The Strategy for Greening the Economy

The Perspective of the United NationsEconomic Commission for Europe

Malta4 October 2013

Aphrodite SmagadiEnvironmental Affairs OfficerUNECE Environment Division

aphrodite.smagadi@unece.org

Aim of presentation is to inform about the role of the ECE in setting environmental standards

• Background information on the ECE

• Focus on environment programme: overview of the MEAs

• Compliance and reporting

• Conclusions: benefits and challenges

ECE History and geography

• Set up in 1947 by the ECOSOC

• Covers more that 47 million square km

• Home to 20% of the world population

• 56 member States (from Europe, N. America, Central

Asia, Israel/Turkey)

66 years of cooperation

ECE: Mandate and role

• Facilitates greater economic integration and cooperation

• Promotes economic prosperity and sustainable development through• Policy dialogue

• International legal instruments, regulations and norms

• Technical assistance and capacity building

• Enhances the effectiveness of the UN through the regional implementation of outcomes of global UN processes

• Feeds the regional perspective into the global processes

Promoting economic goals in tandem with the environment

ECE: Environment policy

• Aim to:• Reduce pollution, minimize environmental damage

• Broader objectives of sustainable development and green economy

• Governed by: • Committee on Environmental Policy (CEP)

• Processes:• “Environment for Europe” (EfE) process: the driving force for the

development of MEAs

• Education for sustainable development

• Environmental Performance Reviews

To protect the environment and human health

Environment policy: MEAs

• The region causes 2/3 of world’s pollution• Environment = high priority

• Total: 17 environmental legal instruments• 5 Conventions and 12 Protocols (one not in force, some no

longer relevant)

• Some open to non-ECE countries• Ongoing debate under LRTAP and Industrial Accidents

The only UN regional commission with legislation on the environment

Acid rain prompted the Air Pollution Convention back in the 1970s

•Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (1979)

•Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention, 1991)

•Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (1992)

•Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (1992)

•Access to Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention, 1998)

Environment policy: MEAs

•In force since 1983, 8 Protocols 1999 Multi-effect (Gothenburg) 1991 VOC

1998 Heavy Metals 1988 Nox

1998 POPs (basis of Stockholm POPs 1985 Sulphur

1994 Sulphur 1984 EMEP Protocol - EMEP Financial instrument

•Institutional framework for collaborative research: sets targets that are key for the promotion of green economy

•SO2 emissions down by 65%; and NOx and VOC emissions by 35%

•Challenges: Particulate matter, ozone, hemispheric transport of air pollution

•First agreement to include measures for reduction of black carbon

Air Convention (LRTAP)Science, policy and cooperation to abate air pollution

•In force since 1997: Parties to notify and consult each other on projects likely to have significant adverse transboundary environmental impact

•Assess environmental impact at early stage

•Provide opportunity to participate

•Rapid application growth: from 10 cases per year to 100 per year

•Protocol on SEA: evaluate environmental and health consequences of draft plans and programmes – central instrument for green economy

•Applies at strategic levels of decision-making

•Provides for extensive public participation

•International reference for countries to develop policy and legislation Sin EIA/SEA

EIA (Espoo) and SEAPreventing environmental damage before it occurs

•In force since 1996: Guidance on how to protect transboundary impacts, conserve and restore the ecosystems

•Joint management of Dniester Basin (Rep Moldova/Ukraine)

•Open for accession by any UN member State since February 2013: many express interest in joining as Parties

•Protocol on Water and Health (joint secretariat with WHO)•Targeting: human health and well-being

•Social component; equity

Water ConventionStrengthening cooperation and preventing conflict through reasonable and equitable use of transboundary waters

•In force since 1997: active international cooperation between countries, before, during and after an industrial accident on:

•How to prevent, reduce frequency and severity, mitigate

•Protocol on Civil Liability and compensation for Damage Caused by the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents on Transboundary Waters (not in force)

•Self-assessment/reporting: On the basis of set benchmarks, Parties identify challenges/gaps and can benefit from the assistance programme

Industrial accidentsPrevention, preparedness and response

•In force since 2001, grants the public the right for:Access to information Public participation Access to justice

•Ever growing use of the compliance mechanism by the publicsignificant changes in policy and legislation across the region realization of the right for a healthy environment

•International reference for non-ECE countries to develop policy and legislation

•Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers•Enhances public access to information, corporate responsibility approach

•Mandatory reporting of certain pollutants and publicly accessible inventories

Procedural rights: AarhusEnvironmental democracy

Ensuring implementation

•Assessing countries’ efforts and reporting mechanism•Mandatory reporting requirements for most MEAs

•Compliance and implementation procedures:• Compliance/implementation bodies: independent experts or Parties’ representatives

• Assistance-oriented and non-adversarial

• Different triggers and modus operandi (submissions, self-referrals, the role of communications or information from the public)

•Network of the Chairs: a platform for sharing experience, discuss and aim at promoting implementation

Benefits of the MEAs:

• Legal basis for action/cooperation/synergies on how to achieve economic growth, but:• Prevent, reduce, mitigate environmental damage

• Respect social aspects and human health

• Processes that strengthen cooperation between States and civil society (NGOs, scientific community, private sector)

• Coordinated international action to deal with environmental challenges

• Capacity-building and awareness-raising

• Conflict prevention and resolution

Improved and harmonized environmental legislation and management

Challenges of the MEAs

• Economic downturn and political instability leading to changes in the legislative and institutional framework

• Obsolete technology – inaccurate measurements

• Insufficient funding for technical assistance and capacity building

• Environmental problems are global: involving States beyond the region and other stakeholders

Keeping up with high standards in difficult times

Contact & additional information

http://www.unece.org/env/welcome

Sustainable Development sd@unece.org

Environment for Europe efe@unece.org

Environmental Performance Reviews Programme info.epr@unece.org

Air Convention air.env@unece.org

EIA (Espoo) /SEA eia.conv@unece.org

Water water.convention@unece.org

Industrial Accidents teia.conv@unece.org

Aarhus Convention / PRTR public.participation@unece.org