Integrating SDGs into EPRs: Experiences and Best Practices

1. Integrationof relevant SDGs into EPRs experiencesOlivera Kujundžić/Montenegro/EPR Expert Group Policies for implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: exchange of best practices on the basis of UNECE Environmental Performance Reviews Minsk, Belarus, 21-22 November 2018

2. Environmental Performance Reviews • EPRs are assessments of the progress of countries of the ECE region in reconciling its environmental and economic targets and in meeting its international environmental commitments... • EPRs are performed periodically, in cycles (the third cycle is on-going). Each cycle takes several years. • 6 step review process (preparation, mission, expert review, peer review, publication, launch) • During the first cycle (since 1994) there were 20 countries reviewed • 18 countries were reviewed for the second time during the second cycle

3. 3rd Cycle • So far, 9 EPRs were completed during the third cycle, two(Macedonia & Kazakhstan are on-going), while two additional EPRs beyond UNECE region were prepared for Morocco and Mongolia. • The third EPRs of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EPR of Mongolia prepared in 2017 are he first reviews which integrated goals and targettsof the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in line with the outcomes of the 8th Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference in Batumi (2016). • They were followed by Kazakhstan and Macedonia in 2018

4. Batumi • “We acknowledge the important contribution of the ECE Environmental Performance Review Programme over the past 20 years as an effective and practical policy tool, and highlight the role it can play in supporting the achievement and monitoring of SDGs in the pan-European region…” (Ministerial Declaration par.9)

5. Starting dilemmas • Extended meeting of Expert Group on EPRs, December 2016 • Option 1-Including the review of EPR-relevant goals and/or targets into the contents of the chapters of the EPR report • Option 2-Chapter on the assessment of progress towards achieving EPR-relevant goals and/or targets • Option 3-Integrating EPR-relevant goals and/or targets into the contents of the chapters and covering in an additional chapter the goals and/or targets not addressed by other chapters but requested by the country under review • Option 4-A general review of the 2030 Agenda implementation in the chapter on legal and policy framework + the review of EPR-relevant goals and/or targets in other chapters

6. Albania 2017 • EPR mission to Albania – January 2017 • Option 4 - A general review of the 2030 Agenda implementation in the chapter on legal and policy framework + the review of EPR-relevant goals and/or targets in other chapters • 11 chapters, 56 recommendations • 11 SDGs, 43 targets integrated into EPR • 25adopted recommendations refer to the Sustainable Development Goals and targets and 35 “soft” recommendations are included as part of the boxes devoted to goals and targets in the text of the report.

7. EPRs and SDGs How can EPRs assist countries in achievement and monitoring of SDGs? • Assess progress with EPR-relevant goals and/or targets, provide recommendations aimed to support their achievement • Contribute to sharing of experience among countries • Assist in adapting EPR-relevant goals and/or targetsto the national context • Contribute to country-driven follow up and review at national level, serving as a building block to national reviews and inputs to voluntary national reviews

8. UNDA project • The aim of the project „Evidence‐based environmental governance and sustainable environmental policies in support of the 2030 Agenda in South‐East Europe“ is to support Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Macedonia in formulating actions on the basis of their Environmental Performance Reviews in order to achieve relevant Sustainable Development Goals. • „a step forward for the EPRs“

9. Project activities • Develop a review and a needs assessment of the implementation of the recommendations coming from EPRs vis-à-vis SDGs and targets • Organise a national workshop to discuss the results of the review and needs assessment • Develop national action plan/policy packages for implementing recommendations coming from EPRs in line with relevant SDGs • Organise a national workshop to review the respective national action plan/policy packages • Organisesubregional policy seminar to exchange experience on implementation of national action plans/policy packages

10. Conclusions Although recently started, with experiences in five countries where EPRs integrated SDGs we can talk about lessons learned from these first experiences • data and information gaps are reducing the opportunities for detailed target-by-target assessment; • although there are 4 options to integrate SDGs into EPRs, the forth was chosen by reviewed countries so far; • strengtheninglinks between EPRs and 2030 Agenda is an important direction for development; • substantialopportunities exist for peer learning, networking and capacity development in this context