SWITCH-Asia Programme and its applicability to other regions
The European Commissioner for Development, Mr. Andris Piebalgs welcomed the SWITCH-Asia Programme. He spoke at a seminar on 7-8 Feburary Brussel that was organized by DG Development and Cooperation. In his keynote address at the first day of the seminar, he said the SWITCH-Asia Programme is a good example for a move to sustainable development. Parts of Programme – he said - could be replicated in other parts of the world. He explained that the structure of the SWITCH-Asia programme was developed on the experience of past programmes. EuropeAID discovered that in the past there was a frequent lack of information and knowledge on the projects and there was a link missing to policy making. The SWITCH-Asia Programme, he added, is a step further. Commissioner Piebalgs summarized: “The approach is based on common sense. It creates links between policy makers, consumers and business.”
Consumption is a key to change
Commissioner Andre Piebalgs emphasized that focusing on consumption is essential. Sustainable consumption according to Piebalgs is a key for change - especially considering the growing number of people in the world. The European Commission launched the SWITCH-Asia Programme with the aim to promote SCP among consumers, small and medium enterprises and to support Asian policy-makers shifting towards SCP practices. Moving to more sustainable production and consumption is closely related to moving towards a low carbon emission strategy and towards green growth according to Commissioner Piebalgs.
To read more on specific session please click below:
- Key-note address by European Commissioner for Development – Mr. Andris Piebalgs
- Regional Policy Support
- National Policy Support in Malaysia
- SCP related activities supported by the EU in other regions
- Network Facility and Grant Projects
- SWITCH elsewhere? - Reflections from participants
- View all presentations and speeches at one glance
Mr. Dirk Meganck, the director for Asia, Central Asia, Middle East/Gulf and Pacific – Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation at the European Commission (EU) welcomed the participants and gave an introduction to the seminar. He explained that the purpose of the Seminar is to discuss the achievements of the SWITCH-Asia Programme, and to extract lessons that may be applied to the design of future development and cooperation programmes in various regions. Therefore, he welcomed the broad range of government representatives from Africa, Asia, Central Asia, Latin America and Europe, including representatives from civil society and international organisations, business groups and colleagues from other EU Institutions have followed the EC's invitation.
Sustainable consumption and Production essential for a green economy
The seminar gathered about 60 participants including representations from different Directorate-Generals within the EC, SCP experts from Africa and Latin America, SWITCH-Asia projects, the SWITCH-Asia Network Facility, and experts of the SWITCH-Asia Policy Support projects. In the welcome session, Mr. Timo Makela, the director for International Affairs, LIFE & Eco-Innovation – Directorate-General for the Environment put the programme into a wider perspective. He presented the European Union's vision on SCP, Green Economy and Rio +20. He called sustainable consumption and production essential for green economy.
Most part of the day was covered by intensive discussion on the different components of the programme. Mr. Thomas Wiley, from the Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation took stocks what the progamme has achieved so far. In his presentation on the SWITCH-Asia programme he outlined the special structure of the programme: The SWITCH-Asia Programme has three strategic components: grants for projects, a network facility and a policy support component. The SWITCH-Asia Programme funds grant project with specific replication mechanisms to ensure that the projects are impacting a large number of SMEs.
Three strategic components enhance impact
The policy support component aims to strengthen the formulation and implementation of sustainable consumption and production (SCP) policies in Asia at regional level primarily through capacity building in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme. In addition there is national level policy support for Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. Experts from UNEP and the national project in Malaysia introduced their efforts in the second session of the afternoon.
The second day of the seminar introduced the other two components of the programme - the SWITCH-Asia Network Facility and the SWITCH-Asia Grant projects. Network Facility experts Burcu Tuncer and Frans Verspeek highlighted the added value of the Network Facility. The Network Facility organises exchange of project experience in order to increase the quality and impact. Next to the Network Facility, five projects (Sustainable Rattan, Improved Leather Production, Greening Hotels, E-Waste Recycle, SMART CEBU) made presentations on their efforts in different Asian countries. In second session of the day, different units of the European Commission presented their SCP related activities outside Asia.
Applicable to other regions?
The afternoon gave room to discuss the achievements of the SWITCH-Asia Programme. In a planel discussion participants extracted lessons that may be applied to the design of future development and cooperation programmes in various regions of the world. Participants from Latin America and Africa appreciated the programme, its structure and its focus on SCP. For further application, participants from Africa recommended to link it to existing initiatives and to the implementation of the African 10 Year Framework Programme. Other suggested focus should be given to emerging middle class and to access to finance.
Commissioner for Environment Janez POTOČNIK closed the seminar. He said: “We believe the right answer is to SWITCH to an economy that is capable of providing economic wellbeing and health for everyone, whilst using fewer resources and with less impact on our natural capital and ecosystems – to decouple. “ To build a green economy, the commissioner recommended looking to both the supply and demand sides – to sustainable production and consumption. He highlighted the importance of partnerships between policy makers, consumers and business. He concluded: “Here SWITCH-Asia can provide valuable lessons. I believe that green economy partnerships as enacted by programmes such as SWITCH-Asia, will in the future play an important role in helping the transition to a green economy.”