International Conventions on Water. Iulia Trombitcaia. Environmental Affairs Officer, UNECE. International Annual UN-Water Zaragoza Conference 2012/2013
Preparing for the 2013 International Year. Water Cooperation: Making it Happen! 8-10 January 2013
Environmental conventions and protocols.
. Introduction to the Terms.
• Contrast between the Terms.
• Principal Global initiatives and Participations.
• Significance.
• Results.
• Core locations.
• Implementing Organisations.
• Major Conventions and;
• Major Protocols.
its describes Climate change w.r.t. agriculture its causes and effects and carbon trading in emission reduction of co2 , mechanisms, types , advantages and disadvantages.
Environmental conventions and protocols.
. Introduction to the Terms.
• Contrast between the Terms.
• Principal Global initiatives and Participations.
• Significance.
• Results.
• Core locations.
• Implementing Organisations.
• Major Conventions and;
• Major Protocols.
its describes Climate change w.r.t. agriculture its causes and effects and carbon trading in emission reduction of co2 , mechanisms, types , advantages and disadvantages.
Carbon markets 101 introduces the market mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol and related initiatives. It helps executives and managers understand emerging business issues around carbon trading, emission reduction projects and carbon monitoring.
Climate Change: Implications for EnergyECFoundation
The Fifth Assessment Report from the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is the
most comprehensive and relevant analysis of our
changing climate. It provides the scientific fact base
that will be used around the world to formulate
climate policies in the coming years.
This document is one of a series synthesizing the most pertinent findings of AR5 for specific economic and business sectors. It was born of the belief
that the energy sector could make more use of AR5, which is long and highly technical, if it were distilled into an accurate, accessible, timely, relevant and readable summary. Although the information presented here is a ‘translation’ of the key content relevant to this sector from AR5, this summary report adheres to the rigorous scientific basis of the original source material.
The basis for information presented in this overview report can be found in the fully-referenced and peer-reviewed IPCC technical and scientific background reports at: www.ipcc.ch
Its all about How environmental issues were raised and how world nation ended up signing for this Paris agreement.
Then there are impacts of America's withdrawal plus role of China and India.
IPCC, role of IPCC, IPCC AR5, key messages. approach in climate change mitigation, trends of green house gases, mitigation pathways and measures, mitigation policies and institutions,
In this month's SlideShare we'll be covering the topic of carbon credits and carbon offsets and how these instruments are implemented to reduce carbon emissions to combat climate change. While the terms are often used interchangeably, carbon credits and carbon offsets does have certain key differences we'll be exploring. There are also important milestones to note, from the US Clean Air Act and Kyoto Protocol to UN Carbon Offset Platform. Over recent years, the carbon market value have grown significantly from EUR 186 billion in 2018 to EUR 850 billion in 2022.
International Legal Regime for Transboundary Groundwater Iwl Pcu
Basic Challenges Faced with Transboundary Groundwater:
Low level of technical knowledge.
Definition of transboundary GW.
Pollution and over extraction.
Issues of land and water ownership at national level; customary water rights.
Issues of federal and state jurisdiction over GW.
Conflicting interests of states sharing aquifer.
This MC word documents includes the current water disputes that exist in South Asia. The disputed country discussed are;
Pakistan-India
Bangladesh-India
Nepal-India
India-Bhuta
India-Sri-Lanka.
Carbon markets 101 introduces the market mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol and related initiatives. It helps executives and managers understand emerging business issues around carbon trading, emission reduction projects and carbon monitoring.
Climate Change: Implications for EnergyECFoundation
The Fifth Assessment Report from the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is the
most comprehensive and relevant analysis of our
changing climate. It provides the scientific fact base
that will be used around the world to formulate
climate policies in the coming years.
This document is one of a series synthesizing the most pertinent findings of AR5 for specific economic and business sectors. It was born of the belief
that the energy sector could make more use of AR5, which is long and highly technical, if it were distilled into an accurate, accessible, timely, relevant and readable summary. Although the information presented here is a ‘translation’ of the key content relevant to this sector from AR5, this summary report adheres to the rigorous scientific basis of the original source material.
The basis for information presented in this overview report can be found in the fully-referenced and peer-reviewed IPCC technical and scientific background reports at: www.ipcc.ch
Its all about How environmental issues were raised and how world nation ended up signing for this Paris agreement.
