The Final Meeting of the three-year UNEP-led project “Sustainable Energy Planning in Eastern Europe and South Caucasus – towards the Covenant of Mayors – Moldova, Ukraine and Azerbaijan” will take place in Moldova on 2 December.

The objective of the meeting is to present the project achievements, lessons learned and way forward of each of the project partner cities, Betsy in Moldova, Vinnytsia in Ukraine and Icherisheher (Old Town of Baku) in Azerbaijan. A panel discussion between the cities representatives and the international financial institutions will also take place in order to address the possible options for the cities to reach international funding to implementing their Sustainable Energy Actions Plans (SEAPs).

More information: jimena.fernandez@unep.org

UNEP's Emissions Gap Report series aims to inform governments and the wider community on how far the response to climate change has progressed over the past 12 months, and thus how far the world is on track to meet wider goals. A regional launch of the 2014 report event is planned in Brussels. On 19 November, UNEP will present the findings of this latest report to European media and key stakeholders in Brussels.

More information: alexa.froger@unep.org

The Alpine - Carpathian Joint Statement on Adaptation to Climate Change was adopted at the 4th Conference of the Parties of the Carpathian Convention in Mikulov, Czech Republic in September 2014. It is planned to be adopted by the Alpine Convention at the Alpine Conference that will take place on 17-21 November in Turin. Thereafter, it will be jointly presented in the frame of the Mountain Pavilion during the UNFCCC COP 20 in December in Lima.

More information: harald.egerer@unvienna.org

On 19 November, innovators and policymakers whose service to the environment is saving lives, improving livelihoods and bettering environmental governance, and conservation, will be given the United Nation’s highest environmental accolade, the Champions of the Earth Award, at a ceremony hosted by UNEP, in Washington, with special guest UNEP Goodwill Ambassador, Gisele Bundchen.

The award covers the following categories: Policy Leadership, Entrepreneurial Vision, Lifetime Awardees, Science and Innovation, and Inspiration and Action.

Champions of the Earth is the United Nations' flagship environmental award launched in 2005 that recognizes outstanding visionaries and leaders in the fields of policy, science, entrepreneurship, and civil society action. Whether by helping to improve the management of natural resources, demonstrating new ways to tackle climate change or raising awareness of emerging environmental challenges, Champions of the Earth should serve as an inspiration for transformative action across the world. Past laureates have included Mikhail Gorbachev, Al Gore, Felipe Calderon, Mohamed Nasheed, Marina Silva, Vinod Khosla, and many other such exemplary leaders on the environment and development front.

Don't miss the awards on 19 November! Visit http://www.unep.org/champions/ for more details.