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Green Latin America Awards 2019 - PAGE leads conversations on the role of the financial system to boost the development of the green economy in Latin America

September 30, 2019

The 6th edition of the Green Latin America Awards took place on 25 August 2019 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Launched in 2013, the Awards aim to energize the green economy of the Region: Latin America has the 23% of tropical forests, 31% of water resources and 70% of the planet's biodiversity. However, it is the region with most urban growth where 80% of the population live in cities; causing pressure on the environment therefore faces overpopulation, deforestation, loss of biodiversity and water pollution.

The Award encourages the participation of governments, organizations, businesses, small businesses, communities and individuals that stand out for the care of the environment. It focuses on developing a sustainable world, among other, through public policies, sustainable use of resources, clean energy, new technologies and waste management.

In particular the Awards recognise projects and sustainable actions implemented in 10 categories that are inspired by the accomplishments of Sustainable Development Goals: Water; Forests and Flora; Sustainable cities; Human development, social inclusion and reduction of inequality; Energy; Wildlife; Sustainable finance; Solid waste management; Oceans; Production and responsible consumption.

In the framework of the 6th edition, PAGE organized a panel on “The Role of the financial system to boost the development of the green economy”, which analyzed the current conditions of the financial system and the role of alternative financing mechanisms to promote the green economy and achieve the SDGs.

The panel was composed by Marcela Ponce from the Climate Finance Lead for Latin America and the Caribbean at International Finance Corporation; Christina Lukeman, Investor Relations Leader at Agora Partnerships, Mexico; Ana López from Conservación Internacional, Costa Rica and Carlos Castaño from Banca de Desarrollo Sostenible, Colombia.

The discussions highlighted the challenges that Latin American financial institutions are facing to reach the micro-entrepreneurial and entrepreneurial sectors that are increasingly becoming key elements of the emerging green economy in the region. Among other, the panelists analysed and exchanged knowledge and experiences on the dynamics of the financial system to finance the SDGs and the growth of alternative financing mechanisms to face the lack of response of the traditional system.

Several studies have concluded that a significant increase in sustainable investment levels will be required to achieve the SDGs. It is estimated that 5 to 7 billion dollars will be required annually, by 2030. Conversations about sustainable finance is not only about the amount that is required, but about the type of finance. As PAGE continues to support countries to move towards an inclusive and green economy, a central issue is how to redirect investments and how to attract sustainable financing to green projects. Globally, there is a consensus that public finances alone are not enough. Therefore, the role of private financing institutions will continue to be key. Public, private and multi-lateral capital will be important.

Guyana places inclusive green economy at the heart of national development up to 2040

June 3, 2019

Guyana, 28 May 2019 – The Green State Development Strategy Vision 2040, 20-year national development strategy for Guyana, was officially received by President of Guyana, Mr. David Granger, marking an important milestone for the country’s transition towards inclusive green economy. The Strategy provides a long-term vision and guidance for Guyana's economic, social and environmental development placing sustainability at the heart of national development up to 2040. It will guide the national development policies for the next 20 years, under a vision of development that is inclusive and prosperous, provides a good quality of life for all its citizens, based on sound education and social protection, low carbon and resilient development, providing new economic opportunities, justice and political empowerment.

At the official launch ceremony, UN Environment’s Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mr. Leo Heileman presented the Vision 2040 to the Head of State. Reflecting on this accomplishment, upon reception of the document, Mr. Granger said:

“The world is realizing almost by the day that climate change is a grim, relentless reality. There is no avoidance. Hardly a day passes that we do not see the adverse impact of climate change. It is great for us to be ahead of the game. We have challenges with our coastal zone management; we have cycles of El Nino, drought and flood in our hinterland; we have industries which are now starting to have an impact on air quality and water quality”.

