Page 22 - Frontier Technologies to Protect the Environment and Tackle Climate Change

Frontier Technologies to Protect the Environment and Tackle Climate Change

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

The UNECE region faces a wide range of environmental, social and economic challenges. As
environmental pressures persist, sustainable economic development requires further advances in
connectivity and the smart use of technologies across the region. In the wake of climate change
and more extreme weather events, disasters triggered by natural and man-made/technological
hazards are expected to occur more often and have more severe impacts. Natural hazard-triggered
technological accidents are on the rise. Industrial production and transportation cause emissions of
air pollutants and greenhouse gases, with detrimental effects on human health and the environment.
Poor, disadvantaged and vulnerable populations, including young people, older people, women and
migrants, are especially affected by climate change and environmental degradation. The application
of relevant innovative technologies can help to address the climate change-related challenges and
ensure that no-one is left behind.

UNECE has extensive experience in supporting countries in the UNECE region in their efforts to
address the consequences of climate change through the application of tools in land management,
land use and spatial planning, urban mobility, housing, risk-based and standards-based regulatory
systems, environmental stewardship (including air pollution abatement), integrated water resources
management, water supply and sanitation, environmental assessments, industrial safety, disaster
risk reduction, energy management and efficiency, access to information and public participation,
population, innovation/competitiveness and public-private partnerships.

UNECE also promotes climate mitigation and sustainable development through its conventions and
other instruments such as international standards, national and regional policy reviews, information
portals, policy advice, awareness-raising, advocacy and capacity development/assistance for the
transition towards a smarter and more sustainable world for all.
Across all policy domains, UNECE uses the power of innovation to help countries enhance information
exchange and cooperation across borders, to improve, the alignment and coherence of regional
standards and approaches and effective policies for more inclusive sustainable development and
achieving the SDGs.

Olga Algayerova
United Nations Under-Secretary-General Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe

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