Executive Secretary briefs Member States about upcoming UNECE priorities ahead of Summit of the Future

Ahead of this week’s Summit of the Future, UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean n held a briefing for Ambassadors of UNECE Member States to exchange views on the upcoming priorities of UNECE work. The briefing also provided an opportunity to discuss issues in the context of the current theme of the high-level segment of the Commission, namely digital and green transition, as well the next one on climate action and resilient infrastructure for a sustainable future, which was endorsed for the 71st session that will take place in Geneva on 9-10 April 2025. Discussions included, among other things, major upcoming meetings involving high-level participation by Member States, with a particular focus on UNECE contributions to global initiatives, such as the 4th Forum of Mayors and the “Cities’ Summit of the Future” (Geneva, 30 Sept. -1 Oct. 2024), the Beijing+30 Regional Review Meeting (Geneva, 21-22 Oct. 2024) and the 10th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention (Ljubljana, 23-25 Oct. 2024).

Water

Zambia joins UN Water Convention to boost cooperation to address drought and water challenges

In response to severe drought and ongoing water scarcity, Zambia has joined the United Nations Water Convention to improve water management both within and across its borders. The country, which declared a national crisis and emergency in February 2024 due to a drought that has severely impacted food and energy production for its population of over 21 million people, sits within the cross-border Zambezi and Congo River basins.?Zambia is the 55th country and 12th from Africa to join the?UN Water Convention, following closely the?accessions of Cote D’Ivoire?and?Zimbabwe in July. This further consolidates the strong momentum for water cooperation in Africa, where more than 90% of freshwater rivers, lakes and aquifers are shared by two or more countries. Joining the Convention is part of several strategic efforts Zambia is undertaking to strengthen its transboundary water cooperation and tackle multiple inter-linked water challenges.?Read more

Energy

Youth-Led solutions for sustainable resource management

Critical raw materials (CRMs) such as copper, lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements are essential for the energy transition, but their extraction often causes deforestation, water pollution, and social disruption, especially in vulnerable communities.?To help shift current CRM governance from short-term extraction-focused strategies to policies that prioritize sustainability and intergenerational justice, UNECE’s?Resource Management Young Members Group?has developed recommendations for intergenerational justice in CRM management. At the heart of the report “Advancing Intergenerational Justice in Critical Raw Materials Management: Assessing the Potential of Demand-side Measures”?is the principle of intergenerational justice, which emphasizes that resource management today must not compromise the well-being of future generations.?It proposes a shift towards “demand-side solutions”, reducing resource consumption through lifestyle and societal changes rather than just increasing CRM extraction. Read more

Publication of the week

Urban development

4th Forum of Mayors to convene global Cities Summit of the Future

Cities are on the front lines of addressing humanity’s most pressing challenges, from climate change to migration as well as natural disasters and socioeconomic inequalities.??

City leaders from across the globe will convene for the?4th Forum of Mayors?in Geneva (30 September – 1 October) to discuss the implications for local governments of the Pact for the Future, which will be agreed upon by UN Member States at the?UN Summit of the Future?in New York (22-23 September).?At the Forum of Mayors, cities will collaboratively draft an outcome statement on the Future of Cities to emphasize the vital role of cities and local actors in driving a sustainable and brighter future for all. It will then be transmitted to the UN Secretary General as a contribution to strengthening the engagement of local and regional governments in UN intergovernmental bodies and processes.?As a unique platform within the UN system, the Forum of Mayors connects local and national authorities within a normative intergovernmental framework, contributing to a more networked and inclusive multilateralism. Read more

UN4UkrainianCities

Amid renewed attacks, international architecture competition launched to help Kharkiv re-imagine iconic city centre?

Kharkiv, the second most populous city in Ukraine, is among the urban areas most affected by the war and has been the target of intense shelling over the last weeks. Despite these hugely challenging circumstances, Kharkiv is looking ahead and planning for its future.?As part of the new concept Masterplan for Kharkiv developed under the?UN4UkrainianCities?initiative led by UNECE, the Norman Foster Foundation, in collaboration with Kharkiv City Council, Arup, and a group of local and international professionals, is launching an?international competition?to reimagine the heart of the city and create a new landmark.?The competition invites innovative design solutions for two key components: the iconic Regional Administration Building, which was heavily damaged in March 2022, and the public realm of the adjacent Freedom Square. Read more

Statistics

Generative AI already having significant impact in statistical organizations, reveals UNECE survey?

Results of an international survey conducted by the UNECE Conference of European Statisticians (CES) reveal the profound impacts that artificial intelligence (AI) is having on the field of official statistics.?The survey, carried out in June 2024, gathered insights from 41 national and international statistical bodies, shedding light on the current applications, policies, and challenges related to generative AI in statistics.?The survey revealed that generative AI is making a significant impact in specific areas of statistical operations. Notably, half of the participating organizations believe that AI will have a "highly impactful" role in coding and IT development, as well as in dissemination and communication efforts. Currently, 71% of organizations are using generative AI for coding, while 46% employ it for data processing and generating textual communication materials. Read more

In the News

• REUTERS - US proposes new vehicle requirement to reduce pedestrian deaths
• Le Monde - ??L’écologie ne peut se réduire à des décisions prises à Paris et imposées dans les territoires à coups de matraques??
• Corriere della Sera - UNECE: Concrete steps towards a traceable and sustainable fashion

Upcoming events

• UNECE Sustainable Energy Week 2024

16 - 20 September 2024

• 84th meeting of the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee

17 - 20 September 2024

• Fourth Forum of Mayors

30 Sept. - 1 Oct. 2024