Background
Global supply chains face growing climate, environmental and geopolitical risks. Resilience depends on transparency, traceability and trust, and sustainability standards offer common expectations and practical tools for monitoring, verification and assurance. Yet fragmentation, multiple certification schemes and compliance costs, together with the interplay between voluntary standards and mandatory due diligence, create particular burdens for SMEs and producers in developing countries.
Objective
The roundtable will draw on experiences from different regions and on the expertise of UNFSS, UNCTAD and SMIIC to explore how interoperability, harmonization, mutual recognition and aligned conformity assessment can reduce duplication and costs, support climate mitigation and adaptation, and enable smallholders and SMEs to join sustainable value chains. It will produce practical recommendations to turn climate commitments into credible, measurable and inclusive action.
Participation
The roundtable will bring together, in person, representatives of:
- United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
- United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
- United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS)
- Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC)
- Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC International)
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
- Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)
Organizers will promote diverse participation and aim for gender balance among participants.
Programme
08:30 | Welcome and Opening Perspectives
Welcome Remarks
- Axel Marx, Co-Chair, UNFSS Advisory Council, KU Leuven
Opening Perspectives
- İhsan ÖVÜT, Secretary General, SMIIC (Host)
- Chantal Line Carpentier, Head, Trade, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, UNCTAD
Introduction to the topic and speakers
08:35 – 09:10 | Facilitated Roundtable Discussion
Moderator
- Axel Marx, Co-Chair, UNFSS Advisory Council, KU Leuven
Speakers
- Thorsten Arndt, Head of Advocacy, PEFC International
- Duong Nguyen Dai, Certification & Sustainable Agriculture Development Manager, Ea Tan Cooperative
- Rana Ghoneim, Chief, Division for Energy and Climate Action, UNIDO
- Cameron Plese, Head of Government Affairs (North America & Europe), Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)
- Helena Boniatti Pavese, Regional Director, Latin America, FSC
- Representative from UNEP
09:10 – 09:20 | Q&A
09:20 – 09:30 | Key Reflections and Closing Remarks
