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Good winter tyres are indispensable for driving safely on snowy or icy roads, and many countries impose specific winter tyre requirements. These vary from country to country, but usually define winter tyres as those identified with special markings. The entry-level winter tyres are marked M+S (Mud
From the climate crisis to inequalities, urban areas play an increasingly central role in tackling key sustainable development challenges. Strengthening the connections between city-level actors and facilitating their engagement in international policy debates is therefore vital to scale up
A UNECE guide, Machine Learning for Official Statistics, released today, will help national and international statistical organizations to harness the power of machine learning (ML) to modernize the production of official statistics. As found by a 2021 project led by the United Kingdom and UNECE,
Originating from the south of Asia, Persia, and Afghanistan, pomegranate is an ancient fruit that has been cultivated by many cultures for thousands of years throughout the Mediterranean region of Asia, Africa, and Europe.  International trade in pomegranate will be facilitated thanks to a new
While agriculture and food production cause significant air pollution, air pollution can also have significant impacts on crops, other vegetation and entire ecosystems. This, in turn, can impact on agricultural yields and food production and can lead to significant economic losses. To review new
The 75th anniversary session of the Inland Transport Committee (ITC) concluded at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), after a week of forward progress in the fields of inland transport connectivity, road safety, accessibility, and sustainability.  Among the week’s
The population of the UNECE region is ageing: one in four people will be 65 years old or above by 2050 compared to one in six today. Population ageing has social and economic implications for which societies need to prepare. This requires a coordinated, whole-of-government and whole-of-society
Some 50 transport ministers and leaders from around the world joined delegates from over 90 countries for the 75th anniversary session of UNECE’s Inland Transport Committee (ITC) to celebrate its unique accomplishments and depict a picture of the Committee’s future. In her keynote address, Ms.
Spending extended periods of time at home under COVID-19 restrictions highlighted the need for accessible green spaces like never before, particularly for city dwellers who sought out green spaces for fresh air, exercise and a break from the confines of their apartments. Access to green open spaces
Uganda has 98 per cent of its water resources within the Nile River Basin. The Nile River is the longest transboundary river in Africa. Cooperation on the Nile Basin water resources, according to Uganda’s Minister for Water and Environment, His Excellency, Hon. Sam Cheptoris, is therefore “not a
The Conference of European Statisticians Framework on Waste Statistics, published today by UNECE, provides a new perspective on defining and measuring the waste products of our economies. Every household, enterprise and institution produces waste. If not properly dealt with, this waste can pose a
Taking concerted action on gender equality and inclusion within standards development processes is an important and necessary means of ensuring the adequacy of standards to address sustainable development challenges. UNECE, with its longstanding history as a convenor of national, regional, and
The 8th Edition of the Global Road Safety Film Festival, to be held on 21-22 February 2022, will showcase the best films from among submissions from over 40 countries worldwide that highlight smart and safe mobility solutions to the road safety crisis. The Festival’s focus on smart and safe
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have completed new digital air cargo technical specifications guidance that will help to accelerate the transition towards safer and more resilient supply chains, while making
The number of accidents involving trucks and coaches on the road could soon be reduced with the extension of the use of Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS). Initially designed to improve safety on motorways, the scope of UN Regulation No. 131 will be widened to include other road contexts,
Heavy metals such as mercury have led to great harm to human health and the environment, for example in the 1950s in Minamata, Japan, when the release of methylmercury in the industrial wastewater from a chemical factory poisoned many people. Even in smaller quantities, heavy metals released into
Countries across the globe have made progress on digitalizing international trade formalities during the COVID-19 pandemic, but stronger efforts are needed to facilitate trade for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and other groups and sectors with special needs, according to a report
The second edition of UNECE’s Road Map on Statistics for Sustainable Development Goals, released today, provides comprehensive guidance for countries to help them strengthen their systems for producing and disseminating data on the SDGs. In 2015 the world embarked on a journey to the future, to
2022 marks 30 years since the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, now a General Assembly-endorsed global standard, were first developed and adopted at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Created by the Conference of European Statisticians, UNECE’s highest decision
During the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by the constraints imposed by social distancing measures and restrictions on movement, businesses and consumers in the economies in transition in the UNECE region (e.g. Central Asia, Southern Caucasus, Western Balkans and Eastern Europe) – mirroring global
The transition to sustainable energy has been at the forefront of energy policy in many countries in the recent years. This process has become ever more important in the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and with a strong rebound of GHG emissions in 2021 after some reduction in 2020 when the
Developed in the first half of the 20th century, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been regulated or banned as widespread public concern over their toxicological effects for human health and the environment has increased. Research has shown that exposure to POPs can lead to serious health
Zimbabwe’s road crash fatality rate increased from 1,836 in 2016 to an average of 2,000 deaths per year – over 5 deaths per day – from 2017 to 2019, according to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ). In reality, this figure may be over three times higher at some 7,000 road deaths per year
UNECE and FAO are implementing blockchain tracing technology in cotton supply chains in Latin America. Demand is increasing from consumers for more traceability of their products to the origin and for more transparent sustainability credentials. Yet in countries such as Peru, 99% of the cotton
Governments, businesses and individuals around the world are increasingly recognizing that the way our economies function cannot be sustained if we are to stem the tide of climate change, resource depletion and biodiversity loss and reduce our negative impacts on the environment.  A more