The Global Lead City Network on Sustainable Procurement is a group of 14 cities committed to drive a transition to sustainable consumption and production by implementing sustainable and innovation procurement. All participating cities are acting as ambassadors of sustainable procurement to lead to a resource efficient, low carbon and socially responsible society.

ICLEI
Implemented in
- Africa
- Asia / Pacific
- Europe and Central Asia
- Latin America / Caribbean
- North America
Sector of activity
Public Procurement
Type of initiative
Capacity Building & Implementation, Education & Awareness Raising, Policy Frameworks & Tools
Type of lead actor
Civil society
Submitted on:
08/12/2017Objectives
As leading cities, we want to accelerate the implementation of sustainable procurement and procurement of innovation worldwide. We form a unified voice within the international community to raise awareness and foster sustainable development.
Our aim is to meet, share and develop capabilities to implement sustainable purchasing practices, as well as to help develop a supportive political framework for implementation.
By taking smart procurement decisions, we can reduce negative environmental impacts, achieve financial efficiency, encourage innovation, boost green jobs, and strengthen labor rights.
Activities
As collected through the One Planet Reporting
Output level
Outreach and communication for SCP
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3rd High Level Event of the GLCN on SP at the COP 23
3rd High Level Event of the GLCN on SP at the COP 23
Regions
Global / All regions
Lead organization
ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability
Objective
As leading cities, we want to accelerate the implementation of sustainable procurement and procurement of innovation worldwide. We form a unified voice within the international community to raise awareness and foster sustainable development. Our aim is to meet, share and develop capabilities to implement sustainable purchasing practices, as well as to help develop a supportive political framework for implementation. By taking smart procurement decisions, we can reduce negative environmental impacts, achieve financial efficiency, encourage innovation, boost green jobs, and strengthen labor rights. Mayors, Deputy Mayors and other political representatives from the cities of Auckland, Budapest, Cape Town, Denver, Ghent, Oslo, Seoul and Tshwane were speaking at the 3rd annual High Level Assembly of the Global Lead City Network on Sustainable Procurement. At the event, taking place on 11 November 2017 at COP23 in Bonn, the cities presented their sustainable procurement commitments 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.
Achievements
At the 3rd High Level Event of the GLCN on SP at the COP 23, Park Won Soon, Mayor of Seoul Metropolitan Government and chair of the GLCN on SP said: "Leaders of cities around the world convened in Seoul in April 2015 and agreed to launch a network of cities committed to 100 percent sustainable procurement. Much progress has been made since then and our interactions today will be the foundation on which we strive for a better, brighter, and more sustainable future." Raymond Johansen, Governing Mayor of Oslo, explained how the capital of Norway is addressing climate change through the city's new procurement strategy. He said: "By launching our new Procurement Strategy, the City of Oslo wants to ensure that our spending contributes to more sustainable economies and societies. As part of the Global Lead City Network on Sustainable Procurement, we want to influence other cities in doing the same." Solly Msimanga, Executive Mayor of Tshwane, announced that 40% of the city's bus fleet will be green by 2020. Tine Heyse, Vice Mayor of Ghent, stressed the city's commitment to an annual increase of 10% in contracts awarded to the social economy sector. Johannes van der Merwe, Councillor of the City of Cape Town, explained the city's Green Economy Strategy, including a target for 20% renewable energy in city buildings by 2020. Penny Hulse, Councillor of Auckland, outlined the city achievements, which include the procurement of a new underground rail link that involves zero waste and low emission construction and is creating job and training opportunities in the city. Jerry Tinianow, Chief Sustainability Officer of Denver, said that by 2020, 25% of food purchases will originate from the State of Colorado and Péter Szegvári, Chief Advisor of the Mayor of Budapest, confirmed that 100% of the city's procurement processes will integrate sustainability and green aspects by 2020. With a unified voice, they highlighted the power of local authorities to increase sustainable procurement activities in order to improve their citizens' lives and achieve other social, economic and environmental benefits. In particular, the GLCN on SP has driven cities to create targets, strategies and initiatives that they perhaps would not have pursued otherwise. For example the GLCN on SP supported Budapest to create the Budapest Environmental Program (2017-2021), which was accepted by the General Assembly on the 30th of August 2017. It declares the intention of realizing innovative and sustainable procurement. Targets include: • By 2020, 100% of the procurement processes will integrate sustainability and green aspects • By 2020, 70% of the newly purchased public transportation vehicles in Budapest will be clean • By the end of 2018, 1100 electric chargers will be implemented in the city • By 2020 21% reduction of CO2-emission and increased energy savings • By 2020, at least 30% of the evaluation criteria in the procurement processes will be determinded upon sustainable principles • By 2020, at least one training program per year will be accomplished for the employees
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GLCN as platform for Oslo and Rotterdam to showcase procurement as tool for cities to initiate change towards sustainability.
