News

Sustainable Management Plan for Cuiabá's Historic City Centre - Mato Grosso/Brazil

March 29, 2021

In Mato Grosso’s capital city, PAGE has supported the completion of a Sustainable Management Plan for land use and occupation of the Historic Centre of Cuiabá. Having deep historical and cultural significance, the Historic Centre plays a key role in feeding the tourism sector and economy. The Plan provides an instrument for the state government to conserve and safeguard the Centre and raise awareness on sustainability, natural resources, cultural heritage preservation, and local economic development, offering a roadmap to Mato Grosso on sustainable decision-making.

The preparations of the Sustainable Plan for Land Use and Urban Mobility for the Historic Centre involved both prospective and strategic planning, including the review of existing local programmes, policies and initiatives and PAGE completed a cultural heritage and urban analysis in 2019.

The subsequent proposals for the Land Use and Urban Mobility Plan were ultimately based on the promotion of the urban quality of the Historic Centre of Cuiabá, a space of fundamental importance and historical-cultural relevance for the State of Mato Grosso and Brazil on the whole.

In relation to prospective and strategic planning, the historic centre was evaluated by its economic, environmental, social, spatial and technological characteristics, proposing solutions for available unused space.

Regarding governance and partnerships, the work draws proposals and solutions for the legal framework within the region, including properties with land irregularities. Proposals and solutions were presented for the Environmental Sanitation area (drainage, microclimate, landscape); public water supply; urban cleaning and solid waste management; electricity distribution network; archaeology; public safety; microclimate; historical/cultural/tourist aspects; and urban landscape, as well as the social inclusion of people with disabilities.

The Plan also identifies issues for municipal legislation, both urban and fiscal, as well as the instruments of the city's statute that can be used in the Historic Centre, which includes sustainability with a focus on clean energy, the use of rainwater, and the creation of green jobs. Finally, the work brings recommendations for the Inclusion of the Management Plan in the Law of the Master Plan of the Municipality of Cuiabá, as a strategic guideline for the Historic Centre and, from this management instrument, to raise funds for the implementation of sustainable projects for the area.

New Findings: Green Recovery Options Perform Better, but Biodiversity Still at Risk

March 26, 2021

PAGE and Cambridge Econometrics have released the final results from the specialized joint modelling project underway since late 2020. The modelling took a global outlook for economic recovery options as well as a tailored approach specific to the South African context, which analyzed spending plans and multisectoral impacts.

Overall, the findings show that a ‘non-green’ recovery focused solely on GDP and jobs will result in greater environmental degradation, while alternatively, green recovery policies can be, at minimum, as effective at boosting GDP and jobs. Importantly however, green recovery options will involve economic reconstruction, and so Just Transition policies will need to be included with them for true success.

Globally, the modelling shows that a green recovery will perform stronger in terms of GDP and jobs, and will remain more persistent after these policies are phased out. But, the size of the programme needs to be larger to return GDP back to its pre-pandemic path. Beyond this, ‘non-green’ scenarios will see a rebound in emissions while green recovery scenarios achieve substantial cuts in CO2 emissions.

Building on the previously presented findings from South Africa, specifically looking at the South African Economic Recovery and Reconstruction Plan (ERRP), the analysis was extended to apply the World Conservation Monitoring Centre’s tool ENCORE (Exploring Natural Capital Opportunities, Risks and Exposure). This proprietary tool enables users to visualize how the economy depends on nature and the economic risks occurring from environmental changes.

In this extended analysis — which includes looking at the decommissioning of coal mines as part of a ‘green push scenario’ — the results show that while GHG emissions would be reduced, there would still be ecosystems impacts expected from other sectors, such as expected increases in construction and infrastructure processes. Thus, the recommendations for the National ERRP are to include plans to mitigate the impacts of sectoral growth on natural capital assets, and particularly place attention on the agriculture sector.

View the results in detail

Modelling a Global Inclusive Green Economy COVID-19 Recovery Programme

This report documents work to provide a quantified analysis of the impact of alternative (non-green and green) COVID-19 recovery plans on key economic, social and environmental indicators. The main focus is on the global impacts, but two case studies covering South Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean are also presented. The analysis has been carried out using the E3ME energy-economy-environment model which covers the entire global economy in considerable geographical and sectoral detail.