Then there are impacts of America's withdrawal plus role of China and India.
IPCC, role of IPCC, IPCC AR5, key messages. approach in climate change mitigation, trends of green house gases, mitigation pathways and measures, mitigation policies and institutions,
In this month's SlideShare we'll be covering the topic of carbon credits and carbon offsets and how these instruments are implemented to reduce carbon emissions to combat climate change. While the terms are often used interchangeably, carbon credits and carbon offsets does have certain key differences we'll be exploring. There are also important milestones to note, from the US Clean Air Act and Kyoto Protocol to UN Carbon Offset Platform. Over recent years, the carbon market value have grown significantly from EUR 186 billion in 2018 to EUR 850 billion in 2022.
International Legal Regime for Transboundary Groundwater Iwl Pcu
Basic Challenges Faced with Transboundary Groundwater:
Low level of technical knowledge.
Definition of transboundary GW.
Pollution and over extraction.
Issues of land and water ownership at national level; customary water rights.
Issues of federal and state jurisdiction over GW.
Conflicting interests of states sharing aquifer.
This MC word documents includes the current water disputes that exist in South Asia. The disputed country discussed are;
Pakistan-India
Bangladesh-India
Nepal-India
India-Bhuta
India-Sri-Lanka.
Presented by Panchali Saikia, International Water Management Institute
Revitalizing the Ganges Coastal Zone Conference
21-23 October 2014, Dhaka, Bangladesh
http://waterandfood.org/ganges-conference/
The UNECE Water Convention: obligations and practical application Iwl Pcu
Francesca Bernardini, Secretary
Presentation at the 2nd Targeted Workshop for GEF IW Projects in Africa on Economic Valuation in November 2012 in Addis Ababa.
UNECE Session: Minna Hanski, Ministerial Adviser, 15th January UN Water Zarag...water-decade
Minna Hanski, Ministerial Adviser
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland
Special Regional Session: Implementing the water related SDGs in the UNECE region
GEF Third Biennial International Waters Conference 2005: Legal Frameworks and...Iwl Pcu
Objectives of the convention
The overall objective is:
To promote regional co-operation to manage Lake Tanganyika sustainably, and this includes managing activities within the Lake basin which affect, or have the potential to affect, the Lake.
The UN Watercourses Convention: Regional and Basin Perspectives, by Dr. Alistair Rieu-Clarke, IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science under the auspices of UNESCO, University of Dundee, Scotland.
SWaRMA_IRBM_Module5_#2, Key principles of international water law, Ram Babu D...ICIMOD
This presentation is the part of 12-day (28 January–8 February 2019) training workshop on “Multi-scale Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) from the Hindu Kush Himalayan Perspective” organized by the Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA) Initiative of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and targeted at participants from Afghanistan.
Montreal protocol, Kyoto protocol & Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)Nethravathi Siri
General review and highlights for AECC-Environmental Studies, Unit 6 - International Agreements such as Montreal protocol, Kyoto protocol & Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in-order to preserve mother nature.
Lets join hands together for awareness spring...
Presentation on 'The Canary Islands: World Laboratory for Water and Energy Technologies' by Gonzalo Piernavieja Izquierdo, R&D&I Director, Canary Islands Institute of Technology, at 2014 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. Preparing for World Water Day 2014: Partnerships for improving water and energy access, efficiency and sustainability. 13-16 January 2014.
Presentación sobre "Innovaciones tecnológicas en el escenario AGUA-ENERGÍA", por Mariano Sanz, CIRCE, en la Conferencia Anual 2014 de ONU-Agua en Zaragoza. Preparando el Día Mundial del Agua 2014: Alianzas para mejorar el acceso, la eficiencia y la sostenibilidad del agua y la energía. 13-16 de enero de 2014.
Presentación sobre "El paradigma del Ebro", por Manuel Omedas, Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro, en la Conferencia Anual 2014 de ONU-Agua en Zaragoza. Preparando el Día Mundial del Agua 2014: Alianzas para mejorar el acceso, la eficiencia y la sostenibilidad del agua y la energía. 13-16 de enero de 2014.
