NEW UN REPORT DETAILS SHANGHAI’S ‘GREEN’ EFFORTS AHEAD OF EXPO 2010

Shanghai has made strides in 'greening' itself ahead of the Expo 2010, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which also called on the Chinese city to continue efforts to decrease its reliance on coal.

"Like many rapidly developing cities, Shanghai faces enormous challenges in ensuring fresh air, clean water, sustainable energy, efficient transport and waste reduction for its population," said Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director.

The agency launched a new assessment of actions taken by Shanghai, with a population of 20 million, to organize an environmentally-friendly Expo 2010, expected to be attended by 70 million people.

China's largest city has one of the fastest growing economies in the world, scaling up investment in environmental protection measures since preparations for the 2010 world fair kicked off in 2000.

Shanghai has developed a green transport system, constructing a world-class 400-kilometre rapid transit network. It is also experimenting with new energy vehicles, including electric buses, hydrogen fuel-cell buses and hybrid buses.

But the UNEP report also expressed concern over Shanghai's high level of dependency on coal for electricity, calling for the city to boost the use of renewable energies, such as solar and wind power.

Additionally, the safe disposal of waste continues to be a challenge, the assessment pointed out. A more comprehensive strategy is needed for both the city and the Expo, whose theme will be "Better City, Better Life."

Event though progress has been made in ensuring safe drinking water, UNEP said that nitrification of river systems continues to be an obstacle.

"Shanghai is clearly determined to turn its modernization into a green example for urban development of the future," Mr. Steiner noted.

UNEP will produce a follow-up report after the city's Expo ends on 31 October 2010.
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BLUE HELMETS, AID WORKERS MUST ‘GREEN’ THEIR OPERATIONS – UN

BLUE HELMETS, AID WORKERS MUST 'GREEN' THEIR OPERATIONS – UN
New York, Mar 11 2009 10:00AM

Military and civilian aid experts at a United Nations-backed meeting today emphasized the need for a peacekeepers and aid agencies to take a 'green' approach in their work to protect the environment and the long-term livelihoods of communities affected by conflict.

Studies have shown that the demand for such critical natural resources as wood and water by peacekeepers can often be significant, straining vulnerable environments.

But this demand could be considerably curbed through better planning and management – including the use of new technologies that guarantee water and energy efficiency as well as construction methods that minimize deforestation – and even play a part in recovery, development and peace consolidated in areas hit by hostilities.

International peacekeeping forces and aid organizations "have the responsibility to ensure that their presence and operations have a minimal ecological footprint and do not aggravate environmental degradation, which may be a dimension of the conflict," said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

The day-long gathering at the Nairobi headquarters of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) was co-organized by the UN Department of Field Support (DFS), the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), the Swedish Defence Research Agency and the Environmental Law Institute.

UNMIS, with the support of the Swedish Government, is investing $5 million in environmentally-friendly operations for its 10,000 troops in 25 bases. As part of this pilot programme, the Mission is using new ways of treating waste and using both water and energy more efficiently, with the goal of reducing the volume of waste by 60 per cent, water consumption by 30 per cent and energy expenditure by 25 per cent.

A new UNEP report, entitled "From Conflict to Peacebuilding: The Role of Natural Resources and the Environment," was presented at today's Nairobi's gathering.

The publication notes that at least 18 conflicts since 1990 have been triggered by the exploitation of natural resources, with at least 40 per cent of all civil clashes in the past six decades being linked to these resources.

It stresses that the way the environment is handled can influence post-conflict peacebuilding and stability.

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