Modelling an Inclusive Green Economy COVID-19 Recovery Programme for South Africa

This report has been prepared as a case study within the wider project Inclusive Green Economy response scenario modelling of COVID-19 recovery plans, undertaken by Cambridge Econometrics for ILO and UNEP. The project’s aim was to undertake a quantified analysis of the impact of alternative (non-green and green) COVID-19 recovery plans on key economic, social and environmental indicators globally and in selected PAGE countries. This report presents the analysis carried out for South Africa.

Policy Brief: Modelling a Green Economy Recovery for South Africa

This policy brief reports estimates of the potential economic, social and environmental impacts of key policies in the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP) published by the South African Government in October 2020, drawing on the case study prepared within the wider project Inclusive Green Economy response scenario modelling of COVID-19 recovery plans by Cambridge Econometrics and PAGE, in collaboration with Prof Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu of the University of Pretoria.

Summary presentation of results

Affiliated regional analysis: Latin America and the Caribbean

Building a New Future Transformative Recovery with Equality and Sustainability

The 2021 Global Academy on the Green Economy

March 19, 2021

PAGE, with the ITC-ILO, will be holding the 4th Green Economy Academy from 10–21 May 2021. Created for policymakers, decision-makers, and technical staff from civil society organizations, trade unions, employers' organizations, businesses, and research institutions, this year’s Academy will take a deeper look at the green recovery, aiming to support the global transition to environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive economies during and beyond the COVID-19 crisis.

The two-week virtual academy will seek to address the state of COVID-19 recovery plans on the ground discussing challenges governments are encountering in their efforts to build back better and the methods they have used to overcome these obstacles.

This Academy will engage key experts and country representatives to share knowledge and experiences on essential topics related to the green recovery and just transitions, including:

What is Green Recovery?: Recovery plans, stimulus packages, principles and different phases of the green recovery cycle
How “green” are recovery plans worldwide and what can we learn from the best in class?
Nationally determined contributions as entry points for green recovery: Experiences and challenges
Green recovery and just transition: Employment, equality and leave no one behind
Financing tools and mechanisms for green recovery
Budgeting and tax policy tools for green recovery
Examples of green recovery measures in different sectors: Renewable energy, energy efficiency, circular economy, agriculture, ecosystems, transport
Greening industries and enterprises

Targeting the knowledge and skills needed to promote a green and inclusive recovery, the Academy will specifically address:

How to go about the green recovery in your country: Policy cycles, policy dialogue and the role of civil society
Who is who and who to work with: International frameworks, partnerships, coalitions and mechanisms
What new tools and methods to use to mainstream the green economy in national policymaking, including green jobs assessments and green economy indicators
How to ensure that the interests of women and vulnerable groups are taken into account in green recovery strategies
How to catalyze united efforts, engaging different stakeholders in achieving an inclusive green recovery

Structure:

Master Classes on key topics related to a green recovery
Elective session on topics of interest to a smaller group of participants offered in each language
Self-guided modules on a series of related topics, such as: Green economy and sustainable development; Green jobs and just transition; and Green industries and enterprise development.

For more information and registration: Click here

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 30 April 2021

PAGE, with the ITC-ILO, launched the Global Green Academy in 2014. Held every two years, the Academy is based on training and knowledge sharing sessions that aim at providing an in-depth overview and understanding of the latest global Green Economy trends and priorities. The event provides practical tools and opens the space to showcase good practices that countries are adopting in their efforts to transition to environmentally viable and socially inclusive economies.

PAGE Holds First 'Dialogue to Advance Green Recovery' with UN Economists and PAGE Agencies

March 12, 2021

Gathering economists from UN Resident Coordinator Offices and PAGE agencies, PAGE launched a new series of Dialogues to Advance Green Recovery on 2 March 2021. The first session drew attendance from UN economists across 18 countries (16 PAGE Partner Countries) and welcomed UN Assistant Secretary-General and Chief Economist UN DESA Elliott Harris as the keynote speaker.

