National experts and academic authorities from Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan gathered in Kyrgyzstan for a five-day study tour to exchange experiences and best practice on ecosystem based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR).

As floods, droughts, and other extreme events become ever more common, policy-makers and practitioners are increasingly turning to natural solutions. This study tour with representatives from Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan provided a unique opportunity to share experiences across countries with similar landscapes and ecosystems.

Over the course of the study tour, participants examined local ecosystems, project sites, and reviewed the latest technology in geospatial mapping. Site visits showing land management, engineering, ecology, and Eco-DRR approaches were also arranged. Kyrgyzstan is home to a number of national parks and conservation areas including the Naryn and the Issyk-Kul areas where ecosystems and ecological activities are being linked with public works and development schemes.

In these three countries, Eco-DRR remains a nascent concept. The study tour sought to capitalize on this growing field by improving understanding, acquiring lessons learned and connecting regional experts to existing networks in the country. Alongside technical excursions, exchange networks were established with university, government, NGOs and community groups.

The tour was part of Eco-DRR pilot projects in Afghanistan, Sudan, Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, supported by the European Union.

More information: Andrew.Scanlon@unep.org, Cassidy.Travis@unep.org

Photo: Experts from Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan visited local ecosystems and project sites as part of an eco-DRR tour in Kyrgyzstan

Through the decision of the General Assembly to hold a comprehensive ten-year review Conference of the Almaty Programme of Action decided in 2003, the Second United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) was held in Vienna from 3 to 5 November.

At the conference, participants from governments of LLDCs, transit developing countries and donor countries, UN and other international organizations and the private sector came together to decide upon the new development agenda for the next decade.

The main outcome of this conference was the adoption of a Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the period 2014-2024 with six clearly defined priorities, aiming at accelerating sustainable development in LLDCs. This document stresses the need to strengthen North-South and South-South partnerships and to ensure sustainable economic growth. LLDC countries must develop their role as land linked countries. Mr Gyan Chandra Acharya, USG and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, underlined that LLDCs are, despite some improvements in the last decades, still in need of support for developing their infrastructure.

The conference included 4 high-level interactive thematic round-tables and 18 side events organized by various stakeholders.

Together with Austria and GRID-Arendal, UNEP Vienna office organized a side event titled: “How to facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in Landlocked Mountain Countries” The Post-2015 Development Agenda/SDGs dimension. The event, which was held in the format of a panel discussion and moderated by Mr Jan Dusik, Director and Regional Representative of UNEP, Regional Office for Europe, was opened by H.E. Mr Gyan Chandra Acharya. The event brought together stakeholders from the private and public sector, in particular mountainous LLDCs countries to: present and discuss challenges and opportunities (also for the private sector) related to sustainable and resilient infrastructure measures, by drawing from experiences and best-practices in selected key areas including transport, energy and tourism; and renew countries’ commitment to SMD and discuss ways to foster further partnership between the various mountain regions in the global (LLDC, Post-2015 process and other platforms) and inter-regional (including sharing experiences and best practices with other mountain regions such as the Alps and Carpathians) context.

More information: harald.egerer@unvienna.org

The Festival “Arctic Days in Moscow” was organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment with support by the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia, Moscow Government, Russian Geographical Society, Lomonosov Moscow State University and Russian Academy of Sciences. It took place on 20-22 November and combined three major events: International Scientific Conference “The Open Arctic”, the 3rd International Festival of Nonfiction Films “The Arctic” and Photo exhibition “The Arctic – Day and Night Area”.

The main goal of the festival was to highlight active work in the Russian northern region, popularise the image of the Arctic and develop concrete proposals for the federal and local governments.

The Plenary session of the International Scientific Conference that took place on 22 November gathered over 150 participants. The Plenary Panel was composed of Russian Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Sergey Donskoy, academician Arthur Chilingarov (Advisor to the President on Arctic matters and guru of Arctic issues in Russia), Terry Callaghan (2007 - Nobel Peace Prize winner as one of the lead authors of the IPCC, Distinguished Research Professor, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Professor of Arctic Ecology in the University of Sheffield and Professor of Botany at Tomsk State University in Russia), a representative of the independent natural gas company Novatec and Jan Dusik, Director UNEP Regional Office for Europe who, in his speech, presented ongoing and planned UNEP activities in the Russian Arctic. During a panel discussion the question of the creation of the Ministry of the Arctic and Northern Territories Affairs in Russia was raised.

More information: http://arctic-days.ru/en/

JUMP (Jugend Umwelt Platform), an environmental organization for young people, co-funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (BMLFUW), organized in cooperation with the University of Vienna a university course titled: “UN Climate Reporter, Simulation game of an UN Conference on Climate Change 2014, Lima/Peru - Negotiating climate change.”

Together with Austria and GRID-Arendal, UNEP Vienna supported the students in preparing and conductin the model negotiations, which took place in the Vienna International Centre on 17-18 November. Mr Harald Egerer, Head of the UNEP Vienna –Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention office, made a welcoming speech during the opening event of the course on 9 October, presenting the Climate Change activities of UNEP.

Presenting the different climate change adaptation and mitigation projects in the Carpathians, in the Alps and in other mountain regions, Mr Egerer underlined the importance of cooperation between countries to insure the sustainable development of mountain regions, especially due to their role as early indicators to climate change. Mr Egerer also highlighted the importance of climate negotiations. The climate mediators of tomorrow must be aware of all the challenges the changing climate is bringing. Mr Gyan Chandra Acharya, USG and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, introduced the upcoming LLDC Conference to the students.

At the conference, participants from governments of LLDCs, transit developing countries and donor countries, UN and other international organizations and the private sector came together to decide upon the new development agenda for the next decade

Out of 30 students, 2 will have the opportunity to be part of the Austrian Delegation as Climate reporters at the next UNFCCC COP in Lima, Peru.

More information: harald.egerer@unep.org