Presentación sobre "El binomio agua-energía. El caso de Iberdrola", por Clemente Prieto, Iberdrola en la Conferencia Anual 2014 de ONU-Agua en Zaragoza. Preparando el Día Mundial del Agua 2014: Alianzas para mejorar el acceso, la eficiencia y la sostenibilidad del agua y la energía. 13-16 de enero de 2014.
Presentación sobre "Agua y Energía: Problemática y soluciones" por Tomás Sancho, Consejo Mundial de Ingenieros Civiles, en la Conferencia Anual 2014 de ONU-Agua en Zaragoza. Preparando el Día Mundial del Agua 2014: Alianzas para mejorar el acceso, la eficiencia y la sostenibilidad del agua y la energía. 13-16 de enero de 2014.
Presentación sobre "Aplicación de la energía solar fotovoltaica al binomio agua-energía", por Alberto Estallo, Elecnor, en la Conferencia Anual 2014 de ONU-Agua en Zaragoza. Preparando el Día Mundial del Agua 2014: Alianzas para mejorar el acceso, la eficiencia y la sostenibilidad del agua y la energía. 13-16 de enero de 2014.
Presentation on 'Communications at the Conference' by Pilar González Meyaui, Information management and awareness raising expert, at 2014 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. Preparing for World Water Day 2014: Partnerships for improving water and energy access, efficiency and sustainability. 13-16 January 2014.
Presentation on 'TOTO: Environmental strategy for water'by Yasutoshi Shimizu, TOTO, at 2014 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. Preparing for World Water Day 2014: Partnerships for improving water and energy access, efficiency and sustainability. 13-16 January 2014.
Presentation on 'The necessity to maintain a balance between water saving and functionality. The Asian Water Saving Council' by Kanako Toyosada, TOTO, at 2014 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. Preparing for World Water Day 2014: Partnerships for improving water and energy access, efficiency and sustainability. 13-16 January 2014.
Conference short assessment by Josefina Maestu, director UNW-DPAC at 2014 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. Preparing for World Water Day 2014: Partnerships for improving water and energy access, efficiency and sustainability. 13-16 January 2014.
Presentación sobre "Los retos del agua y la energía en España. Aspectos jurídicos de la gestión del agua y la energía por la CHE", por Inés Torralba Faci, Funcionaria del Cuerpo Superior de Administradores Civiles del Estado. Jefe del Área de Régimen de Usuarios, Comisaría de Agua, en la Conferencia Anual 2014 de ONU-Agua en Zaragoza. Preparando el Día Mundial del Agua 2014: Alianzas para mejorar el acceso, la eficiencia y la sostenibilidad del agua y la energía. 13-16 de enero de 2014.
Presentation on 'Lessons learnt and roadmap to World Water Day' by Zafar Adeel, Director United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) at 2014 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. Preparing for World Water Day 2014: Partnerships for improving water and energy access, efficiency and sustainability. 13-16 January 2014.
Presentation on 'The Water Joint Programming Initiative (JPI). Water Challenges for a Changing World' by Enrique Playan, Joint Programming Initiative of the European Union at 2014 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. Preparing for World Water Day 2014: Partnerships for improving water and energy access, efficiency and sustainability. 13-16 January 2014.
Presentation on 'IIASA: Global Partner in Applied Research for a Changing World' by Paul Yllia, Water Program, IIASA, at 2014 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. Preparing for World Water Day 2014: Partnerships for improving water and energy access, efficiency and sustainability. 13-16 January 2014.
Presentation on 'A science based tool for the sistematic integration of geothermal resources into regional energy planning' by Paolo Fulignati, University of Pisa, Italy, at 2014 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. Preparing for World Water Day 2014: Partnerships for improving water and energy access, efficiency and sustainability. 13-16 January 2014.
Presentation on 'Water-Energy: Innovation & Partnerships' by Engin Koncagul, Programme Officer, World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) at 2014 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. Preparing for World Water Day 2014: Partnerships for improving water and energy access, efficiency and sustainability. 13-16 January 2014.
Presentation on 2014 World Water Week by Adrian Puigarnau, Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), at 2014 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. Preparing for World Water Day 2014: Partnerships for improving water and energy access, efficiency and sustainability. 13-16 January 2014.