GLCN as platform for Oslo and Rotterdam to showcase procurement as tool for cities to initiate change towards sustainability.
Regions
Europe and Central Asia
Lead organization
ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability
Objective
Highlight the role of public procurement for sustainable development
Achievements
Sometimes procurement is described as the 'sleeping giant' of the sustainable development world. However, if used correctly and with sufficient leverage procurement can be a powerful tool to achieve social and environmental objectives. This was the key message shared at the recently held Urban Global Future Conference, which took place in GLCN city Oslo (Norway). In helping to 'wake the giant', ICLEI Europe hosted a session, during the conference, on how to get started on green public procurement. During the session, where GLCN cities Rotterdam (The Netherlands) and Oslo as well as Procura+ Participant Aalborg (Denmark) had the opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences, it became clear that for green procurement to be successful, it needs to start from a solid foundation.
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DARING CITIES USE THEIR PUBLIC PROCUREMENT POWER TO TACKLE THE CLIMATE CRISIS
DARING CITIES USE THEIR PUBLIC PROCUREMENT POWER TO TACKLE THE CLIMATE CRISIS
Regions
Online activity
Lead organization
ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability
Objective
to explore how public buyers can navigate the race to zero-emissions in an environment where 'lowest-price' still is the deciding factor
Achievements
Cities around the world commit to leveraging their purchasing power to reduce carbon emissions at Daring Cities - the global virtual forum for urban leaders boldly tackling the climate emergency. In three action-oriented sessions organized by ICLEI's Global Lead City Network on Sustainable Procurement, participants from over 45 countries engaged online. The three sessions covered topics such as sustainable food procurement, zero-emission construction and total cost of ownership. In addition, a session gave space to explore recent political committments to SPP and new strategies for SPP. Speakers included many representatives from GLCN cities such as Cape Town, Helsinki, Buenos Aires, Pittsburgh, Oslo, Malmö, Minneapolis, New Haven as well as experts from the Dutch Government, OECD and IPES Food.
Outcome level
SCP Commitments
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Tshwane announced as new chair of GLCN on Sustainable Procurement
Tshwane announced as new chair of GLCN on Sustainable Procurement
Regions
Global / All regions
Lead organization
Coordinated by ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability
Objective
The Global Lead City Network on Sustainable Procurement is a group of 14 cities committed to drive a transition to sustainable consumption and production by implementing sustainable and innovation procurement. All participating cities are acting as ambassadors of sustainable procurement to lead to a resource efficient, low carbon and socially responsible society. Cities participating in the Network are leading by example globally in sustainable procurement implementation and have committed to: Set ambitious, quantified targets on SPP Report on our achievements Act as global and regional champions of SPP The cities have established these clear and measurable targets and are working on strategies to deliver on them. Executive Mayor of Tshwane, South Africa, Solly Msimanga was announced as the new chair of ICLEI's Global Lead City Network on Sustainable Procurement (GLCN) at the Global Climate Action Summit in September 2018. As an early leader in sustainable procurement in Africa, the City of Tshwane was an obvious choice to lead in the next phase of the GLCN. Tshwane's long term strategic vision commits itself to a path of sustainable economic growth decoupled from environmental impacts, and Tshwane has recently set targets to make 40% of the city bus fleet green by 2030, 10% of overall purchases sustainable by 2021, and reach 20% renewable energy at community-scale by 2030.
