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 3 hours ago



Heat and fire risk are reshaping sustainable construction priorities. The Stourbridge blaze, echoing London’s 2022 urban wildfires, exposes how fences, soffits and gardens can become ignition pathways in heatwaves, pushing passive cooling, external shading, reflective surfaces, fire‑resilient façades and drought‑tolerant landscaping into core sustainable building design. Insurers and planners are likely to penalise combustible boundaries and poorly ventilated roofs, accelerating eco‑design for buildings, green infrastructure and sustainable building practices aligned with BREEAM and forthcoming BREEAM v7 resilience criteria. Project teams should evidence performance with whole life carbon assessment and lifecycle assessment, targeting carbon footprint reduction, embodied carbon and building lifecycle performance through sustainable material specification, environmental product declarations (EPDs), low embodied carbon materials and low carbon construction materials, backed by circular construction strategies and end‑of‑life reuse in construction.

Policy signals are mixed. The UK’s approval of plug‑in balcony solar opens distributed generation to renters and flat‑dwellers, advancing net zero carbon buildings and low carbon design when integrated with robust fire strategies, safe wiring, metering and grid‑ready green building products. Treating buildings as energy assets supports net zero whole life carbon by coupling onsite renewable generation with demand reduction, resource efficiency in construction and a circular economy in construction. Clear standards are needed to protect environmental sustainability in construction while scaling eco‑friendly construction, renewable building materials and green building materials.

Carbon policy for waste has stalled, with the delay to including incineration in the UK emissions trading scheme creating uncertainty for heat recovery, residual waste treatment and investment in carbon neutral construction. Developers should stress‑test pipelines using whole life carbon, life cycle thinking in construction and life cycle cost, capturing the environmental impact of construction, the carbon footprint of construction and embodied carbon in materials. Growth in utility‑scale PV continues, though expanded microgeneration can ease land pressure and strengthen sustainable urban development when rooftops and façades are prioritised within green construction and sustainable architecture.

Firms that integrate cool, fire‑safe design, onsite power and robust risk management are best placed to lead decarbonising the built environment. The market will favour low carbon building strategies grounded in circular economy principles, sustainable design and sustainability‑led delivery that demonstrate measurable whole life carbon savings and net zero carbon outcomes.

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