In the context of building its greener and equitable future, Guyana joined PAGE in 2017 whose engagement in the country is, ever since, centered around supporting the elaboration of the GSDS Vision 2040. The new Vision 2040 actually builds on previous commitments to sustainable development, such as the Low Carbon Development and Climate Resilience Strategy Action Plan. The Strategy thus reflects the President’s vision of an inclusive and prosperous state providing a good quality of life for all its citizens and based on sound education, social protection, low-carbon and resilient development, providing new economic opportunities, justice and political empowerment. It promotes three key topics: management of natural resource wealth; support of economic resilience and building of human capital and institutional capacity.

SDGS brings in new modalities of financing the development through the Natural Resource Fund Act. The President explained that the revenues from oil and gas are to be invested in a wise manner to avoid the Dutch disease. He also pointed out the importance of grass-root education of the population, and especially youth on environmental consciousness to compliment the successful implementation of the strategy.

PAGE workstreams in Guyana reflect the three main areas from GSDS. Through the work of its partner agencies, PAGE supports the mainstreaming of sustainable development into national development strategies planning and macro-economic policies, works on sectoral and thematic policies to as well as operates capacity building effort. So far, PAGE has been supporting the multi-stakeholder consultation process and has been informing the political process on SDGS. Through its work on green industry and trade & green jobs assessment, PAGE is fostering the thematic reforms in line with the Vision 2040. In addition, PAGE has been building capacity for green economy decision making through trainings on modeling to enhance the national ownership of the strategy execution.

The implementation of the Vision 2040 strategy is set to begin in 2020 following the creation of an implementation team as Ms. Ndibi Schwiers, Director of the Department of Environment at Ministry of the Presidency stated.

Advancing green development pathways in Guyana

March 25, 2019

9-13 March 2019, Georgetown, Guyana – The Guyana Green Economy Week featured a series of technical workshops, bringing together representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Guyana Revenue Authority, Ministry of Business, private sector, the media, the national chamber of commerce, donors, representatives of civil society organizations and research institutes among others. PAGE was represented by delegations from UNITAR and UN Environment.

The workshops included a media training under the theme “Green Economy Concepts for Communications”, an economic modelling workshop, a green fiscal policies workshop as well as Green Conversations public event. The latter, convened in collaboration with a local partner, Conservation International (Guyana), explained green economy concepts to the general public under the theme, ‘International Best Practices in Inclusive Green Economy Transition.’

The Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040 will be launched in 2019 as the main policy tool ensuring that Guyana’s development pathway promotes economic diversification and growth, social inclusiveness, and sustainable management of natural resources. Through the strategy and its recommended policy instruments, such as the establishment of the Natural Resources Fund, the income generated by the public sector from newly discovered oil reserves can be reinvested in green policies to encourage the transition and accomplish the objectives by 2040, and which will benefit all Guyanese over the long term.

With this in mind, PAGE recognises the crucial role of the media as a key partner in the implementation of the Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040 faithfully explaining the concepts and communicating good lessons and achievements to stakeholders in Guyana. Public awareness and understanding are essential for achieving buy-in and to appreciate long and short-term benefits. To this end, the media were instructed in effective green economy messaging of relevance to Guyana, as well as on how to identify and access trustworthy sources of information on green economy.

The two-day Green Economy Modelling workshop introduced System Dynamics Modelling methods and approaches to participants. The Workshop reviewed the modeling work undertaken in Guyana and provided a summary of the key results, running simulation exercises, whilst also interpreting results and Cost Benefit Analyses (CBA).

PAGE contributed to the elaboration of the Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040 by funding studies in economic modelling including assessments on the feasibility of green economy initiatives; green jobs, and green industry and trade assessments. In addition to presenting the findings of the modelling studies in the Strategy, PAGE work has also assessed the economic, social and environmental impacts of selected green policies. Guyana’s Economic Modelling Study (GEMS) used System Dynamics methods that assessed the impacts of a transfer of investments from Business-as-Usual (BAU) to green economy scenarios and how these affect a range of economic, social and environmental indicators. The modelling study evaluated the impact of the selected green policies in four priority sectors - energy, agriculture, forestry and road transport, to 2040.

