Promoting integrated approaches to prevent, reduce and control pollution at source, and supporting the competent authority in improving the development of environmental policies, providing technical assistance and facilitating the exchange of good practices among Members, Members and Observers, Stakeholders.
South-East European Platform to Beat Pollution (SEEPP)
Resources
Environment and Health
21/06/2021 10:00 - 11:30
This webinar aimed at showing linkages between the environment and human health and discuss potential solutions in the Western Balkan region by bringing experts and local stakeholders together.
Rule of Law
This event focused on the implementation and enforcement of the polluter pays principle, with specific reference to the application of the environmental liability in EU and Western Balkan Countries.
Western Balkans forum: environmental / climate achievements and future challenges
This event aimed to showcase the main results of the projects implemented in the Western Balkans by the UNEP Vienna Office and Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention. It showed the results achieved through the most significant work implemented by UNEP and its partners in the past year, contributing the the achievement of the Agenda 2030 goals and supporting the process of approximation of the Western Balkans Economies to the EU standards.
Actions to address pollution
Prevention
Minimize and control
One specific project was dedicated at improving the integrated information systems in order to strengthen the capacities of the Western Balkan countries in pollution monitoring, prevention and reduction through the collection and analysis of environmental data, focusing on capacity building.
Eliminate and Remediate
Activities and best practices to reduce pollution at its source.
Prevention actions include:
- Analysis of the regional priorities on pollution prevention and control
- Establishment of thematic clusters with regional and international experts, addressing the regional priorities identified
- Organization of thematic events to exchange experiences and good practices
- Development of dedicated studies, in particular the study on Air pollution in the Western Balkans
Minimize and control actions include:
- Institutional Assessment of the beneficiary partners
- Establishment of a regional network of experts
- Training to strengthen the capacity of the competent bodies in pollution monitoring, prevention, collection and analysis of environmental data
Elimination actions include:
- Development of dedicated technical regulations and guidelines to address and manage the impact of pollution (see in particular the for the remediation of contaminated sites
- Training to support the competent institutions in the implementation of the EU and international standards.
Monitoring and reporting
Monitoring and reporting: why it matters
Environmental policies need to be underpinned by robust scientific evidence. The establishment of a state of environment monitoring and reporting system is essential to inform decision-makers of the consequences of actions and changes in the environment. The result from the monitoring is fundamental to fulfill EU, international and national reporting obligations.
Pollution Monitoring - Meeting for Beneficiary Partners
27 June 2021
The purpose of the event was to present and discuss the results of the assessment performed regarding the hardware and software configurations currently available in each beneficiary institution, the identification of improvements required to assure an adequate operating standard of the envisaged GIS tool, the definition of the procurement process, the installation and activation of the GIS tool as a service for the wider community of stakeholders and potential users.
Western Balkans forum: environmental / climate achievements and future challenges
This event aimed to showcase the main results of the projects implemented in the Western Balkans by the UNEP Vienna Office and Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention. It showed the results achieved through the most significant work implemented by UNEP and its partners in the past year, contributing the the achievement of the Agenda 2030 goals and supporting the process of approximation of the Western Balkans Economies to the EU standards.
Environment and Health
The importance of environment and health
Many linkages between the environment and health have been explored during the Southeast European Platform to Beat Pollution project. Pollution is a well-known phenomenon and represents a universal challenge that does not respect national boundaries and contributes to the death of millions of people every year. Pollution also threatens wildlife and plants and can devastate entire ecosystems, having tremendous impacts on human health. Approximately 19 million premature deaths are estimated to occur annually because of the way societies use natural resource and impact the environment to support production and consumption patterns. Of these 19 million, 7 million people die from air pollution. In addition, 80% of global wastewater enters the environment without proper treatment, marine litter is found in 100% of sea turtle species and lead poisoning in children costs the world some 977 billion USD a year. The topic of pollution represents one of the most pressing health issues worldwide, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development offers, through the SDGs and its pollution reducing targets, a great chance for triggering concrete initiatives to tackle pollution.
UNEP has produced several reports on this topic to provide further context. Check out the 2017 report "Towards a Pollution-Free Planet" or the recent publication on Air Pollution in the Western Balkans.
Summary Report
Webinar on Environment and Health
Environment and Health
21/06/2021 10:00 - 11:30
This webinar aimed at showing linkages between the environment and human health and discuss potential solutions in the Western Balkan region by bringing experts and local stakeholders together.
Rule of Law
The importance of rule of law in beating pollution
The Rule of law means that all persons, institutions, entities, public and private, including the State are accountable to laws, and that laws are consistent with fundamental rights, inclusively promulgated, and effectively implemented and enforced. In a formal sense, the rule of law requires respect for the separation of powers, the principle of legality, legal certainty, the prohibition of arbitrariness of the executive power in the application of the law, and the effectiveness of judicial protection.
