UN Economic Commission for Europe United Nations Headquarters Find out what the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is doing for you! 8 October, 1:15-2:45 PM Conference Room 12 (CR 12) United Nations Headquarters How is UNECE supporting this transformation? What are the UNECE norms, standards and best practices available to you? How are we working with countries and stakeholders from the UNECE region and around the world to improve the sustainable use of natural resources? Join us to learn about UNECE’s cross-sectoral and partnership-driven approach, with practical solutions of global applicability including: UNECE Trade Facilitation activities increase the capacity of customs authorities, ministries of trade and other agencies to formulate national trade-related regulations and policies, such as simplifying customs procedures, and empowering women traders. UNECE Environmental Performance Reviews provide recommendations to Member States for safeguarding the environment and human health, and transfers the methodology to other regions. UNECE Transport Convention Parties have adopted 100 new, and amendments to existing, UN vehicle regulations, and the adoption of two UN Global Technical Regulations on electric cars to decarbonize transport. UNECE’s Renewable Energy Hard Talks bring together major stakeholders to identify priorities and propose recommendations for policy changes to overcome legal, regulatory, and technical barriers to investment in renewable energy. Through UNECE’s forest work supporting the Bonn Challenge, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan committed to restore and afforest an additional 24% of forest land in the region. This corresponds to an area larger than the size of Sicily. Accelerating the shift to more sustainable patterns of natural resource use: a nexus approach The transition to more efficient and cleaner economies is central to the vision of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – unlocking benefits for people, planet and prosperity. This transition also represents a key source of economic dynamism and new opportunities for sustainable economic growth and green development. Accelerating this shift is vital in addressing the negative economic, social and environmental impacts of unsustainable resource use and instead create jobs, improve access to opportunities, and promote economic empowerment for all.