Natural Resources Water and Energy
Acknowledgements
Minerals Crime: Crimes in the supply chains of critical energy transition minerals was prepared by the Research and Trend Analysis Branch, Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), under the supervision of Candice Welsch, Director of the Division, and Angela Me, Chief, Research and Trend Analysis Branch, and the coordination of Anja Korenblik, Chief, Geospatial Analysis and Programme Delivery Section, Hatem Fouad Aly Mohamed, Regional Representative, UNODC Office for GCC Region.
Conclusion
The global push for decarbonizing the en-ergy sector, combined with technological advancements in areas such as defence, aerospace and digital infrastructure, has exponentially increased the demand for certain minerals (CETM), making CETM mining a vital economic and strategic activity.
Tracking progress on SDG 7 in the Asia-Pacific region
SDG 7 offers an overarching framework to track the region’s sustainable energy development.
Glossaire des principaux termes
Accès à l’eau potable et à l’assainissement. L’accès à une eau potable et à des services d’assainissementsûrs, ne présentant aucun risque pour la santé, constitue un droit humain.
Résumé
Cadre juridique mondial et plateforme intergouvernementale de coopération dans le domaine des eaux transfrontières, la Convention sur l’eau exige des Parties qu’elles préviennent, maîtrisent et réduisent l’impact transfrontière, qu’elles utilisent les eaux transfrontières de manière raisonnable et équitable et qu’elles en assurent la gestion durable dans le cadre d’une coopération. Les Parties partageant des eaux transfrontières sont tenues de coopérer en concluant des accords à cette fin et en créant des organes communs, en tenant des consultations, en effectuant une surveillance et une évaluation communes, en échangeant des données et des informations, en mettant en place des systèmes d’alerte et d’alarme, en élaborant des politiques, des programmes et des stratégies harmonisés et en menant d’autres activités de coopération.
Remerciements
La présente publication a été établie au titre du Protocole sur l’eau et la santé, dont le secrétariat est assuré par la Commission économique pour l’Europe (CEE) et le Bureau régional de l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS) pour l’Europe.
Law enforcement challenges and responses
Law enforcement plays an essential role in tackling minerals crime, serving on the front line of efforts to disrupt criminal activities, enforce environmen-tal and labour regulations, and protect communities from violence, exploitation and environmental harm.
Acknowledgements
This report was developed by the Energy Division of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) under the overall direction and guidance of Hongpeng Liu, Director of the Energy Division, and Michael Williamson, Chief of Sustainable Energy Development and Utilization Section, Energy Division, ESCAP.
Overall status and progress of transboundary water resource cooperation
The “2024 Progress on Transboundary Water Cooperation: Mid-term status of SDG indicator 6.5.2 with a special focus on climate change”(2024 Global Report) presents the global results of the 2023 third reporting exercise.
Overcoming constraints in technology assessment and foresight
Implementing successful TA and TF exercises is not easy, and there can be many challenges. The main challenges include limited human and financial resources, weak institutional frameworks and futures literacy, as well as poor integration into policy processes.
Executive summary
The 2025 Regional Trends Report on Energy for Sustainable Development: Transforming Energy Systems for a Low Carbon Future in Asia and the Pacific offers an extensive analysis of the region’s progress and challenges in moving towards a low carbon energy future.
Remerciements
Le secrétariat de la Convention sur l’eau remercie toutes les Parties à la Convention pour les efforts considérables qu’elles ont déployés pour ce troisième exercice d’établissement de rapports.
Avant-propos
Malgré les progrès réalisés dans le domaine de la fourniture de services de base, des milliards de personnes dans le monde n’ont toujours pas accès à des services d’approvisionnement en eau potable, d’assainissement et d’hygiène.
Recommendations
This chapter presents key insights drawn from the research, discussions and materials developed for this report. It begins by offering practical guidance on how to organize TA and TF exercises, particularly aimed at countries with limited experience.
Acknowledgements
The present report was produced by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), under the overall guidance of the Executive Secretary, Rola Dashti, and the insightful direction of the Leader of the Climate Change and Natural Resource Sustainability Cluster, Carol Chouchani Cherfane.
Conclusion
A just energy transition in Asia and the Pacific requires deliberate and inclusive strategies that centre the needs of workers, communities and vulnerable populations. This involves ensuring access, enabling workforce transition, empowering local actors and embedding fairness in governance and finance. With political commitment and cross-sector collaboration, countries can not only meet their decarbonization goals but also build more equitable, cohesive and resilient societies.
Note
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Understanding the high energy intensity in the Asia-Pacific region
The Asia-Pacific region has traditionally had one of the highest levels of energy intensity worldwide, suggesting large energy use per unit of economic production.
Introduction
Technology assessment (TA) and technology foresight (TF) are two different disciplines that together provide complementary tools that can provide strategic intelligence to policymakers wishing to improve strategic planning and develop capacity for anticipatory technology governance.
Executive summary
The third regional report on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator 6.5.2 assesses the status and progress of transboundary water cooperation in the Arab region. This indicator measures the proportion of transboundary basin areas covered by operational arrangements, which is essential to achieving SDG target 6.5 on implementing integrated water resource management at all levels by 2030.
Acknowledgments
This study was prepared by Dmitry Plekhanov and Michael Lim, under the supervision of Liping Zhang and the overall guidance of Angel Gonzalez-Sanz, Head of the Technology, Innovation and Knowledge Development Branch, Division on Technology and Logistics of UNCTAD.
Overview of criminal activities in CETM supply chains
Criminal activities in CETM supply chains are difficult to categorize and current knowledge remains limited. This is due to several factors: the complexity and diversity of supply chains, the physical and geographical differences among minerals, the relatively recent develop-ment of many mining projects, and the limited international attention to the role of crime in responsible mining discourse.
Environmental and social harms linked to regulatory vulnerabilities
Mining is a harmful practice for the envi-ronment, with serious repercussions for the health of both human populations and surrounding ecosystems.
Per capita renewable energy analysis
While the Asia-Pacific region has made commendable progress in scaling up renewable energy deployment, with installed capacity per capita growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 9.5 per cent between 2013 and 2023, it still lags behind global benchmarks.
Avant-propos
J’ai le plaisir de vous présenter le troisième rapport sur l’application de la Convention sur la protection et l’utilisation des cours d’eau transfrontières et des lacs internationaux (Convention sur l’eau), dont le secrétariat est assuré par la Commission économique des Nations Unies pour l’Europe (CEE-ONU).
Foreword
The Asia-Pacific region stands at a significant point in its pursuit of a sustainable and just energy future. Over the past decade, remarkable strides have been made in advancing energy access, expanding renewable energy and promoting energy efficiency. These achievements reflect the strong commitment of governments and partners.
Note explicative
Le mécanisme d’établissement de rapports au titre de la Convention sur l’eau prévoit que les pays présentent des rapports nationaux sur l’état de la coopération transfrontière en ce qui concerne les cours d’eau, lacs et aquifères partagés. Cette perspective nationale, indispensable à l’efficacité du mécanisme, soulève cependant certaines difficultés en matière de présentation des données.
Technology and policy pathways for transforming energy systems
The just energy transition presents a transformative opportunity for energy systems and industries across the Asia-Pacific region to modernize, increase their efficiency and contribute to the achievement of national and global climate goals.
Introduction
Le mécanisme d’établissement périodique de rapports au titre de la Convention sur la protection et l’utilisation des cours d’eau transfrontières et des lacs internationaux (Convention sur l’eau), instauré par la Réunion des Parties en 2015, est devenu un atout important pour appuyer la mise en œuvre de la Convention.