for direct consumption without further processing. The development of this standard reflects UNECE’s commitment to support agricultural trade in the region. Central Asian producers can now leverage these standards to enhance product quality, expand market access, and support economic growth in the region. Read more
Podcast of the Week
Innovation Matters - Future of Legal Infrastructure (part 2)
Water
Case studies inspire data- and information-sharing in transboundary basins, supported by UN Water Convention
Transboundary waters around the world face significant pressures due to population growth, increasing water demand and the impacts of the triple-planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. Results from the third reporting exercise on SDG indicator 6.5.2 highlight a lack of relevant data and information and difficulties in data and information exchange as two of the three top challenges faced by countries in cooperating on transboundary waters. These challenges highlight the need to develop joint data- and information sharing processes, which are fundamental for efficient cooperation, enhanced resilience and emergency preparedness. To address the challenges, the publication "Good Practices and Lessons Learned in Data-sharing in Transboundary Basins" was developed with the leadership of Finland and Senegal as co-chairs of the Working Group on Monitoring and Assessment, under the framework of the Water Convention. The study includes 43 lessons learned supported by 78 case studies from around the world, building on real-life examples. Read more
Environment
Mauritania must progress towards more effective environmental management including for fisheries, energy and mining activities
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Integrating climate change into all public policies; improving the environmental information system, compliance, surface and groundwater monitoring and biodiversity; enforcing the law on environmental, waste and chemicals management; and stepping up efforts for the sustainable management of fisheries, energy and mining activities are the main priorities identified in Mauritania's Environmental Performance Review. The review provides recommendations to guide the Mauritanian Government's actions aimed at achieving the SDGs, as well as national commitments in terms of sustainable development and environmental management. The country is gradually equipping itself with tools and mechanisms to support environmental management. However, the unsystematic integration of climate change into sectoral policies remains a major challenge. To that end, the Government has taken a series of measures to put in place the institutional structures needed to promote, coordinate and strengthen its efforts to adapt to climate change and mitigate its effects. Read more
Innovation
Transformative innovation and artificial intelligence at the forefront of climate change action
While negotiators at COP29 in Baku were grappling with agreement on climate action, delegates and experts of the UNECE Team of Specialists on Innovation and Competitiveness Policies discussed the opportunities and challenges of innovation using artificial intelligence (AI) for climate change action. Their findings and ensuing recommendations will feed into the next UNECE Commission session in April 2025 dedicated to “Climate action and resilient infrastructure for a sustainable future.” Delegates, experts from academia, the private sector, and representative of partner organizations highlighted how AI can help in measuring emissions, radically improving climate and weather modelling and forecasting, optimizing energy consumption, and integrating renewable energy resources in the grid. Yet, they also stressed one of the major obstacles to the use of AI in climate change action, namely is its large and fast-growing environmental footprint. Read more
Public-private partnerships
Climate action and SDG acceleration through sustainable PPPs and resilient infrastructure
The world faces immense challenges in achieving the SDGs by 2030. The climate crisis, widening inequalities, and infrastructure financing gaps underscore the urgent need for sustainable, resilient, and inclusive development strategies. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are central to addressing these challenges, leveraging private sector expertise, capital, and transformative innovation to build infrastructure that advances climate action and accelerates progress on the SDGs. During this week's 8th session of the UNECE Working Party on Public-Private partnerships, member States discussed how the UNECE PPPs for the SDGs approach is linked to the Pact for the Future and its Global Digital Compact, and how it can advance its objectives, while at the same time contributing to the cross-cutting theme of the 70th Commission session dedicated to digital and green transformations for sustainable development. They endorsed four new UNECE guidelines on PPPs containing practical policy recommendations for policy makers. Read more
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