CPR and Environment in Europe & CIS

CPR and Environment

CPR and Environment

Climate change-related hazards such as cyclones, droughts, floods and extreme temperatures affect more people and cause more losses globally than all other natural hazards combined. The region is prone to a wide range of natural hazards such as floods, drought and earthquakes that regularly cause environmental and economic damage. These hazards also include landslides, mudslides, snowstorms and avalanches.

Environmental degradation and unsustainable development policies, as well as poorly maintained industrial facilities and high levels of urbanization, increase the risk of natural disasters. To address these challenges, collaboration between BCPR, RBEC and the Bratislava Regional Centre focuses on enhancing disaster risk management capabilities of the national governments through joint interventions with UNDP country offices in the region. Read more on examples of UNDP response:

• Natural disaster preparedness and risk reduction
  

  In Central Asia, in addition to global climate change threats, vulnerability of the region to natural disaster risks is increased by such factors as population density in disaster prone areas, high population growth, overall poverty, land and water use related issues. Countries of this region vary greatly in terms of their preparedness and response capacity. As most of these disasters are transboundary in nature, response and preparedness action taken in one country may have consequences in neighboring countries. Hence, it is important to cooperate in and coordinate the related interventions.

  A joint programme of UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre, Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery and OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) on Natural disaster preparedness and risk reduction for communities in high-risk districts in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan aims to contribute to social stability in these countries by strengthening national and local capacities in natural disaster risk management and foster community work and cooperation towards reducing future natural disaster risk as a conflict-generating factor.

• Floods and water management
  

  Climate change may also increase the risk of floods caused by a warmer atmosphere carrying more water and heavy rains. Since 2002, Europe has been heavily hit by floods, causing displacement of people, human deaths and threats of disease due to decaying waste and food, and resulting economic losses. In August 2002, floods caused by heavy rainfall caused significant damage in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Russia, Slovakia and Ukraine. Floods in 2005 caused human deaths in and severe damages to the economies of Bulgaria and Romania, while in 2008 Central European floods had hit Hungary, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine hardest. PROJECT RESPONSE ??

• Management of natural resources
  

  Disputes and disagreements over the management of natural resources shared by two or more states can deepen divides and lead to hostilities. Environmental co-operation can therefore act as a means to prevent conflict and promote peace between communities. The Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) intends to facilitate a framework for cooperation on environmental issues across borders and promote peace and stability through environmental cooperation. It builds on the expertise, experience and field presences of UNDP, the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Geographically, activities in this programme cover Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Western CIS. ENVSEC is structured in three distinct but interlinked pillars: the assessment of environmental and security risks; capacity-building and institutional development to strengthen environmental cooperation; and the integration of environmental and security concerns into international and national policies.

• Environmental pollution
  

  Environmental pollution directly influences communities in affected areas, threatening their quality of life and decreasing economic growth. Many areas in the Western Balkans suffer from the legacies of polluting industries. These so-called hot-spots require industrial renewal and environmental cleanup. UNDP is addressing these issues through a regional initiative where nine such hot-spots are being targeted. The aim of the programme is to improve the environmental situation and quality of life of citizens living in and around polluted areas through least-cost measures of mitigating ecological problems. Such measures include cleaning-up stockpiles of toxic chemicals, reduction and prevention of air pollution, removal of hazardous waste, establishment of systems for demineralization and decarbonization and cleanup of mine tailings. Participating countries are: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.