UNDP presentation, Gabriela Fischerova, Climate Change Policy Advisor, UNDP Europe and the CIS, Bratislava Regional Centre

1. UN Conventions and the EU
legislation – linkages and
synergies
Gabriela Fischerova
Climate Change Policy Advisor
UNDP Europe and the CIS, Bratislava Regional Centre
Climate Change and Development - the nexus between UN Conventions and the EU Accession, Ljubljana, 25 - 26 May, 2011

2. UN Treaties – Chapter XXVII - Environment
• 16 Conventions with additional 30 Protocols of transboundary context
• Air: Air pollution, Ozone layer protection, Climate change,
• Water: Watercourses and international lakes, Conservation of small
cetaceans, non-navigational use of int`l watercourses
• Waste: Movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal
• Nature: Desertification, Biological diversity, Illegal trade of fauna and flora
• Industry: Industrial accidents, International trade for certain hazardous
chemicals and pesticides, Persistent organic pollutants,
• Legal issues: Environmental impact assessment, Access to the
information, public participation in decision-making, access to justice in
environmental matters, Industrial accidents damage on transboundary
waters
• http://treaties.un.org/Pages/Treaties.aspx?id=7&subid=A&lang=en
Climate Change and Development - the nexus between UN Conventions and the EU Accession, Ljubljana, 25 - 26 May, 2011

3. CHAPTER XXVII : Environment Bosnia and
Albania Herzegovina Croatia Montenegro Serbia The FYR Macedonia
2
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. Vienna, 22 March 1985      
2.a.
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Montreal, 16 September 1987      
2.b.
Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. London, 29 June 1990      
2.c. Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Copenhagen, 25
November 1992      
2.d.
Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer adopted by the Ninth
Meeting of the Parties. Montreal, 17 September 1997      
2.e. Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Beijing, 3 December
1999  x    
4 Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context. Espoo, Finland, 25
February 1991      
4.a. Amendment to the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context. Sofia,
27 February 2001  x   x x
4.b.
Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment to the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment
in a Transboundary Context. Kiev, 21 May 2003  Signature    Signature
4.c. Amendment to the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context. Cavtat,
4 June 2004  x   x x
5 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International
Lakes. Helsinki, 17 March 1992    x  x
5.a.
Protocol on Water and Health to the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary
Watercourses and International Lakes. London, 17 June 1999  x  x x x
5.b.
Amendments to Articles 25 and 26 of the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary
Watercourses and International Lakes. Madrid, 28 November 2003 x   x  x
6
Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents. Helsinki, 17 March 1992  x    
7
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. New York, 9 May 1992      
7.a. Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Kyoto, 11 December
1997      
7.b.
Amendment to Annex B of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change. Nairobi, 17 November 2006 x x x x  x
8 Convention on Biological Diversity. Rio de Janeiro, 5 June 1992      
8.a.
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Montreal, 29 January 2000      
8.b.
Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising
from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Nagoya, 29 October 2010
10
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought
and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa. Paris, 14 October 1994      
13
Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in
Environmental Matters. Aarhus, Denmark, 25 June 1998      
13.a.
Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers. Kiev, 21 May 2003  Signature  Signature Signature 
13.b.
Amendment to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and
Access to Justice in Environmental Matters. Almaty, 27 May 2005 x x x x x x
15
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Stockholm, 22 May 2001      
Climate Change and Development - the nexus between UN Conventions and the EU Accession, Ljubljana, 25 - 26 May, 2011

4. Climate change – International agreements and Acquis
• UNFCCC and the KP, Montreal Protocol, CBD and Cartagena protocol,
CCD, Aarhus convention
• More than 50 EU directives, regulations, decisions, and communications
related to climate change
• Commitments across the whole economy and governmental sectors
• EU ETS: Environment, economy, transport, interior, finance (auctionning?)
• Ozone layer and F-gases: Environment, economy, interior (licencing,
customs), defence, health,
• Transport/Fuels: Environment, economy, transport, agriculture, interior
• Monitoring mechanism: Environment, economy, transport, agriculture, forest
management, water management, interior, health, construction, statistical
office,
• Effort sharing: Environment, economy, transport, agriculture, forest
management, water management, interior, health, education, construction,
statistical office, municipalities
Climate Change and Development - the nexus between UN Conventions and the EU Accession, Ljubljana, 25 - 26 May, 2011

5. Climate change – International agreements and Acquis
• Carbon capture and storage: Environment, economy, mining, geological
service
• Energy supply: Economy, transport, environment, agriculture, municipalities
• Energy demand: Economy, construction, environment, transport, agriculture,
municipalities
• Transport: Transport, economy, education (research and development),
finance (taxation), spatial planning (urban environment)
• Industry and Waste management: Environment, economy, agriculture, water
management, municipalities
• Agriculture and forestry: Agriculture, forest management, environment
Climate Change and Development - the nexus between UN Conventions and the EU Accession, Ljubljana, 25 - 26 May, 2011

6. Conclusions
• Implementation of UN conventions together with the EU
Acquis
• Is challenging
• Should be seen as opportunity for re-course towards
green growth and development
• Requires new ways of coordination and cooperation
• Requires additional financial and human resources
• Building capacities in sustainable way
Climate Change and Development - the nexus between UN Conventions and the EU Accession, Ljubljana, 25 - 26 May, 2011

7. THANK YOU!
Gabriela Fischerova, Climate Change Policy Advisor
UNDP Europe and the CIS, Bratislava Regional Centre
Grosslingova 35, 811 09 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Tel: +421 2 59337 219
Mobile: + 421 901 736 030
Fax: +421 2 59337 450
gabriela.fischerova@undp.org
http://europeandcis.undp.org
Climate Change and Development - the nexus between UN Conventions and the EU Accession, Ljubljana, 25 - 26 May, 2011