Environmental co-operation in the time of COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic is taking place in a broader context of unprecedented global challenges, with the climate crisis, environmental changes and socio-economic inequality shaping a rather turbulent decade ahead. Protecting and leveraging natural resources and environment to ensure sustainable economic development will be key to the future of our planet. Sustainable water management, natural resources and biodiversity protection, as well as resilience to climate change and promotion of green economy, must be central to the COVID-19 emergency response, crisis recovery efforts and future development planning. The OCEEA will be working with partners from across all sectors to assist participating States in their efforts to address these challenges and limit the potential negative impacts on society and environment, thus contributing to security and stability in the OSCE area.

The webinar raised some of these issues and encouraged a meaningful discussion on the subject. More than 100 participants were in attendance, consisting of delegations of OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation, as well as the OSCE executive structures, including field operations.

Key experts elaborated how the OSCE could support its participating States in coping with and recovering from the crisis.

• Ambasador Vuk Žugić, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities 
• Ms. Ivis Nocka, Minister Counselor, Head of Economic and Environmental Dimension Unit, Albanian Chairmanship 2020
• Ms. Charlotta Benedek, Head, UN Environment/OCHA Joint Unit
• Mr. Nicolas Bonvoisin, Chief of the Operational Activities and Review Section, Environment Division, UNECE
• Mr. Hakan Tropp, Programme Director Capacity Development, SIWI- Stockholm International Water Institute

RECOMMENDATIONS

A number of recommendations were made during the discussion:

• The importance of significant environmental challenges due to implications of COVID-19 will continue to rise. Addressing these challenges is an integral part of a comprehensive response to security, safety and peace in the region.
• Co-operation among participating States and relevant partners is key in addressing the environmental challenges of COVID-19 in a cross-dimensional and transboundary manner within the framework of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. Partnership co-operation between OSCE and the UN partner agencies can facilitate addressing these challenges.
• The long term environmental impacts can be catastrophic and present multiple security challenges: water scarcity, food insecurity, disruption to agriculture, water, waste management and energy infrastructure, livelihood insecurity, supply chain disruptions, social tensions, escalation of conflict and displacement, among others.
• Water security, access to water and sanitation services are essential to control the spread and prevention of COVID-19, especially in countries with emerging and developing economies. Transboundary water resource management is key to establishing early warning systems and preventing water related disasters in emergency and pandemic situations.
• Special attention has to be paid to green recovery and adopting best practices in land management, wildfire management, flood risks prevention, renewable energy and biodiversity protection. The economy needs to grow in a sustainable, innovative, climate friendly and inclusive way.
• The OSCE is well situated to contribute to these efforts by strengthening the rule of law and good governance, facilitating dialogue and co-operation among participating States, building capacities and resilience, and promoting multilateralism, especially on the topics of combating corruption and trafficking in the field of natural resources and environmental protection, disaster risk reduction, sustainable water resource management and green recovery efforts. There is also a need for integration of innovative and efficient new technologies in these areas.
• Solidarity was recognized as an important ingredient in co-operation between states and multilateralism that could assist countries in recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.