The Dialogues are planned to occur quarterly throughout 2021, offering a dedicated platform for UN economists and agencies to exchange ideas on greening the economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and share best practices. The discussions will also serve as an open space to identify opportunities and challenges as well as the potential methods for moving action forward on inclusive and sustainable recovery options.

Acting as an outlet to deepen the engagement between PAGE and UN Economists, the forum will also inform how PAGE can better support its partner countries in their respective green economy transitions beyond the crisis as well as further inspire a green transition globally. Overall, the Dialogues will aid in PAGE’s dedication to working in cohesion at the country-level, leveraging its inter-agency expertise and eliminating duplication of efforts.

Key themes emerging from these discussions will also inform additional ad hoc sessions, such as on social inclusivity and green finance, to develop even deeper collaboration. A common thread emerging from these sessions: innovation and investment will be crucial moving forward for a strong, sustainable and inclusive economy.

“There is still a deeply held belief that investing in environment and sustainability is somehow a cost. …Where is it written that sustainable behavior is more expensive than non-sustainable?” – Elliot Harris, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Chief Economist (UN DESA)

Are We Building Back Better?

March 3, 2021

On 10 March 2021 at 15:30 (CET), a UN-Oxford panel discussion - "Are We Building Back Better?" - brought together global leaders and international institutions to debate progress, explore openings, and attempt to answer some of the major questions following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The global economy has contracted by nearly 4 percent in 2020. Internationally, more than two million people have died, over 100 million have been infected and many hundreds of millions have been thrown out of work or reduced to poverty. And three planetary crises loom: climate instability, nature loss, and increasing levels of pollution. Efforts to recover from the pandemic must take account of these crises or risk further shocks and take us farther from achieving Sustainable Development.

A team of international leaders and experts addressed the pressing questions:

What is at risk if we fail to build back better?
Can recovery spending bring strong economic and job impacts while securing environmental progress?
Have countries been using COVID-19 spending to tackle climate change, nature loss, and pollution?
How can countries better leverage recovery spending to accelerate the transition to a sustainable and more equitable world?

The conference also launched a major new report and dataset from the Global Recovery Observatory, detailing recovery efforts in the top 50 economies of the world – and whether these align with environmental goals. The Observatory is now live and will feature a data visualization tool developed by the UNDP team. Visit the UNDP Data Futures Platform at: https://data.undp.org/

Panelists included:

Moderated by: Nozipho Tshabalala

WORKSHOP: ECONOMIC RECOVERY WITH SUGAR AND SKILLS IN GUYANA

February 27, 2021

12 February 2021, Georgetown, Guyana – Sugar, cars and economic incentives: what do they have in common? Through greater use of biofuels, such as ethanol derived from sugar cane, there’s potential for a green industrial policy to reduce Guyana’s environmental footprint within the transport sector.

The workshop “Building back better through trade and industrial policy”, organized by PAGE in Guyana, addressed this particular topic — targeting questions such as: What policies could be adopted to link economic and environmental considerations? What circumstances call for sector-specific support? How can a government account for international legal frameworks when designing green industrial policies?

The objective of the workshop was to build technical knowledge and skills related to the design, implementation and evaluation of public policy at the trade and industry interface, thus supporting local agents in the achievement of national sustainability goals. And to this end, key topics and stakeholders of the workshop were identified beforehand together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The sessions were attended by representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute and the Permanent Mission in Geneva. The training was held virtually in light of the ongoing pandemic.

The sessions resulted in some tentative avenues for the way forward, such as targeted public investments in infrastructure and technology to improve competitiveness, as well as eco-certification enabling producers to capture price premia in national and international markets. Participants noted that these policies, however, require careful deliberation among multiple actors in the public and private sphere due to their systemic nature.

The organizers were supported by Prof. Leyland Lucas and Dr. Stephan Moonsamy, lecturers at the University of Guyana’s Business School.