Delivering the Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040 requires the mobilization of significant investments in infrastructure (transport, ICT, energy), health, education and other priority areas. According to estimates in Guyana’s GEMS, investment needed for green economy interventions in the four key sectors amount to GYD 1.05 trillion between 2018 and 2040, equal to 2.7 per cent of GDP. Green fiscal policies can play an important role in this context.

By reflecting externalities in prices, mobilizing revenues, creating a fiscal space for green investment and broader fiscal reform, adopting green fiscal policies can support Guyana in the transition to an inclusive and sustainable long-term growth path.

The Green Fiscal Policies workshop explored the role and benefits of green fiscal policies in addressing environmental externalities by including for example, resource use prices, which can promote shifts in producer and consumer behaviors and in mobilizing public and private revenues to support policy implementation. The Workshop consisted of a series of presentations, videos, interactive group exercises and knowledge sharing on green fiscal policies across different sectors. PAGE is discussing with the Government of Guyana how it can continue to provide support for on-going analysis of green fiscal options.

The final activity of Green Economy Week was a “Green Conversations” public event with the objective to continue the series of conversations with the public begun in 2018 in the context of the Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040 and on green economy principles. Speakers featured international green economy experts from UN Environment discussing international cases where green economy principles and carbon taxes were effectively applied.

PAGE will continue to support the implementation of the Strategy in Guyana and to help its people to progress along the pathway to a green economy.

Transforming the economy, empowering people and building sustainable communities in Guyana

December 3, 2018

This month, Guyana’s Ministry of Finance laid out its plans for the country’s budget, in which the importance of accelerating the country’s transformation to a green economy and PAGE’s work in the country are strongly featured. The budget reaffirms Guyana’s commitment to the principles of sustainable development: “It reflects our [Guyana’s] unwavering commitment to building human capital through investment in health and education and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals; a budget that supports the transformation of our economy, recognizes the importance of communication and connectivity through strong, climate-resilient infrastructure; a budget that promotes and incentivizes small businesses.”

The budget, entitled Transforming the Economy, Empowering People and Building Sustainable Communities for the Good Life, focuses on strengthening institutions across sectors, including reinforcing public investment management; expanding opportunities for businesses to grow and flourish; and supporting the Guyanese government‘s green economy initiatives while aiming to support the development of the non-oil sector.

To advance progress towards these ambitions, PAGE has worked with the Department of Environment to develop the Green State Development Strategy, which was presented to the government at the International Small Business Summit last month. In it, a variety of strategic policies, actions and projects aiming to foster low-carbon, climate-resilient sustained economic growth are presented as a strategy for creating decent jobs, rising incomes sustained over generations, equitable access to economic opportunities and social cohesion.

The Green State Development Strategy is at the core of the Guyana budget proposal, as one of its guiding documents, and is explicitly referenced as a commitment of the government under the budget, with encouragement for local agencies and partners to follow its lead. “The Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040 will guide national development policies for the next 20 years…The “green state” agenda is centred on improving the quality of life for all within the principles of a green economy…”

By taking on the ambitious Green State Development Strategy, and committing state resources to its implementation, Guyana is doubling down on its ambitions to become a green economy leader in the region. This is a strong signal that Guyana accepts that economic diversification, especially ensuring a flourishing and thriving non-oil sector, is crucial to build up a resilient foundation on which the country can stand on when petroleum resources come to an end. Moreover, resources investing in the human side of development such as in health and education, water and sanitation, decent housing, green energy, transport networks and youth development, is critical for ensuring that this transition is just and inclusive.

Recognizing the role of small business in Guyana's green economy

November 1, 2018

22 October 2018, Georgetown, Guyana - Guyana’s inaugural Green Expo and International Small Business Summit was held in Georgetown from the 18th – 21st October 2018. The event, held under the theme Sustainable economic growth through small business innovation, entrepreneurship and transformative government policies was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of the Presidency, UN Environment, Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), IDB, the African Business Roundtable, and the Small Business Bureau of the Ministry of Business.

