UNIDO Technical Assistance for Cleaner Production

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992 identified the reduction of industrial pollution through cleaner production, alternatively known as pollution prevention and waste minimization, as the key to ecologically sustainable industrial development. UNIDO, as the United Nations agency chartered with accelerating industrial development, has a multifaceted approach to promoting cleaner production, in that it is working at the policy, institutional and enterprise levels. Appropriate policies are necessary to encourage industry to initiate its own cleaner production programmes. Institutional capacity is needed to support the implementation of policy directives. Lastly, enterprise assistance is necessary to demonstrate to industry and government that cleaner production is effective in specific circumstances.