Sustainable Development Goals and Public Procurement Mark Hidson Director ICLEI’s Global Sustainable Procurement Centre Deputy Regional Director, ICLEI Image: © www.photocase.de

17 sustainable development goals with 169 targets

Why does procurement feature in the SDGs?

Public organisations can meet their needs for goods, services, works and utilities in a way that achieves value for money on a whole life-cycle basis in terms of generating benefits not only to the organisation, but also to society and the economy, whilst significantly reducing negative impacts on the environment Image: LOSINPUN, Flickr.com (NC-SA-2.0)

3 Examples Benefits: Administrative, financial, comptencies and for procurement Legal issues: the question of applicable law, question of jurisdiction, civil law or administrative law, relation between national law and EU law Other issues: language According to the UN, public procurement systems represent an annual expenditure of over $10 trillion USD, an equivalent of 15% of global GDP.

“Governments and traditional development aid agencies simply do not have enough funds to meet the goals - a multitrillion dollar yearly funding gap exists” UN Intergovernmental Committee on SD Image: Pavel Eltsov, Dreamstime

Society: sense of concern over use of natural resources, the impact on the environment and society Business: resource security, cost of raw materials, image, new business models and market opportunities Public sector: meet policy and environmental goals, find innovative solutions to meet challenges, cost efficiency agenda...

Sends a signal Helps governments and cities tackle key challenges Cost efficient Improve efficiency and effectiveness of services Stimulates growth and provides jobs Support small business and local suppliers Drive the market for innovation Address social inequality Empower specific groups in society

Where does procurement feature?

Legal guidance Target 12.7: promote Public Procurement Practices that are sustainable in accordance with national policies and priorities Indicator 12.7.1: Number of countries implementing SPP policies and actions

12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources 12.3 By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses 12.4 By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle... and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment 12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse

Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages Target 3.9: Reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix

Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment

How can procurement impact in practice?

Use Buy Linear approach Dispose Purchase price Usage cost Meeting regulations Disposal costs Meeting regulations

Energy recovery Landfill Collection Separation Raw materials Materials processing Material recovery Design & Manufacture Recycle Repair, reuse Supplier Delivery Public Authority Use Maintenance

What are the barriers to using procurement to achieve the SDGs? Legal and policy framework Market barriers Budgetary constraints / costing issues Capacity issues – lack of training, research, tools, methodologies Communication and information

Key Questions How can we overcome barriers to SPP in developing countries? How can we increase the commitment of governments towards the value of procurement? Image: © iStock photo

Pros and Cons Some regions already have frameworks Reaching the local level is difficult Perceived as being too abstract Raise awareness & reference worldwide Recognises procurement as a mechanism Image: © iStock photo

Thank you mark.hidson@iclei.org www.sustainable-procurement.org www.procuraplus.org www.procurement-forum.eu