Cambodia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, India, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago have come together to drive change and eliminate the impact of fashion and construction on the environment. Fashion and construction are among the top three sectors contributing to pollution, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, land degradation, water pollution and biodiversity loss. The $340 million initiative will transform resource-intensive processes and materials with sustainable alternatives and promote circular and collaborative value chains.
Siem Reap, Cambodia, December 9, 2024 – Today, governments participating in the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded Integrated Program on the Elimination of Hazardous Chemicals from Supply Chains announced plans to restructure supply chains. launched a six-year, $45 million initiative to their fashion and construction departments; This initiative promotes improved regenerative design, substitution of non-renewable materials, resource-efficient production, responsible purchasing practices, and end-of-life recovery. The initiative will also leverage an additional $295 million from other sources to maximize impact.
The fashion and construction industries are among the most chemical-intensive industries in the world. The building and construction sector is the largest end market for chemicals, with an average of 0.58 kg of various chemicals required to produce 1 kg of fiber. Both sectors connect producers, retailers and consumers around the world and are characterized by complex and fragmented global supply chains with significant global impacts.
While these industries have historically focused on climate change and biodiversity, the transformation of fashion and construction supply chains will also require greater efforts to tackle the third aspect of the triple planetary crisis: pollution. A holistic approach is required.
At today’s launch event in Cambodia, the ambitious six-year We introduced the program. (UNIDO). The program promotes improved policy, innovation, stakeholder engagement, and access to finance across all stages of the supply chain. It will empower women, youth, and communities by integrating indigenous knowledge, revitalizing local economies, and identifying sustainable materials and practices.
The program will also strengthen South-South and regional cooperation, reduce the risk of burden shifting, and transform fashion and construction from a cause of environmental damage to a force for positive change. These efforts aim to prevent the release of 6 million tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 18,750 tonnes of hazardous chemicals into the ecosystem. The release of persistent organic pollutants into the atmosphere will be minimized, protecting air quality, while restoring 825,000 hectares of land and ecosystems and revitalizing natural habitats. By 2031, these initiatives are expected to benefit 2 million people worldwide.
“Cambodia’s exit from LDC status is an opportunity to strengthen its industrial sector and secure a more sustainable economic future,” said Cambodia’s Minister of Environment. By participating in this program, Cambodia will not only protect the environment and public health, but also strengthen its position in the global market, attract foreign investment, and create new economic opportunities for its people. ”
Rony Rodríguez Chávez, Costa Rica’s Deputy Minister of Energy, said: “The use of low-carbon cement and construction with innovative bio-based materials such as mycelium and wood have great potential, given the enabling environment. “It’s ripe for scale.” As a country committed to sustainability, we are proud to lead the effort to transform the construction sector. By focusing on access to finance and incentives, this program will help Costa Rica become a world leader in sustainable construction. ”
“This innovative initiative embodies GEF’s unique ability to unite countries and sectors to chart healthier, safer, and equally profitable paths,” said Carlos, CEO and Chairman of GEF.・Manuel Rodriguez said. “We are proud to support the bold leadership of the fashion and construction industries in pursuing supply chains that reduce hazardous chemicals and reduce carbon emissions. How environmental issues are linked and how GEF’s integrated approach to tackling pollution, climate change and nature loss is innovative and can deliver rapid and concrete results at the scale needed It reflects that.”
The program aims to transform every stage of the two supply chains. Examples include redesigning carnival fashion in Trinidad and Tobago, establishing a bricklayer’s kiln in Ecuador, piloting a green building certification and fashion environmental labeling system in Cambodia, and transforming banana pseudo-stalk waste. It produces economically viable and socially beneficial textiles in Pakistan.
A global program advisory group will be established to ensure alignment with existing efforts and partners. The group will provide strategic guidance with senior government, industry and civil society representatives and experts providing advice and sharing knowledge to accelerate the transition to sustainable supply chains.
Note to editor
About supply chain IP
The Integrated Program to Eliminate Hazardous Chemicals from Supply Chains is a $45 million, seven-year initiative supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and partners that will transform two global industries: fashion and construction. It is an interagency program led by UNEP, with support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Participating countries include Cambodia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, India, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago.
About the United Nations Environment Program
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About global environmental facilities
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a family of multilateral funds dedicated to combating biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution, and supporting the health of our lands and oceans. Its funding enables developing countries to address complex challenges and work towards international environmental goals. The partnership focuses on integration and inclusion and involves 186 member governments, as well as civil society, indigenous peoples, women and youth. Over the past 30 years, the GEF has provided more than $25 billion in financing and mobilized $145 billion for priority country-led projects. The family of funds includes the Global Environmental Facilities Trust Fund, the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF), the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF), and the Capacity Building Fund. Contains initiatives. Transparency Trust Fund (CBIT).
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