“Transitioning effectively to a green economy requires the development of courses and capacities that help our students and decision-makers address difficult policy choices,” said Prof. Lucas. “The training will help the Business School to create courses and programmes that enhance learning on these issues, encourage research to provide policy-influencing perspectives and contribute to sustainable development in Guyana.”

The agenda featured two distinct parts. A first meeting was held from 8-10 December 2020, in which the group discussed concepts and empirical evidence associated with green trade and industrial policy. At a second meeting in January 2021, participants pitched their proposals in response to a number of policy challenges posed by the instructors at the first encounter.

“Trade and industrial policy questions are highly complex. One could spend an entire semester only on multilateral frameworks for environmental goods and services. The idea is to build a bridge to local circumstances and problems via the fictitious case studies developed by the participants with the guidance of acclaimed policy practitioners,” noted Giuliano Montanari, Focal Point for Guyana at the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and co-organizer of the workshop.

The workshop was also attended by Colette van der Ven, international trade lawyer and founder of TULIP Consulting, a Geneva-based consulting firm, and Patrick Low, Senior advisor to TULIP Consulting and former Chief Economist of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

“As Guyana seeks to develop its economy in a sustainable way, it is imperative that Guyanese policymakers have a clear understanding of different policy instruments that can be employed, and the advantages and disadvantages associated with these instruments,” Ms. van der Ven explained.

Aligning environmental and socio-economic objectives is an inherently complex undertaking. Unsurprisingly, while the workshop provided some answers, it also stimulated further questions. By bringing attention to the intricacies inherent to sustainable development, Guyanese government officials will be better equipped as they promote more concrete policy initiatives going forward.

ILO, PAGE AND LINKEDIN LAUNCH TWO-YEAR DATA INSIGHTS PARTNERSHIP

February 27, 2021

The International Labour Organization (ILO), the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) and LinkedIn have launched a two-year data insights partnership that aims to improve government decision-making, promote green jobs and build the capacities of governments to identify and provide training opportunities.

Through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the ILO and LinkedIn on 15 January 2021, the partners hope to support the development of deep, cross-sector partnerships that benefit governments, the private sector, employers’ and workers’ organizations and civil society organizations. This partnership also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and meeting the unique challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The transition to green, low-carbon and resource-efficient economies will bring a massive transformation in labour markets. More and better jobs linked to relevant skills acquisition, can be created if we better understand the demand and supply of labour in emerging green sectors."
Vic Van Vuuren, Director of the Enterprises Department, ILO and Chair of the PAGE Management Board

LinkedIn’s real-time view into the global labour market will enable partners to leverage its insights into the skills, jobs and occupations that are quickly rising in demand. For example, LinkedIn’s granular, skills-based understanding of green jobs will also detect emerging trends by analysing occupations whose titles may not identify them in a traditional “green” role but are increasingly reliant upon green skills. Complementary LinkedIn data on hiring trends by gender and region will also provide unique insights into the world of work.

“As we continue the road to economic recovery, it’s even more important for people in transition to have access to adequate re-skilling opportunities and employment in low-carbon and climate-resilient jobs. We’re committed to sharing our real-time view into green jobs and green skills with leaders as they shape future workforce investments."
Karin Kimbrough, Chief Economist at LinkedIn

Thanks to its MoU with the ILO, these data can now help inform policy recommendations as well as further research and analysis, with a particular focus on supporting governments to transition to green economies within the context of PAGE’s work on green jobs as well as helping governments and labour market institutions become more responsive to the needs of workers and employers through the promotion of targeted skills training.

The LinkedIn-ILO partnership also welcomes the strategic collaboration of UNEP and UNITAR , whose complementary mandates and expertise will help translate rich labour-related data insights into informed policies and practical capacity-building activities.

For further details: Moustapha Kamal Gueye: gueye@ilo.org.

PEER LEARNING: MONGOLIA AND THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC COLLABORATE TO ENHANCE GREEN FINANCE

February 27, 2021

On February 17, 2021, the Kyrgyz Republic and Mongolia launched a virtual South-South partnership, with Mongolia sharing its experience in generating green finance.

