In November, a flurry of green economy events were held around the globe demonstrating the need for a common agenda and shared climate action. The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) supported several of these events throughout the month. The events embodied a growing realization in both the public and the private sectors that economic growth and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive. The increasing need to curb pollution and to share knowledge for climate action is now closely tied with more economic benefits.
NATIONAL CONSULTATIONS FOR INCLUSIVE GREEN ECONOMY INTO NATIONAL PLANNING
Kyrgyz Republic Green Economy forum
In the Kyrgyz Republic, an event was held on November 23rd and 24th entitled “Green Economy forum: from theory to practice”, featuring new opportunities for businesses. Over 150 representatives from governments, the private sector and civil society gathered to discuss the way forward in the country’s transition to a green economy.
The agenda included presenting the winners of a media contest on green economy, discussions on green technologies within the private sector, sustainable finance as key in promoting the transition to a green economy and how certain policy mechanisms can stimulate the private sector to shift towards green economy activities. This was followed the next day by the exhibition on green solutions for business.
SECTORAL AND THEMATIC CONSULTATIONS WITH NATIONAL INCLUSIVE GREEN ECONOMY PRIORITIES
South Africa training workshop on leveraging trade
Under the framework of PAGE, the Environment and Trade Hub of UN Environment, IFOAM Organics, and Afri-Trade, held a stakeholder engagement and technical training workshop on leveraging trade in organic and biodiversity-based agricultural products through South African value chains in Centurion, South Africa on 20 – 21 November. The two-day workshop brought together 30 government representatives from Department of Trade and Industry (the DTI), the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), as well as certification bodies, donor agencies, sector bodies, the private sector, and international organizations. The workshop facilitated south-south knowledge exchange, highlighting the successful case of East African organic production and trade and additionally explored new products for scale-up.
South Africa workshop on green economy modelling stocktaking
At the back of South Africa’s 5th Annual System Dynamics Conference (5ASDC), PAGE held a green economy modelling workshop in South Africa on November 28th. The workshop invited various stakeholders from the conference and introduced the newly developed, Integrated Green Economy Modelling (IGEM) Framework. This was followed by several discussions on the potential of using these tools as part the proposed PAGE activity in South Africa.
This workshop was concluded with concrete ways forward, including the development of an exhaustive list that depicts available modelling tools which can then be integrated in the South Africa Green Economy modelling as well as exploring information needs.
Ghana Green Finance Conference
Ghana hosted the third Green Financing for Sustainable Development Conference on November 21st. The discussion was on the expansion of access to climate-focused finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa. The conference provided an important platform to discuss the funding for: climate change mitigation and adaptation; climate conscious investments; various risks climate change poses to a financial institution’s portfolio; and the potential for climate change regulation to spur the development of new products and services for individuals as well as SMEs. Several discussions also revolved around the financial sector’s role in sustainable development and the need to make sustainability part of the organizational culture. PAGE provided inputs on the role of policymakers in promoting green finance and green energy, especially in the Ghanaian context.
CAPACITY BUILDING TO DELIVER INCLUSIVE GREEN ECONOMY POLICY
China provincial academy on green economy
PAGE hosted a green economy academy in Taizhou, China on 20-21 November. The academy invited policymakers, academics and thought-leaders to come together and learn about key green economy concepts, including green finance, green economy modelling tools as well as green industrial policy, and finally how all of these concepts can be applied in the context of Jiangsu province.
As economic policy shapes the economy, upstream actions have been constructed to provide the conditions under which green economic activities can flourish. The notable success of the events that have taken place this November are thanks to the commitment to green economy action from governments, businesses and citizens. Global trends demonstrate that the partnership model for delivering green economy transition is compelling and PAGE will continue to bolster cooperation on climate action and support firm commitments for greener and more inclusive economies.