News & Events in Belarus
Meeting of Parties to Espoo Convention opens in Minsk
MINSK, 13 June (BelTA) - The Meeting of the Parties to the Espoo Convention will take place in Minsk on 13-16 June, BelTA has learned.
Belarus will host the 7th Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context and the 3rd Meeting of the Parties to the Convention serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment.
Attending the events will be nearly 200 representatives from 45 member states of the Espoo Convention, including ministers and deputy ministers, high ranking officials of international organizations and financial institutes, the public. It is expected that the Minsk declaration will be signed at the final joint high-level meeting.
The adoption of the Minsk declaration will promote the implementation of the sustainable development goals by 2030 through efficient application of the Espoo Convention and the Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment, strengthen the role of the convention and the protocol in addressing key issues such as climate change and loss of biological diversity, assist the preservation of biological diversity, eco system services and the integration of ecological reasons, including those related to people’s health, into the policy of such sectors as agriculture, waste treatment, energy, transport, use of land and urban planning to promote the "green" growth.
The meeting will also discuss the role of the Espoo Convention and the Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment in addressing climate change issues.
Adopted on 25 February 1991 in Espoo, Finland, the Convention has been ratified by 45 states. The convention sets out the obligations of the Parties to assess the environmental impact of certain activities at an early stage of planning. It also lays down the general obligation of the States to notify and consult each other on all major projects under consideration that are likely to have a significant adverse environmental impact across boundaries.
Lukashenko sends greetings to participants of Espoo Convention meeting
MINSK, 13 June (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has sent greetings to the participants and guests of the Meeting of the Parties to the Espoo Convention, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.
“I cordially welcome you to Belarus. In modern conditions the enhancement of ecological security is one of the topical and global tasks. Obviously, it can be solved only by the joint efforts of the entire global community,” the president said. “The United Nations Organization plays an important role in this process.”
According to the head of state, holding large-scale forums and conferences under the aegis of the United Nations helps work out and implement effective ecological programs and projects. The Meeting of the Parties to the Espoo Convention which is held in Minsk this year is one of such events. Choosing our country as the host of this high-profile meeting is the recognition of a big contribution of the Republic of Belarus to environmental protection,” the Belarusian leader remarked.
Alexander Lukashenko expressed confidence that the Meeting of the Parties to the Espoo Convention will give a positive effect for the promotion of sustainable development goals, nature protection, and creation of favorable conditions for the current and future generations of people on our planet.
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