Bangkok--15 Sep--GIZ
Recently, the Pollution Control Department (PCD) and GIZ, a German agency for international cooperation launched a 3 year project on Advancing and Measuring Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) for a Low-Carbon Economy in Middle-Income and Newly Industrialized Countries (Advance SCP). The project is an expanded cooperation after a success of the 3-year project on "Sustainable Consumption and Production for Low Carbon Economy – Low-Emission Public Procurement and Eco-Labelling (SCP4LCE) project.
The SCP4LCE project achieved its main goal in expanding existing eco-labels in Thailand and in selected countries in Southeast Asia to cover climate protection criteria and to strengthen Green Public Procurement (GPP) in Thailand. In total, the project developed climate protection criteria of 13 products in Thailand such as fluorescent lamp, printing paper, tires and air conditioner. The regional cooperation was also started to stimulate a mutual learning and implementation of eco-labelling and green public procurement in the region including the setup of ASEAN+3 Network of GPP and Ecolabelling (GPPEL).
Financed by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), the Advanced SCP will be implemented right after the end of the SCP4LCE. It is executed by GIZ and key partners including agencies responsible for GPP and eco-label in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines.
Dr. Wijarn Simachaya, Director General, Pollution Control Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said "The newly launched project is an extension of our partnership with Germany in the area of SCP. It will contribute to the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on SCP (10YFP), more specifically to the Consumer Information Programme. The project will continue to work on the integration of climate friendly criteria into the eco-labels of the target countries in Southeast Asia region (Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines). This will further support the creation of a market for climate-friendly products which will lead to less pollution of the environment. Regional and global trade and investments are promoted through the harmonisation of the eco-labels."
Mr. Thomas Lehmann, Project Director, GIZ said "Green Public Procurement and Eco-labelling are important instruments to increase sustainable consumption and production and contribute directly to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The new project is building up on the achievements of the SCP4LCE project and together with relevant agencies, will strengthen GPP and Eco-labelling mechanism in each country and gear the region toward green economy. Activities will focus on institutional strengthening, the design of integrated policy frameworks, technical capacity development, implementation of sustainable information systems and knowledge transfer."
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is owned by the German government and with operations around the globe, GIZ provides services in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. GIZ also works on behalf of other public and private sector clients both in Germany and overseas. These include the governments of other countries, the European Commission, the United Nations and other donor organizations. GIZ operates in more than 130 countries and employs approximately 16,500 staff worldwide.