20 February 2013: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has pre-launched the Global SCP Clearinghouse, an online platform and one-stop hub to advance Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP). The pre-launch took place during the 27th session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC27/GMEF), which is taking place in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Global SCP Clearinghouse will serve as the information platform of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes (10YFP) on SCP that was adopted during the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20). It also offers tools to: browse regional and thematic communities dedicated to key SCP-related areas or sectors; share and find information and initiatives on SCP through a database and a calendar of news and events; build networks and identify partners; and strengthen capacities through, inter alia, a directory of experts and resources and a dedicated E-library.

During the pre-launch phase, stakeholders are invited to sign up and become a member, register as an expert or resource person and share information about SCP initiatives. A teaser website is available and interested stakeholders can take a virtual tour.

The Global SCP Clearinghouse has been created by UNEP as the Secretariat of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on SCP. The formal launch of the Clearinghouse is expected for May 2013.

UNEP notes that, in the outcome document from the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) and subsequent UN General Assembly decisions, UNEP was requested to act as the 10YFP Secretariat and to establish and administer a Trust Fund to support SCP implementation in developing countries, while the UN General Assembly nominated ECOSOC as the ad interim reporting body and decided to establish a 10-member board consisting of two members of each UN regional group. [Global SCP Clearinghouse Teaser Website] [10-Year Framework of Programmes UNEP Website]