The South-South Triangular Cooperation between the two PAGE Partner Countries is providing a space to build and strengthen mutual exchange on sustainable finance, in particular utilizing the Mongolian experience in establishing the Mongolian Green Finance Corporation (MGFC) and attracting green finance to the country.

This first exchange gathered key stakeholders from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Union of Banks of the Kyrgyz Republic and resulted in an agreement to organize a regular two-way exchange and learning, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding.

A PAGE country since 2013, Mongolia has already achieved significant results, particularly in the realm of sustainable finance and can offer a model for best practices in institutions such as the MGFC, which specializes in attracting green finance. With the Kyrgyz Republic at the starting point in promoting sustainable finance for its development agenda, the experience of Mongolia can offer significant support. Among the priorities of the Kyrgyz Republic, finance for sustainable development is included in its Green Economy Development Programme as a priority action.

PAGE Uruguay Launches Circular Economy Laboratory

February 26, 2021

Launched on 24 February, the Circular Economy Laboratory (LabEC) is a platform that will aim to enhance the ability of businesses in Uruguay to contribute to the SDGs and circular economy. Aimed at both the public and private sectors, the platform will include training and knowledge building in the areas of Circular Economy, SDG Goals, and sustainable development, among other topics. The courses will be designed for small and medium enterprises who have an interest in implementing circular economy strategies at the firm level, beginning in March.

LABEC was developed collaboratively by PAGE Uruguay, UNDP, and Uruguay’s Chamber of Industries (CIU), with the Plastic Technological Center (CTplas), the Uruguayan Technological Laboratory (LATU) and additional support from the DERES business association. Specifically, LabEC will apply a methodology developed by UNDP’s SDG Accelerator that’s been adapted to the Uruguayan context.

PAGE Hosts National Dialogue on Just Transition in Argentina

February 1, 2021

PAGE Argentina hosted a high-level virtual event with representatives from the Argentine government and labor sector on 15 December. The political meeting gathered individuals from the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, the Ministry of Productive Development; and the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, the Argentine Industrial Union (UIA) and the General Labor Confederation (CGT) to discuss inclusive green economy, a just transition and green jobs in Argentina.

The event was followed by two virtual technical dialogues led by UNDP on 16 and 17 December, the first jointly with PAMPA 2030, the mechanism of trade unions embedded in the national SDG process, and the second with the UN Global Compact.

The tripartite dialogue, overall, presented an opportunity to strengthen coordination amongst Ministries on policies for a Just Transition, using social dialogue as a means to increase momentum on sustainable and inclusive outcomes — including discussions of The Green New Deal and workshops for awareness-raising. Similar dialogues are expected to be planned for the coming years to strengthen a national roadmap for inclusive green economy priorities.

See the agenda here.

Watch the full video.

UNITAR and GGKP Launch Green Learning Network

January 25, 2021

The new Green Learning Network (GLN) is now live, launched by UNITAR and GGKP, with support from PAGE. The online network has been specifically designed as a space for learning institutions and education professionals to share, collaborate and learn from one another. The GLN will actively work to improve existing education and training opportunities and facilitate the creation of new courses, programmes and learning resources — ultimately, aiming to build a critical mass of professionals who understand the risks and opportunities of a green transition.

The GLN includes both a Learning Hub of green learning resources and a GLN Community.

The Learning Hub is a repository for green learning courses, programmes, institutions, scholarships, publications, and other resources. These resources will be continually added to the catalogue and are available to anyone.
The GLN Community is envisaged as a collaborative online networking space where learning practitioners can exchange information and resources, seek advice on learning products, and announce news and events. This community aspect of the Network is in its pilot phase and is currently housed on LinkedIn. Feedback will be collected during the pilot phase prior to its wider launch.

Learn More

Out Now: Episode 2 of The Green Renaissance Podcast

January 25, 2021

An essential listen on critical green economic recovery issues, Episode 2 of The Green Renaissance is available now. This episode explores the implementation of a green recovery in practice, and features interviews with Asad Naqvi, Norbert Gorißen (German Federal Ministry for the Environment) and Jenitha Badul (South African Department for the Environment).

