Participants in the Global Lead City Network on Sustainable Procurement (GLCN on SP) came together on Saturday 5 December at the COP21 to celebrate their first annual Summit in the Cities & Regions Pavilion – TAP2015. Auckland, Cape Town, Denver, Ghent, Helsinki, Oslo, Quezon City, Rotterdam, Seoul and Warsaw are all participants of this Network, which is a joint initiative of Seoul Metropolitan Government and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability.

Park Won Soon, Mayor of Seoul Metropolitan Government, was elected chair of the GLCN on SP during the session. “Today is the starting point for more cities around the world to make similar pledges. Let us strive to establish and spread green consumption and production systems around the world,” Mayor Park said.

On the occasion of their first Summit, the ten cities presented their sustainable procurement activities and achievements, and shared their knowledge and experience. In leading by example, participants of the Network aim to accelerate the implementation of sustainable purchasing worldwide.

Jin Sun Park, Director, Climate Change and Sustainable Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Government referred to the mandatory sustainable procurement policy the city has in place and how they use their own purchasing power to create a green consumption culture. Pekka Sauri, Deputy Mayor of Helsinki, confirmed that the capital of Finland will achieve 100% sustainable public procurement by 2020. Pex Langenberg, Deputy Mayor of Rotterdam, announced the city’s commitment to 100% sustainable procurement from 2015 onwards.

Len Brown, Mayor of Auckland, explained that over 40,000 streetlights are being replaced by LEDs, saving NZ$36 million over 20 years. Johannes van der Merwe, Councillor of the City of Cape Town, mentioned several initiatives already underway, such as the introduction of sustainable criteria in city fleet vehicles tenders. Leszek Drogosz, Director of Infrastructure of the City of Warsaw, explained that Warsaw is also focusing on sustainable procurement of transport, with 300 trams purchased in the last two years and plans for 100 electric buses in the next four years. Lan Marie Nguyen Berg, Vice Mayor for Environment and Transport of the City of Oslo, emphasized “SPP is an essential tool to reach Oslo’s goal of fossil free by 2030.”

“UNEP is delighted to have the GLCN on SP working on sustainable procurement. We are excited to see the lead action we are all looking for,” said Ligia Noronha, Director, Division of Technology Industry and Economics, UNEP.

Before the end of 2016, all ten cities will share their commitments within the GLCN on SP, to continue championing sustainable public procurement and public procurement of innovation to make their societies resource efficient, low carbon and socially responsible.