Skip to main content

Team of Specialists on Environmental, Social and Governance Traceability of Sustainable Value Chains in the Circular Economy - First Session

10 November 2021 10:00 - 16:00
Virtual WebEx meeting Geneva Switzerland
Team of Specialists on Environmental, Social and Governance Traceability of Sustainable Value Chains in the Circular Economy - First Meeting

Consumption and production drive the global economy, but also wreak havoc on planetary health through the unsustainable use of natural resources. To increase the industry’s ability to manage its value chain more sustainably, both consumers and businesses must first be aware of the nature and magnitude of these risks. Improving the environmental, social and governance (ESG) traceability and transparency of value chains has therefore become a priority.

Building on the rich body of expertise, standards and tools already available through UNECE, in this first session of the Team of Specialists representatives from UN member States and key industry actors will discuss perspectives, available solutions and priorities for advancing ESG traceability and transparency of value chains in priority industries for the circular transition, including agri-food and fishery, garment and footwear, minerals, transport and waste management.

Questions for discussion

  1. What policies and actions can governments and industry actors put in place to advance ESG monitoring and reporting in value chains of priority industries for the circular transition?
  2. What are the lessons learnt from COVID-19 pandemic in terms of adapting and improving the ESG performance monitoring and reporting, and how to ensure that solutions in place can support small actors and vulnerable groups?
  3. Which role information exchange standards and advance technologies (blockchain, IoT, AI) can play for ESG traceability and transparency along value chains?

Agenda and documents

Document Title / Symbol

ENG

FRE

RUS

Item 1: Opening

 

 

 

Item 2: Adoption of the agenda

 

 

 

Annotated Provisional Agenda for the First Session
ToS-TSVCCE/2021/INF.1

PDF

-

-

Item 3: Appointment of officers

 

 

 

Guidelines for the establishment and functioning of teams of specialists
ECE/EX/2/Rev.1

PDF

PDF

PDF

Item 4: Approaches and perspectives for advancing ESG performance in value chains, through traceability

 

 

 

Briefing Note on the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe – United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business Contribution to Advance Circular Economy Actions
ECE/TRADE/C/CEFACT/2020/24

PDF

-

-

Executive Summary for Policymakers: Enhancing Transparency and Traceability of Sustainable Value Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector
ECE/TRADE/C/CEFACT/2021/11

PDF

-

-

Report – Enhancing Sustainability and Circularity in the Garment and Footwear Sector: Policy Developments and Industry Perspectives on Traceability and Transparency
ECE/TRADE/C/CEFACT/2021/INF.3

PDF

-

-

Item 5: Discussion of the Programme of Work of the Team of Specialists for the period 2021-2023

 

 

 

Mandate and Terms of Reference of the Team of Specialists on Environmental, Social and Governance Traceability of Sustainable Value Chains in the Circular Economy
ECE/TRADE/C/CEFACT/2021/23/Rev.1

PDF

PDF

PDF

Decisions related to the Team of Specialists on Environmental, Social and Governance Traceability of Sustainable Value Chains in the Circular Economy
ECE/EX/2021/L.12

PDF

PDF

PDF

Item 6: Other business

 

 

 

Item 7: Adoption of decisions of the first session

 

 

 

Report of the first session
ToS-TSVCCE/2021/INF.2

PDF

-

-

Closing

 

 

 

Speakers and Presentations

ToS_TSVCCE-Speakers

Opening Session

  • Mr. Dmitry Maryasin, Deputy Executive Secretary, UNECE
  • Ms. Lotte Knudsen, Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva

Approaches and perspectives for advancing ESG performance in value chains, through traceability

Moderators:

  • Ms. Maylis Souque, Secretary General to the National Contact Point to the OECD and Advisor for Responsible Business Conduct of France, Ministry of Economics and Finance, France
  • Ms. Nathalie Bernasconi, Executive Director, IISD Europe; Senior Director, Economic Law & Policy 
  • Mr. Harm Jan van Burg, CEO, Burgcomm consulting

Speakers:

  • Ms. Claudia di Bernardino, UN/CEFACT and UNECE project expert   PPT
  • Mr. Aik Hoe Lim, Director, Trade and Environment Division, WTO
  • Mr. Jack Barrie, Research Fellow, Environment and Society Programme, Chatham House   PPT
  • Mr. Madison Wilcox, Associate Sustainability Officer, ITC    PPT
  • Mr. Umidbek Askhanov, Managing Partner, Encompass Consulting
  • Mr. Steven Capell, Director, GoSource Pty Ltd   PPT
  • Mr. Tomislav Ivancic, Advisor, Responsible Business and Investment, FAO    PPT
  • Ms. Julie M. H. Brown, Head of Sustainability, Product, EON Group   PPT
  • Ms. Francesca Poggiali, Public Policy Director Europe, Co-chair Digital for Green at AIOTI GS1
  • Mr. Erik VanIngen, Blockchain and Data Specialist, Office for Innovation, FAO   PPT
  • Ms. Sue Probert, Chair, UN/CEFACT    PPT