Achievements
Cities of the GLCN have committed to SPP in various levels and sectors, including: GHENT Annual increase of 10% in contracts awarded to the social economy sector ROTTERDAM By 2030, 40% reduction in energy consumption in municipal buildings WARSAW By 2020, a total of 130 electric buses will be in operation HELSINKI By 2020, 100% of procurement processes will integrate sustainability SEOUL By 2017, 40% of selected product purchases to be green MONTRÉAL By 2020, 30% of bus fleet to be converted to hybrids TSHWANE By 2020, 40% of the city bus fleet will be green BUDAPEST By 2020, 100% of the procurement processes will integrate sustainability and green aspects
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GLCN enables Auckland to showcase procurement leadership on zero emission public transport.
GLCN enables Auckland to showcase procurement leadership on zero emission public transport.
Regions
Asia / Pacific
Lead organization
City of Auckland
Objective
To leverage public procurement of transport solution to achieve zero emission public transport by 2040.
Achievements
Significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions associated to the public transport fleet.
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GLCN enables Helsinki to demonstrate leadership on leveraging procurement to cut public transport emissions.
GLCN enables Helsinki to demonstrate leadership on leveraging procurement to cut public transport emissions.
Regions
Europe and Central Asia
Lead organization
City of Helsinki
Objective
In aiming for a carbon-neutral Helsinki by 2035, traffic planning has a significant role. The transport system of the Helsinki re-gion is planned in close collaboration with the cities and municipalities of the region, the State and the interest groups, as a part of the MAL 2019 plan for the land use, living and traffic of the Helsinki region. The bind-ing target level set for the MAL 2019 plan is the following: the greenhouse gas emissions produced by traffic will be reduced at least by 50 per cent from 2005 to 2030.
Achievements
the greenhouse gas emissions produced by traffic will be reduced at least by 50 per cent from 2005 to 2030. The new transport contacts have led to significant emission reduction -67%nitrogen oxide, 92% of particulate matter.
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GLCN supports Montréal in demonstrating leadership on public procurement of hybrid bus fleet.
GLCN supports Montréal in demonstrating leadership on public procurement of hybrid bus fleet.
Regions
North America
Lead organization
City of Montréal
Objective
Reduce GHGs by procuring low-emission public bus fleet.
Achievements
To reduce GHG emissions per passenger-kilometre by procuring hybrid vehicles.
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GLCN enables the City of Oslo to demonstrate their leadership on leveraging public procurement to implement zero emission construction sites.
GLCN enables the City of Oslo to demonstrate their leadership on leveraging public procurement to implement zero emission construction sites.
Regions
Europe and Central Asia
Lead organization
City of Oslo
Objective
Zero Emission construction machines and vehicles on all public construction sites by 2025.
Achievements
The City of Oslo has started a pilot on zero emission in construction vehicles and machinery through public procurement. To initiate market development, there has been organised a broad dialogue with stakeholders aiming at developing a market for zero emission construction vehicles and machinery. The pilot is promising, showing zero emission construction to be possible, with relatively low additional costs. This will be required in the City`s procurements.
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GLCN enables the City of Rotterdam to highlight leadership on setting targets for achieving a clean public fleet through procurement.
GLCN enables the City of Rotterdam to highlight leadership on setting targets for achieving a clean public fleet through procurement.
Regions
Europe and Central Asia
Lead organization
City of Rotterdam
Objective
To set a good example in terms of clean mobility. Lower emissions through the city's own fleet.
Achievements
The city fleet will be gradually replaced by zero-emission vehicles. The city aims to achieve that the entire fleet is zero emission by 2030, small cars even from 2023 and vans by 2025.
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GLCN provides platform for City of Tshwane to share ambitions through the signed Clean Bus Declaration - committing the City to greening 40% of the fleet by 2020.
GLCN provides platform for City of Tshwane to share ambitions through the signed Clean Bus Declaration - committing the City to greening 40% of the fleet by 2020.
