Geneva International
Academic Network Finances a
Joint United
Nations Economic Commission for Europe
/ University of Geneva Environment
Research Team
Geneva, 18 October
2005 - A joint United
Nations Economic Commission for Europe
(UNECE) - University of Geneva environmental
research team has just been awarded 48,000
SFr by the Geneva International Academic
Network (RUIG-GIAN) to assess the cost
of establishing national pollutant release
and transfer registers (PRTRs). It will
develop a cost guide to assist Parties
to the UNECE Protocol on Pollutant Release
and Transfer Registers with implementation
and provide information on related cost-saving
options. 1
The joint UNECE-University of Geneva
research team will undertake extensive
fieldwork to collect data and to develop
a user-interface to simplify access to
and use of the information. The guide
would also aid countries considering
accession to the Protocol to rapidly
evaluate the costs of their potential
obligations.
The Kiev Protocol on PRTRs was adopted
at the 5th Environment-for-Europe Ministerial
Conference in May 2003. It seeks to enhance
public access to information on the environment,
facilitate public participation and contribute
to pollution prevention and reduction.
The Protocol has been signed by 36 countries
and the European Community.
With ratification of the Protocol now
expected as early as 2007, the Declaration
of the Meeting of the Parties in May
2005 called for the immediate prioritization
of implementation efforts of the Protocol.
It expressed an urgent need for capacity-building
efforts aimed at implementing the Protocol,
particularly those targeting the East
European, Caucasian and Central Asian
(EECCA) countries. The proposed study
aims to satisfy this demand.
GIAN promotes interdisciplinary partnerships
between Geneva-based academic institutions
and international organizations.
For further information about this
project, please contact:
Ms. Laura ALTINGER (Project Director)
Economic Affairs Officer
UNECE Economic
Analysis Division
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10,
Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0) 22 917 2476
Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 0309
E-mail: [email protected]
____________
1 For the text of the Protocol,
see
http://www.unece.org/env/pp/prtr/docs/PRTR%20Protocol%20English.pdf
Ref: ECE/GEN/05/P09