home
> News
> News Archives
News Archives
July 29, 2025
Keynote address by Jorge Moreira da Silva, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNOPS Executive Director, at FfD4 side-event: 'From spend to impact: Leveraging public procurement for a sustainable future,' 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, 1 July 2025.
Distinguished delegates and esteemed colleagues,
Thank you for joining us at this important side event to highlight the critical role that public procurement can play in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
This is a subject that is not only central to our mandate at UNOPS, but also key to conversations we are having at the financing for development conference.
The challenges hindering the urgently needed investment push for the SDGs are many and affect how countries access finance at various levels—whether through Official Development Assistance (ODA), loans, debt relief, climate finance, or other mechanisms.
Yet, all these mechanisms have one thing in common: public procurement will be the key to realizing their impact.
The outcome document of the conference acknowledges this role - by highlighting the role that procurement plays in promoting transparency and accountability, as well as the role of national procurement in strengthening development cooperation.
***
Public procurement is key to the global effort to build a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient future.
Yet often it does not deserve the recognition it deserves. We tend to think of procurement as a technical, bureaucratic process.
But the sheer scale of procurement highlights the transformative role that it can play:
Overall, public procurement accounts for 15-20 per cent of global GDP.
By one account, public procurement activities are directly or indirectly responsible for 15 per cent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
For comparison, this is seven times the amount emitted by the entire aviation industry.
How governments spend their money matters immensely.
Public purchasing has immense potential to reduce emissions, promote sustainability and build resilience.
It can create local jobs and support local economies
It can promote equality and social inclusion - by encouraging women-led businesses, local suppliers, and SMEs to bid.
It can cut waste, fight corruption and promote transparency
It can drive innovation - including from the private sector
And it can make supply chains more resilient.
In short, improved public procurement processes can make money work harder and achieve more for communities, which is the ultimate goal.
Importantly - in an era of diminishing public trust in institutions, I would argue that effective and efficient public procurement rebuilds trust, and inspires hope.
Let me share some examples.
In Brazil, a government project to provide healthy food to students in public schools is aiming for food security, better learning, and good eating habits. As a decentralised programme, it has created a public market for local family farmers and taken positive steps to fight rural poverty.
In the Netherlands, where the government has set the target of achieving a fully circular economy by 2050, the ambition is to work with all public authorities to save 1 megaton of CO2 through circular procurement. In one example, they are building a viaduct from reusable components.
Of course - I have many examples to share from our own work at UNOPS too.
As you know, procurement is a cornerstone of our mandate, enabling us to support partners in the delivery of critical infrastructure, essential services and humanitarian aid.
Last year, we procured $1.7 billion worth of goods on behalf of our partners.
In addition to carrying direct procurement, we also provide technical assistance for complex procurement processes, where we support partners to reduce bottlenecks, improve efficiency of their procurement process, and help identify, reduce, and mitigate supply chain-related risks.
Around half of our procurement is from local suppliers, which can help lessen environmental impacts by reducing emissions and directly support local economies.
In Ukraine, for example, last year, over 90 per cent of our contracts were with Ukrainian suppliers, helping us make our supply chains more resilient, while empowering the local private sector in the face of conflict.
Whether we are procuring on behalf of our partners, or working with them to strengthen national capacity for procurement, our focus is on ensuring that procurement processes benefit local communities, build more resilience and accelerate the shift to low-carbon economies.
Similarly - we place great emphasis on involving Small and Medium Enterprises and women-led SMEs in our procurement practices - because we know they play a critical role in economic growth and development.
One example of our procurement support is in Ecuador, where we are working with the government to promote sustainable public transport.
In partnership with the Municipal Public Passenger Transport Company of Quito, we are procuring 60 new electric trolleybuses. These will help to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the public transportation network and improve urban mobility in the capital – all while supporting Ecuador’s commitments to advancing climate action and sustainable development.
How we have procured is as important as what we have procured.
Disability - and gender- inclusive considerations have been integrated into the vehicles. So that wheelchairs, baby strollers and bikes are welcome on board. The trolleybuses have regenerative braking, which reduces energy consumption by up to 30 per cent.
And importantly, through efficient and transparent procurement as part of this partnership, we saved money, which allowed the Municipality to have additional funds to continue to improve the citizens' lives.
All that to say - at UNOPS we are committed to help our partners realise the potential of public procurement to drive sustainable development.
We embed sustainability in every stage of our procurement process.
We have high standards to ensure inclusion, transparency and accountability.
And we are committed to building the capacity of governments and institutions to lead this transformation
***
As we look to the future, it is crucial that we rethink how we define value in sustainable public procurement.
It is about considering the full life cycle of a good or service: its environmental footprint, its social impact, and its long-term economic value.
Transitioning to more sustainable products and services, for example, may carry a short term premium for governments, we know that the increased cost will decline over time. Similarly, as new technologies are scaled up, production processes for net-zero products will become more cost-efficient.
Sustainable public procurement is also about caring deeply about building lasting capacity in procurement reform. Particularly in developing countries, we need to work more closely together to enhance capacity and support the efforts of governments to strengthen institutions.
And finally, emerging technologies, such as e-procurement, AI-driven contract management can play a key role in enhancing transparency and efficiency, and ensuring funds are better utilized.
***
At its heart, public procurement is not about contracts or spreadsheets. It is about people.
It is about using the power of public spending to shape the kind of world we want to live in - and the kind of world we want to leave behind.
A world that is more just, inclusive, and sustainable.
UNOPS is committed to this vision.
Thank you.
Learn more at UNOPS news and stories webpage.
...continue to read
category : Topics
July 23, 2025
At the 2025 session of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), held under the theme "Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises," the Co-Chair of the Board of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10YFP), Ms. Annika Lindblom, formally presented the Annual Progress Report of the 10YFP to Member States and delegates.
