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11 November 2015

Barcelona invites cities to follow its lead on sustainable procurement

Public procurers from across Europe are gathering at the 2015 Procura+ Seminar in Barcelona (Spain) today to learn from the city’s experiences of using sustainable procurement to reduce its ecological footprint and improve citizens’ quality of life. Organised by ICLEI, the seminar is an annual event that, through practical workshops and facilitated discussions, offers inspiring examples of sustainable and innovative procurement.

“By bringing procurers from all regions of Europe together, the Procura+ Seminar provides an excellent environment for exchange and learning. Barcelona is the ideal host city, having used their purchasing power to drive a shift towards sustainability. It is my hope that the procurers in attendance go away with a greater sense of the benefits that smart procurement choices can bring,” said Mark Hidson, Deputy Regional Director with ICLEI Europe. "Responsible public procurement is a very important part of Barcelona's broader approach to sustainability," added Janet Sanz, Deputy Mayor for Environment, Urban Planning and Mobility.

Similar to many cities in Europe, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving social conditions are priorities for Barcelona. Procurement is a key tool in this mission, as it enables the city to set ambitious environmental targets and encourage innovative thinking to address social challenges. Barcelona is an integral member of the Procura+ campaign, working closely with ICLEI and other local authorities to create a European movement for sustainable public procurement. This work has led to a number of impressive results. A recent example includes a 48 month contract for the rental of 198 electric scooters by the Barcelona City Police, which is currently being rolled out as part of the GPP 2020 project. By 2018, over 80 tonnes of CO2 will have been saved through this one contract alone.

For more information, visit the seminar website.