Goal 13: Climate action

Hostilities in eastern Ukraine have been harmful to the region’s environment. The crisis also brings a significant increase in the risk of incidents at industrial and infrastructure facilities. Following an assessment of conflict-related environmental risks, the Co-ordinator focuses its efforts on establishing a system of monitoring that would enable the government and citizens to better understand the risks and prepare adequate response measures, and in promoting policies for the sustainable use of resources, especially in water management. Read More...

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator supports Ukraine’s reforms and helps the country meet crisis-related challenges. Its projects actively contribute to major transformations, critical for the stable and democratic future of the country. The Co-ordinator's approach is multi-dimensional and covers a wide array of activities, such as constitutional reform, legal and criminal justice reform; human rights and legal education; dialogue as a tool to deal with crises and implement reforms; psychological and social rehabilitation of crisis-affected people; the fight against cybercrime and human trafficking; mine action and democratic control of the security sector; environmental protection; border security; media freedom; elections; good governance; and gender equality. Read More...

Crimes against the environment may take many different forms. They range from the smuggling of banned dangerous chemicals to the smuggling of wildlife. They may also include the illegal filling of wetlands, illegal deforestation, and illegal treatment storage and disposal of hazardous waste. Read More...

Beyond its devastating implications in the domain of public health, the COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented threat to  economy, security and stability. The crisis has strongly challenged the role of governments, multilateral organizations, civil society and the private sector, as well as Read More...

Mon, 2020-06-08 08:26 Blog By Vuk Žugić, OSCE Co-ordinator of Economic and Environmental Activities /oceea Because of the pandemic, the world stands at a crossroads. The increase in global unemployment and the risk of corruption and infiltration by criminal groups in the economy pose a significant Read More...

My office held a first in a series of webinars on the economic and environmental impacts of COVID-19 and its security implications. Read More...

Within the Secretariat, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) addresses security-related economic and environmental issues as part of OSCE's comprehensive approach to security. In the OSCE Economic and Environmental Dimension, the OCEEA is active in the following areas: Read More...

Water is a strategic natural resource and an essential element of national and regional security. Water scarcity, including lack of access to water, and water pollution can threaten socio-economic development and political stability and security. Water management challenges can potentially trigger disputes and conflicts; equally, water management can also create valuable opportunities for co-operation and dialogue. The international community, academia, the business community and policy makers are aware of the risks water crises can pose to security, and the additional stress put on water resources by climate change. Read More...

Climate change is a threat to sustainable development. Its impacts are being felt all around the world and also in the OSCE region. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, more severe and more widespread affecting the lives of millions of people. Its adverse impacts on human health, ecosystems, and natural resources, particularly water, are becoming more and more visible. National economies are disrupted with costly impacts of climate change. Energy, agriculture, forestry, tourism, and insurance are among the major economic sectors that are likely to be affected from the impacts of climate change. As it brings a number of direct and indirect consequences that shape security landscapes, climate change is considered as a “threat multiplier”. Read More...

The Environment and Security (ENVSEC) Initiative grew out of discussions at the OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum. It was launched in May 2003, simultaneously at the Fifth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference in Kiev and the OSCE 11th Economic and Environmental Forum in Prague. Founded initially by the OSCE, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Environment, the partnership was later on joined by other organizations. Currently, it is a partnership of OSCE, UNDP, UN Environment, and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Its primary objective is to tackle environment and security risks through promoting environmental co-operation among and within the countries of four regions, namely Eastern Europe, South-Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia. Read More...