This publication examines the linkages between the environment and the economy and the implications for the labour market of climate change. The report evaluates the linkages between economic, social and environmental policies in the Philippines. It provides qualitative and quantitative information on the number and types of green jobs in key sectors of the economy, estimating actual green jobs in existing industries, based on available published data and substantiated by consultations and actual surveys.
The mapping study was conducted to estimate and identify green jobs in the Philippines. It has identified potential challenges to developing a greener economy with green jobs and decent work. The report provides information and statistical data to assess the economic and employment impacts of a green development strategy and provides information on the sectors which promote environmentally-friendly decent work (green jobs). It includes policy recommendations for the government and social partners to identify entry points for further green job creation.
As emissions trading schemes (ETS) continue to emerge around the world, governments are starting to consider and implement linkages between their domestic schemes. This paper analyses the case for a link between the EU ETS and the upcoming South Korean ETS. The authors assess key features of the planned South Korean ETS to determine elements that have the potential to facilitate or prevent linkage. The paper draws on lessons from previous linkage examples and makes concrete policy recommendations for the South Korean case. The linkage debate is placed in the larger context of international cooperation on climate change.
Developing growth strategies that promote greener lifestyles requires a good understanding of what factors affect people’s behaviour towards the environment. Recent OECD work based on periodic surveys of more than 10, 000 households across a number of countries and areas represents a breakthrough by providing a common framework to collect unique empirical evidence for better policy design.
This publication presents responses from the most recent round of the OECD survey implemented in 2011 in 5 areas (energy, food, transport, waste and water) and 11 countries: Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Israel, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Analysis comparing the data across countries, policy conditions and households’ characteristics reveals which measures most effectively change behaviour. Each round of the survey also allows to track changes over time and to explore new emerging issues.
The objective of this study is to assess whether the financing practice of recovery efforts is consistent with the international architecture in place to promote the transition from crisis to sustainable development in fragile and conflict-affected states. The recommendations of this study are based on a mapping and comparative analysis of humanitarian, development and climate adaptation pooled financing mechanisms at the global and country levels. Findings from this study reveal that the current financing practice reinforces rather than bridges a silo approach towards recovery efforts. Development pooled financing mechanisms for recovery in fragile and conflict-affected countries are limited in terms of their: i) coverage - they do not exist in the majority of countries or are established too late to promote synergies with humanitarian assistance; ii) capitalization - they are too small and fragmented to act as gravity centres for aid coordination and alignment; and iii) coherence - they cover too many issues, leaving some key areas unaddressed.
This report reviews the current status of payments for watershed services (PWS) in developing countries. It highlights the main trends in the evolution of these schemes, by identifying and analyzing case profiles, constraints and information gaps in Section 2, followed by a brief overview of general trends and setbacks at the international, national and local levels. Section 4 outlines the key characteristics of PWS, namely related to supply and demand and payment mechanisms. And, Sections 5 and 6 synthesize the available evidence on the environmental and social impacts of PWS, and draw lessons for the design of future initiatives.
Free online case study resources can be downloaded from the website that accompanies this study at: www.watershedmarkets.org
This report released by the United Nations shows how the major emitting countries can cut their carbon emissions by mid-century in order to prevent dangerous climate change. The report, produced cooperatively by leading research institutes in 15 countries, is the first global cooperative program to identify practical pathways to a low-carbon economy by 2050. The Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project (DDPP) interim report was presented in a briefing to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and after to the French government, as host of the 2015 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) climate conference. The interim report supports the UN Climate Summit on September 23, 2014. The full DDPP report will be presented in the spring of 2015.
This report discusses the opportunities presented by the Brazilian Amapá State government’s intention to make the transition to a green economy. It explores initial progress in green policy and activity, and associated dynamics in the political economy, and lays out a broad but feasible set of sectoral and cross-sectoral policy options. The paper also offers an initial assessment of a pioneer, inclusive scheme of payments to small producers for forest-based environmental services: pro-extrativismo programme. It draws on lessons from Amazonas state that can help to inform Amapá’s green economy strategy and concludes with recommendations for further technical collaboration, and for priorities in sectoral policy and cross-sectoral enabling conditions, with a focus on government leadership.
This report investigates how cities can use different instruments to integrate the environment into urban planning and management approaches. Including: policy instruments, process instruments, planning instruments and management instruments. The report examines how these instruments are applied to several well established approaches to integrated urban planning. It examines the characteristics, strengths and weaknesses of Integrated Development Plans, City Development Strategies, ecoCity Planning, ecoBUDGET and Strategic Environmental Assessment.
The report also includes 12 case studies of cities that have worked to integrate the environment into their planning processes including: Egypt (Alexandria), Thailand (Bangkok), Republic of Cuba (Bayamo), the Philippines (Bohol), Bulgaria (Bourgas), Canada (Calgary), South Africa (Cape Town), Brazil (Goiânia; Porto Alegre), Columbia (Manizales), Kenya (Nakuru), and the People’s Republic of China (Yangzhou).
The ongoing review of the UK’s Fourth Carbon Budget is closely linked to the debate over the impact that domestic climate change policies can have on the competitiveness of businesses. Notably, there are concerns that, if the UK implements more ambitious climate policies than its trading partners, carbon-intensive producers might relocate. This could mean that some affected sectors may have to reduce their production of goods and services below the optimum level that would be achieved if there were uniform international climate policies. In addition, the impact of climate change policies on emissions reductions could be limited if big emitters simply relocate, especially if they move to jurisdictions that have lower environmental standards.
This report finds that the rapid pace of urbanisation represents an opportunity to build more sustainable, innovative and equitable towns and cities, and to use the world’s natural resources more efficiently. It offers strategies for decision makers to introduce measures that can spur inclusive economic growth and reduce poverty, while ensuring sustainable levels of consumption and production.
Some of the proactive measures city leaders can take to help to improve resource efficiency and reduce negative environmental impacts include: