Each of the regions is being affected differently by climate change according to their particular circumstances and conditions and will have to implement measures to minimize and address these impacts through a combination of mitigation and adaptation measures. In order to make informed decisions about climate change policies and plans, countries need to: know how their economies will be affected by the impacts of climate change; be aware about the costs of inaction; and estimate the costs of different options for mitigation and adaptation to confront climate change in cost-effective manner.
Working with their UN and other regional partners, the Regional Commissions are mobilizing their normative, analytical and technical capacities to undertake collaborative initiatives and actions to assist Member States to develop coherent development policies that tackle climate change, including through the assessment of the economic impacts of climate change, evaluating the costs of mitigation and adaptation measures and exploring options for climate change financing. An overview of these actions and initiatives in each region will be presented during the dialogue with the Second Committee.
(Please click and download the following documents below for your information)
Brochure - Climate Change: Supporting Actions at the Regional Level
Flyer
Powerpoint Presentations
ECE
ESCAP
ECLAC
ECA
ESCWA
Abstracts
ECE
ESCAP
ECLAC
ECA
ESCWA
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ESCWA chiefs consider work plan and other key issues at retreat
Beirut, 15 October
 How are we doing and how can we do better? These were two of the several questions that were raised and discussed by ESCWA senior officials at their three-day retreat from 12 to 14 October, helping managers reassess their plans to ensure better service to the Commission's 14 member countries. [click for more]
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DSG joins ECE staff to celebrate entry into force of new treaty on pollutants
Geneva, 14 October
 Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro joined UNECE staff and guests at a reception marking the entry into force of the Kiev Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers to the UNECE Aarhus Convention on 8 October in Geneva. [click for more]
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African Governments Urged to Recommit to People-Centred Development
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 13 October
 With the deadline of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) close at hand, African governments need to recommit to pushing forward policies that address population and other critical social development issues, especially the health and rights of African women, a review report from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) states. [click for more]
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Bangkok plan to improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness
6 October
 Bangkok | Author: UNIS Bangkok
The head of the United Nations Bangkok headquarters has moved forward with a plan to improve efficiency, effectiveness and collaboration at the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. [click for more] |
GREEN HOMES: a UNECE study on energy efficiency now available online
 GREEN HOMES. Towards Energy-Efficient Housing: Prospects for UNECE Member States is now available online and will be soon in printed form. The product of the Committee on Housing and Land Management’s activities on this important topic, the study also provides background information on the upcoming international forum on energy efficiency in housing, to be held in Vienna from 23 to 25 November 2009 (see http://www.energy-housing.net).
[click for more] |
Antonio Prado Was Appointed Deputy Executive Secretary of ECLAC
30 September
 The Brazilian economist has specialized in the analysis of technological changes in industry and their impact on economic development and the labor market
[click for more] |
ASG for Peacebuilding Support makes first official visit
14 September
 On her first official mission since taking office two weeks ago, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, Judy Cheng-Hopkins, joined colleagues in Santiago, Chile, on Monday to examine how peacebuilding efforts can prevent countries from relapsing back into violent conflict. [click for more]
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Regional Commissions Development Update 26th Issue is now available
The latest edition of the the Regional Commissions biannual newsletter, 'The Regional Commissions Development Update' is now available. It includes an overview of the regional responses to the international economic and financial crisis that the world is currently experiencing, it summarizes the various activities undertaken by the Regional Commissions to confront the multiple crises (financial, food, fuel and climate change) and it contains updates on regional efforts to advance the gender agenda and bridge the digital divide in the current challenging context.
Please click here, to download the Newsletter (in PDF format)
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Dialogue of the Executive Secretaries of the Regional Commissions with ECOSOC
“Regional Perspectives on the Global Economic and Financial Crisis, Including the Impact on Global Public Health”
Date: Friday, 10 July 2009
Time: from 10 am – 1 pm
Venue : CR XIX, Palais des Nations
UNESCWA: “The Financial and Economic crisis in Western Asia: Impact on Socio-economic Development and Public Health”, Presented by Mr. Bader Omar AlDafa, Executive Secretary
UNESCAP: “The impact of the Economic and Financial Crisis on Development including delivery of health care - Perspectives from the Asian and Pacific region”, presented by Ms. Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Secretary
UNECE: “The Financial Crisis and Public Health in the ECE Region”, presented by Mr. Jan Kubis, Executive Secretary
UNECA: “African Perspectives of the global economic and financial crisis,
including the impact on health”, presented by Mr. Abdoulie Janneh Executive Secretary
ECLAC: “The social impact of the global economic and financial crisis in Latin America and the Caribbean”, presented by Ms. Alicia Barcena, Executive Secretary
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Regional cooperation essential for recovery from the financial and economic crisis says a joint study by the Regional Commissions
UN Headquarters, New York, 25 June 2009
Since the global economic and financial crisis became full-blown, it was uncertain to what extent and in what way the different regions of the world would be affected by it. The joint study by the five UN Regional Commissions on the Global Economic and Financial Crisis: Regional Impacts, Responses and Solutions clearly demonstrates, however, that all regions are experiencing enormous challenges emanating from the crisis, evidenced by a sharp decline in the rate of economic growth, in trade volumes, in commodity prices and in decreased capital flows, including foreign direct investment, remittances and revenues from tourism. The type of impacts and their degree vary from region to region. The Asia-Pacific region and the Arab countries have been seriously affected by a sharp decline in trade volumes and in commodity prices. There have been job losses in the manufacturing sector, especially affecting women and a sharp decline in migrant remittances. Regions like sub-Saharan Africa and the Eastern European states have been most affected by other factors such as a decrease in capital flows, including foreign direct investment, revenues from tourism and remittances. The Latin America and Caribbean regions are affected by a combination of all these factors, but mostly by a decline in trade.
Regional responses have proven to be a valuable means of buffering countries against the impact of the economic and financial crisis. Many of the lessons learned by some regions from previous crises have increased their resilience to the current one, but much remains to be done. There is growing consensus about the need for enhanced regional coordination, cooperation and integration as a means to expedite recovery and to prevent recurrence of a similar crisis in the future.
The joint publication by the UN Regional Commissions that was launched on 25 June at a high-level event on the occasion of the World Economic and Financial Crisis, examines in depth the impacts and responses to the crisis in the various regions and provides policy options and solutions at the regional level that could contribute to recovery, increase resilience and prevent recurrence.
In her opening remarks, the Deputy Secretary General, H.E. Ms. Asha-Rose Migiro, stressed the role of the United Nations in the process of recovery as a universal forum where the voices of the poorest and most vulnerable countries are heard. She also highlighted the role of the Regional Commissions in providing Member States with valuable research and analysis to support their policy options and decisions. In their presentations, the Executive Secretaries of the Regional Commissions highlighted the impacts and responses to the crisis in their respective regions and offered viable short-term and long-term solutions at the regional level that strengthen and complement the measures taken nationally and internationally. The Minister of Planning and Cooperation of Chile and a Senior Official from Thailand shared through their remarks the experiences and value of regional cooperation among the Rio Group and ASEAN.
More information about the joint study and the analytical work by the Regional Commissions on the crisis can be found at the following web site: http://www.un.org/regionalcommissions/crisis.html.
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A Side Event organized by the UN Regional Commissions
at the High-Level UN Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development
(click here for programme of side event)
The Launching of Joint Publication
“The Global Economic and Financial Crisis: Regional Impacts, Responses and Solutions”
(click on title to download)
Date: Thursday, 25 June 2009
Time:
1:15 to 2:45 pm
Venue : UN Conference Room 7
Click on the following below for more information:
Note on Side Event
Flyer
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UN regional commissions cooperate on energy efficiency
9 June
Representatives from the five regional commissions meeting in Geneva last week for the Global Energy Efficiency 21 project have agreed to work together by consolidating each commission’s input for what will be their first joint study on energy efficiency. [click for more] |
Five Regional Commissions join forces to end violence against women
5 June 2009
Experts from the five United Nations Regional Commissions and the Division for the Advancement of Women met last week in Geneva to initiate the implementation of an interregional project aimed at eradicating violence against women. The 27 May meeting was held at the Geneva-based Economic Commission for Europe.(click for more) |
African Ministers of Finance to Meet in Cairo to discuss Impact of the Global Economic Crisis on Africa
 African ministers of finance, planning and economic development will meet in Cairo, Egypt from 6 to 7 June 2009, to discuss measures for dealing with the global economic crisis. The discussions are part of the 2009 Joint Annual Meetings of the African Union (AU) Conference of Ministers of Economy and Finance and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. (click for more)
Click here for more information and relevant documentation |
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Bangkok hosts training programme on sustainable procurement in the United Nations
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
 A training course for UN agencies was jointly organized by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the UN Environment Programme recently at the ESCAP Learning Center in Bangkok. The programme aimed to develop capacities and skills for officers to include sustainability criteria in UN procurement systems. (click for more)
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ECLAC presents novel experiences in preventing school violence
Monday, 18 May 2009
 Over 600 students, teachers and school directors filled ECLAC's conference rooms for the First Encounter for Replicating Social Innovation: "Negotiation, the secret to prevent school violence." The seminar was organized by ECLAC with UNESCO and UNICEF. (click for More) |
Interactive Dialogue between the Regional Commissions and the Commission for Sustainable Development
UN Headquarters, New York, 4 May 2009
Today the regional commissions held an interactive dialogue with the Commission on Sustainable Development at its seventeenth session (CSD-17) with the purpose of presenting regional perspectives and sets of potentially effective policy options on the thematic issues currently under consideration during the CSD two-year implementation cycle which are: agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification and Africa. The regional commissions made presentations regarding areas of particular interest or concern to each region that were followed by a question and answer session with delegates and other stakeholders.
