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Summary Report
IISD Reporting Services (IISD RS) has produced a summary report from the high-level segment of UNECE’s 65th session. To download it, click the HTML or PDF icons below.
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Sustainable Development Policy & Practice

Sixty-fifth session of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

9-11 April 2013 | Geneva, Switzerland

Sixty-fifth session of UNECE

During its regular sixty-fifth session, the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) addressed the follow-up to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or “Rio+20) and the post-2015 development agenda for Europe. The full-day discussion was part of the session’s high-level segment and was held at the UN Office in Geneva on 9 April 2013.

Two panel discussions took place during the day on “The future of sustainability: from transition to transformation;” and “Sustainable development governance: regional implications and perspectives for the post-Rio+20 institutional set up.”

In a discussion led by panelists, participants from governments, UN agencies, Major Groups and other stakeholders discussed the relevance of Rio+20 outcomes for the work of the UNECE. They suggested ways the Commission can contribute to the formulation of post-2015 sustainable development goals (SDGs) and new governance mechanisms such as the High-level Political Forum (HLPF). Country representatives also described their ongoing work and plans for advancing the outcomes of Rio+20 at the sub-regional and national levels.

Download our summary report of the meeting in HTML or PDF format.
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UNECE Executive Secretary Sven Alkalaj highlighted member states’ agreement to create SDGs at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, reminding delegates that, “the clock is ticking.”
The Tuesday morning session opened with addresses by UNECE Chair Uglješa Zvekić, Serbia (right), UNECE Executive Secretary Sven Alkalaj and Joshua Lincoln, UN Office at Geneva.
UNECE Chair Uglješa Zvekić, Serbia, noted the relevance of the meeting to international discussions of the post-2015 development agenda.
Vladan Zdravković, Ministry of Energy, Resources and Environment, Serbia, highlighted the work of the Open Working Group (OWG) on SDGs in developing one set of clear and comprehensive goals.
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International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Director-General Adnan Amin presented information on new jobs being created in the renewables sector, highlighting this as an economic opportunity for countries.
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Gennadiy M. Gatilov, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russian Federation, called for broad consultations on developing SDGs, especially on energy and transport.
The European Union makes an intervention.
Elena Dumitru, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Romania, noted no incompatibility between environmental concerns and economic growth, and stressed the importance of the role of government in bringing about a green economy through standards, indicators and voluntary approaches.
Moderator Claire Doole, ClearView Media, invited panelists to share their views.
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The conference hall at the Palais des Nations
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Delegates await their turn to speak
Related Links
Meeting resources

*Meeting website

*Provisional agenda

*Provisional programme

*The future of sustainability: from transition to transformation

*Sustainable development governance: regional implications and perspectives for the post-Rio+20 institutional set-up

*Economic developments and challenges in the ECE region: the role of innovation in creating a dynamic and competitive economy

*Outcome of the review of the 2005 reform of ECE

*Report on activities of the Executive Committee


IISD RS resources

*IISD RS summary report of the First Session of the Open Working Group (OWG) of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 14-15 March 2013, UN Headquarters, New York, United States of America (English: HTML - PDF) (French: HTML - PDF)

*IISD RS coverage of the Caribbean Forum: Shaping a Sustainable Development Agenda to address the Caribbean Reality in the 21st Century and Conference on Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean: Follow-up to the development agenda beyond 2015 and Rio+20, 5-6 and 7-9 of March 2013, Bogotá, Colombia

*IISD RS summary report of the Eighth Session of the Committee on Food Security and Sustainable Development (CFSSD-8) and Africa Regional Implementation Meeting (Africa-RIM) in preparation for the Twentieth Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable (CSD-20), 19-21 November 2012, UN Conference Centre (UNCC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (English: HTML - PDF) (French: HTML - PDF)

*IISD RS coverage of Rio+20: Third PrepCom and the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), 13-22 June 2012, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

*IISD RS coverage of the UNECE Regional Preparatory Meeting for UNCSD or Rio+20, 1-2 December 2011, Geneva, Switzerland

*IISD RS coverage of CSD-19, 2-14 May 2011, UN Headquarters, New York, United States of America

*Sustainable Development Policy & Practice - A Knowledgebase of Activities Contributing to International Sustainable Development

*SDG - A mailing list for news on sustainable development policy

*Sustainable Development Policy & Practice - A Knowledgebase of UN and Intergovernmental Post-2015 Development Agenda Activities

*SDG - A mailing list focused on internationally-relevant activities related to setting the post-2015 development agenda

*Linkages Update - Bi-weekly international environment and sustainable development news
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