Concept Note
ASEAN Secretariat – UNIDO Seminar on Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) in ASEAN Member States
Supported with funding from Government of Austria
24 January 2011
A. Background
The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States (AMS) have experienced sustainable economic development over the past two decades, mainly driven by labour-intensive and export-oriented sectors, such as textile and garments, leather and footwear, electric and electronics, chemicals and plastics, home furnishing etc., complemented by sustained growth in tourism and craft sectors and in domestic consumption. The ASEAN Region now has an increasingly mature industrial sector and diversified manufacturing base.
The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is the realisation of the end goal of economic integration, which is based on a convergence of interests of ASEAN Member States to deepen and broaden economic integration. By 2015, ASEAN will see the realisation of the AEC, a single market and production base, more dynamic and competitive with new mechanisms and measures integrated with the global economy. A strong, dynamic and efficient industry sector will also ensure the sustainable, inclusive and broad-based integration of the ASEAN region both in terms of the economic and social development.
In order to ensure sustained development, we need to consider effects on climate change, use of water, energy and other materials and pollution of environment. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) launched in 2008 its Green Industry Initiative, which is aimed at fostering proactive contributions of the industrial sector towards sustainable development. Green Industry is about the industry-contribution to the themes dominating the international agenda - green economy, sustainable consumption and production, green growth and climate action. Twenty one (21) developing countries from Asia agreed on the UNIDO led Manila Declaration on Green Industry, during the 2009 Green Industry Conference hosted by the Government of the
Green Industry deals with development of the environmental goods and services sector (or green industries) and continuous improvement of environmental performance and resource productivity of existing and new industries in all sectors (or greening of industry). Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) is a practical approach for businesses to merge the goals of productivity, innovation, climate action and environmental stewardship. UNIDO and UNEP have been collaborating since 1994 to promote Cleaner Production and Resource Efficiency globally through a network of National Cleaner Production Centres (NCPCs) in developing and transition economies (www.unido.org/cp).
With funding support from the Government of Switzerland, UNIDO has established since 1998 National Cleaner Production Centres or Programmes in the ASEAN Region in
B. Rationale
Concerns about environmental degradation due to industrial wastes and emissions and unsustainable patterns of water, energy and land use, are on the rise. ASEAN Governments have started to recognize the need for transition to sustainable industrial development through Green Industry Initiatives, as reflected by the commitment of the major ASEAN developing economies (including Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) to the Manila Green Industry Declaration ([1]). The widespread application of RECP concepts, methods, practices, technologies and policies is crucial for the realization of the Green Industry objectives reflected in the Manila Declaration.
C. Purpose
The overall purpose of the seminar is to foster green industry development in the ASEAN region by expanding and scaling-up the application of RECP methods, practices, technologies and policies.
D Objective
The objective of the one day seminar is to demonstrate how enterprises and governments in
E. Expected Outcomes
The seminar aims to build awareness, information exchange and networking, sharing of experiences and knowledge within the ASEAN community to enable scaling-up and expanding the application of Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production methods, practices, technologies and policies.
The seminar proceedings will highlight on:
- Providing a framework for bolstering green industry development, using existing RECP capacities and knowledge for improving transparency and governance fostering national ownership for an enabling policy change conducive to RECP and for improving/diversifying RECP services;
- The development, trial and discussion of novel approaches for scaling-up RECP in the manufacturing sector;
- Complimentary approaches to create synergies within the ASEAN community to implement RECP practices and technologies, mainstreaming of RECP concepts and instruments involving supply chain based implementation.
The seminar proceedings will demonstrate the collective results of an integrated programme for RECP methods, practices and technologies to contribute towards resource productivity (more efficient use of energy, water and materials) and on environmental performance (lower waste and emissions profile). The seminar will also focus on existing programmes in the region to enable reviewing and drawing lessons from plant-, sector-, supply chain- and regional approaches to scaling-up on RECP in the ASEAN region.
[1] Manila Green Industry Declaration, 9 September 2009, http://www.unido.org/fileadmin/user_media/UNIDO_Header_Site/Subsites/Green_Industry_Asia_Conference__Maanila_/Manila_declaration_final.pdf.
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