PAGE participated at both events and took the opportunity to enhance public awareness on the Guyana Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040 and PAGE's work in the country. UN Environment and the Department of Environment presented the first draft of the Strategy to the Government of Guyana International Small Business Summit.

The Green Business Expo provided small-scale entrepreneurs with an opportunity to showcase their green and innovative products. Patrons also had an opportunity to find out more about PAGE's work in Guyana, including the macroeconomic modelling and green industry assessments undertaken to inform the elaboration and support the implementation of the Green State Development Strategy Vision 2040. The significance of intermingling policy and small business was clear: entrepreneurs cannot make the shift to becoming competitive, green and social enterprises without a supportive financial, legal, regulatory and technical environment.

Throughout the summit and expo you will see evidence of how small business are innovating in Guyana today, and the success of Government efforts to support them. Public initiatives like the small business procurement programme, the assistance offered by the Small Business Bureau, and the small business tax procedures, all strengthen the enabling environment and help small businesses thrive.

Leo Heileman, Director of the Deparment of the Environment, Guyana

At the International Small Business Summit, the connection between small business and green economy was also in focus. In his keynote address, Winston Jordon, the Minister of Finance, noted that small and medium-sized businesses have a vital role to play in the transformation of Guyana into a green economy. The Summit provided the platform for experts, entrepreneurs, academia, politicians and the other representatives from 16 countries to exchange information and experiences in green economy initiatives.

Building circularity into the construction sector in Guyana

July 1, 2018

July 1 2018, Linden, Guyana - Low-income earners in Guyana now have increasing access decent homes, thanks to a housing project that is embracing the circular economy for economic, environmental, and social benefits.

The project, based in Linden, a mining community, uses the excesses from bauxite extraction which had previously been discarded as its primary building material. The community suffers from a housing deficit, and most affected are low-income earners with no access to commercial loans.

According to Robert Cameron, owner of Linden Bricks, houses built with bauxite blocks have several benefits. The bauxite bricks can automatically interlock, making construction faster and more economical, as many of the traditional binding materials are no longer required. The houses are also cooler, as heat takes a longer time to penetrate the dense bricks. There is also no need to paint, as the brick is weatherproof and visually appealing.

According to the Mayor, Wanaka Arindell, the amount of bauxite excess available in the Linden after more than a century of bauxite mining is enough raw material to have bricks manufactured for the entire country.

“The overburden is waste is of no value, but it has been said, ‘What is one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’,” said Remington Nelson, representative from the Ministry of Communities.

Full story courtesy of the Guyana Chronicle: available here.

Green jobs: The future of work in Guyana

April 13, 2018

11-13 April 2018, Georgetown, Guyana - As one of the newest countries to join the Partnership, PAGE and Guyana are exploring potential avenues for partnership and national support. A major tool that PAGE provides to partner countries is a Green Jobs Assessment; an economy-wide analysis that uncovers the sectors and gaps with greatest potential for employment and fair work, while protecting the environment. The Preparatory mission for implementation of PAGE's Green Jobs Assessment Methodology took place in Georgetown, Guyana 11-13 April 2018

The Guyanese government has fully embraced the importance of understanding the intersecting priorities of labour and the environment, concluding that the future Green Jobs Assessment model would become an integrated part of the implementation of its Green State Development Strategy. The Green Jobs Assessment model will provide the government with tools for impact assessment of the alternative scenarios of conventional and green jobs as well as on other economic, social and environmental outcomes.

Within the next three years, the Guyanese Green State Development Strategy will allow the government to better plan budgets for the short to medium term, and to model important macroeconomic structural changes and its impacts on social and employment outcomes. The government of Guyana will use the International Labour Organization's Just Transition Guidlines as a framework document for their development strategy.