Presentation on 'Partnership experiences involving women in communities for improving access to water considering energy efficiency' by Alice Bouman, President of Women for Water Partnership, at 2014 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. Preparing for World Water Day 2014: Partnerships for improving water and energy access, efficiency and sustainability. 13-16 January 2014.
Presentation on 'Pro-poor public-private partnership (5Ps)' by Hongpeng Liu, Chief of Energy Security and Water Resources Section, UNESCAP at International at 2014 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. Preparing for World Water Day 2014: Partnerships for improving water and energy access, efficiency and sustainability. 13-16 January 2014.
Presentation on 'Partnerships between local authorities and other actors; by Barbara Anton, ICLEI, at 2014 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. Preparing for World Water Day 2014: Partnerships for improving water and energy access, efficiency and sustainability. 13-16 January 2014.
More from United Nations Office to Support the International Decade for Action 'Water for Life' 2005-2015 (20)
2. Two framework multilateral
instruments
• 1997 Convention on the Law of the Non-
navigational Uses of International
Watercourses (UN Watercourses
Convention, or New York Convention)
• 1992 Convention on the Protection and
Use of Transboundary Watercourses and
International Lakes (UNECE Water
Convention, or Helsinki Convention)
3. 1997 UN Watercourses Convention
• Adopted by UN General Assembly in 1997 on
the basis of 1994 ILC Draft Articles – 3
decades, all continents
• Voted in favor by 106 States
• Global framework multilateral agreement
• Strongly recognized as evidence of
international customary law
• Already influenced many agreements (SADC,
Albufeira Convention, etc.)
4. 1997 UN Watercourses Convention
• Not yet in force (6 ratifications missing),
expected entry into force end of 2013-early
2014
• Ratified (29): Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iraq, Italy,
Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Luxemburg,
Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria,
Norway, Portugal, Qatar, South Africa,
Spain, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic,
Tunisia, Uzbekistan
* in blue – also Parties to UNECE Water Convention
5. 1992 UNECE Water Convention
• Negotiated in 1990-1992 through an
intergovernmental process under the auspices
of UNECE, largely relying on ILC Draft Articles
process
• Negotiated originally as regional instrument
• Signed on 17 March 1992, in force on 6 October
1996
• Protocol on Water and Health adopted in 1999,
entered into force in 2005
• Protocol on Civil Liability adopted in 2003
6. Status of ratification of the UNECE
Water Convention
39 Parties (38 countries and
the European Union)
Parties
Countries in accession
Non Parties
.
7. 2003 Amendment to the 1992
UNECE Water Convention
• Opening up the Water Convention to all UN
Member States => the Convention becomes a
global instrument
• Aims:
- apply the principles and provisions worldwide
- share the experiences of the Convention
- learn from other regions of the world
• Amendments enter into force 6 February 2013
• Possibility all UN Member States to accede
from late 2013-early 2014 when all 2003 Parties
ratify the amendments
8. 6th Meeting of the Parties to UNECE Water
Convention (Rome, November 2012)
• Unanimous decision of Parties to grant, once and for all,
the approval to all future requests
• 18 non-UNECE States participated
• Iraq and Tunisia expressed their interest in joining the
Water Convention as soon as possible
9. The two Conventions:
compatibility
• Two same substantive principles
-equitable and reasonable utilization
-due diligence obligation of no-harm
• Principle of cooperation as catalyst for the
implementation of the two substantive ones
(specified in the obligations to notify, to
consult, to exchange information, to enter into
agreements and establish joint bodies, etc.)
• Almost same provisions with regard to dispute
settlement
10. The two Conventions:
mutual complementarity
Countless examples…
* Factors to equitable and reasonable utilization
(Art.6 of the Watercourses Convention)
* Planned measures (Part III of the Watercourses
Convention)
* Consequences of occurrence of transboundary
impact (Art.7(2) of the Watercourses Convention)
* Content of specific agreements and tasks of joint
bodies (Art. 9 of the Water Convention)
* Water quality objectives and criteria and BAT
(annexes of the Water Convention)
* Information subject to exchange, and “joint
assessments” (Art. 13 and 11 of the Water
Convention)…
11. The two Conventions:
what differences?
