Fri, Dec 14, 2012 -
In Moscow, Russian Federation, the five
Caspian states have reaffirmed their strong
commitment to protect the Caspian marine
environment and pledged to maintain close
cooperation in addressing common environmental
challenges.
Moscow (Russian Federation),
12 December 2012 - The Caspian countries
have reached another crucial milestone by
adopting and signing one more protocol to
the Framework Convention for the Protection
of the Marine Environment of the Caspian
Sea (Tehran Convention) - The Protocol for
the Protection of the Caspian Sea against
Pollution from Land-based Sources and Activities
(LBSA Protocol).
From 10-12 December
2012, Ministers and high-level government
representatives of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
Islamic Republic of Iran, Russian Federation,
the Republic of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan
met in Moscow for the Fourth Meeting of
the Convention's Conference of the Parties
(COP4). The COP was hosted by the Government
of the Russian Federation and included representatives
from the European Union, UNEP, UNDP, IMO,
FAO, and other international observers.
This remarkable progress follows the 2011
adoption and signing of the Aktau Protocol
on Regional Preparedness, Response and Cooperation
in Combating Oil Pollution Incidents, at
COP3 in Kazakhstan.
The Caspian environmental
process, supported for many years by UNDP,
GEF, the European Union and other international
donors, led to the signing of the landmark
Tehran Convention in 2003 and its entry
into force in August 2006. This resulted
in increasing cooperation amongst the five
Caspian states and comes at a crucial time
when the Caspian region is witnessing unprecedented
growth in oil and gas exploration, exploitation
and transportation.
The signing of the LBSA
Protocol in Moscow is an important step
forward in the process as it addresses one
of the major ecological threats to the Caspian
environment and aims to safeguard coasts
and waters from the detrimental effects
of pollution from land-based sources such
as agriculture, industry and urban settlements.
The Moscow COP further
laid the groundwork for implementing a sound
environmental monitoring and reporting programme
in the region, providing for harmonized
and regular information and data exchange
between the countries.
Assessing the progress
achieved by the Caspian States throughout
the years, and in particular at COP4, the
UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive
Director Mr. Achim Steiner reiterated that:
'Environmental cooperation is an essential
basis for the overall economic and social
development of the region, a crucial first
step on the road to a green economy, equitable
management of resources, and a sustainable
future for all Caspian states.'
Note to the Editors:
The United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) through its Regional Office
for Europe is hosting the Secretariat of
the Tehran Convention ad interim, providing
Secretariat services to the Convention process.
UNEP has a long history
in developing and servicing environmental
conventions, contributing to the progressive
development and implementation of international
environmental law and supporting Member
States in meeting their treaty obligations.
+ More
Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics
and Green Economy in Focus During UNEP Meeting
with Government of Russia
Fri, Dec 14, 2012
UNEP Executive Director and Minister for
Environment and Natural Resources Discuss
Continued Cooperation
UNEP experts are working with the Government
of Russia as part of ongoing efforts to
strengthen the environmental legacy of the
Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics
Moscow, 14 december
2012 - From continued cooperation on the
environmental sustainability of the Sochi
2014 Winter Olympics, to the challenges
facing the Arctic, the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) and the Government of Russia
outlined priority areas for collaboration
during high-level meetings in Moscow this
week.
UNEP Executive Director
Achim Steiner, Minister of Natural Resources
and Environment Sergey Donskoy , and First
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs A.I.
Denisov discussed key actions to support
biodiversity, freshwater resources and the
green economy, among other issues.
Further Resources
UNEP Sport and the EnvironmentThe discussions
took place on the margins the Fourth Meeting
of the Conference of the Parties (COP4)
to the Tehran Convention on the protection
of the marine environment of the Caspian
Sea.
The Russian government
expressed its appreciation for the ongoing
engagement of UNEP experts in analyzing
environmental impacts of the upcoming Winter
Olympic Games.
Last July, UNEP and
partners proposed close to 90 projects designed
to minimize the impact of infrastructure
developments around the Sochi National Park
area, where the games will take place.
UNEP Executive Director
Achim Steiner offered UNEP's further engagement
in greening efforts for Sochi 2014.
Next year marks the
2013 Year of the Environment in Russia,
with a series of events due to be held across
the country.
"At the outset
of the Russia's G20 presidency and ahead
of next year's special focus on the environment,
UNEP is supporting efforts in Russia to
open new work streams for addressing environmental
challenges and opportunities, as part of
the country's regional and global responsibilities
and leadership," said Achim Steiner
at the meeting.
Achim Steiner also thanked
the Government of Russia for its recent
decision to increase its contribution to
the UNEP Environment Fund to US$1.5 million,
starting in 2013, and underlined Russia's
efforts towards the implementation of the
Global Environment Facility's Arctic Agenda
2020 Programme.
The programme, launched
in 2011, aims to improve the sustainable
development of the Arctic and meet the challenges
of the region's rapidly changing climate.
The initiative addresses energy efficiency,
renewable energy development, protected
areas, and transboundary marine systems,
among other issues.
Other key environmental
priorities covered in the meeting included:
support to the development
of the "green economy"
the application of "green standards"
and of ecologically safe best available
technologies;
water resources management, protection of
water bodies, marine and coastal environment
from the adverse anthropogenic impact;
regulation of the use of chemicals, utilization
and processing of wastes;
cooperation for the purposes of further
implementation of the Bali Strategic Plan
for Technology Support and Capacity-Building,
making use of the Russian expert potential;
sustainable production and consumption;
informing and raising public awareness on
environmental protection issues;
implementation of environmental agreements
and programs, which exist under the auspices
of United Nations.
