SwtichMed in Israel

United Nations 3 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. The SCP-NAP (SDG12.1) addressed sustainable consumption, sustainable production and focuses 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. 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.   SCP-NAP demonstration projects: 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. For detailed project information please download the factsheets of the demo projects.
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layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 6 hours ago



The UK’s conversion of the former West Burton coal plant into a 500 MW battery storage facility reflects a decisive shift toward low carbon design and circular economy principles. By repurposing fossil infrastructure instead of demolishing it, policymakers are applying whole life carbon assessment methodologies to preserve industrial assets while supporting net zero whole life carbon targets. The project, financed through the National Wealth Fund, showcases sustainable construction aligned with environmental sustainability in construction goals and life cycle cost optimisation.

Research at Queen’s University Belfast in 3D‑printed flow batteries demonstrates innovation critical to energy-efficient buildings and the wider decarbonising of the built environment. Scalable storage supports resilient, low carbon building development and enhances the viability of net zero carbon buildings within the renewable energy transition.

The introduction of a global sustainability standard for glassmaking represents progress in regulating embodied carbon in materials, particularly one of construction’s highest-impact resources. Mirroring standards for green concrete, it defines embodied carbon benchmarks and strengthens resource efficiency in construction supply chains through environmental product declarations (EPDs) and transparent lifecycle assessment. Producers adopting such circular construction strategies are advancing low embodied carbon materials and sustainable material specification, crucial for reducing the carbon footprint of construction.

Investors are integrating climate risk directly into the valuation of sustainable building design, emphasising the economic relevance of resilient, net zero carbon projects. Evidence that cities embedding green infrastructure and flood‑resistant planning retain capital stability underlines the growing importance of building lifecycle performance and life cycle thinking in construction.

Collectively, these developments mark the normalisation of sustainable building practices. Governments are aligning industrial strategy with whole life carbon reduction, manufacturers are quantifying embodied carbon impacts, and financiers are rewarding eco‑friendly construction. Sustainable architecture, once a niche aspiration, is becoming inherent to sustainable urban development and the broader circular economy in construction.

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