EU SWITCH-Asia – Steps Towards Switching to Sustainable Consumption and Production and a Green Economy in Central Asia
From 3 to 6 March 2020, three key SWITCH-Asia events took place in Central Asia: two National Multi-Stakeholder Consultations, one in Uzbekistan and the other in Tajikistan, and the Grant Projects Launch, where seven newly awarded projects focusing on tourism, agri-food and textile introduced ways in which their work will contribute to relevant national policies, including sustainable consumption and production, green economy, climate change and sustainable development.
The EU SWITCH-Asia programme was launched in 2007 by the European Commission to support Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) and the transition to green economy in partner countries in Asia. Since 2019, the programme is extended to the five Central Asia countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Countries in Central Asia are at different stages in terms of awareness raising and policies towards shifting to SCP, while the importance of delivering impact towards a green and circular economy through the promotion of sustainable consumption and production is widely recognised in Central Asia.
On 3 March 2020, the SWITCH-Asia SCP Facility supported by the European Union Delegation to Uzbekistan organised the first Multi-stakeholder Consultation on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP). The event brought together around 50 stakeholders, including policy makers, practitioners and civil society to discuss challenges and identify national priorities on SCP, ultimately strengthening Uzbekistan’s work towards achieving the United Nations Global Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 and shifting towards a green and circular economy.
Various measures and programmes related to SCP exist in Uzbekistan. These include: the Strategy on Transition to Green Economy for the period 2019-2030 which was approved on 4th October 2019; the National Policy on Environmental Protection for the period 2019-2028; the Waste Management Strategy (2019- 2028), the Law on Renewable Energy (April 2019) and target parameters for further development of renewable energy sources with increasing proportion of renewable energy in total generation to 25% by 2030.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Khurshid Rakhmatullaev, Head of Division, Ministry of Economy and Industry stressed the importance of rethinking business models and supply chains across industries, as well as rethinking consumption habits. The interactive discussions between the various stakeholders resulted in three main priorities as driving forces to deliver impact towards a green and circular economy through the promotion of sustainable consumption and production in Uzbekistan. These include: improving legislation on SCP, promoting eco-labelling of goods and services, and developing energy certification of buildings.
Referring to the major policy frameworks the EU has developed towards SCP, such as the various directives on resource efficiency, green economy, circular economy and plastics, Ambassador Eduards Stiprais, Head of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Uzbekistan highlighted the importance of the SWITCH-Asia programme in further supporting the country’s ongoing work and achievements, in particular in the context of the European Green Deal. "The European Green Deal puts a strong emphasis on supporting the transition to clean energy in line with a more ambitious climate policy. It also sets the principles for the EU commitment with its partner countries in this regards. ‘Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle’ has become the new keyword in Europe", stated Ambassador Stiprais.
On 6 March, a second Multi-stakeholder Consultation was organised in Tajikistan, with the support of the Ministry of Economy and Industry. The event brought together around 40 stakeholders, including policy makers, practitioners and civil society to discuss challenges and identify national priorities on SCP. Various measures and programmes related to SCP exist in Tajikistan; for instance, the National Development Strategy (to 2020) which includes commitments to the SDGs and a legal framework for a number of SCP-related topics. Recently, a series of laws were also developed in relation to environmental protection, ecological education, alternative sources of energy, drinking water and supply, as well as environment monitoring.
Ashurboy Solehzoda, First Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade explained, “the concept of sustainable consumption and production (SCP) is mutually related to increasing the environmental friendliness of goods over their entire life cycle, stimulating demand for more environmentally friendly products and production technologies, and assisting consumers in making informed decisions”. The interactive discussions between the various stakeholders resulted in three main priorities as driving forces to deliver impact towards a green and circular economy through the promotion of sustainable consumption and production in Tajikistan.These include: elaborating a communication and education programme on healthy and responsible food systems, promoting energy efficiency and developing energy certification of buildings, and developing a tools box for waste minimization and prevention through efficiency and environmentally-friendly technologies.
Stefano Ellero, Head of Cooperation Section, European Union Delegation to the Republic of Tajikistan stressed the importance of this National Multi-Stakeholder Consultation and the alignment of SWITCH-Asia’s objectives not only to urgent EU environmental priorities but also to those concerning Tajikistan.
Current unsustainable consumption and production patterns characterised by inefficiency, despite the various policies and action plans, make these consultations extremely important for building a shared understanding on the challenges and opportunities for actions as well as the need to strengthen partnerships to mainstream SCP effectively and across sectors. Considering the cross-cutting nature of SCP, effective actions should embrace a systemic, integrated and lifecycle approach.
Back-to-back with the National Multi-stakeholder Consultations, on 3-4 March, the SWITCH-Asia Grant Projects Launch in Central Asia was organised in Uzbekistan in close coordination with the EU DEVCO and the EU Delegations in Central Asia.The event brought together 60 participants, including representatives from implementing organisations of the seven newly awarded grant-funded projects in Central Asia, the EU Delegations in Central Asia, SWITCH-Asia National Focal Points within ministries in the countries, and media professionals working on issues related to SCP and the environment. Specific sessions of this event covered EU and SWITCH-Asia programme priorities in Central Asia, as well as national and regional strategies for the implementation of SCP through the newly awarded grant projects focusing on tourism, agri-food and textile. Each project introduced their main focus areas and the ways the latter relate to relevant national policies, including green economy, climate change and sustainable development.
In the closing session, Francois Begeot, Head of the Cooperation, Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Uzbekistan recognised the effectiveness of gathering Central Asia grant projects and exchanging knowledge, information and goodpractices, as well as accelerating the implementation and scaling-up of activities in the agri-food, tourism, and textile sectors.
The National Multi-stakeholder Consultations will be followed by the elaboration of a cooperation programme between the EU, through the SWITCH-Asia programme, and the concerned Ministries and Stakeholders in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Central Asia Grants Launch Event
Press EU Delegation to Uzbekistan
