“ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPE”
Counting down to the Sixth Ministerial Conference
(Belgrade, Serbia, 10-12 October 2007)
Geneva, 21 September 2007 -- Environment ministers throughout the
UNECE region are gearing up for the Sixth “Environment for Europe” Conference,
scheduled to take place at the SAVA Centre in the Serbian capital of Belgrade
from 10 to 12 October. In Belgrade, they will take stock of progress made
in improving the region’s
environment since their previous meeting in Kiev four years ago, and decide
on priorities for future cooperation.
The Belgrade Conference will gather more than 1,200 delegates representing
the 56 countries of the UNECE region. More than 20 intergovernmental
organizations will also be attending the Conference. At least 50 ministers
and high-level officials are expected to participate, as will more than
200 representatives of national and international non-governmental organizations,
including environmental NGOs, business, trade unions and local authorities.
Busy agenda
The Environment ministers are expected to hold policy debates on a number
of topical environment-related issues.
An assessment and implementation segment will set the scene for the Conference.
A state-of-the-environment and monitoring and assessment session will focus
on identifying key trends and main areas of both achievements and concern.
The implementation of multilateral environmental agreements and findings of
UNECE Environmental Performance Reviews will then be reviewed.
As part of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development
(ESD), a session on ESD will gather environment and education ministers
from the countries that have adopted the UNECE Strategy on ESD in March
2005, as well as other interested member States.
A session on biodiversity, focused on the key themes of the Kiev Resolution
on Biodiversity, aims to draft and adopt recommendations supporting the follow-up
of the Kiev Resolution and delivery of the target to hold the loss of biodiversity
by 2010 in participating countries.
On the second day, a capacity-building segment will examine progress and
perspectives in the implementation of the Environment Strategy for the countries
of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia as well as that of the Central
Asian Initiative for Sustainable Development. In addition, the segment will
address South-East European perspectives.
Partnerships will also figure prominently on the ministers’ agenda
. In the context of environmental policy, international competitiveness
and finance, a session on regional partnerships will attempt to clarify
in particular whether the low-income countries with economies in transition
in the UNECE region can afford a better environment and improve their international
economic competitiveness. It will also discuss how partnerships can support
the implementation of environmental policy.
The final section of the Conference will be dedicated to the future of
the Environment for Europe process. This implies adapting the process to
the changing geo-political context and establishing thematic priorities.
The Belgrade Conference will conclude with the adoption of a Ministerial
Declaration.
Workshop for journalists
UNECE will be organizing a workshop for journalists on 9 October which
will provide background information on the range of issues to be addressed
by the Conference through a series of presentations and discussions. The
workshop will take place at the SAVA Centre in Belgrade.
From Dobris to Belgrade
The Belgrade Conference will be the sixth in a series of regional conferences
at which environment ministers and other policymakers have convened to
discuss ways of strengthening cooperation to protect and improve our environment.
The “Environment for Europe” process is aimed at harmonizing
environmental conditions and policies in all UNECE member States. The ultimate
goal is to raise standards globally.
The “Environment for Europe” ministerial process was initiated
in 1991 by what was then Czechoslovakia. The first conference took place
in Dobris Castle outside Prague; the second in 1993 in Lucerne, Switzerland;
the third in 1995 in Sofia; the fourth in 1998 in Aarhus, Denmark, and
the fifth in 2003 in Kiev.
During these Conferences, Europe’s Environment Ministers have launched
new initiatives, discussed the state of the environment, adopted international
environmental laws and agreed on specific strategies to improve our environment
and our health. Increasingly, the “Environment for Europe” Conferences
have also provided an opportunity for environmental policymakers to meet
business leaders and NGOs.
The UNECE has been involved in the “Environment for Europe” process
since its beginnings: it hosts the working group that prepares these
Conferences and also draws up important policy documents and international
agreements for adoption by the ministers. Other international organizations
and institutions are important partners in the process. Many will be represented
in Belgrade in October, including the World Bank, EEA, OECD, OSCE, EBRD,
UNEP, UNITAR, UNESCO, etc.
For more information, please contact:
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Kaj Bärlund
Director, Environment, Housing and
Land Management Division
UNECE
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0) 22 917 2370
E-mail: [email protected]
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Monika Linn
Team Leader, Environment for Europe and
Sustainable Development Team
UNECE
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0) 22 917 1315
E-mail: [email protected] |
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Website: http://www.unece.org/env/ |
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Ref: ECE/ENV/07/P05