In her address, Ms. Lindblom emphasized that sustainable consumption and production (SCP) remains fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the face of ongoing environmental, economic, and social crises. “Sustainable consumption and production is not a luxury — it is a necessity,” she stated. The report highlights how shifting consumption and production patterns is essential to unlocking low-carbon and resource-efficient economies, creating green and decent jobs, addressing social inequalities, and embedding circularity in policies, business models, and economies at large.
The presentation reaffirmed the urgency of moving from commitment to implementation. While notable engagement has been achieved across countries and sectors, the report calls for increased ambition and coherence in national SCP strategies, enhanced investment in systemic change, and more robust integration of circular economy principles. It also outlines priority areas under the updated 10YFP Results Framework for 2025–2026, designed to deliver tangible outcomes aligned with national and global priorities.
In closing, Ms. Lindblom underscored the collective responsibility of governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society. “Shifting our consumption and production patterns is not a choice we can delay — it is a prerequisite for a just and resilient future.”
The One Planet Network and the 10YFP Secretariat invite all partners to take stock of the progress made, accelerate implementation, and scale up collaboration in the decisive years ahead.
More details at One Planet Network news center.
...continue to read
category : Topics
July 21, 2025
Green public procurement should be then default In the European construction sector. That is the main message of the Buy Better to Build Better (BBBB) coalition, bringing together 35 stakeholders from across the construction value chain, civil societies and public authorities committing to a common vision for green public procurement in 2030.
In their own words, the BBBB coalition seeks to “mainstream public procurement as a core lever for driving large-scale demand for large-scale demand for green construction solutions, while maintaining European industry at the forefront of technological progress.” The coalition believes that if the EU uses its public procurement power (public procurement represents 15% of the bloc’s GDP) it can accelerate the industrial transition while advancing European competitiveness.
BBBB’s manifesto highlights four key points for how its aims should be achieved. Firstly there should be harmonised, sector-specific Green Public Procurement criteria to create demand for low-carbon and circular construction solutions. Secondly, the internal market should be strengthened with overarching public procurement criteria that go beyond lowest price. Thirdly, GPP tracking in the EU should be simplified and standardised, and, finally, there should be continued support, through trainings, resources and strategic guidance, for public authorities to implement GPP.
BBBB believes that if such ideas are implemented well, the EU’s renewed focus on creating lead markets via public procurement could have a particularly high impact on the construction sector, where public procurement accounts for 31% of total investment. The coalition further notes that the EU should replicate the examples set by isolated good practices, enabling green and innovative solutions to scale rapidly and consistently across Europe.
Dominique Sandy, Head of Sustainable and Innovation Procurement at BBBB member ICLEI Europe, explains: “Public procurement has huge impacts and opportunities for public procurers of all sizes. This opportunity is especially present in the construction sector, which accounts for substantial emissions for our members. We are proud to be part of this coalition, to sign the manifesto, and continue to work to make the strategic use of public procurement the norm across Europe and beyond.”
The BBBB website can be found here, as well as its manifesto.
Learn more from ICLEI sustainable procurement platform.
...continue to read
category : Topics
July 14, 2025
At the OECD Global Public Procurement Forum 2025 last week, Jorge Laguna-Celis and Laetitia Montero from the 10YFP Secretariat joined a high-level panel exploring how governments can use procurement as a lever for the green transition.
Held in Paris, the Forum brought together ministers, senior policymakers, and international experts to address the evolving role of public procurement in tackling today’s most pressing challenges—from climate change and biodiversity loss to social inclusion and economic resilience.
Against this backdrop, participants heard that countries are raising the bar. Regarding the inclusion of climate/environment criteria in public tenders and tools, France is aiming for 100%, Lithuania targets 95%, and Norway now mandates a 30% weighting for such criteria.
However, the panel noted that setting targets isn’t enough. Legal mandates must be matched with strong support systems—training, guidance, and active engagement with suppliers.
The discussion highlighted that green public procurement reforms work best when paired with transparent impact measurement and continuous market dialogue. Tools like ecolabels and modelling methodologies such as SAVi are proving essential for scaling green practices across borders.
The session concluded with a clear message: public procurement is a powerful policy instrument that goes beyond compliance. When strategically implemented, it can accelerate the shift to sustainable consumption and production, foster innovation, and generate long-term value for society and the environment.
More details at UNEP One Planet Network website.
...continue to read
category : Topics
July 8, 2025
The China Environmental United Certification Center (CEC) has unveiled updated requirements for the textile product category. Developed in collaboration with Qingdao Product Quality Testing Research Institute (QTC), Nanjing Customs Textile and Industrial Products Testing Center (JTC), and the Wuxi Textile and Apparel Council, the new criteria mark a significant step toward a greener textile industry in China.
This milestone is a key deliverable of the Consumer Information Programme and EcoAdvance a joint project by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), GIZ, and Öko-Institut, with funding from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI).
The revised standard takes a lifecycle approach, covering the entire textile value chain—from cotton cultivation to finished garments. It introduces comprehensive criteria on raw material traceability, low-carbon production methods, and corporate social responsibility, creating a robust framework for end-to-end sustainability governance.
In addition to setting a new benchmark for environmental performance, the standard aims to support the uptake of sustainable public procurement (SPP) in China. By encouraging suppliers to adopt greener practices and guiding buyers toward low-carbon, eco-friendly products, the initiative helps align market behavior with sustainability goals.
A pilot certification program will roll out in key textile-producing regions, with results and case studies presented at international forums to promote global recognition and uptake of the standard.
Learn more at UNEP One Planet Network news webpage.
...continue to read
category : Topics
