Sweden commits to supporting the UN Partnership on Action for a Green Economy (PAGE). PAGE is a UN initiative that seeks to put sustainability at the heart of economic policymaking. The Partnership supports nations and regions in reframing economic policies and practices around sustainability to foster economic growth, create income and jobs, reduce poverty and inequality, and strengthen the ecological foundations of their economies.Through relevant partners, PAGE reaches out to national ministries of planning, labour, environment, transport, agriculture, industry, and education, among others. Similarly, PAGE reaches a broad segment of the private sector and civil society through the networks and constituencies of the multiple governmental partners involved. Sweden contributes to the PAGE initiative through UN Environment by financing and engaging the PAGE Steering Committee.
Sweden commits to make visible the values of ecosystem services. The Swedish government in 2014 adopted a national milestone target on the importance of biodiversity and the value of ecosystem services. The target stipulates that, by 2018, the importance of biodiversity and the value of ecosystem services are to be generally known and integrated into economic positions, political considerations and other decisions in a society where it is relevant and reasonable to do so. This target is part of the updated national strategy and action plan on biological diversity, which is embedded in the system of Environmental Quality Objectives adopted by Parliament. The target contributes to the global Strategic Plan for Biological Diversity 2011-2020 targets that were adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2010. The expected long-term effect of the milestone target is the creation of mechanisms that secure the capacity of ecosystems and provides incentives for a sustainable management of biological diversity.
Switzerland commits to supporting a National Resource Efficiency Network for small- and medium-sized enterprises. The national resource efficiency network (Reffnet.ch) was established by the Swiss government, private companies, and the scientific community. Reffnet.ch provides analytical tools to assess resource efficiency – especially material efficiency - and to realise the recognised potentials. The website provides practical measures for companies to make a positive impact on environment and resource protection. Furthermore, the network initiates innovation projects to increase resource efficiency. The commitment will result in the improvement of companies’ resource-efficiency, reduction of material use, energy and costs. It will also result in social benefits through improvements in occupational health and safety.
The commitment falls under focus area 1 and 5 of the Batumi Initiative to develop clean physical capital for sustainable production patterns; and improve the measurement and valuation of natural capital.
Switzerland commits to improve the efficiency of waste treatment plants. It will achieve this through the improvements in the energy efficiency of municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWI). This improvement has already been prescribed by a minimal energy efficiency factor in the recently revised ordinance on waste. Recovered thermal energy can be used directly for district heating networks or for the production of electricity. Additionally, Switzerland will improve the recovery of rare metals from these plants. Residues of the waste incineration as bottom ash or fly ash still contain a considerable amount of various metals. Whereas the recovery of scrap iron is realised in every incineration plant in Switzerland, the recovery of non-iron metals such as aluminium, copper and brass requires new technologies that are now being implemented. The new ordinance of waste contains regulations on the extraction and recycling of metals from incineration residues.
The commitment falls under focus area 2 of the Batumi Initiative to promote the internalisation of negative externalities and the sustainable use of natural capital.
Switzerland commits to promote phosphorous recovery and reuse from wastewater. Guided by environmental and development policy considerations during the revision of the Technical Ordinance on Waste, the Swiss Federal Council introduced environmental standards to promote phosphorous recovery and reuse. As a result, Switzerland is the world’s first country with compulsory phosphorus recovery and reuse from sewage sludge and separated organic fractions. The new regulation entered into force in 2016 with a transition period of 10 years for related technological development and adaptation of the existing infrastructure. The commitment will ensure long term food production, increase of the lifespan of phosphorous, and minimise the environmental impacts from phosphorous extraction and processing.
The commitment falls under focus areas 1, 3, and 5 of the Batumi Initiative to improve the measurement and valuation of natural capital; enhance ecosystems and ecosystem services as part of ecological infrastructure; and develop clean physical capital for sustainable production patterns.
Uzbekistan commits to adopt the Law on “Alternative Energy Sources”. The draft will be developed by 2017 and the adoption of the law is expected in 2018. The law aims to assist the further development of scientific research in the field of alternative energy sources. It will provide practical applications of alternative energy sources in Uzbekistan. These actions will also further the development of domestic production of advanced equipment and technologies for this sector. Through the implementation of the commitment, Uzbekistan will improve rational use and saving of energy resources.
The commitment falls under focus areas 2 and 5 of the Batumi Initiative to promote the internalisation of negative externalities and the sustainable use of natural capital; and develop clean physical capital for sustainable production patterns.
Implementing partners will include relevant ministries, departments and non-governmental organisations.
This commitment is relevant to SDG 7.
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) commits to advancing the GREEN (Green Economy and Environment) Action Programme. The mission of the GREEN Action Programme is to assist governments and civil societies from Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia (EECCA) in implementing policies that are economically efficient, environmentally sustainable and socially acceptable. The GREEN Action Programme will build on the work of the OECD EAP Task Force that since 1993 has guided improvement of environmental policies in transition economies of the EECCA region by promoting the integration of environmental considerations into the processes of economic, social and political reform.
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) commits to assisting EECCA countries in accelerating policy reforms, including by devising regulatory and economic instruments. These instruments will strengthen the rule of law and compliance with environmental requirements that contribute to the greening of economic growth. The work would also include activities aimed at greening industry and strengthening the green growth measurement framework by using green growth indicators and other environmental accounting tools.
The commitment includes two main components. The first component includes efforts on promoting “smart’ environmental regulations, developing policy instruments to address challenges of urban air pollution, addressing environmental impacts of mining, and supporting the development of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Systems. The second component includes efforts on measuring and assessing progress towards green growth in the EECCA region.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) commits to helping EECCA countries to finance green investments. In particular, the OECD will assist countries to leverage and diversify financing for infrastructure development and green investments, especially to address climate change mitigation and adaptation. This could involve better expenditure management and greening of public finances as well as assistance for developing strategies for green investments in selected EECCA countries. The OECD will work with International Finance Institutions and local banks to enable private-sector investments in green projects. This will enhance EECCA countries’ ability to access finance.
This commitment will contribute to green public finance policy in EECCA countries. It will facilitate the reform of environmentally harmful subsidies and strengthen domestic public finance. OECD will also facilitate access to finance for green investment through better access to private and international financial institutions. This commitment also aims to support countries in developing strategies for green investment and structural reforms.
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) commits to supporting the reform of water policies in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) countries. Sound water management is fundamental for the provision of safe water, livelihoods and sustainable energy sources. This commitment will contribute to achieving broader development goals, including water-related post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs prominently feature issues of water resources management, trans-boundary water cooperation and policy integration. The OECD will support economically, financially and environmentally sound management of water resources. This includes water management policies that support the adaptation to climate change. The COP21 climate conference stressed the importance of wise water management strategies, climate resilience and disaster risk reduction.