SwitchMed in Lebanon

United Nations 3 years ago

The Lebanese Sustainable Consumption and Production National Action Plan (SCP-NAP) was developed under the coordination of the Ministry of Environment (MoE) in close collaboration with the Ministry of Industry (MoI) and other key partners under the EU funded SwitchMed programme. with advisory services and technical support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The Plan is part of Lebanon’s efforts to achieve Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. The SCP-NAP (SDG 12.1) prioritizes the mainstreaming of SCP in the industrial sector’s policies and plans and as developed in a participatory and consultative approach. SCP-NAP Summary was also available.  Switch to Circular Economy: Under SwitchMed II, a short document "How Lebanon 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 Lebanese Republic. They show how what began in 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 Lebanon in its work to build a society where people and planet thrive and prosper together. Lebanon has already developed integrated plans and a regulatory framework that have SCP at their core. For some time now, it has been building on these, expanding its waste reduction plan, establishing a circular economy, and further developing its work on sustainable water managements and energy solutions. It is clear that SCP 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. Demonstration project:  UNEP work with Lebanese NGO - Nusaned under SwitchMed II in Lebanon on a community-based pilot in the Mar Mikhael - Gemmayze area in Beirut which seeks to address the challenges of reduction and prevention of food waste and packaging waste to divert them from landfills using concepts of SCP and circular economy. The outputs include: Green and Circular Restaurants Project Report Plastics Circle Report Food Circle Report Guideline for Restaurants Eateries to become Green and Circular For each of these documents 2-page and 10-page factsheet/summary delivered:  Nudawwer Project  Nudawwer Food Circle   Nudawwer Plastics Circle    Nudawwer Green and Circular Restaurants   SM II Lebanon Nudawwer   SM II Lebanon Nudawwer Food Circle   SM II Lebanon Nudawwer Plastics Circle  SM II Lebanon Nudawwer Green and Circular Restaurants  Policy recommendations of the different “circles” Next steps will be the organization of national restitution events and the preparation of  communication and awareness raising material. We looking forward to replicate this collaboration in the other on-going projects under SwitchMed II with the Hariri Foundation in Saida.
→ View Full Article

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 3 hours ago



Europe’s recalibrated carbon market reflects a shift towards measurable environmental sustainability in construction. By easing cost pressures while embedding a whole life carbon approach, the European Commission aligns industrial competitiveness with sustainable building design. The integration of whole life carbon assessment into policy highlights the move from abstract sustainability to data-driven decarbonising of the built environment. Industries long resistant to change now treat embodied carbon as a quantifiable asset shaping both compliance and innovation.

Across the Atlantic, climate risk has reshaped investment models in sustainable construction. Developers now incorporate life cycle cost evaluation and lifecycle assessment to value resilience and long-term efficiency. Resilience is evolving from a moral imperative into a financial metric, linking building lifecycle performance directly to access to capital. Municipal projects adopting circular economy principles or circular construction strategies are securing backing earlier, reinforcing the relationship between sustainable urban development and economic stability.

Scotland’s 2GW offshore wind developments illustrate how green infrastructure and renewable building materials underpin low carbon design across Europe. The expansion of energy-efficient buildings and low carbon construction materials demonstrates that sustainable building practices are maturing into core engineering disciplines. Deep-water projects are redefining how low embodied carbon materials and eco-design for buildings interact within broader net zero carbon frameworks.

In London, the new spatial Plan signals that sustainable architecture and eco-friendly construction can coexist with volume-led housing delivery. The application of BREEAM v7 benchmarks and net zero whole life carbon objectives reflects a cultural shift towards carbon neutral construction as standard. Whole life carbon assessment now informs sustainable material specification, environmental product declarations (EPDs), and resource efficiency in construction, creating transparency across the supply chain.

Sustainability is no longer a peripheral objective but a blueprint for growth. The carbon footprint of construction, once a limiting factor, is becoming a competitive advantage as low-impact construction adopts life cycle thinking in construction. The transition to net zero carbon buildings reinforces that green construction and sustainable design are now cornerstones of future-ready, high-performance infrastructure.

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?