Resilient, carbon neutral growth and circular economy

The size of the world’s population continues to grow, which will also drive the demand for food, consumer goods and urban infrastructure and the energy needed to produce them to levels unheard of in human history. It is against this backdrop that this project aims to support stakeholders within selected value chains to adopt and transform towards circular economy practices through industry collaboration, public-private dialogue and capacity development. The project recognizes that the application of circular economy practices requires coherent practices by all actors of the value chains, from SMEs to leading companies in global value chains. Further, the project also includes components such as contributing to sustainable growth, low carbon and climate resilient development and decent job creation. Finite resources and climate issues require moving from a ‘take-make-dispose’ society to a carbon-neutral, environmentally sustainable, toxic-free and fully circular economy.

Find out more on the OpenData platform.

In a global project covering four countries in the Asian, Central and Eastern European and Latin American regions, UNIDO, with the generous support of Switzerland, is implementing the Global Eco-Industrial Parks Programme (GEIPP). The objective is to demonstrate the viability and benefits of Eco-Industrial Park approaches in scaling up resource productivity and improving economic, environmental and social performances of businesses and thereby contribute to inclusive and sustainable industrial development in the participating developing and transitioning economies. UNIDO takes a holistic approach in their Eco-Industrial Parks (EIP) interventions, targeting (a) individual companies; (b) EIP management; and (c) local and central management, increasing the chances for successful implementation. Among their many benefits, eco-industrial parks promote resource efficiency and circular economy practices, also helping to bridge the gap between cities and industries by making a significant contribution to sustainable cities.

Find out more on the OpenData platform and on the UNIDO Website.

In SADC and EAC regions, UNIDO is implementing the Energy Efficient lighting and appliances project, which aims at contributing to improved access to sustainable energy and mitigate negative externalities of the energy system. More specifically, the project aims to create market and institutional conditions to enable a transformation of the sector to stimulate increased diffusion of efficient lighting products and appliances across all sectors. The project brings regional support to private sector-led activities, leading to the increased use of energy efficient high-quality lighting and appliances through regional regulatory and trade harmonization interventions, while also considering inclusiveness of all project activities to assure socially sustainable project outcomes. In the regions, this project is of particular importance as access to energy services and electricity-based services is closely linked to opportunities for economic development and delivery of social services.

Find out more on the OpenData platform.

In South Africa, UNIDO is implementing the project “Industrial Energy Efficiency Improvement in South Africa through Mainstreaming the Introduction of Energy Management Systems and Energy Systems Optimization”, a project that in 2020 won the highest international accolade  for an energy programme - the International Energy Project of the Year - awarded by the Global Association of Energy Engineers. The project supports increased and sustained energy efficiency within industrial and selected commercial sectors and aims to bring about increasing investment in industrial energy efficiency. This project in South Africa serves as an international pilot project and UNIDO has developed similar projects and programmes in 17 other developing and emerging economy countries worldwide.

Find out more on the OpenData platform.

India is one of the major nations with growing energy usage and subsequent greenhouse gas emissions. Within the Indian economy, in terms of primary energy consumption, industry remains the largest consumer of energy, within these industries there are a number of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) operating that have a high demand for energy.. MSMEs mobilize local capital and skills and are important for job creation and value added, particularly in rural areas and small towns. It is within this context that UNIDO has developed a project that aims to develop and promote a market environment for introducing energy efficiencies and enhanced use of renewable energy technologies in process applications in 12 selected energy-intensive MSME clusters in India, in order to improve the productivity and competitiveness of units as well as to reduce overall carbon emissions and improve the local environment.

Find out more on the OpenData platform.