Sustainable resources and waste management is a key cross-cutting issue for public health, environmental protection, the fight against climate change, the preservation of biodiversity and the transition to more resilient economies implementing the actions of the circular economy**. This topic plays an increasingly important role in national and international public policy and contributes directly to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Many international initiatives are already working to achieve the SDGs and to the protection of health and the environment by improving the sustainable management of resources and waste. Nevertheless, their ambitions remain scattered and fragmented. There are many actors involved — national and local authorities, businesses, financial institutions, international organisations, civil society actors, academia — but they do not yet have a common space to structure dialogue, share experiences and collectively examine the necessary transition pathways. The absence of such a common space and of a shared global vision on resources and waste limits the coherence and impact of international actions.
It was in response to this observation that the international “Global Push” initiative emerged, of which the primary objective is to enable local action, developed under the impetus of the FSWP (French Solid Waste Partnership), with several discussion partners: ISWA (International Solid Waste Association), UNEP-IETC (United Nations Environment Programme), the Secretariat of the BRS Conventions (Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm) and UN-Habitat.
The Global Push initiative – Unifying to take action
The initiative aims to bring together stakeholders involved in preventing and managing resources and waste. It also has the objective to trigger coordinated action on a global scale for their improved management, and to support the transition to more circular systems — an essential step towards achieving all the SDGs.
To establish resources and waste management as a central pillar of the international sustainable development agenda—particularly in light of a possible post-2030 framework—the Global Push initiative is based on a three-pronged approach:
- • Developing international frameworks to bring about a dual Global Commitment on Resources and Waste by various stakeholders (states, local authorities and businesses) to: 1/ manage existing waste in compliance with Environmentally Sound Management (ESM***) throughout the world, and 2/ reduce future waste volumes by implementing the actions of the circular economy, as described in ISO 59004, with the aim of respecting planetary boundaries, reducing dependence on strategic resources, and protecting health and the environment. This commitment would provide a common reference framework for public policies, recognising the cross-cutting role of resources and waste management in achieving the SDGs, and strengthening the political and operational mobilisation of stakeholders.
- The creation of a space for discussion between stakeholders on waste prevention and management to strengthen synergies between actors and accelerate the implementation of actions contributing to a shared common goal. The aim is to strengthen synergies between actors and levels of governance, and go beyond usual sectoral siloes to achieve the SDGs, and
- Align actors around the implementation of the Global Commitment on Resources and Waste as an essential milestone in achieving the SDGs. The commitment aims to coordinate the implementation of local management with the systemic changes needed at the international level.
The Global Push initiative is a long-term project, currently being developed with various international stakeholders.
Towards a Global Commitment on Resources and Waste
The Global Push initiative seeks to make international frameworks evolve with the emergence of a dual Global Commitment on Resources and Waste by various stakeholders to: manage existing waste and reduce future waste volumes.
The implementation of this two-pronged commitment depends on the activation of four enablers, whose components describe concrete actions that can be adopted by the Parties:
– Governance, finance and planning;
– Inclusion of all stakeholders;
– Sustainable financing; and
– Monitoring, reporting, verification and traceability.This commitment is proposed to unite stakeholders involved in its operational implementation, each within their respective roles and responsibilities. These impactful projects serving citizens must be carried out by all.
This commitment is also brought to the attention of States through existing discussion forums, such as the COPs on climate change and other United Nations conferences. The ambition is to form a coalition of countries with a high-level political interest in establishing the systemic frameworks necessary for a circular economy, the aim of which is to decontaminate, decarbonise, and decouple value creation from environmental harms, including resource extraction and waste generation.
*Decarbonisation means reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
**Refer to ISO Standard 59004 for the list of 13 prioritised actions, also available here.
***Environmentally Sound Management of waste is defined by the Basel Convention (articles 2(8) and 4(2)), which has been ratified by 191 countries. It aims at managing waste in a way that protects both health and the environment.
