UNECE calls for renewed efforts to increase inland transport security
Full-body scanners are the latest security gadgets at airports and millions of containers may soon need to be scanned before they are boarded on ships. But what is currently being done to secure transport on roads, rail and inland waterways? How will the responsibilities for securing inland transport be divided between the public and private sectors?[Wednesday, 3 February 2010]
On the 10th Anniversary of Baia Mare, UNECE calls for continued efforts to prevent industrial accidents
At 10 p.m., on 30 January 2000, in the northern Romanian town of Baia Mare, a mine tailings dam burst releasing over 100,000 cubic metres (the equivalent of 40 Olympic sized swimming pools) of cyanide and heavy metal contaminated water into the Sasar, Lapus, Somes and Tisza rivers. After two weeks, the contaminated water reached the Danube and then continued on, eventually reaching the Black Sea.[Friday, 29 January 2010]
UNECE and UN-HABITAT delivering as one in the Commonwealth of Independent States
In countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), affordable housing has yet to become a reality. The region lacks a social rental housing market and its multifamily housing stock needs urgent restructuring. There is the additional problem of buildings that have become uninhabitable as the result of natural disasters like earthquakes. [Wednesday, 27 January 2010]
China becomes a global player in forest products markets
Over the last ten years, China has moved from being a modest player in the world’s forest products markets, to becoming one of the leading exporters of manufactured forest products and a major trading partner of both Europe and North America. This is one of the main findings of the UNECE/FAO publication, “The Importance of China’s Forest products Markets to the UNECE Region” released today. [Wednesday, 20 January 2010]
UNECE celebrates 20th anniversary of its Working Party on Gas
UNECE’s Working Party on Gas is holding its 20th Annual Session on 19 and 20 January 2010. For the past 20 years, the Working Party has served as a forum gathering governments, the industry and international organizations to assess changes and trends in the gas situation in Europe, North America and Central Asia.
[Tuesday, 19 January 2010]
Improved regulations on persistent organic pollutants in the UNECE region
On 18 December 2009, the Parties to the Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) to the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution further stepped up their efforts to regulate or get rid of POPs in the region by broadening the Protocol’s scope to include seven new substances. [Friday, 8 January 2010]