Regions
Africa
Lead organization
City of Tshwane
Objective
Reduce emissions of the public transport fleet. To implement the green transport strategy. To install charging stations throughout the city.
Achievements
South Africa's Green Transport Strategy aims at reducing emissions in road transport, with the introduction of electric vehicles as an important contributor to the achievement of the country's emissions reduction targets by 2050.
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GLCN provides platform for the City of Oslo to share target for sustainable food procurement.
GLCN provides platform for the City of Oslo to share target for sustainable food procurement.
Regions
Europe and Central Asia
Lead organization
City of Oslo
Objective
Halve the meat consumption in the municipality's canteens and institutions, by the end of 2023.
Achievements
The City Government will devise an action plan for a more plant-based diet and considerably reduce meat consumption in Oslo. Oslo will lead the way and work in partnership with the government on compliance with national dietary advice. Together with New York, Tokyo, London, Stockholm and a number of other major cities, Oslo has undertaken to reduce meat consumption and pursue a food policy in line with the "planetary health diet" by 2030.
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City of Pittsburgh joined Global Lead City Network
City of Pittsburgh joined Global Lead City Network
Regions
North America
Lead organization
ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability
Objective
Becoming a member of the GLCN, Pittsburgh joins a select group of leading cities across the world that set ambitious, quantifiable targets and showcase achievements tackling climate change leveraging procurement as a tool.
Achievements
Global exchange is valuable whilst operating in a different local context. Pittsburgh already got a first taste of sharing experiences and deep technical procurement insights in a recent exchange with the City of Rotterdam, GLCN member. The exchange focussed on the topic of renewable energy procurement and social return of investment, facilitated with support by the Urban Transition Alliance, a city network and knowledge-exchange hub that supports industrial legacy cities from across the globe to identify common challenges, share knowledge and develop solutions tailored to their individual sustainable transitions. Through the Alliance, Pittsburgh is embarking on efforts towards reducing 75 per cent of carbon emissions in the city administration by 2030 while seeking to generate up to 110,000 new full-time positions in the renewable energy sector. The key element of this transition is a new platform for electricity procurement to enable Pittsburgh's buying cooperative, a group of 30 municipal agencies, to shift to renewable energy through power purchase contracts. "Pittsburgh is proud to join the cities in the GLCN as we recognize that climate justice and sustainability must be addressed locally and globally. Procurement is an investment of public money and so it's critical that it be spent in an equitable and responsible way that promotes clean energy and sustainable solutions so that our money, our investments, and our jobs are creating a better Pittsburgh and world for all." - The Honorable William Peduto, Mayor, City of Pittsburgh
SCP changes in practice
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GLCN enables Buenos Aires to showcase their regional leadership of leveraging public procurement to achieve their ambitious goal of changing to 100% LED street lights.
GLCN enables Buenos Aires to showcase their regional leadership of leveraging public procurement to achieve their ambitious goal of changing to 100% LED street lights.
Regions
Latin America / Caribbean
Lead organization
General Directorate of Public Lighting of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires
Objective
The replacement of the lighting of all streets by LED luminaire by 2019.
Achievements
With 100% LED public lights, emissions are reduced by 54,000 tons CO2eq/year. The change in practice resulted in energy savings of more than 50%, which implied a saving of 85,000 MW per year - the equivalent of energy used by 25,000 households per year.
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GLCN city Buenos Aires includes a gender perspective in public procurement processes.
GLCN city Buenos Aires includes a gender perspective in public procurement processes.
Regions
Latin America / Caribbean
Lead organization
General Directorate of Procurement and Contracts, Ministry of Treasury and Finance.
Objective
The goal is to promote women's economic autonomy, not only to achieve greater equity but also to generate economic development opportunities that benefit businesses and the community.
Achievements
The incorporation of sustainability criteria with a gender focus in public procurement is part of a set of concrete and coordinated actions and initiatives to address gender inequality in the market. Promoting women's economic autonomy is important to encourage equality between men and women. This is not only fair, but also benefits the economic development of the city. Strengthening the role of women as providers of the State means investing in greater social and economic development. The public procurement serves as a mean to boost this strengthening, to reduce poverty, and to promote greater social equality and economic development in the country.
