About half of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have a direct focus on the environment and there is at least one target on environmental sustainability in each SDG. How the environmental community will work to achieve the SDGs will be the overarching theme of the second session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-2), which will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, next week.
In the run up to the Eighth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference in Batumi, Georgia (8-10 June 2016), UNECE Executive Secretary Christian Friis Bach will participate in a series of events at UNEA-2.
The cross-cutting nature of UNECE’s work will be emphasized during a side-event on air quality. The session will discuss the findings of a UNEP report identifying 10 actions to improve air quality and progress achieved under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, looking in particular at the linkages to the SDGs on healthy lives (Goal 3), sustainable cities (Goal 11) and sustainable consumption and production (Goal 12).
Another example, will be UNECE’s Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) with its Protocol. At a side event on enhancing the application of Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration for the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UNECE will illustrate how the objectives of the Aarhus Convention and its Protocol – to help governments achieve transparent, participatory and accountable processes – are cross-cutting and therefore key for the effective implementation of all SDGs. The Aarhus Convention and its Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers are open to all UN Member States.