1. Panel 2: UNECE Acting on Climate: Water, Forestry and Timber
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UNEP-UNECE cooperation in a changing world on water, climate change and security related issues
Panel 2: UNECE Acting on Climate: Water, Forestry and Timber
UNECE 63rd Session, Palais des Nations, Geneva
31 March 2009
J.C. Bouvier
Director and Regional Representative
UNEP Regional Office for Europe 1 1

2. Presentation overview
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Presentation overview
Illustration of some global challenges
The perspective of UN Reform and international environmental governance for the ECE region
Concrete examples of joint UNEP-UNECE work in the ECE region: Environment for Europe process, Transport & Energy, Forestry and Timber, Environmental Performance Reviews, Environment and Security (ENVSEC) activities

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Water Stress
Physical water scarcity (water resources development is approaching or has exceeded sustainable limits). More than 75% of river flows are withdrawn for agriculture, industry, and domestic purposes.
Approaching physical water scarcity. More than 60% of river flows are withdrawn. These basins will experience physical water scarcity in the near future.
Source: Comprehensive assessment of water management in Agriculture, International Water Management Institute 2007

4. Risk of Permafrost Thawing in the ECE region
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1 – Low
2 – Medium
3 – High
Risk of Permafrost Thawing in the ECE region 4 4

5. Permafrost thawing: Economic damage and risk to infrastructure
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Permafrost thawing: Economic damage and risk to infrastructure
Examples of damage from permafrost thawing to buildings, roads and vegetation.

6. Enhanced cooperation between UN organisations
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Enhanced cooperation between UN organisations
Ongoing international environmental governance debates in New York (UNGA 2008) and Nairobi (last UNEP GC Ministerial debate on IEG: help or hindrance? February 2009) and the CSD WG (Mexico, Switzerland) recommended action at regional level
Meanwhile Geneva demonstrated a range of experiences of UNEP and UNECE working together on several environmental issues i.e. facilitating implementation of UNECE conventions, assessments (EPR) & monitoring
Joint efforts towards ‘Green Economy’ between UNECE and UNEP
An annual joint review – enhanced as of 2009 to broaden its scope
UNECE leadership in RCM and interaction with RDT key to success. UNEP committed.

7. Some concrete examples of UNECE-UNEP collaboration
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Some concrete examples of UNECE-UNEP collaboration
Environment for Europe Ministerial process started in Dobris 1991, latest Belgrade Support to UNECE as Secretariat and specific UNEP tasks (i.e. SCP, PEBLDS)
Environmental performance reviews: Uzbekistan (2009), previously in Azerbaijan, Yugoslavia, Tajikistan
Also with WHO: Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme (THE PEP)
Energy Efficiency 21 Project with UNEPGEF: to promote the formation of a market for energy efficiency and foster financing for energy efficiency investments in the EECCA
Caspian Environment Programme: Transboundary EIA protocol (with ESPOO Convention)
ENVSEC activities within ECE region: Dniester, Danube delta & the Upper Pripyat

8. The Danube delta: to split the channels, or to find common value?
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The Danube delta: to split the channels, or to find common value?
DANUBE (Ukraine, Romania, a small portion of Moldova)
the idea of an ENVSEC project was born out of the Bystroe canal case (ongoing dispute between Ukraine and Romania, Espoo and Aarhus and many others interfered). Together with the Danube commission (ICPDR), UNECE and UNEP are running a feasibility study for how a broader framework of "integrated basin management" (cf. EU's water framework directive - WFD) can be used for managing the Danube delta as a whole (then Bystroe will be only one issue, not the centre of attention, even though still needs to be resolved). A workshop was held in Izmail (Ukraine) two weeks ago, countries and organisations are enthusiastic. ENVSEC-ICPDR immediate follow up (besides fundraising) will be support to improved information exchange, and an WFD-compatible analytical report for the Delta. This will eventually lead to a Delta management plan developed, adopted and (hopefully) implemented by the countries.

9. The Dniester: Pollution, floods, hydro-power, politics and cooperation
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The Dniester: Pollution, floods, hydro-power, politics and cooperation
DNIESTER (basin shared by Ukraine and Moldova)
UNECE and OSCE are leading long-term support to cooperation in the basin (towards a new legal agreement for basin management, and promoting work in specific areas). Within this process under ENVSEC, UNEP for several years has lead an information exchange component and the establishment of a common information system. In the current phase of the project (Dniester-III, just launched in Chisinau three weeks ago) UNEP in addition will help assess and harmonise transboundary monitoring in the basin, further information exchange and modelling (including related to flood warning), and support awareness-aising through local media.

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Climate Change in Eastern Europe Environment & Security Initiative 2009
One direct consequence of climate change is increasing floods. Floods in summer of 2008 devastated parts of Ukraine and Moldova (material damage, destroyed infrastructure, flooded houses, dislocated populations).
There are indications that this will continue, especially with the background of illegal logging in Carpathian forests that otherwise could be natural adaptation mechanisms.

11. Climate change in Central Asia Environment & Security Initiative 2009
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Climate change in Central Asia Environment & Security Initiative 2009
With climate change and melting glaciers in the mountains, water flow will be less stable and in the end less abundant.
Up-to-date information about what will happen to the region's water resources is needed.
Better institutions to manage water allocation, energy and agricultural use of water; understanding of humanitarian consequences (natural disasters, ‘agri-failures’, migration, local tensions and possible unrest).

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Thank you!
Two Belarusian experts doing field studies in the transboundary river system between Belarus and Ukraine.