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Review of Policies Towards THE PEP Strategy
Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme
This is a review of policy documents prepared to support the elaboration of a comprehensive strategy on transport health and environment mandated by the High-level Meeting on Transport Health and Environment (Vienna 2021). The publication is developed under the Transport Health and Environment Pan-European Programme.
Introduction
This publication presents a review of policy documents prepared within the Transport Health and Environment Pan-European Programme (THE PEP) to support the elaboration of a comprehensive strategy on transport health and environment mandated in the Vienna Declaration.1It provides a brief account of actions on transport health and environment mostly preceding the adoption of the Vienna Declaration in 2021. This publication is structured taking as keywords the terms of the vision of the Vienna Declaration
Acknowledgements
This publication was developed within the Transport Health and Environment Pan-European Programme (THE PEP) and was based on a research carried out by Andrea Rosa (ECE consultant).
Status of Science and Technology in Disaster Risk Reduction in Asia Pacific
This report was developed by the UNDRR’s Asia Pacific Scientific and Technology Advisory Group (AP-STAG) with contributions from the session co-chairs of the Asia Pacific Science Technology Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APSTCDRR) 2024 and scientists and researchers in the Asia Pacific region. It is based on a comprehensive review and qualitative survey which examine the application of science and technology to disaster risk reduction specifically to the four Priorities for Action of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. The report emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts and knowledge sharing among Asia Pacific nations. By fostering regional cooperation and leveraging each country's strengths in science and technology the region can develop robust scalable solutions to common challenges.
About the report
This report was developed by the UNDRR’s Asia Pacific Scientific and Technology Advisory Group (AP-STAG) with contributions from the session co-chairs of the Asia Pacific Science Technology Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APSTCDRR) 2024 and scientists and researchers in the Asia Pacific region. It is based on a comprehensive review and qualitative survey which examine the application of science and technology to disaster risk reduction specifically to the four Priorities for Action of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Executive summary
The 2024 status report provides a comprehensive analysis of progress and challenges in disaster risk reduction (drr) as guided by the sendai framework for disaster risk reduction (SFDRR) 2015-2030. The report highlights key areas of advancement stakeholder engagement and actionable insights for future improvements.
Foreword
In the face of escalating natural hazards the Asia Pacific region stands at a critical juncture where science technology and innovation are pivotal in disaster risk reduction (DRR). This report explores the transformative potential of these fields in mitigating the impacts of natural hazards and building resilient communities across this diverse and vulnerable region.
State of Global Water Resources 2023
The State of Global Water Resources report highlights severe stress on global water supplies with five consecutive years of below-normal river flows and reservoir inflows. This shortage is affecting communities agriculture and ecosystems. In addition glaciers experienced their largest mass loss in the last 50 years with 2023 marking the second year of widespread ice loss globally. The report also highlights that 2023 was the hottest year on record marked by prolonged droughts and widespread floods driven by both the La Niña to El Niño transition and human-induced climate change. The report offers a global assessment of water resources drawing on data from meteorological and hydrological services to inform decision-makers in water-sensitive sectors and disaster risk management. It complements the WMO's "State of the Global Climate" series. Now in its third year this edition is the most comprehensive including new data on lakes reservoirs soil moisture and glaciers. It aims to build a global dataset of hydrological variables to support early warning systems for water-related hazards by 2027. With 3.6 billion people currently facing water shortages projected to exceed 5 billion by 2050 the report underscores the urgent need for action to meet Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water and sanitation.
Endnotes
United Nations (UN). Summary of Proceedings by the President of the General Assembly: United Nations Conference onthe Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the Objectives of the International Decade for Action “Waterfor Sustainable Development” 2018–2028; UN 2023. https://www.un.org/pga/77/wp-content/uploads/sites/105/2023/05/PGA77-Summary-for-Water-Conference-2023.pdf.
Reservoirs
This chapter presents the state of the reservoirs in 2023 based on data from two sources:modelled inflow into selected reservoirs globally and anomalies in reservoir volume in 2023obtained from NASA as a combination of satellite-based products described in Biswas et al.