Celebration of the International Day for the Protection of Ozone Layer, 16 September 2011, Istanbul
With reference to the date for the opening to signature of the Montreal Protocol on the Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, 16 September 1987, all countries of the world celebrate the "International Day for the Protection of Ozone Layer" with various activities on awareness raising activities on the impelentation of the Protocol and protection of ozone layer. These activities, organised within the main theme announced by the Protocol Secreteriat (UNEP), organised with the theme "HCFC phase-out: a unique opportunity" for the year 2011.
Within this context, "HCFC Phase-out Management Plan - RAC Sector Workshop" organized in Istanbul, on 16 September 2011, as a part of the Montreal Protocol National Programme activities, implemented by United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) under the coordination of T.R. Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation General Directorate of Environmental Managemenr (Department of Climate Change, Ozone Layer Protection Division) designated as the National Ozone Unit.
In the opening of the activity, organised with the participation of relevant public, private and professional institutions, as well as the UNIDO and Minstry of Environment and Urbanisation experts, UNIDO Project Manager Ms. Rodica Ivan presented information on the activities of UNIDO worldwide on the international environment agreements in general and Montreal Protocol specifically, after the opening speeches of Deputy General Director of Environmental Management Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation, Dr. Mustafa Şahin and UNIDO Centre for Regional Cooperation Director and Representative in TR, Mr. Süleyman Yılmaz. Following the opening session, UNIDO National Programme Coordinator Mr. Murat Çevik presented brief information on the status of the projects implemented under the Montreal Protocol National Programme activities. The status of the inventory and project development activities under the preparatory activities of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) sector investment project presented by the UNIDO Sector Expert Mr. Cameron Murdoch, with an overall evaluation on the findings, and then the participants asked to provide their comments and recommendations.
In the second session started afternoon, the ongoing preparatory activities for the development of the Disposal project for the destruction and recovery of the ODSs and the equipment containing ODS, especially the Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) completed their phase-out process, presented by the UNIDO Project Manager Mr. Paul Krajnik. In the last session of the meeting, the workshop ended with the general evaluation of the discussions after the detailed presentation of UNIDO Project Manager Ms. Rodica Ivan, on the preparation and content of the HCFC Phase-out Management Plans.
Evaluations and discussions will be used in the RAC Sector investment and HCFC Phase-out Management Plan preparation activities, implemented by UNIDO under the coordination of NOU.
Expert Group Meeting on Corporate Social Responsibility and Private Standards, 30 March 2011, Istanbul
The Turkish Textile and Clothing Sector is one of the most critical sectors in Turkey in terms of contribution to the gross domestic product, employment generation and net exports. The sector carries great importance for the company and therefore enhancing its current position is crucial for the Turkish economy.
It is in this context, a Joint Technical Assistance Programme was developed by UNDP, UNIDO and ILO within the support of the UNDP-Spanish MDG Achievement Fund. This 3-year joint programme (JP) aims to enhance the international competitiveness of SMEs in the textile and clothing sector of Turkey, especially those located in poor and vulnerable regions (with a focus on Malatya, Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman and Gaziantep), in order to integrate them into the domestic, regional and global value chains.
More specifically, the JP, which is strongly supported by the “General Secretariat of the Istanbul Textile and Apparel Exporters’ Associations” (İTKİB), focuses on two interrelated and complementary outcomes:
1. Strengthening the productivity and innovation capabilities of the SMEs in the Turkish textile industry, and
2. Integrating sustainable development, social and environmental principles and gender equality into the business processes and practices of the Turkish SMEs in the textile industry.
Within the framework of this JP, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is in charge of carrying out activities that will help local SMEs in the textile sector to integrate social and environmental standards and principles into their business processes and operating practices.
One of the first steps in this process marks the organization of an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) that will bring together multinational firms sourcing from Turkey as well as large national textile companies and representatives of the local private sector, with a view to:
(1) Discuss the relevance of social and environmental upgrading in this sector and related private standards in the supply chain, and to
(2) Shape the content of subsequent technical assistance provided to SMEs in this regard.
The EGM marks the starting point for a series of activities that foresee to bridge the gap between the current requirements of the buyers and the current compliance levels and capacities of the actors at the lower ends of the textile value chain, through a series of focus group meetings, training programmes, and pilot interventions in selected SMEs.
The EGM took place in the premises of the Beneficiary ITKIB on the 30th March 2011 with the wide participation of the desired representatives of the value chain. 40 participants of the various links of the value chain were gathered around one table discussing the complex issue of Corporate Social Responsibility and Private Standards profoundly. Representatives of international brands such as Marks and Spencer, Otto and H&M, manufacturers such as Yeşim, Hey, Bozkurt, TYH, Çalık, Taşkın and organizations such as Middle East Technical University, CSR Assocation of Turkey and Technology Development Foundation of Turkey. Important outputs are produced in order to serve as a basis for the related activities to follow.
