The Fourth Cycle of UNECE Environmental Performance Reviews (EPR) is underway with the fourth review of Montenegro, carried out under the leadership of UNECE.
A large, multidisciplinary team of international experts worked in Podgorica from 22 to 30 April 2024, assessing the environmental performance of the country by examining developments during the past 11 years.
This is the 60th review since the establishment of the EPR Programme 28 years ago. UNECE Environmental Performance Reviews offer a comprehensive tool to help countries identify key environmental challenges and establish concrete recommendations to improve environmental sustainability across all sectors.
The fourth review of Montenegro measures progress made and considers challenges encountered in the areas of air quality, water management, biodiversity and protected areas, soil protection, waste and chemicals management and greening the economy. It also examines the country’s environmental data, information and observation systems, the extent to which international environmental agreements and commitments are implemented, and activities regarding climate change.
The country’s environmental legal, policy and institutional framework and regulatory and compliance assurance mechanisms are reviewed, as is the integration of environmental considerations into tourism, forestry and industry. The review is also looking at the issues related to the nexus of energy, air pollution and health protection.
In addition, this review will assess the country’s progress towards relevant targets and indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals. The review team will examine how the Goals are being adapted to the national context and how the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is put into practice, whether the necessary resources have been allocated and responsibilities are clear, what obstacles have been encountered when targeting the Goals and what concrete results have already been achieved.
Building on the analysis of progress made since 2013, the review will result in a set of recommendations on how to improve Montenegro’s environmental performance. The review process will culminate with the UNECE Committee on Environmental Policy considering the recommendations in autumn 2024, with a view to their adoption, and the country making a commitment to implement them within the next 5 to 10 years.
The country review mission, which included engagement with different stakeholders including businesses and civil society, was organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development, in cooperation with other ministries and governmental institutions. The fourth review of Montenegro is made possible by financial and in-kind support from Finland, France, Italy and Germany (the Bavarian Environment Agency and Water Management Office), as well as the European Investment Bank and the United Nations Environment Programme.
The review draws on the experience of the UN Country Team, IFAD, ILO, IOM, UNDP, UNHCR and UNOPS.
For more information about the UNECE EPRs, visit http://www.unece.org/env/epr