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GLCN city Denver implements procurement policy on Green Building Requirements
GLCN city Denver implements procurement policy on Green Building Requirements
Regions
North America
Lead organization
Denver's Office of Sustainability
Objective
For all new city projects and major remodels to achieve LEED BD+C Gold certification, with a goal of achieving LEED Platinum, and to meet ENERGY STAR guidelines.
Achievements
In recognition of the exemplary sustainability performance demonstrated by the City and County of Denver, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has certified the city as LEED Platinum under the organizations LEED for Cities program.
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GLCN supports City of Ghent to profile Food Procurement Policy Results
GLCN supports City of Ghent to profile Food Procurement Policy Results
Regions
Europe and Central Asia
Lead organization
City of Ghent
Objective
Food Ghent's system to be local, resilient, and fair.
Achievements
The project 'Gent en Garde' has brought significant change to our local food system: through it, we are decreasing food waste, making food procurement more sustainable, and improving access to food. Since January 2017 the city of Ghent serves healthy, tasty and sustainable meals through its schools, daycare centres and boarding schools to around 4.500 students every day, 775,883 meals annually. The catering contract furthermore generates regular and "social" jobs: the city is currently employing 235 FTE service, logistical and catering staff. 43 schools were decorated with a campaign on sustainable food. Educational materials were distributed to 5667 children and 2572 teachers. Since the launch of Gent en Garde in 2013: The number of weekly farmers markets has increased from 3 to 9; Vegetable basket schemes have similarly grown and new alternative business models have started up successfully, e.g. an online ordering platform for local products, a catering business with a rooftop vegetable garden, aquaponics and packaging-free food stores; 7% of the citizens are now vegetarians; a new logistics platform for professional buyers; 300 tonnes of food waste has been redistributed in 10 months to 19,000 people in poverty; The initiative has connected 120 stakeholders on improving access to sustainable and healthy food; As a result of Thursday Veggie Day Ghent has the most vegetarian restaurants per inhabitant among cities in Europe.
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GLCN supports City of Rotterdam to reach ambition of procuring 100% local renewables
GLCN supports City of Rotterdam to reach ambition of procuring 100% local renewables
Regions
Europe and Central Asia
Lead organization
City of Rotterdam, Public Procurement Department
Objective
- to procure renewable energy that is produced locally - to collaborate with citizens on energy initiatives and reduce energy poverty - to engage with the market to enable local production and supply of renewables - to take action on the climate crisis
Achievements
Expected achievements range from reduced GHGs emissions, to support local energy schemes, and build collaboration between government, business and citizens.
Policy instrument for SCP
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CITY OF CAPE TOWN GREEN PROCUREMENT ACTION PLAN
CITY OF CAPE TOWN GREEN PROCUREMENT ACTION PLAN
Regions
Africa
Lead organization
Spatial Planning and Environment City of Cape Town
Objective
The City of Cape Town has committed to implementing green procurement in its operations and capital projects, through its Environmental Strategy. This action plan has therefore been developed to give effect to that commitment and set out the specific actions that need to take place.
Achievements
The aim of this action plan, therefore, is to define a set of principles to guide green procurement decision-making, define a set of desired objectives and outcomes for the City to strive towards achieving, and lay out the specific actions required to effectively transition towards green procurement in all of the City's operations and purchasing decisions, wherever possible.
Impact and Results
A snapshot of the cities procurement targets and expected results include:
Ghent: Annual increase of 10% in contracts awarded to the social economy sector
Rotterdam: By 2030, 40% reduction in energy consumption in municipal buildings
Warsaw: By 2020, a total of 130 electric buses will be in operation
Helsinki: by 2020, 100% of procurement processes will integrate sustainability
Seoul: by 2017, 40% of selected product purchases to be green
Montréal: by 2020, 30% of bus fleet to be converted to hybrids
Tshwane: by 2020, 40% of the city bus fleet will be green
Budapest: by 2020, 100% of the procurement processes will integrate sustainability and green aspects