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On September 13th 2018, PAGE held a workshop in collaboration with the International Training Centre of the ILO to engage experts in the field of indicators on the development of two dedicated training modules. The modules, consisting of an introductory and an advanced course, seek to enhance the understanding and application of indicators for green economy policymaking and their linkages to the SDGs within partner countries.

The development and implementation of good indicators is fundamental to a country’s inclusive green economy transition, as they enable the effective identification of issues, formulation and assessment of policy, and tracking of progress, and therefore help policymakers make informed green economy decisions. A good indicator framework for green economy is policy-relevant, evidence-based, and easily measured and interpreted, and, importantly, is tailored to a country’s unique environmental and socioeconomic context. Whilst PAGE already offers countries support in this area, the training modules aim to further build knowledge and expertise on indicators for green economy policymaking, specifically on their development and application.

The introductory module targets policymakers within ministries involved in PAGE activities together with governmental and non-governmental decision makers interested in green economy policymaking. The advanced module offers deeper engagement and is aimed predominantly at technical monitoring professionals, in particular: statisticians, analysts and researchers in ministries of finance, planning, labour and environment, as well as staff and researchers in national statistical offices and universities within partner countries.

The workshop brought together experts from the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), and four PAGE agencies: UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), UN Environment, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), who shared their varied expertise and perspectives to holistically improve the course material and delivery approach. The group deliberated the course chapter outline, reviewed exercises and provided recommendations on the course delivery. The process exemplifies the value added from the cross-cutting, collaborative engagement that is at the core of PAGE’s approach. The training materials are expected to be released by June 2019.

29 August 2018, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic - With an economy mainly driven by agriculture, extractive industries and hydropower, land degradation and desertification poses serious threats to the health of the economy in the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as its people and environment.

The Government of the Kyrgyz Republic is committed to reversing environmental degradation trends and capturing opportunities for economic growth that is both inclusive and sustainable. The need to transition to more sustainable development pathways through advancement of green economy approaches have been recognized as a national priority in various policy frameworks. Since 2016, PAGE has been working in the Kyrgyz Republic to develop the basis the basis on which the country could transition to an inclusive green economy.

The Ministry of Economy is responsible for integrating inclusive green economy principles into the long-term and medium-term strategic documents for the Kyrgyz Republic, and, as such, the Kyrgyz Government Development Program recently adopted by the Kyrgyz Parliament contains key targets towards transition to green economy. The research and analysis conducted by PAGE’s national experts formed a key component of the inputs provided by the Ministry of Economy.

The national PAGE expert team worked in the following nine areas, which have all become integral parts of the Kyrgyz national development agenda:

1. Sustainable finance
2. Sustainable procurement
3. Climate change and environment
4. Fiscal policy
5. Macroeconomiс forecasting and analysis
6. Private sector and SME
7. Sustainable energy
8. Green cities
9. Green strategy and policy 

Through active consultations, the Ministry of Economy has decided to develop a separate national Inclusive Green Economy Program for 2019-2023, for Kyrgyz Republic’s transition, as well as a step-by-step Action Plan for 2019-2021. National consultations for the Inclusive Green Economy Program are expected to take place during the upcoming Green Forum on October 19th this year, in the context of “Green Week,” scheduled from October 15 to October 19, 2018.

Alongside the broader macroeconomic policy advice and analysis, PAGE is working in Kyrgyzstan to develop a Sustainable Finance roadmap, and on a project to enhance sustainable public procurement. It is envisaged that robust sustainable finance and public purchasing will be cornerstones for accelerating both the supply and demand for sustainable products and services in the country.

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16 August 2018, Guayaquil, Ecuador - Siempre es posible cambiar - it is always possible to change, rang out the chorus of the song that opened the closing ceremony of the Fifth Latin America Green Awards (Premios Latinamérica Verde) on August 16 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. This year, PAGE was a key partner for the awards, underlining the role of green economy in Latin America as a key component for achieving environmental protection and prosperity.

The awards drew in 2,733 success stories, 38 countries and 713 participating cities. This was an increase of 324 projects and 44 cities over the in 2017 awards, clear evidence that the ambition and opportunity to develop ideas to protect the planet is growing in the region.

250 experts from 21 countries determined the rankings of the 500 best projects, as well as the finalists in each category of the award. Deciding of the overall winners of this year’s awards was an elite jury comprising: Matilde Mordt, Regional Director for Sustainable Development and Resilience at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Franco Pizza, representative of Banco Colombia; Gael Almeida, Regional Director for Latin America and representative of National Geographic Society and Hugo Arnal, National Director of WWF Ecuador.

UNDP awarded a special recognition to the project "Conservation and Strengthening of Beekeeping in Biological Corridors of Chiapas, Mexico", for good practices in sustainable development – that is, a project that simultaneously advances people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnerships.

DIRECTV, an official sponsor of the event, chose four projects to be featured in the documentary "Protagonistas", which will be launched next year: Green Galapagos 2050 (Ecuador), Tying it all Together (Atando Cabos) (Chile), EarthSpark International (Haiti) and Healthy Oceans if we Recycle (Mexico). In addition, through its Generación DirecTV program, together with ATT, the Technology for Sustainability Award was presented to the Chilean projects Recylink, Reciclapp and Transvoz. They will receive technology training in the US.

Roberto Manríque, ambassador of the Latin America Green Awards, was encouraged by the presence of high-level participation at the event, including that of the President of Ecuador, Lenín Moreno. The gala closed with an intervention from the President of Sambito (Soluciones Ambientales Totales), Gustavo Manrique, who said, "the best future depends on taking a step to turn your dream, hopes and illusions into a reality. That is Latin America Green Awards, a tribute to the dreamers, to those who have the perseverance, the love, the faith to work in a better planet."

Find out more about the winners for the Latin America Green Awards here.

1 August 2018, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso - A significant milestone has been reached in Burkina Faso’s transition to an inclusive green economy. Last month, the government’s draft National Strategy for Green Economy was validated by national stakeholder groups. The validation workshop took place as part of SWITCH Africa Green’s National Policy Dialogue on the 27th of July 2018 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The workshop brought together representatives from different government institutions and provided them with the opportunity to review the strategy and validate its action plan.

Burkina Faso joined PAGE in 2014, and, since then, PAGE has been supporting the development of the National Green Economy Strategy. The strategy serves as the backbone of the country’s transition to a green economy and will contribute to Burkina Faso’s National Plan for Economic and Social Development (PNDES 2016-2020). Several macroeconomic and sectoral assessments were conducted to inform this Strategy, including the Green Economy Assessment, which identifies sectors for green investments.

The strategy highlights several main axes of operation including action on green jobs, sustainable consumption and production, sustainable trade, green finance, combatting climate change, and national capacity building on green economy.

PAGE has been supporting the process of elaborating and validating this strategy in a number of different ways:

• Conducting research and analysis on the macroeconomic and development context in Burkina Faso, and using this information to provide guidance on low-hanging fruits and areas and sectors with the most potential to deliver economic growth, green jobs, environmental protection, and social inclusion;
• Providing expert feedback on strategy drafts, in consultation with local experts, business leaders, community leaders, academics and civil-society organizations;
• Conducting workshops to improve the capacities of stakeholders to take advantage of upcoming green economy opportunities, and to build in sustainability to existing economic practices.

The draft National Strategy for Green Economy will now move through the process for official adoption.