UNIDO
Mister Chairman
The thematic review report on SCP and panellists rightfully advocate the life cycle approach. This
appears to channel the efforts of the international community almost exclusively towards
consumption-related actions . At the same time however, the instruments for sustainable
consumption appear to remain relatively weak, such as eco-labels, consumer campaigns, public
procurement and setting of standards for energy efficiency. The sustainable production agenda
remains in the shadow of the sustainable consumption agenda, and this is in the view of UNIDO
unfortunate. Whilst sustainable production has become accepted by businesses in most of the
industrialised world, this is by far not yet the case for the developing, emerging and transition
countries, which are home to rapidly expanding manufacturing sectors.
As was also referenced by Prof Migiro on the panel and earlier interventions from several
delegations, UNIDO has in collaboration with UNEP set up over the past 15 years National Cleaner
Production Centres in around 50 developing and transition countries, to support businesses and
other organisations to clean up their factories. This responds to the request voiced by Singapore on
behalf of the Group of 77 and China and several and other Member Delegations for capacity building
and technology cooperation and transfer in SCP. There are important conclusions from the NCPCs
that could guide the discussions of the CSD on SCP.
Firstly, resource efficiency and cleaner production provide for cross-cutting implementation.
Adopting cleaner production methods and practices, contributes to the themes discussed during this
CSD, most notably SCP, waste, chemicals and mining, and also to other international priorities -
energy and climate, and water to mention a few. National Cleaner Production Centres have
convincingly demonstrated that implementation of Cleaner Production is good for business, the
environment and development at large.
Secondly, notwithstanding the benefits achievable, firms, in particular SMEs, face barriers with the
implementation of Cleaner Production. Information, technology and finance are not sufficiently
available in manners suitable to enterprise needs, whilst human and institutional capacities for
implementation are also limited. Incentive structures remain weak, due to subsidised prices for
energy, water and other resources, and relatively weak implementation and enforcement of
environmental and industry policies. This situation is further complicated by the general lack of
planning and medium term perspective, typically found among small business operators.
UNIDO, supported by the network of National Cleaner Production Centres, is convinced that time
has arrived to move from pilots and demonstrations to wide-spread adaptation and adoption of
Cleaner Production. Members of the CSD are therefore encouraged to focus on opportunities for
scaling-up and mainstreaming Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production. This will amongst others
require (i) prioritisation and target-setting for Cleaner Production in national development policy; (ii)
implementation and enforcement of industry and environmental policies; (iii) availing knowledge,
technology and information in locally appropriate forms; and (iv) utilising already available human
and institutional resources and experiences such as those incorporated in the NCPCs and other
Cleaner Production service providers.
Thank you for your attention.
The thematic review report on SCP and panellists rightfully advocate the life cycle approach. This
appears to channel the efforts of the international community almost exclusively towards
consumption-related actions . At the same time however, the instruments for sustainable
consumption appear to remain relatively weak, such as eco-labels, consumer campaigns, public
procurement and setting of standards for energy efficiency. The sustainable production agenda
remains in the shadow of the sustainable consumption agenda, and this is in the view of UNIDO
unfortunate. Whilst sustainable production has become accepted by businesses in most of the
industrialised world, this is by far not yet the case for the developing, emerging and transition
countries, which are home to rapidly expanding manufacturing sectors.
As was also referenced by Prof Migiro on the panel and earlier interventions from several
delegations, UNIDO has in collaboration with UNEP set up over the past 15 years National Cleaner
Production Centres in around 50 developing and transition countries, to support businesses and
other organisations to clean up their factories. This responds to the request voiced by Singapore on
behalf of the Group of 77 and China and several and other Member Delegations for capacity building
and technology cooperation and transfer in SCP. There are important conclusions from the NCPCs
that could guide the discussions of the CSD on SCP.
Firstly, resource efficiency and cleaner production provide for cross-cutting implementation.
Adopting cleaner production methods and practices, contributes to the themes discussed during this
CSD, most notably SCP, waste, chemicals and mining, and also to other international priorities -
energy and climate, and water to mention a few. National Cleaner Production Centres have
convincingly demonstrated that implementation of Cleaner Production is good for business, the
environment and development at large.
Secondly, notwithstanding the benefits achievable, firms, in particular SMEs, face barriers with the
implementation of Cleaner Production. Information, technology and finance are not sufficiently
available in manners suitable to enterprise needs, whilst human and institutional capacities for
implementation are also limited. Incentive structures remain weak, due to subsidised prices for
energy, water and other resources, and relatively weak implementation and enforcement of
environmental and industry policies. This situation is further complicated by the general lack of
planning and medium term perspective, typically found among small business operators.
UNIDO, supported by the network of National Cleaner Production Centres, is convinced that time
has arrived to move from pilots and demonstrations to wide-spread adaptation and adoption of
Cleaner Production. Members of the CSD are therefore encouraged to focus on opportunities for
scaling-up and mainstreaming Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production. This will amongst others
require (i) prioritisation and target-setting for Cleaner Production in national development policy; (ii)
implementation and enforcement of industry and environmental policies; (iii) availing knowledge,
technology and information in locally appropriate forms; and (iv) utilising already available human
and institutional resources and experiences such as those incorporated in the NCPCs and other
Cleaner Production service providers.
Thank you for your attention.