PUBLIC PROCUREMENT NEWS

  

News

25 November 2019

China, ICLEI, the Netherlands and UN Environment Programme join hands to lead the globe towards sustainable procurement

The UN-led initiative “One Planet Network” has a new leadership for its Sustainable Procurement Programme. Four organisations are going to jointly manage the programme to accelerate the uptake of sustainable procurement (SPP) – a key pillar in achieving SDG 12. The selected organisations are: ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, Environment Development Centre of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China (EDC), the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat, RWS) of the Netherlands, and the UN Environment Programme. The initiative is mandated by the UN member states and supports the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 - ensuring Sustainable Consumption and Production.

The new leadership brings together a strong combination of expertise on SPP alongside vast experience in addressing sustainable public procurement at different governance levels and across the globe.   

Public procurement can be used to address environmental issues and encourage social cohesion. It can create new jobs, new markets and opportunities for business. ICLEI has been advocating for and supporting implementation of sustainable public procurement globally for over 23 years. Together with ambitious organisations like the EDC, RWS, and the UNEP, we will be able to support the uptake and implementation of sustainable public procurement at the local, national, regional and worldwide level to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns and assist in the delivery of Sustainable Development Goal 12,” said Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, Mayor of Malmö, ICLEI Global Executive Committee member on the Sustainable Local Economy and Procurement portfolio.

With the new leadership, the Sustainable Procurement Programme will empower public authorities at all levels to make use of their public funds to pave the path towards SDG 12.

“For a healthy future we have to stop wasting our finite resources and focus on circularity. We have to reuse materials and turn them into new products. Sustainable public procurement is our way of leading by example and helping to create a sustainable, circular market. And it works! So let’s coordinate our efforts, share what we learn and make a difference together,” highlighted Stientje van Veldhoven, State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management, the Netherlands

Procurement has a key - although often overlooked - role in this endeavour. The One Planet Network’s SPP programme therefore mobilises support for SPP at all levels, involving a multitude of global actors. It supports countries and public authorities by demonstrating the value of SPP in addressing key environmental and social challenges, and working towards SPP implementation.

“Sustainable Public Procurement is the key measure for sustainable consumption and production transition. The Environmental Development Centre, China,  has long been committed to the policy research and implementation of sustainable consumption and production, environmental labeling and climate change, thus accumulating rich experience in these areas. By teaming up with international partners like UNEP, ICLEI and RWS, we will steadily advance cooperation and exchange between countries and regions, and stimulate the SPP programme globally. Exploring together, we will make every endeavor to achieve global sustainable development goals,” said Dr. Ren Yong, Director General of EDC.

To achieve this, the programme will connect SPP initiatives at global, regional, national and local level to replicate and scale-up impactful projects in collaboration.

For the upcoming period, the new leadership will focus on a range of key themes and sectors with high expected impact on SDG 12: construction and infrastructure, health, ICT, food, and circular procurement. Additional themes or sectors may be included at a later date.