Launched in 2020, The Green Renaissance publishes a new episode each month — unpacking complex policy questions linked to the green recovery debate and featuring voices from government, business, civil society and youth groups.

PAGE and Cambridge Econometrics Present Findings from Green Economy Modelling in South Africa

January 25, 2021

In late 2020, South Africa participated in a bespoke modelling exercise organized on post-COVID-19 economic recovery options by PAGE and Cambridge Econometrics (CE). The research specific to the South African context analyzed spending plans and multisectoral impacts in detail with results shared during a stakeholder workshop on 22 January.

The country released its South African Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan in October 2020 and this modelling focused on establishing estimates related to the future green and economic impacts of the plan. The analysis further offers an additional scenario with a ‘green push’ for the government’s consideration, through measures such as increased investment in renewables and decommissioning coal power plants.

Among the key findings presented to South Africa, research has shown that green policies can promote economic growth, job creation and environmental sustainability to ultimately bring back GDP to what it would have been in the absence of COVID-19. What’s more, a recovery without strong green policies would see greenhouse gas emissions return quickly to the levels seen before the pandemic and continue to rise. Green policies would offer an opportunity for higher incomes and employment, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions. In particular, making low-carbon shifts in the economy would offer gains in new sectors. These projections also illustrate a need to protect those affected by job losses in areas such as coal mining would need to be supported and addressed to ensure a just transition.

The analysis is part of an ongoing partnership between PAGE and CE to compare the potential immediate to long-term impacts of varying economic recovery scenarios on a global scale. These results will provide quantitative analysis to contribute to broader messaging on green economic recovery options.

Advancing Sustainable Procurement in Kazakhstan

January 25, 2021

An introductory workshop was held in December on Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) in Kazakhstan for officials of central and local executive government bodies, representatives of international organizations, business and public associations, and individuals from the private sector. Supported by the Kazakhstan Association of Regional Environmental Initiatives "ECOJER", the webinar addressed the state of public procurement in the country; a feasibility assessment on SPP in development; UNDA Project and PAGE SPP activities; and examples and lessons learned from other UNDP project countries, such as Kyrgyzstan and Georgia.

The webinar was organized by PAGE through UNEP and the UN Development Account (UNDA) and under the project "Enhancing sustainable public procurement for the regional transition to inclusive green economy in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia".

Speakers included the Vice-Minister of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. R. Beketayev; Mr. A. Primkulov, Vice-Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Aidai Kurmanova, Head of UNEP Sub-Regional Office for Central Asia.

SPP is a key thematic area for PAGE support in the country aligning with the government’s strategic vision for a sustainable future. The aforementioned feasibility study began in 2020 and will provide analysis on integrating SPP and sustainability criteria into the national public procurement process. The results are expected in the second quarter of 2021.

Sweden Extends Commitment to PAGE as the Partnership Embarks on New Strategy

November 30, 2020

Long-time PAGE funding partner, Sweden has announced a further commitment to PAGE for the year 2021 through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). Aligning with the implementation of the PAGE Strategy 2021-2030, the contribution will directly support PAGE’s efforts to accelerate action on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Working in partnership to help end poverty and implement the 2030 Agenda and SDGs is the main priority for SIDA — this is one of the key synergies with PAGE and its new strategy. As PAGE embarks on its second phase in 2021, enhanced collaboration and greater reach are crucial elements to deliver on the Decade of Action and support a green and inclusive economic recovery from COVID-19 that will drive SDG-implementation.

“Sida believes that partnerships make us stronger, give us more momentum and enable us to reach beyond what we thought was possible,” says Sida Senior Program Officer Michelle Bouchard. “Partnerships are a key part of our strategy and it makes PAGE an excellent match.”

It is within these strong partnerships, with partner countries, funding partners and institutions within and beyond the UN system, that PAGE was able to successfully complete its first phase from 2013-2020, and now, with the confidence and commitment from this continued collaboration, the Partnership will enter the new year duly prepared to strengthen inclusive, green economy efforts that will support realization of commitments towards the global climate and development goals.

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