Environment and Climate Change
United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business Solutions in Support of Digital Product Passports
This paper describes why ECE-UN/CEFACT standards and tools are ideally suited to support DPP development explains which current and forthcoming ECE-UN/CEFACT standards and tools can assist in the development of DPPs notably the traceability and transparency standards; and provides specific recommendations on how ECE-UN/CEFACT standards and tools could be further developed to support the adoption of DPPs. This paper supports the outcomes of the seventieth Commission session on Digital and Green Transformations for Sustainable Development in the Region of the Economic Commission for Europe (E/ECE/1504) and is part of the ECE Sustainability Pledge initiative for sustainable value chains in critical sectors for the circular economy.
Executive summary
This report was prepared by United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) and the UNESCO Chair on Urban Resilience at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU.Resilience). It offers a global analysis of the urban content of 193 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) before the 19th of June 2022.
Urban Climate Action: The Urban Content of the NDCs - Global Review 2022
This report was prepared by United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) and the UNESCO Chair on Urban Resilience at the University of Southern Denmark. It offers a global analysis of the urban content of 193 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) before the 19th of June 2022. For this report more than 200 indicators were used to analyse external data (e.g. Human Development Index and income categorisation) and data within the NDCs including climate mitigation and adaptation challenges and responses as well as specific sectors.
Urban content of NDCs at the global level
For this review 193 NDCs were analysed (see Annex 2) including the latest version of all updated NDCs submitted before 19th June 2022 which are publicly available in the UNFCCC online depository.
Foreword
Our planet has already warmed by around 1.2 degrees. The battle to reach net zero by mid-century to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change will be won or lost this decade. In 2022 we have already seen devastating effects of climate change ranging from oppressive heat waves across Europe and America to floods in South Africa and Pakistan and severe drought in Brazil and China.
Introduction
This report was prepared by United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) and the UNESCO Chair on Urban Resilience at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU.Resilience). It offers a global analysis of the urban content of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) before the 19th of June 2022.
Approach and methodology
This analysis is based on the revision of all the latest NDCs submitted to the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) before 19th June 2022. In accordance with Article 4 paragraph 12 of the Paris Agreement NDCs communicated by Parties shall be recorded in a public online registry maintained by the Secretariat.
Towards a Hydrogen Economy in the UNECE Region
The publication proposes a method for hydrogen classification needed to jumpstart production and international trade in hydrogen. It also presents several project ideas in selected UNECE member States that would accelerate deployment of hydrogen.
Risk Assessment for Industrial Accident Prevention
Risk assessments for industrial facilities are essential for the prevention of industrial accidents. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents aims to help its Parties prevent prepare for and respond to industrial accidents especially ones that can have transboundary effects. It also fosters transboundary cooperation among its Parties and beyond. As risk assessment is enshrined in the Convention’s provisions UNECE held a seminar on risk assessment methodologies (Geneva 4 December 2018) to support countries in implementing the relevant provisions. The seminar resulted in conclusions and recommendations on the challenges in executing transboundary risk assessment for industrial facilities and the need for more information exchange on risk assessment methodologies used in the UNECE region including available software.
Selected case studies and available software
This report presents selected case studies where a risk assessment methodology was applied to chemical facilities in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) region. These case studies span five types of facilities: liquified natural gas (LNG)/liquified petroleum gas (LPG) storage tanks; ammonia refrigeration facilities; oil terminals (hydrocarbon loading/unloading/storage facilities); ammonium nitrate storage facilities; and chlorine facilities. The annex to the present report lists key software tools available to support chemical installation risk assessment.
Background and acknowledgements
This publication was developed under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents. The Conference of the Parties to the Convention recognized the importance of risk assessment in the implementation of the Convention. Members of the Convention’s Bureau Working Group on Implementation and secretariat formed a small group on risk assessment and organized under Switzerland’s leadership the UNECE Seminar on Risk Assessment Methodologies (Geneva 4 December 2018) to support member States in implementing provisions of the Convention and to facilitate an exchange of information and share experiences in applying risk assessment methodologies. This concluded among others with a recommendation to develop a study on risk assessment due to the challenges many countries face in executing transboundary risk assessments and in exchanging knowledge and information on methodologies.
Executive summary
The effects of industrial accidents can severely harm people the environment and economies. As experienced in the past they have led to fatalities disease outbreaks injuries environmental pollution biodiversity loss conflicts political instability financial loss and more. National governments and international organizations have developed legal and policy instruments and tools to support the prevention of preparedness for and response to industrial accidents. The UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents is an international legal instrument that obliges its Parties to take safety measures to that effect. As enshrined in Article 6 and Annex V Parties have recognized risk assessment as a key element of the Convention. This publication was developed to contribute knowledge on risk assessment for industrial accident prevention.
Foreword
Industrial accidents can have devastating impacts on people the environment and economies. In 2020 an explosion at a warehouse containing some 2750 tons of ammonium nitrate in the Port of Beirut in Lebanon led to about 300 deaths 6500 injuries and 300000 displaced people. It severely damaged critical infrastructure including port and healthcare facilities and residential and commercial areas. This and other major accidents such as the Toulouse factory explosion in France (2001) Mihăilești explosion in Romania (2004) fertilizer plant explosion in Texas United States (2013) Tianjin explosion in China (2015) and Bata explosions in Equatorial Guinea (2021) serve as urgent reminders of the need to better understand and apply instruments and tools to assess risks and prevent industrial accidents.
Overview of risk assessment methods
The 1992 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents entered into force in 2000 aiming to help its Parties prevent prepare for and respond to industrial accidents especially those that can have transboundary effects. The Convention fosters transboundary cooperation in industrial accident prevention preparedness and response among its Parties and beyond including in countries of Eastern and South-Eastern Europe the Caucasus and Central Asia beneficiaries of the Convention’s Assistance and Cooperation Programme. The workplan will guide the Convention’s Parties non-Parties in the UNECE region the Bureau the Working Group on Implementation the Joint Expert Group on Water and Industrial Accidents (Joint Expert Group) and the secretariat in their activities. Activities are mainly focused on the UNECE region but can also benefit States members of the United Nations beyond the region in line with the communication outreach and engagement strategies.