UNEPUNECE cooperation in a changing world on water, climate change and security related issues

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UNEP-UNECE cooperation in a changing world on
water, climate change and security related
issues Panel 2 UNECE Acting on Climate Water,
Forestry and Timber UNECE 63rd Session, Palais
des Nations, Geneva 31 March 2009
J.C. Bouvier Director and Regional
Representative UNEP Regional Office for Europe
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Presentation overview

• Illustration of some global challenges
• The perspective of UN Reform and international
  environmental governance for the ECE region
• Concrete examples of joint UNEP-UNECE work in the
  ECE region Environment for Europe process,
  Transport Energy, Forestry and Timber,
  Environmental Performance Reviews, Environment
  and Security (ENVSEC) activities

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Water Stress
Physical water scarcity (water resources
development is approaching or has exceeded
sustainable limits). More than 75 of river flows
are withdrawn for agriculture, industry, and
domestic purposes. Approaching physical water
scarcity. More than 60 of river flows are
withdrawn. These basins will experience physical
water scarcity in the near future.
Source Comprehensive assessment of water
management in Agriculture, International Water
Management Institute 2007
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1 Low 2 Medium 3 High
Risk of Permafrost Thawing in the ECE region
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Permafrost thawing Economic damage and risk to
infrastructure
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Enhanced cooperation between UN organisations

• Ongoing international environmental governance
  debates in New York (UNGA 2008) and Nairobi (last
  UNEP GC Ministerial debate on IEG help or
  hindrance? February 2009) and the CSD WG (Mexico,
  Switzerland) recommended action at regional level
• Meanwhile Geneva demonstrated a range of
  experiences of UNEP and UNECE working together on
  several environmental issues i.e. facilitating
  implementation of UNECE conventions, assessments
  (EPR) monitoring
• Joint efforts towards Green Economy between
  UNECE and UNEP
• An annual joint review enhanced as of 2009 to
  broaden its scope
• UNECE leadership in RCM and interaction with RDT
  key to success. UNEP committed.

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Some concrete examples of UNECE-UNEP collaboration

• Environment for Europe Ministerial process
  started in Dobris 1991, latest Belgrade 2007.
  Support to UNECE as Secretariat and specific UNEP
  tasks (i.e. SCP, PEBLDS)
• Environmental performance reviews Uzbekistan
  (2009), previously in Azerbaijan, Yugoslavia,
  Tajikistan
• Also with WHO Transport, Health and Environment
  Pan-European Programme (THE PEP)
• Energy Efficiency 21 Project with UNEPGEF to
  promote the formation of a market for energy
  efficiency and foster financing for energy
  efficiency investments in the EECCA
• Caspian Environment Programme Transboundary EIA
  protocol (with ESPOO Convention)
• ENVSEC activities within ECE region Dniester,
  Danube delta the Upper Pripyat

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The Danube delta to split the channels, or to
find common value?
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The Dniester Pollution, floods, hydro-power,
politics and cooperation
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Climate Change in Eastern Europe Environment
Security Initiative 2009

• One direct consequence of climate change is
  increasing floods. Floods in summer of 2008
  devastated parts of Ukraine and Moldova (material
  damage, destroyed infrastructure, flooded houses,
  dislocated populations).
• There are indications that this will continue,
  especially with the background of illegal logging
  in Carpathian forests that otherwise could be
  natural adaptation mechanisms.

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Climate change in Central Asia Environment
Security Initiative 2009

• With climate change and melting glaciers in the
  mountains, water flow will be less stable and in
  the end less abundant.
• Up-to-date information about what will happen to
  the region's water resources is needed.
• Better institutions to manage water allocation,
  energy and agricultural use of water
  understanding of humanitarian consequences
  (natural disasters, agri-failures, migration,
  local tensions and possible unrest).

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