In combination with the Environmental needs/objectives, aiming at protecting environment to support human life and society, as well as life on the planet, it results in the Environmental rule of law
The Environmental rule of law incorporates these components and applies them in the environmental context. As such, environmental rule of law holds all entities equally accountable to publicly promulgated, independently adjudicated laws that are consistent with international norms and standards for sustaining the planet, as such the Environmental rule of law is key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Environmental rule of creates a foundation for environmental governance that protects rights and enforces fundamental obligations.
Summary Report
Webinar on Rule of Law
Rule of Law
This event focused on the implementation and enforcement of the polluter pays principle, with specific reference to the application of the environmental liability in EU and Western Balkan Countries.
Other Helpful Resources
EU Zero Pollution Stakeholders Platform
The Platform will effectively mainstream the zero pollution agenda. It will bring together stakeholders and experts of different policy areas, such as health, agriculture, research and innovation, transport, digitalisation and the environment. It will create co-ownership, promote collaboration, and foster integrated solutions to maximise synergies with decarbonisation and post-COVID 19 recovery efforts.
Visit the Platform here.
Visit the Platform here.
European Circular Economy Stakeholders Platform
The European Circular Economy Stakeholders Platform is a joint initiative by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee. It brings together stakeholders active in the broad field of the circular economy in Europe.
Visit the Platform here.
Visit the Platform here.
Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability
A high-level roundtable was established to support the implementation of the EU's Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.
The members of the high-level roundtable include leaders from Member States, industry, NGOs, international organisations and scientists, who will support the Commission in achieving the objectives of the strategy and monitor its implementation.
See the Strategy here.
The members of the high-level roundtable include leaders from Member States, industry, NGOs, international organisations and scientists, who will support the Commission in achieving the objectives of the strategy and monitor its implementation.
See the Strategy here.
UNEP - Urban Air Action Platform
The Urban Air Action Platform aims to sustain and grow the world’s foremost air quality databank. The data, shared on a single, UN-coordinated platform empowers governments to improve policy, allows citizens to make more informed health choices and demand action from their governments, while giving businesses the ability to make investment decisions that promote a cleaner, greener environment.
Visit the Platform here.
Visit the Platform here.
The Multisectoral Coordination Mechanism Operational Tool (MCM OT)
The Mechanism has been developed to support national authorities to establish or strengthen their mechanism for multisectoral, One Health coordination to manage zoonotic diseases and other One Health threats. While it provides step-by-step guidance on how to conduct each component of the process, it also provides model documents and templates to support its use by staff from national ministries responsible for management of zoonotic diseases, with references to principles and best practices described in the Tripartite Zoonosis Guide.
Visit the Mechanism here.
Visit the Mechanism here.
Regional Cooperation Council
The Regional Cooperation Council could play an important role in building the regional dimension of the Green Agenda. The RCC is a regionally owned and led cooperation framework aiming at advancing the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of the region. It works to develop and maintain a political climate of dialogue, reconciliation, tolerance and openness towards cooperation through the implementation of regional initiatives aimed at economic and social development.
Visit the Council here.
Visit the Council here.
Energy Community
Established in 2005, the Energy Community brings together the European Union and its neighbors to create an integrated pan-European energy market. Its key objective is to extend the EU internal energy market rules and principles to South East Europe, the Black Sea region and beyond on the basis of a legally binding framework.
Visit the Community here.
Visit the Community here.
Transport Community
The Transport Community can be instrumental in identifying the priority transport investments with a focus on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), addressing regulatory barriers to green transition, and promoting and developing green mobility strategies and investments throughout the region, as well as mainstreaming the environment in all aspects of transport.
Visit the Community here.
Visit the Community here.
International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River
The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) works to ensure the sustainable and equitable use of waters in the Danube River Basin. The work of the ICPDR is based on the Danube River Protection Convention (DRPC), the major legal instrument for cooperation and transboundary water management in the Danube River Basin.
Visit the Commission here.
Visit the Commission here.
International Sava River Basin Commission
The Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin defines three main objectives of cooperation:
•Establishment of an international regime for navigation on the Sava River and its navigable tributaries
•Establishment of sustainable water management
•Undertaking of measures to prevent or limit hazards, to reduce and eliminate adverse consequences including those from floods, ice, droughts and incidents involving substances hazardous for water.
Visit the Commission here.
•Establishment of an international regime for navigation on the Sava River and its navigable tributaries
•Establishment of sustainable water management
•Undertaking of measures to prevent or limit hazards, to reduce and eliminate adverse consequences including those from floods, ice, droughts and incidents involving substances hazardous for water.
Visit the Commission here.
Land Use/Cover Area frame statistical Survey - LUCAS
Following a decision of the European Parliament, the European Statistical Office (EUROSTAT) in close cooperation with the Directorate General responsible for Agriculture and the technical support of the JRC, is organising regular, harmonised surveys across all Member States to gather information on land cover and land use. This survey is known as LUCAS (Land Use/Cover Area frame statistical Survey).
Visit the website here.
Visit the website here.
EU Soil Observatory - EUSO
The EU Soil Observatory is developing a dashboard to 1) monitor soil policy implementation and 2) provide data about the state of soil health in the EU through an easily accessible and interactive platform.
Visit the Observatory here.
Visit the Observatory here.