Click to download the presentations below:
Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) |
ESCAP’s 65th session underway as it marks 60 years in Bangkok
24 April 2009
 It is a heavily-packed week for staff of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) as the Commission’s 65th Session opened at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand on Thursday, 23 April. (click for more)
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UNECE concludes its 63rd session
2 April 2009
 The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) concluded its 63rd session, held on 30 March-1 April 2009 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, reaffirming the strategic directions adopted by the UNECE reform and recommitting the renewed support of its member States to the work of UNECE, with due account of the specific needs of its countries with economies in transition. (click for more)
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Economic Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean Will Fall to -0.3% in 2009, Says ECLAC
1 April 2009
 Latin America and the Caribbean will have negative growth of -0.3% in 2009, the region's first setback after six years of continuous growth. Unemployment in the region will rise to almost 9%, from the nearly 7.5% in 2008, increasing poverty. (click for more)
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ESCAP Analyses Threat of Triple Crises to the Asia-Pacific Region
27 March 2009
In 2008, three global crises converged to threaten development in the Asia-Pacific region, bringing to the fore particularly testing challenges for policy makers – a Great Recession in developed countries, food and fuel price volatility and climate change calamities. The Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2009 analyses these threats and outlines ways in which economies in the region can move forward in unison from crisis resilience to crisis resistance. It concludes that some countries in the region are in a stronger position to help not only themselves but also others to smooth the impact of the crises and strengthen regional solidarity. The converging crises could be turned into an opportunity to jump-start a regional reorientation towards a more inclusive and sustainable development path.
For More information:
ESCAP Survey 2009 (pdf)
ESCAP Press Release (pdf)
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 ECLAC, IICA and FAO Unite to Heighten Role of Agriculture and Rural Development
26 March 2009
The three agencies are working on a database and a common set of indicators. (click for more) |
63rd session of the Economic Commission for Europe
25 March 2009  The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) will hold its 63rd session on 30 March-1 April 2009 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The Commission is responsible for making strategic decisions on the UNECE Programme of Work and provides a forum for policy dialogue on the economic developments in the region. (click for more)
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High Ranking African Women Officials Call for Gender perspective to address economic, food and climate change crises
3 March 2009
A delegation of high-ranking African women officials attending the Commission on the Status of Women are calling for countries to take into account the unique perspective African women hold in order to address a number of challenges that Africa is facing. (click for more) |
Executive Secretary Visits Oman, Participates in G77 Water Forum
25 February 2009  UN-ESCWA Executive Secretary Bader Omar AlDafa considered that the Regional Commission region suffers from a variety of pressures that endanger the sustainability of its water resources. UN-ESCWA has therefore set the management of water resources at the top of its work priority and works to implement several projects to strengthen the good and sustainable management of these resources. AlDafa made these remarks in the first session of the Ministerial Forum on Water that the G77 and China held in Oman on 23-25 February 2009. (click for more)
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The Climate Game Change - innovations and solutions for climate change adaptation
22 January 2009
Our climate is changing at an accelerating speed. Human activities have affected the world climate, and the consequen¬ces pose one of the greatest challenges humanity has ever faced. The impacts of climate change are a massive threat to development - especially for the poor countries, which will be hit first and hardest. (click for more) |
The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2009 launches on 15 January
 The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2009 willbelaunched worldwide on 15 January in all UN official languages at the UN Regional Commissions in Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Beirut, Geneva, and Mexico City, and in Beijingand Moscow. (click for more)
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