Germany commits to establishing methods for economic valuation of environmental damage and the provision of best-practice cost rates for drivers and impacts of environmental damage. The commitment falls under the focus areas 1 and 2 of the Batumi Initiative to improve the measurement and valuation of natural capital, promote the internationalisation of externalities and the sustainable use of natural capital. The commitment will result in the establishment of a decision support tool to estimate the economic benefit of environmental policy measures and to call attention to the cost of failure to protect the environment. The tool will inform policy makers on the national, regional and local level about environmental damage costs of policy alternatives. In addition, the commitment will result in the introduction of cost rates for environmental damage into legislative impact assessments and internalization of environmental costs into decision makings.
The commitment falls under focus areas 1 and 2 of the Batumi Initiative to improve the measurement and valuation of natural capital and promote the internalisation of externalities and the sustainable use of natural capital.
Germany commits to establishing the International Sustainable Collaborative Centre (ICS3). The ICS 3 intends to support the global breakthrough of Sustainable Chemistry. The project for the establishment of ICS3 was launched in March 2015 by the German Environment Agency and the centre is planned to open in early 2017. ICS 3 will ensure the pull together existing scientific and political expertise to foster the further development of the basic principles, applications and business model of Sustainable Chemistry at international level.
The commitment falls under focus areas 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the Batumi Initiative promote the internalization of externalities and the sustainable use of natural capital; shift consumer behaviours towards sustainable consumption patterns; develop clean physical capital for sustainable production pattern; promote green and fair trade; increase green and decent jobs, while developing the necessary human capital; and improve access to services, healthy living and well-being; Promote public participation and education for sustainable development.
Germany commits to improving material resource efficiency through a dedicated strategy called the German Resource Efficiency Programme (ProgRess). The programme was adopted by the German government in February 2012 (ProgRess I) and updated in February 2016 (ProgRess II). The goal of ProgRess is to structure the extraction and use of natural resources in a sustainable way and to reduce associated environmental pollution. Both programmes are relevant for market incentives, information, expert advice, education, research and innovation. The programmes also work towards strengthening voluntary measures and initiatives on the part of industry and society. PorgRess aims to provide sound and long-term orientation for all stakeholders.
The commitment falls under focus areas 2, 4, 5, and 9 of the Batumi Initiative to promote the internalisation of externalities and the sustainable use of natural capital; shift consumer behaviours towards sustainable consumption patterns; develop clean physical capital for sustainable production pattern; and promote public participation and education for sustainable development.
This commitment is relevant to SDGs 8 and 12.
Italy commits to the preparation of a catalogue of environmentally harmful subsidies and environmentally favourable subsidies. The document to support the implementation of this commitment derived from the European Commission Communication “Europe 2020 - A strategy for smart sustainable and inclusive growth”; the “European semester” recommendations of the European Parliament and Council; and the OECD 2013 Environmental Performance Review of Italy. Subsidies are intended as part of the commitment and include, among others: tax expenditures; incentives; benefits; subsidised loans; and tax exemptions with an impact on the environment. The commitment falls under focus area 2 to promote the internalisation of negative externalities and sustainable use of natural capital. The commitment intends to phase out environmentally harmful subsidies and restructure environmental favourable subsidies.
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.
Italy commits to improve and promote the Minimum Environmental Criteria (MEC) in public procurement for supplies of products, services and works. Italy commits to applying MEC to 100% of the tender value for the purchase of goods and services related to energy consumption and for at least 50% for other procurements. MEC’s, adopted by Ministerial Decree, gives general guidelines to institutions for a rationalisation of purchases and provides them with "environmental considerations" linked to the different phases of procurement. From 2011, MEC was implemented for the following goods and services: furniture (for offices, schools, reading rooms); construction (construction and renovation of buildings); urban waste management (management of public green); energy services (lighting, heating and cooling of buildings, public lighting and illuminated signs); electronic (electrical and electronic office equipment and related supplies, telecommunications equipment); textiles and footwear; catering (canteen service and food supplies); cleaning services. With this commitment, Italy aims to increase circular waste management, resource and energy efficiency.
Belarus commits to developing and implement a Green Economy National Action Plan. This commitment is expected to develop the mechanisms for piloting green economy principles in the Republic of Belarus at the national level. It falls under focus area 4, 5, 6 and 8 of the Batumi Initiative to shift consumer behaviours towards more sustainable consumption patterns; develop clean physical capital for sustainable production patterns, promote green and fair trade; improve access to services, healthy living and well-being; and promote public participation and education for sustainable development.
Implementing partners include interested national governing bodies, the business community, civil society organisations, and the private sector.
The commitment is relevant to SDGs 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, and 16.
The “Growth in Transition” initiative brings together transformation activists and decision makers from politics, science, the economy and civil society and promotes dialogue and exchange on growth, prosperity and quality of life. It provides an international platform for addressing questions of growth and an alternative, sustainable economy. The initiative is jointly organised by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (BMLFUW) and 25 partner organisations.
The aim of the commitment is to suggest concrete political and administrative measures that tackle key questions around how we should grow and how we can achieve a good life for all in light of numerous crises.
The commitment is relevant to SDGs 8.4, 8.2 and 9.4.
Azerbaijan commits to strengthening the implementation and reporting of environmental dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals in the country.
The commitment will provide input for the implementation of the Environment for Europe (EfE) process in Azerbaijan and the implementation of national state programmes.
Implementing partners include relevant government institutions, academia, international organisations, and the private sector.
This commitment falls under Batumi focus areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 .
Croatia commits to establishing an online platform that allows coordination including training and exchange of information among procurement stakeholders by the end of 2016. The commitment will enable the assessment of different sustainability and green criteria as well as facilitate the dialogue on procurement with the private sector and the market. This commitment is expected to increase the use of Green Public Procurement (GPP) and increase the visibility of GPP policy.
This commitment falls under focus area 4 of the Batumi Initiative to shift consumer behaviours towards sustainable consumption patterns.
Implementing partners include Ministry of Environmental and Nature Protection, Ministry of Economy, State Office for Central Public Procurement, and National Committee for GPP.
The commitment is relevant to SDG target 12.7.
Croatia commits to implementing and promoting a national “Environment Friendly” label and EU Ecolabel for sustainable goods and services. The commitment will inform producers about benefits of ecolabels and sensitise the public to buying sustainable goods and services. The commitment is expected to increase the recognition among consumers of goods and services with ecolabels.
The commitment falls under focus area 4 of the Batumi Initiative to shift consumer behaviours towards sustainable consumption patterns.
Implementing partners include Ministry of Environmental and Nature Protection and the Chamber of Commerce.
The commitment is relevant to SDG targets 12.2 and 12.6.