25 June 2014
UNECE Espoo Convention Meeting Addresses Energy Issues
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The Sixth Meeting of the Parties to the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) and its Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has adopted decisions on, inter alia: reporting and review of implementation; application of the Convention to nuclear-related activities; and guidance on enhancing consistency between the Convention and environmental impact statements.

UNECE5 June 2014: The Sixth Meeting of the Parties to the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) and its Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has adopted decisions on, inter alia: reporting and review of implementation; application of the Convention to nuclear-related activities; and guidance on enhancing consistency between the Convention and environmental impact statements.

The meeting, held from 2-5 June 2014, in Geneva, Switzerland, also considered the accession of countries outside the region and implementation of environmental assessment procedures in and outside the region, with special attention to the generation and use of sustainable energy.

The event included a High-Level Segment and special thematic sessions on wind and hydro energy organized by Poland, and on opportunities for International Financial Institutions (IFIs) to contribute to the awareness and implementation of the two instruments organized by the European Investment Bank.

A panel at the High-Level Segment discussed challenges, achievements and lessons learned on energy-related matters relevant to the Convention and heard case studies on a natural gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea and a nuclear power plant in Romania. The High-Level segment also considered decisions related to the Convention’s budget, work plan, and other items. [UNECE Press Release] [Sixth MOP to the Espoo Convention Website] [Secretariat’s Informal Record of the Meeting]