• Few differences (confined groundwater not
covered by Watercourses Convention;
intellectual property limitation to exchange of
information in UNECE Water Convention;
obligation to adapt existing agreements to basic
provisions in UNECE Water Convention)
• One major difference:
-Mandatory character of institutional cooperation
between Riparian Parties in the UNECE Water
Convention (recommendation in Watercourses
Convention)
-Institutional mechanism based on the Meeting of
the Parties in the UNECE Water Convention (no
such mechanism in Watercourses Convention)
12. 1992 Water Convention
institutional mechanism
• Meeting of the Parties
• Bureau
• Working Group on Monitoring and Assessment
• Working Group on Integrated Water Resources
Management
• Task Force on Water and Climate
• Legal Board
• Implementation Committee
• Joint ad-hoc Expert Group on Water and
Industrial Accidents
• International Water Assessment Center (IWAC)
• Supported by UNECE secretariat
3-year work programmes: Protocols, guidelines,
assessments, projects on the ground …
13. The two Conventions:
the principle of harmonization
“Fragmentation of International Law: Difficulties
Arising from the Diversification and Expansion of
International Law”, Report of the Study Group of
the International Law Commission, 2006:
“The principle of harmonization. It is a generally
accepted principle that when several norms bear on a
single issue they should, to the extent possible, be
interpreted so as to give rise to a single set of
compatible obligations”.
Guide to Implementing the Water Convention, 2009:
interpreting many of its provisions in light of the
Watercourses Convention and the ILC Commentary
14. How will the two work together?
Open and constructive discussion…
•World Water Forum in Marseille (March 2012),
Symposium in Dundee (June 2012), Rio +20
(June 2012), Meeting of the Parties to Water
Convention (Rome, 2012)
•Upcoming debate on the “water” SDG
•New work programme of Water Convention
for 2013-2015:
-building synergies with NY Convention
-role of the new Implementation Committee
It is up to the Parties to decide.
15. Message by UN Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon to the Meeting of the
Parties to Water Convention
(Rome, November 2012)
“Soon the Convention on the Protection
and Use of Transboundary Watercourses
and International Lakes will become
open for accession to all Member
States. Your experience and the lessons
you have learned will be invaluable. I
encourage countries outside the
UNECE region to join the Convention
and contribute to its further
development.”
16. Message by UN Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon to the Meeting of the
Parties to Water Convention
(Rome, November 2012)
“The globalization of the [Water]
Convention should also go hand-in-hand
with the expected entry into force of the
United Nations Watercourses Convention.
These two instruments are based on the
same principles. They complement each
other and should be implemented in a
coherent manner.”
17. Intergovernmental bilateral Dniester Basin
Treaty of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine
(Rome, 29 November 2012)
– taking the best of the two Conventions
18. Thank you!
UN Watercourses Convention/ILC:
http://untreaty.un.org/ilc/summaries/8_3.htm
UNECE Water Convention:
http://www.unece.org/env/water
WWF campaign:
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/how_we_work
/policy/conventions/water_conventions/
Contact: Iulia Trombitcaia
Environmental Affairs Officer, UNECE
iulia.trombitcaia@unece.org
Editor's Notes
Focus today on the two multilateral framework instruments… Such focus now, in the IYWC, is not by chance: this year will undoubtedly be a historic year for both instruments.
Adopted by UN General Assembly in 1997 on the basis of ILC Draft Articles – negotiated by mostly lawyers during 3 decades Voted in favor by 106 States From the very beginning: *the Global framework multilateral agreement– with deriving consequences as to the needs to reconcile the very diverse interests Strongly recognized as evidence of international customary law Already influenced many agreements (SADC, Albufeira Convention, etc.)
Sleeping for about a decade – remarcable increase in the number of ratification in the last 3 years - although Not yet in force (6 ratifications missing), it is expected to enter into force end of 2013-early 2014 Parties (29) In the recent years – many Parties to UNECE Water Convention had ratified.
Negotiated in 1990-1992 through an intergov. Process The process was under the auspices of UNECE Informally called “UNECE Water Convention”. UNECE-secretariat, in no other way influences The mandate given to the Working Group of Senior Officials which negotiated clearly included references to ILC process. Entered into force 1996 – rather quickly. Enhanced by two protocols, also legally binding. For now – the Convention with 20 years of history.
