Abstract
South Eastern Europe, being shattered with conflicts in the last decades, still faces numerous challenges today such as inadequate growth, declining living standards and high environmental stress. Climate change will exacerbate the situation in the future. Since environmental security is an emerging concern that cannot be tackled with traditional approaches, new ways to deal with it have to be developed. Cooperation forms the core of such means, aiming at a cross-sectoral approach and guaranteeing a wide-stakeholder participation with the view of integrating the principle of sustainable development into national policies.
The ENVSEC, a unique partnership between the UN and other agencies that is targeting certain hotspots in Europe and Central Asia can serve as a model to meet security and environmental concerns also in other areas of the world.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
More information on ENVSEC can be obtained from http://www.envsec.org [last visited 7 June 2010].
- 2.
Convention on Biological Diversity 1992.
- 3.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 1992.
- 4.
Available under: http://www.envsec.org/docs/envsec_eastern_europe.pdf [last visited 07 06 2010].
- 5.
IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (AR4), available under: http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_ipcc_fourth_assessment_report_synthesis_report.htm [last visited 07 06 2010].
- 6.
See also http://www.envsec.org/see/index.php [last visited: 07 06 2010].
- 7.
During the period of 2006–2009, the implementation of activities related to these priorities were mainly supported by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) through the project Environment and Security in South Eastern Europe: Improving regional cooperation for risk management from pollution hotspots as well as the transboundary management of shared natural resources and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The activities, implemented by UNEP’s ROE through its Vienna Office provided in-depth regional assessments for both mining hotspots and transboundary biodiversity, as well as site-specific feasibility studies and projects to be built upon and followed up in the further work of the initiative.
- 8.
Available under http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/64/350 [last visited 07 06 2010]. The report of the UN Secretary General was delivered in response to General Assembly Res. A/63/L.8, adopted on 27 October 2008, linking the issues of climate change and security implications.
- 9.
Available under: http://www.rcc.int/download.php?tip=docs&doc=Executive+Summary.pdf&doc_url=880018115ffd8639b185f2a49ba452ab [last visited: 07 06 2010].
References
Agency of Environment and Forests of Albania (2008) State of the environment report 2005–2006 and 2007
Albania National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2000) Tiranë
Albania National Environment Strategy (2007) Tiranë
Biodiversity Enabling Activities Book – Albania (2007) Article II and Article III
Brininstool M (2007) The Mineral Industry of Serbia, USGS
Council of Europe (2007) Emerald project for the setting-up of the network of areas of special conservation interest in Albania (2nd phase 2005–2006)
Demi G (2007) Waste assessment of Copper mines and plants in Albania and their impact in surrounding areas. Mining and Processing Technology Institute, Tirana
Diku A (2008) Albania country report for UNEP Vienna on the feasibility of establishing a trans-boundary protected area. ILIRIA, Tiranë
European Commission, Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs (2009) The Western Balkans in transition, Occasional papers 46
Foldessy J (2004) Towards sustainable ore mining in central and Eastern Europe – The contribution of an information network about mining environmental technologies
International Finance Cooperation (IFC) (2007) Environmental, health and safety guidelines for mining
Krasniqi E (2009) Kosovo report for UNEP Vienna on the feasibility of establishing a trans-boundary protected area. Department of biology, Faculty of natural sciences and mathematics, University of Prishtinë, Prishtinë
Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Albania (2002) The first national communication of the Republic of Albania to the United Nations. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Tirana
Ministry of Environment, Forests and Water Administration of Albania (2007) Protected areas of Albania book. Tirane Agriculturale University, Tiranë
Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning of Kosovo – KEPA (2008) State of environment report 2006 – 2007. KEPA, Prishtinë
Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning of Kosovo – KEPA (2008) State of nature report 2006 – 2007. KEPA, Prishtinë
Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning of Kosovo – Kosovo Institute on Nature Protection (2005) Vlerat e Trshëgimisë natyrore të Kosovës (Kosovo heritage nature values book). Prishtinë
Mudd G (2008) Sustainable mining – An oxymoron?
Niewiadomski Z (Ed) (2006) Enhancing trans-boundary biodiversity management in South Eastern Europe. Report prepared under the environment and security initiative, UNEP Vienna
Pajevic A (2007) Report of the II phase of the project “Establishing Emerald network in Montenegro”. Ministry of tourism and environment, Podgorica
Peck P (2004) Reducing environment & security risks from mining in South Eastern Europe
Peck P (2005) Mining for closure - policies, practices and guidelines for sustainable mining and closure of mines. UNEP
ENVSEC (2004) Desk-assessment study
Shala D (2002) Eco-guide: nature of Rugova – a capsized wealth. Aquila Environmental Protection Association, Peja
Steblez W (2006) The mineral industries of the Southern Balkans. USGS
UNECE (2003) Environmental performance review of Kosovo
ENVSEC (2007a) UNEP/GRID Arendal; Balkan vital graphics –Environment without borders
ENVSEC (2007b) UNEP/GRID Arendal; innovative techniques and technologies for contaminated mine waters assessment, management and remediation
UNEP Vienna ISCC (2009) Feasibility study on establishing a trans-boundary protected area Durmitor - Tara Canyon – Sutjeska. Vienna
UNEP Vienna ISCC (2009) Feasibility study on establishing a trans-boundary protected area Sharr/Šar Planina – Korab – Dešat/Deshat. Vienna
USAID / ARD-BIOFOR IQC Consortium (2003) Kosovo biodiversity assessment. Prishtinë
Various Authors (2004) Environment and security consultations in South Eastern Europe, Final report, Skopje, FYR of Macedonia, 23–24 Sept 2004
Warhurst A (1998) Mining and the environment: case studies from the Americas, International Development Research Centre (Canada)
Western Balkans Environmental Program (WBEP) (2009) Strengthening capacities in the Western Balkans countries to mitigate environmental problems through remediation of high priority hotspots. 30 month, 15 million USD Netherlands Government/UNDP program – www.westernbalkansenvironment.net
World Health Organization (WHO) (2006) Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 3rd edn, incorporating first and second addenda
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this paper
Cite this paper
Sandei, P.C. (2011). The Environment and Security Initiative in South Eastern Europe: Transforming Risk into Cooperation. In: Montini, M., Bogdanovic, S. (eds) Environmental Security in South-Eastern Europe. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0228-8_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0228-8_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-0227-1
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-0228-8
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)