Dialogue PNUD 2025
Faced with unprecedented environmental crises, including the depletion of natural resources, biodiversity loss, and climate change, public procurement has emerged as a powerful tool for driving sustainable action. Against this backdrop, the International Association of Treasury Services (IATS) organized a seminar on Green Public Procurement in Paris on 28–29 January 2026, bringing together nearly 40 delegates from 18 countries across three continents.
Throughout the seminar, one message became clear: integrating sustainability into public policies is no longer optional—it is essential. Public procurement accounts for approximately 15% of greenhouse gas emissions, making it a strategic instrument for advancing environmental objectives.
Participants emphasized that successfully implementing green procurement policies requires providing public authorities with the confidence and tools to act. This includes capacity building, evaluation tools, constructive dialogue with the private sector, and the use of methodologies such as MAPS (Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems), which promote transparency, accountability, and good governance.
Labels, certifications, and independent audits were identified as essential safeguards against greenwashing and as key mechanisms for enhancing the credibility of sustainable procurement initiatives. More broadly, participants stressed the need for stronger coordination among stakeholders and greater reliance on data. Such data must be measurable, traceable, and fully integrated into public management systems.
A range of practical solutions already exists, including better identification of procurement needs, the digitalization of procurement procedures, reduced resource consumption, and systematic measurement of results.
Ultimately, the seminar strengthened cooperation among peers, encouraged the exchange of valuable experiences, and generated practical ideas to support the implementation of greener public procurement policies. It represented an important step forward in advancing these issues at the international level.
Correspondents’ Day
Ahead of the seminar, Correspondents’ Day, held on 27 January 2026, highlighted the central role played by IATS correspondents within the Association. As key information relays and ambassadors of the organization, they help strengthen the network, promote its activities, and support its continued development