Handbook for Montevideo Programme V on the Progressive Development and Implementation of Environmental Law

United Nations 2 years ago

The Montevideo Programme V secretariat has developed this digital handbook that highlights the Programme’s objectives, activities and outcomes in order to raise awareness and enhance understanding of the Programme by Governments and relevant stakeholders. This will create a strong and recognizable brand for the Programme and serve as a guide that strengthens the role of Government officials and other users in the further development and implementation of its priority areas. The handbook will be included on the UNEP Law and Environment Assistance Platform (UNEP-LEAP), the digital backbone of the Montevideo V Programme. The handbook is divided into five parts. Part I provides a brief overview, history and achievements of the Montevideo Programme. It then outlines the key features of the Montevideo Programme V highlighting how it is different from previous iterations as well as its articulation with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  Part II of the handbook analyses and provides information on the existing legal responses at international and national levels to the three agreed thematic priority areas for implementation under the Montevideo Programme V, that is, the climate change crisis, the pollution crisis, and the biodiversity and nature loss crisis. It underlines the interconnectedness between the three thematic priorities areas and identifies the opportunities and potential contribution of the Programme in assisting Governments to respond to the crises. Part III provides information on how Governments can access support under the Programme, the types of support available, and resource requirements and sources of finance. Part IV addresses the critical issue of partnerships and stakeholder engagement. It highlights the significant emphasis the Programme places on the role of partners and major groups in the conception, delivery and implementation of activities. Part V provides information on existing resources on environmental law both within and outside UNEP with a view to enabling Governments and stakeholders to build and strengthen capacities in this field.
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layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 7 hours ago



The sustainable construction agenda is moving from visible green features to the systems that determine real performance: planning rules, open data, lifecycle assessment and verifiable environmental outcomes. In England, the Office for Environmental Protection has welcomed proposed Environmental Development Plans, while warning that faster planning will not guarantee nature recovery without stronger evidence, monitoring and enforceable results.

For developers, biodiversity gain, green infrastructure and environmental sustainability in construction can no longer sit at the edge of compliance. New permissions will be judged on measurable habitat improvement, not administrative speed.

Digital delivery is becoming central to low carbon design, sustainable building design and net zero carbon buildings. Open data, interoperable workflows and human-led AI could help project teams compare embodied carbon in materials, assess the carbon footprint of construction, improve sustainable material specification and model building lifecycle performance.

Whole life carbon, whole life carbon assessment and life cycle cost are increasingly critical to procurement, as clients demand clearer evidence on low embodied carbon materials, energy-efficient buildings, resource efficiency in construction and end-of-life reuse in construction.

The direction of travel is towards net zero whole life carbon, circular economy in construction and sustainable building practices that make lower-impact decisions routine. Standards and tools such as environmental product declarations (EPDs), BREEAM and BREEAM v7 will matter more when linked to transparent data and accountable delivery. Technology may support carbon footprint reduction and circular construction strategies, but it cannot replace sound briefs, shared supply-chain information or robust sustainable design judgement.

The industry’s test is now practical: prove that buildings and infrastructure reduce the environmental impact of construction through credible data, low carbon construction materials and ecological results.

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