The global health pandemic is affecting how large international meetings are being held. With the crisis not ending any time soon, it’s time for organizations to start looking for an alternative model.
All countries maintain accounts that tell a story about their economy. The most well-known feature of these national accounts is Gross Domestic Product or GDP, a single number that summarizes the size of an economy represented by the total value of certain goods and services produced, usually each quarter or year. However, GDP leaves out important details when it comes to the ocean economy.
Maintaining Indonesia’s economic growth, especially during this health crisis, relies on the government’s ability to provide electricity access from sustainable sources to all parts of the country. It is time for Indonesia to rethink rural energy.
The Market Stability Reserve (MSR) aims to provide carbon price stability for the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS). But serious questions are being asked about how much stability – if any – it provides, say Michael Pahle and Simon Quemin. They argue that the MSR rules are too complex, have difficulty accommodating changing EU and national policies, and can cause regulatory uncertainty as well as market speculation. The authors recommend a reform of its core design – focussing on prices, not quantities of carbon allowances – instead of adjustments that make it even more complex and vulnerable to its existing weaknesses.
Research
This blog post highlights the importance of clearly defined and objective-based green bond policy designs in ASEAN countries.
Over the next 6-18 months, it is estimated that countries will invest over $20 trillion to recover from the fallout of COVID-19. The make-up of these financial decisions will define the shape of our societies and economies for decades to come, including our ability to respond to greater environmental challenges lying ahead.
In an interview, Mr. Nikhil Seth, the Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), discusses how education and learning can underpin a green economic recovery from COVID-19—as one that cuts CO2 emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and promotes sustainable economic activities to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
With numerous international environmental agreements already in place, Najib Saab, Secretary General of the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED), argues that new treaties are not necessarily required, but rather the need for serious political will on implementation accompanied by proper finance mechanisms for existing ones.
Stimulus packages are central to rebooting world economies. Tax expenditures within those packages, if well designed, can enhance the targeting of policy measures and ensure they reach those in need as well as help achieve a broader sustainability agenda.
A holistic approach by government and farmers alike is needed to address the problem of burning crop stubble, which comes at a huge environmental and health cost.
The COVID-19 imperative
As the world works to fight the spread of the coronavirus crisis, it is important to not only consider the human health as part of the response, but also planetary health. This includes minimizing additional risks such as poor air quality, which is linked to a number of respiratory illnesses and may exacerbate symptoms related to COVID-19 and add burden to the already stressed health infrastructure.
The global health crisis has left us no choice but to demand a transformative future where more adaptable, flexible, multi-purpose and inclusive infrastructure can help society stay resilient in the face of looming threats.