June 2010: The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has published its Annual Report for 2010, in which it highlights, among other things, its work on climate change.
According to the introduction to the report, authored by UNECE Executive Secretary Ján Kubis, UNECE has shown to be well equipped, within its mandate, to be a significant player in addressing the challenge of climate change in the region. In particular, he highlights: UNECE’s environmental conventions; vehicle construction regulations; initiatives to foster financing and use of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency; UNECE’s forestry and timber programme; and initiatives to promote green housing and to improve the indicators measuring natural capital and sustainable development.
Kubis also draws attention to the relaunch of the Regional Coordination Mechanism, a forum established by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and gathering the Heads of the regional offices of the UN funds, programmes and specialized agencies. He explains that this relaunch led to the creation of a thematic working group on climate change, and the drawing of a chart of capabilities available across agencies at the regional level for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
The report includes sections on economic cooperation and integration, environment, gender, housing and land management, population, the Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia, statistics, sustainable energy, technical cooperation, timber and forestry, trade and transport. [The Report]