UNECE mandated to address mitigation and adaptation to climate change in cities
Geneva, 28 September 2009 --
A thorough review of tools and projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in cities was held in Geneva on Climate Neutral Day, 23 September 2009. The seminar, entitled “Climate Neutral Cities”, showcased examples of forward-looking planning strategies, building projects and urban management practices that reduce emissions, increase the performance of buildings and cities and improve the quality of life for citizens throughout the UNECE region.
The seminar was part of the seventieth session of the Committee on Housing and Land Management (CHLM). Given the importance of the topics discussed and their relevance for the Committee’s work, member States decided to develop a study on the topic including guidance on mitigation and adaptation strategies for urban areas. The study will provide practical solutions for a move towards sustainable and climate-neutral building, construction and planning practices in urban areas. It will offer guidance will be developed to a range of urban actors, from nation and local governments to practitioners and citizens.
The issue of climate neutrality in cities is an integral part of the Committee’s work on improving urban environmental performance. The session also discussed a number of related issues, including the current work on energy efficiency in housing, which will lead to the development of an Action Plan on Energy Efficiency in Housing in the UNECE region. An international forum to develop the Action Plan will be held in Vienna from 23 to 25 November 2009 (see www.energy-housing.net).
The Committee also addressed the issue of building and construction safety as it relates to natural disasters such as earthquakes and to extreme weather events. An international conference on this topic will be organized by UNECE in cooperation with the Government of Azerbaijan in the second half of 2010.
A number of other CHLM workshops are planned on informal settlements, urban sprawl and multi-family housing. The session also decided to undertake an in-depth assessment of the housing sector of Tajikistan as one of its Country Profiles.
Given the relevance of many of these issues to the global economic and environmental agenda, the Committee decided that a Ministerial Segment will be organized next year during the next CHLM session.
For more information on the seventieth CHLM session and the “Climate Neutral Cities” seminar, please see: http://www.iisd.ca/ymb/hlm70/
The official report of the session will be released shortly, and will be available on the UNECE website.
For more information, please contact:
Paola Deda
Secretary to the Committee on Housing and Land Management
UNECE Environment, Housing and Land Management Division
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Tel: +41 (0)22 917 2553
Fax: +41 (0)22 917 0107
E-mail: [email protected]
Ref: ECE/ENV/09/P21