PAGE Mission to Guyana: Laying the foundations tor Green Economic Growth in Guyana

March 2, 2018

2 March 2018, Georgetown, Guyana -- The Partnership for Action on Green Economy held a mission to Guyana, which joined PAGE in March 2017, to support the country’s efforts to transition to an inclusive green economy through the creation of a Green State Development Policy (GSDP).

The government of Guyana’s green development policy will lay the foundations for inclusive green economic growth, provide a roadmap for achieving sustainable development goals and related targets, and outline a long-term vision for a prosperous and equitable future. PAGE is providing analytical and technical support to help develop and execute this strategy.

The objectives of the mission, which took place from 26 February- 2 March, included work on advancing macroeconomic modelling, a Green Conversation on “PAGE: Green jobs and Sustainable Business”, green industry assessment, as well as discussions with the Ministries of Finance and Foreign Affairs on Guyana’s agricultural, forestry, energy and infrastructure sectors.

The mission demonstrated that partners across Guyana are well on their way to establishing an inclusive green economy, and that the forthcoming Green State Development Strategy will lay strong foundations to build a prosperous and equitable Guyana. PAGE, in collaboration with the Government of Guyana and a broad range of national partners will continue to support the advancement of these efforts and the flourishing of a green and inclusive economy.

Uruguay and Guyana join the PAGE Partnership

May 19, 2017

Berlin, Germany – On March 28, 2017, Uruguay and Guyana joined the Partnership for Action on Green Economy. The announcement was made at the PAGE Ministerial Conference in Berlin attended by over 430 participants, including 40 Ministers.

Both countries have demonstrated a strong commitment to making the transition to inclusive green economies, reducing pollution and emissions, and achieving Sustainable Development Goals. By joining PAGE, the governments of Uruguay and Guyana not only took a leap forward towards sustainable economies in their respective countries, but also created new opportunities for collaboration and knowledge-exchange in Latin America.

In Uruguay, PAGE will build upon a green economy scoping assessment completed in 2014 and conducted by Instituto de Economía (IECON) de la Universidad de la República, the government of Uruguay, United Nations Environment Programme, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in 2014. The report identifies several areas for targeted support for green economy, including agriculture, livestock, industry, tourism and transport.

As said by Ambassador Alberto Guani of Uruguay, “Uruguay shares the view of PAGE in focusing on sustainability as the main core for all national policies, pursuing the purpose of aligning such vision to an economic growth that will reflect in higher income, creation of new jobs, moving towards poverty reduction and inequality by strengthening the fundamental environment of economic structures.” These changes will be made possible by the high-level and cross-sectoral commitment of the government of Uruguay to green economy as well as by the support of the private and civil sectors.

As in Uruguay, the government of Guyana has similarly demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainable and inclusive economy. In its application to PAGE, the government identified exceptionally strong cross sectoral support for inclusive green economy in the country. President David Granger of Guyana has said Guyana "is a state that will ensure a secure future for its people in the pursuit of a ‘green’ economy. It is one that is proud of its place as a reliable and cooperative partner in international efforts to protect the earth’s environment”.

Guyana’s transition to green economy will involve working toward de-coupling economic growth from the depletion of natural resources and pollution to ensure Guyana’s long-term sustainability and well-being. In December 2016, the government of Guyana and the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) hosted initial consultations on the National Green State Development Strategy, which brought together government officials, civil society, the private sector, and bilateral agencies to generate an initial framework for action. The established core objectives of the framework include the following: social cohesion and inclusion; wellbeing; sustainable use of biodiversity and increased resource efficiency; decarbonisation and climate resilience; sustainable finance and; good governance.

Bringing together the expertise of five UN agencies – the UN Environment Programme (UN Environment), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) PAGE seeks to put sustainability at the heart of economic policies and practices to advance the 2030 Agenda. Working closely with national governments, private sector and civil society, PAGE has been assisting partner countries to embark on inclusive green economy trajectories since 2013. With the inclusion of Uruguay and Guyana in the partnership, PAGE has renewed its commitment to supporting an increasing number of countries and has created exciting new possibilities for green economy and collaboration in the Latin America.