Geneva A two-day workshop to enhance understanding of opportunities and procedures related to the Espoo and Industrial Accidents Conventions took place on 5 and 6 June in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The meeting, jointly organized by UNECE and the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan, brought together high officials and international experts to discuss possibilities for enhancing good environmental governance and promoting transboundary cooperation in Turkmenistan with the help of these Conventions.
The objective of the workshop was to familiarize participants with the procedures and benefits of the Conventions, particularly with regard to water resource management. Both the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) and the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents provide widely used, well-proven frameworks for fostering cooperation between neighbouring countries and assessing potential impacts when planning new activities, as well as with regard to industrial safety.
To promote sharing of good experiences, and to illustrate the tangible benefits for applying the Conventions, the workshop focused on practical application and experiences gathered internationally. Representatives from Italy, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova and Slovenia shared their countries’ experiences in the practical application of the two Conventions.
The seminar was organized in the framework of the programme “Regional Dialogue and Cooperation on Water Resources Management in Central Asia”, financed by the Government of Germany through Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in the framework of the Berlin Water Process.
For further information, please visit http://www.unece.org/env/eia and http://www.unece.org/env/teia/welcome.html
Note to editors
The Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, elaborated under the auspices of UNECE, was adopted at Espoo (Finland) on 25 February 1991 and entered into force on 10 September 1997. The Convention now has 45 Parties. The Espoo Convention stipulates that its Parties shall assess the environmental impact of certain activities at an early stage of planning. It also requires States to notify and consult each other on all major projects under consideration that are likely to have a significant adverse environmental impact across borders. Turkmenistan is not a Party to the Convention.
More information about the Convention can be found at http://www.unece.org/env/eia/eia.htm.
The 1992 Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents aims at preventing industrial accidents, as well as preparing for and responding to accidents that do occur. An Assistance Programme operates under the Convention to help countries with economies in transition to implement the Convention and to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and experience on industrial safety. Thirty-nine States and the European Union participate in the Convention. Turkmenistan is not a Party to the Convention.
More information about the Convention can be found at http://www.unece.org/env/teia/welcome.html.
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations, which supports the German Government in achieving its development policy objectives.
The Berlin Water Process was launched at the first “Water Unites” conference (Berlin, 1 April 2008). The Process is an important part of the water and environment pillar of the European Union’s Central Asia Strategy. The Transboundary Water Management in Central Asia Programme is implemented by GIZ under the Berlin Water Process to optimize cooperation in the Central Asian water sector and improve the lives of people in the region.
Ref: ECE/ENV/11/P23