SwitchMed in Israel

United Nations 2 years ago

The Israeli Sustainable Consumption and Production National Action Plan (SCP-NAP) was developed under the coordination of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Ministry of Economy under the EU-funded SwitchMed programme, with advisory services and technical support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The Plan is part of Israel’s efforts to achieve Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG12.1) addressing sustainable consumption, sustainable production and focusing on connecting the dots and was developed in Israel through nationally owned multistakeholder processes.  Israel spent more than a year developing its SCP National Action Plan, supported throughout this process by SwitchMed (workshop summary). Wide-ranging discussions took place as part of developing this plan, including, for example, eight professional cross-sectoral workshops with more than 300 participants from the government, business, and NGOs. These workshops, and others like them, created professional networks that inspired ideas and plans, and provided practical knowledge to implementing SCP throughout the country. Switch to Circular Economy: Under SwitchMed II, a short document "How Israel is switching to a Circular Economy" was prepared to present an overview on how the country is implementing activities/policies/programs on SCP and Circular Economy. In this document you will see 10 success stories inspired by the work of SwitchMed in the State of Israel. They show how what began as awareness raising and in capacity building workshops developed into plans that created a ripple that flowed out around the country. This short publication shows that opportunities for countries from sustainable consumption and production are rich and varied. The Switch to SCP is off and running. SwitchMed is proud to have supported Israel in its work to build a society where people and planet thrive and prosper together. Sustainable consumption and production is no longer just something discussed in meeting rooms. Now it is happening on the ground, across business and industry, in cities and regions, reducing pollution, improving the air we breathe, and promoting better use of nature’s gifts through resource-efficient and low-carbon consumption and production practices. In-country activities: The implementation of the plan is ongoing through selected projects and initiatives on Environmentally Efficient Restaurants and Dining Establishments, Green Label for Businesses, Sustainable Industrial Zones and Sustainable Public Procurement in collaboration with Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection.  A Green Restaurants Guidebook was developed to help restaurant owners and dining establishments to take their first steps in the world of environmental sustainability. Better environmental performance on the part of businesses, and restaurants attracts a new environmental public awareness and allows customers to take sustainability into account when making their choices. An online platform which guides SMEs in acquiring a Green Label  was set up by the Municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo. This online platform/app guides business owners in an 'Environmental-Streamlining Process' which they could do independently in terms of energy, water, cleaning products, inventory management and waste reduction as well as paper products. Once they have prepared their businesses they can opt to receive the Green Label for their institution. The Green label initiative can easily be replicated and adapted to other municipalities and other countries with a relative low cost. A Manual for the design of Sustainable Industrial Zones was developed. In the manual, planners and managers of industrial zones are presented with detailed specifications on energy, water, wastewater, waste, transportation and environmental management for the development of a sustainable industrial zone. The manual aims to assist industrial zones in improving their sustainability while encouraging the development and use of advanced technology that result in improved environmental performance, operational and economic efficiency, savings in money and resources, financial gain and competitive advantages.  Sustainable public procurement (SPP) The Ministry of Environmental Protection assisted local authorities to incorporate sustainable public procurement tenders into their process and to build the infrastructure needed to expand the use of such tenders in the local government: mapping and identification of relevant and significant tenders, preparation of guiding documents in Hebrew for local authorities and trainings for local authorities. In 2016-2017, the Ministry of Environmental Protection conducted 10 workshops for procurement managers in local authorities. The unique procurement needs of the local government were discussed and priorities for the preparation of green product sheets were set. More than 50 local authorities from the different geographical districts (North, Haifa, Center, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and South district) took part. Under SwitchMed II, UNEP is collaborating with Israel on Circular Economy national strategy for plastics;  Circular public procurement;  Blue Economy dialogue; National Business Strategy for Blue Economy;  End-of-Life PV Panels and Batteries; and Blue Economy accelerator program and awareness raising.
→ View Full Article

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 1 hour ago



The global transition to sustainable construction is moving from intent to enforcement as climate volatility reshapes design priorities and procurement. Building codes are being recalibrated to embed passive cooling, thermal safety and flood tolerance as core parameters of sustainable building design, with whole life carbon assessment and lifecycle assessment becoming decisive factors in specification. The carbon footprint of construction and embodied carbon in materials are now direct cost and compliance risks. Developers and contractors are aligning with low carbon design methodologies and eco-design for buildings that consider life cycle cost and environmental sustainability in construction from concept to end-of-life reuse in construction.

Structural resilience is being tested by extreme weather. England’s improved heat preparedness demonstrates that targeted adaptation can significantly reduce risk, while climate-induced losses across South Asia and the Pacific underscore the financial and social consequences of inaction. The future viability of low carbon building strategies depends on integrating green construction principles and renewable building materials within circular economy in construction frameworks that maintain resource efficiency in construction and measurable carbon footprint reduction.

Policy and market conditions are evolving. Colombia’s withdrawal from investor–state dispute provisions highlights a reassertion of regulatory sovereignty that could accelerate the adoption of sustainable building practices and environmental product declarations (EPDs) but raise initial risk premiums for international investors. The outcome could reinforce sustainable material specification and advance carbon neutral construction standards across emerging markets.

Clean energy systems are expanding rapidly, exemplified by Uruguay’s near-total reliance on renewables. This shift strengthens the economic case for net zero carbon buildings and electrified plant, proving that energy-efficient buildings powered by renewable sources can deliver genuine operational decarbonising of the built environment. Projects using green building materials, breeam or breeam v7 certification, and circular construction strategies are demonstrating that net zero whole life carbon is operationally achievable when design integrates low embodied carbon materials and life cycle thinking in construction.

Social value has become a measurable component of sustainable urban development as contractors embed community outcomes within delivery models. The convergence of carbon and political risk is placing sustainable architecture, eco-friendly construction and green building products at the centre of investment decisions. The industry is transitioning from theoretical sustainability to practical implementation where resilience, circular economy alignment and whole life carbon performance define competitiveness in the global construction sector.

Show More

camera_altFeatured Instagram Posts:

Get your opinion heard:

Whole Life Carbon is a platform for the entire construction industry—both in the UK and internationally. We track the latest publications, debates, and events related to whole life guidance and sustainability. If you have any enquiries or opinions to share, please do get in touch.

Let's chat!
Avatar

WLC Assistant

Ask me about sustainability

Hi! I'm your Whole Life Carbon assistant. I can help you learn about sustainability, carbon assessment, and navigate our resources. How can I help you today?