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

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Momentum within sustainable construction is accelerating as government policy begins to align with measurable climate accountability. The UK’s Digital Waste Tracking legislation introduces a framework that supports accurate whole life carbon assessment and transparent lifecycle data, reinforcing circular economy objectives through detailed monitoring of construction waste and materials recovery. Its integration will enhance resource efficiency in construction and clarify embodied carbon in materials, helping to define the true carbon footprint of construction projects.

The inclusion of international aviation and shipping emissions in forthcoming Carbon Budgets extends responsibility into previously unregulated sectors, tightening expectations for low carbon building and net zero carbon progress. This broadening of accountability signals that embodied carbon can no longer be externalised across construction supply chains, prompting investment in low embodied carbon materials, sustainable building design, and life cycle cost evaluation across infrastructure projects.

The new Science Panel for the Global Energy Transition underscores a global demand for evidence-based sustainable building practices. Policy, procurement, and finance mechanisms now increasingly require lifecycle assessment of materials and performance to ensure alignment with environmental sustainability in construction. This shift is shaping criteria for net zero whole life carbon developments and promoting eco-design for buildings that demonstrate measurable reductions in emissions and improved building lifecycle performance.

Climate finance remains strained as loss and damage funds struggle to maintain solvency. The deficit highlights the urgency of carbon footprint reduction through green construction and eco-friendly construction techniques that deliver resilience where climate risks are most severe. Sustainable material specification, end-of-life reuse in construction, and circular construction strategies are becoming critical to achieving decarbonising the built environment.

Sustainable construction is now a compliance necessity, driven by policy enforcement, verifiable data, and economic realism. The industry’s focus has shifted towards delivering net zero carbon buildings through renewable building materials, low carbon construction materials, and sustainable design integrated with BREEAM and BREEAM v7 standards. Green building materials and carbon neutral construction are no longer aspirational—they define the future of environmental sustainability in construction.

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