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 UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) commits to promoting water recycling and safe reuse. UNECE will do this by fostering the exchange of experiences in the pan-European region and identifying policy and technical measures. Under the framework of the “UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health,” UNECE will review existing practices on water reuse throughout the pan-European region. UNECE will also examine water policies from technical and financial dimensions. UNECE will assess potential health risks and challenges deriving from global pressures such as climate change, water scarcity, urbanisation, migration, and increasing inequalities. UNECE will also organise a regional workshop to discuss priority needs and action and promote the sharing of knowledge and experiences. These efforts will help UNECE to develop, as appropriate, further policy or technical guidance and practical tools under the Protocol. The commitment will reduce negative impacts on health and environment as a result of the implementation of best practices and the strengthening of policy frameworks.
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.
The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) commits to foster resource efficiency by supporting assessments of the water-food-energy-ecosystem nexus in transboundary basins. Under the framework of the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention), the UNECE will identify synergies between the water, food, energy and ecosystem sectors in transboundary basins. It will do so on the basis of the methodology developed under the Convention. UNECE will also determine policy measures and actions that could alleviate negative consequences related to the multiple needs of the riparian countries for common resources and help to optimise the use of available resources, thereby fostering transboundary cooperation. UNECE will help countries move towards increased efficiency in resource use, greater policy coherence and intersectoral co-management. It will also develop capacity in addressing intersectoral impacts, including by disseminating lessons from the nexus basin assessments.
The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) commits to promoting the use of guidance documents on best available techniques to ensure the implementation of clean air technologies in various economic sectors. UNECE will provide web-access through its Green Economy Toolbox to the texts of guidance documents developed and adopted under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (Air Convention) in English, Russian and French. These documents identify best abatement options for various air pollutants and economic activity sectors, as well as economic instruments to reduce their emissions. UNECE will also spread this information through press releases, seminars, advisory missions and meetings with UNECE member States representatives, national stakeholders and experts. The commitment will reduce emissions of air pollutants as a result of countries implementing best available techniques. In turn, these lower emissions will result in reduced negative impacts on human health and the environment.