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Environmental Policy

Introduction

Photo of mountain flowers in Central Asia

The environmental challenges in our region are many and interlinked. Air pollution caused more than 300,000 deaths in 2021, and about 100 million people do not have access to sanitation facilities at home. Added to these, releases of hazardous chemicals, climate change, effective engagement of the public in decision-making and access to environmental information and justice are among major concerns we need to address urgently.
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Key areas of work

Clean Air

Shared and Safe Water

Safe Industry

Environmental Assessment

THE PEP

Public Participation

Green Economy

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment

Education for Sustainable Development

Environment for Europe

Environmental Performance Reviews

Environment and Gender

In focus

UNECE Environmental Performance Reviews (EPRs) offer a comprehensive tool to help countries identify key environmental challenges and establish concrete recommendations to improve environmental sustainability across all sectors. The Fourth Cycle of UNECE EPRs is underway, with a new round of reviews to assist countries’ efforts in improving the environment for the benefit of people and planet. Each review includes a mission by a large, multidisciplinary team of international experts working in country, assessing the environmental performance by examining developments during the period since the previous review, normally seven to ten years earlier. The review process for each country culminates with the UNECE Committee on Environmental Policy considering the recommendations with a view to their adoption, and the country making a commitment to implement them within the next five to ten years. The Fourth Cycle has included Tajikistan, Montenegro, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and the Republic of Moldova so far.

The Fourth Cycle of EPRs was adopted by the ECE Committee on Environmental Policy in November 2020. At the Ninth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference (Nicosia, 5–7 October 2022), in their Declaration, the Ministers commended the EPR Programme as an effective and practical policy tool with a proven track record stretching back over more than a quarter of a century, and recognized the role it plays in supporting the achievement and monitoring of SDGs in the pan-European region. Ministers endorsed the Fourth Cycle and invited UNECE to conduct it and encouraged countries to undertake further reviews and to considering elaborating road maps to implement recommendations.

Advancing Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health: 7th Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Water and Health (#MOP 7)

The 7th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Water and Health (MOP 7) will be held in Budapest, Hungary, from 5 to 7 November 2025.

MOP 7 will assess progress in advancing the water, sanitation, hygiene and health agenda across Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia and explore how the Protocol can further support countries in improving access to safe water and sanitation, contributing to water- and health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Delegates will celebrate 20 years since the entry into force of the Protocol and will review achievements in the Protocol’s implementation, address challenges, and identify priority areas for action.

The high-level segment will focus on resilience of water, sanitation and hygiene systems and services. A key outcome of the session will be the discussion and adoption of the Protocol’s work programme for 2026–2028.

This pan-European intergovernmental meeting, organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe who jointly provide secretariat to the Protocol, takes place every three years. See the Flyer for the event.