Transcript Presentation title

Federal Department of the Environment,
Transport, Energy and Communications DETEC
Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
Economics and Environmental Monitoring Division
Enhancing environmental
sustainability in the food sector
The Swiss Green Economy approach
Frank Hayer
Swiss Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
Plenary Meeting FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE
Brussels, 20.11.2013
Agenda
• The Swiss Green Economy Approach
• Revision of the Environmental Protection Act
• Measures within Consumption and Production
FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector
Frank Hayer, FOEN
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The Swiss Green Economy Approach
A brief look back in time...
Oct 2010
Federal Council (FC) gave the federal administration mandates for
building a green economy in six areas of action
Mar 2013
Reporting and action plan with 27 measures
Feb 2013
FC gave the federal administration mandates for proposing the
revision of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) = indirect
counterproposal to the popular initiative for a Green Economy
(long-term objective: ecological footprint of 1 earth in 2050)
Jun 2013
FC submits legislative amendments of the EPA for consultation
Sept 2013
End of the consultation
FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector
Frank Hayer, FOEN
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Action plan and Initiative of Green Party
• Federal Council approved Action Plan for Green
Economy on march 8 2013
• Action plan is base for a change of the Environmental
Law as a counterproposal to Initiative of Green Party
in favour of Green Economy
• Implementation in 4 core areas:
1. Consumption and Production
2. Waste and raw materials
3. International engagement
4. Measurement and Information
FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector
Frank Hayer, FOEN
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Revision of the Env. Protection Act
Objectives Consumption and Production
• Reduce environmental impacts throughout the
lifecycle of products
• Increase the demand and supply of ecological
products
• Stimulate environmentally conscious behaviour
FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector
Frank Hayer, FOEN
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Measures Consumption and production
• Negotiated agreements
• Environmental information of products
• Environmental information of the
assortment / product groups
• Minimal environmental requirements
for the admission of products
• Reducing food waste
• Effectiveness of sustainable product
standards
FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector
Frank Hayer, FOEN
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Measures Consumption and production
1. Voluntary approach comes first:
• Negotiated agreements
•
Recommendations for product environmental information
2. Mandatory policy measures for:
• Environmental information of product groups/assortment
•
Minimal requirements for admission of products
=> Only if voluntary approach isn‘t sufficiently effective!
FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector
Frank Hayer, FOEN
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Negotiated Agreements with the
Industry
Focus: Products with considerable
impacts on the environment
Elements of the Agreement:
• Partners: Industry, Civil Society, Government
• Timely fixed and ambitious Goals to reduce impact
of products on the environment
• Use of international established sustainable
production Standards
• Reporting as a tool for Monitoring and competition
FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector
Frank Hayer, FOEN
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Environmental Information of Products
•
Information of environmental effects of products with
significant impacts on the environment
•
Recommendations for analysis and assessment are
provided by the government
•
Guidance for communication of the results
•
Mandatory regulations only in accordance with
international regulations (EU)
FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector
Frank Hayer, FOEN
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Environmental Information of Products
Links with EU approach:
Same goal: comprehensive and reliable information for
consumers
Same principles: transparency, reliability, comparability, etc.
Similar methodological approaches: LCA-based and
development of PCRs
BUT still some differences in the methodology
→ Compatibility between approaches need to be improved
→ Participation to the testing phase of the EU
FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector
Frank Hayer, FOEN
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Environmental Information of Products
Planning:
•
Public consultation on recommendations for
environmental information on products (autumn 2013)
•
Publication for voluntary use (early 2014)
•
Participation in the EF pilot phase II
•
accompanying measures
• Development of an impact assessment for biodiversity
• Development of test PCR
FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector
Frank Hayer, FOEN
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Outlook
•
Change of Environmental Law (as counterproposal to
initiative of the Green Party): intern consultation
(administration) in Winter 2013
•
Decision of the Federal Council: Spring 2014
•
Debate in the parliament starting in 2014
•
Action plan: Comes into force if change of
environmental law is rejected
=> less stringent
→ Work to enhance Green Economy goes on
FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector
Frank Hayer, FOEN
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Questions?
Thank you for your attention.
Frank Hayer
Scientific Officer
Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
Economics and Environmental Monitoring Division
[email protected]
www.bafu.admin.ch
FOOD SCP ROUND TABLE | Enhancing environmental sustainability in the food sector
Frank Hayer, FOEN
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