So now it is the Convention which covers practically entire UNECE region, with only a few countries left aside. It has generated 20 years of history and activities. We are often asked: how did it happen that the two Conventions were adopted in the 1990s on the same subject? When negotiations of the 1992 Convention took place – it was not yet clear how long the negotiations in the ILC will take. It was obviously easier to agree upon a document in a smaller group of countries. The break up of the f.SU, and generally the Soviet block resulted in major changes on the political map of the region which called for solutions to the management of transboundary waters. So the UNECE Convention emerged as a response to these challenges, and did provide a stable legal framework for cooperation in course of 20 years.
In 2003 the Parties
A historic meeting:
There had been studies: -2000 under UNECE Convention, now being revised -In countries which were Parties to UNECE Convention and were interested in becoming Parties to Watercourses Convention: Concluded the two Conventions: 1) Are perfectly compatible, and the differences between them are a matter of the level of detail. 2) Are based on the same substantive principles: Two same substantive principles -equitable and reasonable utilization -due diligence obligation of no-harm And the Procedural principle of cooperation as catalyst for the implementation of the two substantive ones (forms: specified in the obligations to notify, to consult, to exchange information, to enter into agreements and establish joint bodies, etc.) Almost same provisions with regard to dispute settlement (with minor difference as to compulsory fact finding in the Watercourses Convention balanced by similar role played by joint bodies in the Water Convention).
There are plenty of examples of how one Convention can clarify and complement another in the substantive content of respective obligations … .
* Very few differences: Groundwater (the UNECE Water Convention covers all groundwater, even confined groundwaters; the UN Watercourses Convention covers groundwaters which are connected with surface waters so as to constitute a unitary whole. Confined groundwaters are therefore outside the scope of that Convention). Intellectual property (the UNECE Water Convention allows limitation to exchange of information between riparian Partie on the consideration of intellectual property rights, while the UN Water Convention does not allow this ground to be invoked). Obligation to adapt exist agreements in line with the basic principles (present in UNECE Water Convention) One major difference: -Mandatory character of institutional cooperation between Riparian Parties in the UNECE Water Convention -Institutional mechanism based on the Meeting of the Parties in the UNECE Water Convention Of procedural, not substantive character
It is a living instrument with High Ownership by Parties, but involves also non-Parties, international organisations, NGOs.
In 2003 the Parties
Many of you are probably thinking: this is all a nice staff for lawyers , but how can this puzzle be resolved in practice ? How will the two Conventions co-exist? The important thing is to have an open and constructive discussion, the discussion which takes into account the reality and which is at the same time visionary in view of the future challenges, and current and future constrains. It is good that such discussion had already started . World Water Forum in Marseille (March 2012), Symposium in Dundee (June 2012), Rio +20 (June 2012), At the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention, there was a side event and a plenary discussion where quite a number of views were presented by Parties, and some scenarios were presented by experts. New work program of the Water Convention has a specific area “(c) Ensuring synergies and coordination with the 1997 Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses“. Implementation Committee – may play a crucial role in bringing together. McCaffrey. Of course such open and constructive discussion is very important but it is up to the PARTIES to BOTH Conventions to decide: How do they see the two Conventions working together, Whether there is a need for an institutional set up for the NY Convention at all, Whether there is a need for combined/separate institutional arrangements, and so on…
The UN SG, in his message to the …., underscored the invaluable experience gained by the Water Convention, and encouraged countries from outside the UNECE region to join the Water Convention.
The SG also addressed the Parties to the Water Convention and emphasized in his message that: - The globalization of the [Water] Convention should also go hand-in-hand with the expected entry into force of the United Nations Watercourses Convention. - These two instruments should be implemented in a coherent manner
In conclusion I would like to give you the following example. Just a month ago, at the after a decade of negotiations…, facilitated by…., the Rep.of Mold and Ukr. It is a 40-pages Treaty, with 31 articles and 5 annexes. This Treaty is a unique, modern age agreement which takes the best from the two Conventions. Both countries had been Parties to UNECE Water Convention for many years, but they have gone much further when developing the new Treaty: They have formulated the principles of cooperation on the basis of 2 Conventions They have addressed additional issues , not covered by the UNECE Convention but covered by the NY Convention They have gone further then the two Convention in some aspects like protection of biological resources – developing the provisions and principles of the two Conventions to their specific basin. This example shows how both Conventions served in a complementary way to enhance the cooperation.