World Meteorological Organization

The Regional Collaborative Platform for Europe and Central Asia (RCP-ECA) meeting, hosted by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, marked a significant milestone in advancing regional cooperation toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The meeting brought together key UN stakeholders, the UN Regional Development Cooperation Office, and UN Country Teams to align priorities and accelerate efforts toward achieving the SDGs.

A key achievement of the meeting was the commitment to further develop a joint regional UN strategy for communication with the European Union (EU). This strategy will enhance coordination and collaboration, ensuring that regional UN efforts are aligned with EU policies and priorities. A prime example of this collaboration is the ongoing work between the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the EU, highlighted by the WMO-EU Copernicus Joint Report on Climate in Europe. This joint effort serves as a model for how UN agencies can work together to address shared challenges and drive impactful, region-wide action.

The meeting also underscored the continued commitment of WMO and WHO to support the consultative process for developing WHO’s new strategic vision for 2025-2030. This vision will include a focus on addressing the health impacts of climate change, particularly the risks posed by heatwaves. Building on existing collaboration, such as the joint WMO-WHO office and the strategic communication efforts between the WMO Regional Office for Europe in Geneva and the WHO Office in Bonn, the two organizations emphasized the importance of their partnership in tackling the health challenges posed by climate change.

Central to this collaboration is the Early Warning for All (EW4All) Initiative, which was recognized as a crucial platform for mitigating heat-related health risks. The initiative will play a vital role in supporting the EU’s disaster resilience goals, helping to ensure that climate-related health threats are effectively communicated and addressed in a timely manner.

Looking ahead, the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (RFSD) 2025, set to take place on 2-3 April 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, will focus on the theme: "Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the ECE region, leaving no one behind." The forum’s key objective will be to facilitate peer learning among UNECE member states on SDGs, with a focus on advancing sustainable, inclusive solutions through collaboration and knowledge sharing.

The forum will highlight five priority SDGs: SDG 3 (Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Through roundtables and side events, the forum will mobilize regional action and accelerate progress across these critical areas of the 2030 Agenda.

Overall, the meeting reinforced the importance of regional UN collaboration, particularly in the areas of climate resilience and health, and highlighted the role of strategic partnerships in achieving the SDGs and supporting long-term sustainable development in Europe and Central Asia. 

For more details, visit Regional UN Collaborative Platform for Europe and Central Asia Meeting | World Meteorological Organization