The approval of these regional measures by the countries at COP22 in December 2021 is expected to facilitate the formulation of policies to support the development of these businesses at the national level."

This document presents a set of policy measures, it was prepared by MedWaves, the United Nations Environment Programme Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP) regional activity centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production (formerly known as SCP/RAC), following the request of the Barcelona Convention Contracting Parties set out in COP21 Decision IG. 24/13 and it has been adopted in Decision IG 25/18 at COP22.

The regional measures are expected to promote harmonization of policies and approaches among regional actors, with the overarching aim of increasing the adoption of eco-innovation techniques among businesses, generating new green jobs, and strengthening the demand for more sustainable products.

Job creation, in particular, is of utmost importance in the southern Mediterranean countries with an abundant young population and high youth unemployment rates, especially for young women.

Together, this set of regional measures will contribute to a number of strategic objectives of the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD) and the Regional Action Plan on Sustainable Consumption and Production in the Mediterranean (Regional SCP Action Plan), as well as UNEA-4 resolution nº1 on “Innovative pathways to achieve sustainable consumption and production” and nº4 on “Addressing environmental challenges through sustainable business practices