In a groundbreaking gathering of minds, the 3rd International Convention on Sustainable Trade and Standards (ICSTS) held in New Delhi, India, set the stage for global collaboration in the realm of sustainability standards.
The convention, themed “Policy Dialogue on Sustainability Standards as a Tool for Advancing Global Sustainability Goals,” witnessed a convergence of over 400 participants from diverse sectors, shaping a vision that leverages the power of Solidarity, Support, Strength, and Synergy—dubbed the 4 S’s.
At the 3rd ICSTS, these four pillars emerged as the driving force behind collaborative action, as industry leaders, government officials, and representatives from international organizations engaged in a dynamic dialogue on the role of voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) in navigating the complex landscape of global value chains (GVCs).
For the host country, India, under the theme of its recent G20 leadership, the convention also served as an important landmark to advance the work of their agenda of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ via the promotion of international synergies to advance sustainable trade.
The convention focused on the need to meet the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The need to foster sustainable production as a means to exacerbate the efforts to ‘Make in India’ and gain access to wider markets for exports was highlighted, along with the potential role that trade tools like VSS can play.
“With the cascading crisis of our times, the SDGs have come under great pressure, and only 15% of them are on track to be achieved by 2030. We need tools that can help us move towards the goals (SDGs); VSS offer a great tool as they are aligned with most SDGs. But while they offer benefits, they also pose a lot of challenges, especially for developing countries. Multistakeholder responses can help address these challenges”,
UNCTAD Deputy Secretary-General Pedro Manuel Moreno said in a video message at the ICSTS.
VSS- A catalyst for change
Eight panel discussions, along with the side sessions at the 3rd ICSTS, addressed four key components:
- Role of VSS in furthering sustainable trade, SDGs, and strengthening possible compliance with the already adopted or upcoming due diligence regulations
- Challenges of VSS adoption in GVCs
- Role of multi-stakeholder platforms, and
- Importance of accountability and transparency in the pursuit of sustainable practices
The discussion focused on the prevalence of GVCs- the economic benefits that come via integration into the GVCs along with the environmental and social adverse effects, particularly impacting developing countries. In that context, VSS have been regarded as one of the most innovative solutions to govern GVCs on a global scale.
The remarkable growth and increasing integration of VSS in public policy and their role in trade were discussed. The rapid expansion of VSS adoption and its incorporation into governmental policies reflect a global commitment to sustainability. However, speakers also mentioned that VSS adoption came with its own set of challenges. This was also followed by a discourse on the potential role that VSS could play in the emerging regulatory landscape of sustainable value chains with due diligence regulations being adopted by the importing governments, mainly from the Global North.
“The key challenges for VSS uptake are- the need for the adoption of standards at a global scale, knowledge gap on the significant impacts of VSS and the proliferation of VSS”.
Dr. Axel Marx, Deputy Director of the Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies, KULeuven
Strengthening Collaborative Platforms- Role of UNFSS
The convention thus managed to put forth an agenda that highlighted the need to foster collaborative systems by incorporating the 4S’s- a focus on strengthening VSS systems, furthering the synergies between VSS, both local and international and with the international supply chain regulations on due diligence, providing support for the smallholders and lastly, promoting solidarity among stakeholders and a South-South dialogue.
A resounding theme throughout the convention was the pivotal role of multistakeholder collaboration in overcoming challenges associated with VSS and fostering sustainability across diverse sectors. National Platforms, set up by the UNFSS, emerged as critical enablers for overcoming VSS challenges and ensuring their benefits are reaped. The convention highlighted the benefits of National Platforms, emphasizing capacity building for industries and member states, positively impacting accessibility to local and regional markets.
Milestones- key happenings at the Convention
Commemoration of 10 years of UNFSS and an ode to the next decade
Mr. Santiago Fernandez De Cordoba, Chief, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) VSS Program mentioned that over the past decade, UNFSS has played a pivotal role in navigating the expanding landscape of VSS. He mentioned that since its evolution in 2013, UNFSS has evolved into an unparalleled inter-governmental and multi-stakeholder platform, addressing strategic VSS concerns globally. The forum has consistently upheld three pillars: informed policy dialogue, robust research and analysis, and unwavering support for developing countries.
Looking ahead, he mentioned that the forum envisions continued collaboration, highlighted by the recently signed Declaration of Cooperation in the Sustainability Standards Ecosystem. Future initiatives include research on the impact of due diligence regulations on developing nations, capacity building for national platforms, and projects addressing challenges like food security.
Launch of UNIDO White Paper on Sustainable Supply Chains
Dr. Virpi Stucki, Chief of the Division of Fair Production, Sustainability Standards, and Trade at UNIDO, advocated for sustainability practices in economic systems, emphasizing a human-centric approach to inclusive and sustainable industrial development. UNIDO organized an expert group meeting to explore solutions for integrating industrializing countries into sustainable supply chains. The resulting white paper identifies key priorities for achieving sustainable supply chains and serves as a call to action for collaborative efforts and was launched at the 3rd ICSTS.
Benchmarking Recognition Letter from GLOBALG.A.P.
Mr. Ignacio Antequera, Director of Sales & Stakeholder Relations at Global Good Agricultural Practices (GLOBALG.A.P.), announced the issuance of a Benchmarking Recognition Letter, signifying the alignment of India Good Agricultural Practices (IndG.A.P.) standard for fruit and vegetables with the globally recognized GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance standard. Led by QCI’s benchmarking effort ensures IndG.A.P. producers receive GLOBALG.A.P. recognition without additional audits. This recognition marks an initial step in a collaborative journey to support the development of Indian agriculture and trade.
Declaration of Cooperation in Sustainability Standards Ecosystem with African Organization for Standardisation
Mr. Charles Gachahi, Eco Mark Africa, CACO, and COCO Coordinator (ARSO), announced the successful implementation of 10 sustainability standards across various schemes, incorporating a total of 1600 harmonized standards. A signed agreement marked the collaboration with QCI.
Moving forward – the road ahead
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs emphasize the need for trade to drive inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction while ensuring sustainability. VSS offer a promising solution, but concerns exist about greenwashing, complexity, and feasibility for small-scale producers.
The comprehensive discussion at the convention revolved around the importance of sensitizing stakeholders to standards, and recognizing the diverse needs across industries, relationships, and contexts.
Dr. Ralf Peters, Head, Trade Analysis Branch, UNCTAD, proposed the idea of creating a dedicated global forum for regular exchange on best practices related to sustainability standards, particularly focusing on developing countries to ensure a more inclusive and effective approach to sustainable development.
In summary, the convention brought forth a comprehensive discussion on sustainability standards, with a focus on maximizing its benefits and mitigating challenges. The convention underscored the fact that multilateral dialogues could potentially facilitate the adoption of VSS and incentivize trading partners to work together on the 4 S’s- Solidarity, Support, Strength, and Synergy, to boost sustainable value chains and ultimately achieve the objective of sustainable trade.
Other Links:
- Link to ICSTS agenda
- Link to ICSTS website
- News article from the government of India: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1974157
- Find out more about the conventions and UNFSS’s work at: https://unfss.org/icsts/
