UN Environment at the European Development Days 2017

Wednesday 7 June

UN Environment staff will be at the UN Stand in the centre of the Global village (with videos and Virtual Reality film on Pollution CleanUp in Serbia) and the info stand with all SWITCH programmes 

16.15-17.30 Lab debate Session: Financing City Waste Management for urban economic development and climate mitigations - Moving city waste management plans to full implementation

Proper waste management in urban areas benefits health, environment, and the economy. Landfills emit significant methane emissions – a powerful climate-warmer – which contribute to smog. Economic and population growth in developing countries make transforming the waste sector even more urgent. Upfront costs are outweighed by major economic benefits. Financing is needed to match the ambition of many cities and countries that are ready to act. Together with development bank partners, city and country representatives from developing countries will discuss the steps, successes and challenges to move from city waste management plans to full implementation – as well as financing options and supportive technical assistance.

Organised by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition - of which the Secretariat is hosted by UN Environment, and the European Investment Bank

18.00-19.15   Lab Debate Session: Business switch to green with innovative support services  

The SWITCH Programme engages with the private sector to promote an inclusive green economy 

The session addresses the transition to an inclusive green economy as a new model of development, that can be based on the circular economy paradigm. It builds on the experience of the SWITCH programmes in Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean region, in developing partnerships with the private sector to shift SME’s behaviour and practice, towards Sustainable Production & Consumption patterns. The lab is expected to generate a debate on private sector collaboration approaches – ranging from enabling eco-entrepreneurship to providing MSMEs with technical assistance on SCP and to enhancing sustainable value chains – and how these can become more effective in the context of the inclusive green economy transition. 

Organised by the Switch2Green, SwitchAfricaGreen, SwitchAsia, SwitchMed, Regional Activity Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production, UN Environment and UNIDO

    

Thursday 8 June

UN Environment staff will be at the UN Stand in the centre of the Global village (with videos and Virtual Reality film on Pollution CleanUp in Serbia) and the info stand with all SWITCH programmes 

13.30-14.45 Brainstorming Session- The Emperor's New Clothes - A standards-based platform to detox the apparel industry

The session will discuss practical approaches for encouraging companies in the textile and clothing industry to adopt sustainable business practices, in support of UN SDG 12. The aim is to devise approaches for protecting consumers, workers, and the natural environment while preserving the industry’s competitiveness. Such approaches include the development of:  A risk management based model regulatory framework; Traceability solutions; Reports to document and eliminate hazardous chemicals; Wastewater management tools along with targeted audit protocols; Trusted harmonised industry standards; Related labels and certifications schemes for traceability and measuring performance; A partnership on traceability in the textile and clothing industry, engaging key stakeholders.

UN Environment Speaker : Sandra Averous Monnery, Programme Officer, Consumption and Production Unit, Resources and Markets Branch

Organised by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and TuvRheinland