UNUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe

Press Release

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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]

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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