Pilot projects promoting sustainable consumption and production launched in Israel, Jordan and Palestine with the support of the EU-funded SwitchMed programme are running effectively. These projects will set examples and have the potential for upscaling through replicating and deepening in other locations.

In Israel, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Economy are jointly implementing demonstration projects for the promotion of Sustainable Consumption and Production. The different activities will contribute to implementation and dissemination of best practices and policies in a number of organisations throughout Israel in a visible manner, assimilate green public procurement in at least five local authorities, characterize policy measures that are evidence-based using behavioural economics methods to reduce negative environmental impacts of consumers and/or producers, and assimilate environmentally friendly best practices in at least 15 small-to-medium enterprises.

In Jordan, National Action Plan implementation priorities will concentrate on improving solid waste management in the hotel industry at Aqaba and the development of a National Solid Waste Management Training Program. This will contribute to the institutionalisation of solid waste management practices in the hotel industry to reduce the amounts of waste generated while adopting sustainable solid waste management practices. In addition, a national solid waste management training and national certification programme will be established and provide participants with technical know-how of municipal solid-waste management and available solid-waste treatment alternatives.

In Palestine, implementation of the National Action Plan will be articulated around three pillars. Disseminating the Action Plan and organising a Sustainable Consumption and Production exhibition in three Palestinian cities. Promoting eco-trails through the elaboration of guidelines and selection criteria and the rehabilitation of a number of showcase trails. The third pillar will be on Sustainable Agriculture modules in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture: national guidelines to combat pests using a natural/organic methods to reduce the negative effects of pesticides; post-harvesting techniques and handling to reduce food loss, and agricultural best practices to prevent loss of soil moisture content and organic matter.

The SwitchMed sustainable consumption and production programme aims to promote a switch by the Mediterranean economies towards sustainable consumption and production patterns and green economy, including low-emission development, through demonstration and dissemination of methods that improve resource and energy efficiency. It also seeks to minimise the environmental impacts associated with the life cycle of products and services and, where possible, to promote renewable energy.

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