Partnership with UNECE

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is one of five regional commissions under the UN system, supporting economic integration and sustainable development across its 56 member countries in Europe, North America and Central Asia. The UPU has continued to engage actively with UNECE, particularly on issues related to road transport, trade facilitation and sustainable logistics, aiming to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration in support of shared development goals.

In anticipation of the implementation of Import Control System 2 (ICS2) Release 3 for road transport, the UPU has held several technical meetings with UNECE to explore potential collaboration in assisting road carriers in complying with new regulatory requirements. These discussions have been complemented by broader engagement with other international organizations, including the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), with the aim of identifying sustainable solutions for surface transport companies operating in ICS2 territories.

• Standardization: The UPU actively contributes to international standardization processes and regularly engages with UNECE in its work on the United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations (UN/LOCODE). This collaboration promotes the alignment of postal-specific standards with broader international frameworks, fostering interoperability and consistency across the logistics and transport sectors.
• Climate action: At the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, the UPU co-organized a side event in the official blue zone alongside the UNECE, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), IMO, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Bank. The event marked the first time these agencies convened to discuss coordinated action on climate priorities across the full postal value chain, including air, maritime, road, Customs, trade and infrastructure.
• UPU–Rail Forum: The UPU continued to strengthen its cooperation with rail transport stakeholders in 2024 through the UPU–Rail Forum, which serves as a platform to address common regulatory and operational priorities between the postal and rail sectors, in coordination with UNECE and other relevant actors.