Countries from across the pan-European region have reaffirmed the need for multilateral cooperation to address major and emerging industrial safety challenges at the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UNECE Industrial Accidents Convention (CoP-13), held in Geneva on 27 - 29 November 2024.
"Industrial accidents know no borders: their impact on the environment, the economy and society often extends far beyond the place of origin. We need to learn from each accident and share our experience and best practices. By working together, we not only strengthen industrial safety but also our resilience in the face of disaster", stressed Cedric Bourillet, Director of the Risk Prevention Directorate of the Ministry of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate, and Risk Prevention of France, opening CoP-13, which France co-organized .
Marking the 20th anniversary of the Convention's Assistance and Cooperation Programme - which supports transition economies across Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia in improving industrial safety -CoP-13 reflected on progress made and remaining challenges. Discussions also highlighted the growing interest in accession by non-Parties such as Georgia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The CoP celebrated the Programme's expanding impact, acknowledged beneficiary countries' commitment, and expressed appreciation to donor countries for their invaluable support in driving these efforts forward.
Since its launch in 2004, the Programme has implemented numerous national and subregional activities to support countries in strengthening industrial safety. A notable example is the successful Project on hazard and crisis management in the Danube Delta (2010-2015), which benefited the Republic of Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine. This initiative included joint technical workshops, site visits, the adoption of a trilateral declaration of intention, and the development of Safety guidelines and good industry practices for Oil Terminals, fostering collaboration and improving safety standards across borders.
Another significant achievement under the Programme is the initiation of the National Policy Dialogue (NPD) on Industrial Safety in Serbia. Launched in 2021 with support from UNECE and OECD, and funding from France, the NPD is now fully led by Serbia. Similar achievements in terms of strengthened governance include the set-up of Inter-Institutional Working Groups on Tailings Safety and the Prevention of Accidental Water Pollution in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Switzerland, a longstanding donor and supporter of the Programme, emphasized the importance of sharing good practices, expertise, and tools under the Convention, particularly in natural hazard-triggered technological disasters (Natech) risk management, and industrial safety during the energy transition, as highlighted at CoP-13. The safe management of tailings and prevention of accidental water pollution have been addressed through five Swiss-funded projects. These initiatives focus on building national capacities and fostering transboundary cooperation, especially in Central Asia, contributing to enhanced safety, resilience and environmental protection.
As part of CoP-13's focus on new challenges, a dedicated seminar explored how to strengthen industrial safety to address emerging risks in the global energy transition.
In response to the growing impacts of climate change, CoP-13 emphasized the importance of addressing risks related to Natech and mine tailings safety, including their potential cross-border impacts. To tackle these risks, CoP-13 launched the Joint OECD/UNECE/EU Joint Research Centre Guidance for authorities and industries on Managing Risks from Natural Hazards to Hazardous Installations.
Additionally, the publication Risk Assessment for Industrial Accident Prevention: An Overview of Risk Assessment Methods, Selected Case Studies and Available Software was also launched, offering a comprehensive review of risk assessment methodologies and tools. These initiatives underscore the Convention's proactive approach to managing technological risks, particularly as they intensify due to climate change.
Mine tailings safety remained a key focus at CoP-13, building on the Roadmap for Action on Mine Tailings Safety endorsed at CoP-12. Parties discussed ongoing risks associated with Tailings Management Facilities (TMFs), particularly amid the growing demand for critical minerals vital to the energy transition. To address these challenges, Parties adopted a Decision on the identification of tailings management facilities as hazardous activities.
The Convention's collaboration with UNEP on the environmental aspects of minerals and metals management was also highlighted, demonstrating how the Convention's guidelines and tools are being promoted at both regional and global levels.
Advanced monitoring tools, such as Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) satellite technology were also presented as innovative solutions for TMF stability monitoring and accident prevention during a special session. Satellite-based monitoring and assessment uses near-real-time data to detect early signs of structural vulnerabilities, enabling proactive remediation efforts and reducing the risk of disasters. A collaboration with Value.Space will support the use of these technologies to identify and manage risks in up to 10TMFs and to develop a report under the Convention.
Finally, the Conference adopted the 2025-2026 workplan, setting out key activities to enhance support for all Member States within the UNECE region, and reaching beyond, Priorities include strengthening industrial safety in the energy transition, advancing mine tailings safety, and further strengthening implementation of the Convention along with other international instruments and agreements, and support countries' progress towards accession. The workplan also reaffirms the Convention's commitment to addressing Natech risk management in the context of climate change, and intensify efforts to prevent and mitigate accidental water pollution, thus ensuring a comprehensive approach to industrial and environmental safety.
