12 February 1998

ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS DIVISION

REVAMPS ITS WEBSITE

Did you know that...

Switzerland ratified the Protocol on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions on 23 January 1998

France emitted 668 000 tons of ammonia (NH₃) in 1995

the next AEnvironment for Europe@ Ministerial Conference will take place in Aarhus next summer

Finland, Austria and Sweden have cut their sulphur emissions by more than 80% since 1980

the environmental performance of Kazakhstan will be reviewed this year. Similar assessments have already been carried out in Estonia, Slovenia and the Republic of Moldova

land registers are being completely revised in central and eastern Europe

Norway and Sweden were the first countries to ratify the Protocol on Volatile Organic Compounds, which recently came into force. Norway was also the first country to ratify the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents

CNG stands for compressed natural gas

This year a new convention will probably be signed to enable the public to access environmental information and participate in environmental decision-making.

Such information (and much more) is now available on:

http://www.unece.org/env/welcome.html

the new website of the Environment and Human Settlements Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE).

As our environment and our cities evolve, so too does the Environment and Human Settlements Division (ENHS). Several of its environmental conventions have recently come into force; new ones are in the pipeline. Some concerns have faded; new probems are emerging.

To reflect these changes, ENHS has overhauled its website on the UN/ECE homepage. For instance, the website now provides the full text of all the conventions and protocols. It gives much more background information on the work of the Division and it makes air emission data available. There are also useful links to other websites.

For more information, please contact

Mr Kaj Bärlund, Director

Environment and Human Settlements Division

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

Palais des Nations, office 334

CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Phone: (+ 41 22) 917 23 70

Fax: (+ 41 22) 907 01 07

E-mail: kaj.barlund@unece.org