Green Economy can serve as a vehicle to achieve the SDGs and advance the transition to low-carbon, resource-efficient and inclusive economies. Since an increasing number of countries have started to engage in Green Economy policy practices, it is crucial to provide a framework for countries to review and assess the coherence and effectiveness of their existing policies in fostering Inclusive Green Economy transitions and to monitor their progress towards the SDGs. The EU-funded project Inclusive Green Economy Policy Making for SDGs: From Implementation to Evaluation aimed to achieve this objective through:
Development and implementation of a Green Economy Policy Review methodology for analyzing countries’ experiences with the implementation of Green Economy policies and their alignment with existing national policy frameworks, the SDGs, and the Paris Agreement.
UNEP has therefore developed a policy review manual which provides policymakers with the methodology for conducting a review of a country’s Green Economy policy framework and practical guidance on implementing such a review. The proposed methodology focuses on reviewing an existing policy framework or stand-alone policy along the three stages of the policy cycle: the policy process of devising, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the policy, the policy design, including policy objectives, coherence with national and international frameworks, policy instruments and indicators, and the implementation and effectiveness of the policy framework.
With the aim of developing recommendations and guidelines for Green Economy policy-making, the methodology was pilot-tested in three countries and applied to different types of policies/policy frameworks: ecological compensation policies Hainan Province in China, the industrial policy framework in South Africa, and the National Green Development Policy in Mongolia.
Further development and application of an Integrated Green Economy Modelling (IGEM) tool in Peru.
Under PAGE, UNEP collaborated with modelling experts to develop the IGEM Framework. The IGEM links a Computable General Equilibrium Model and T21 modelling, allowing for a more comprehensive environmental analysis. In this project, the IGEM tool was used to simulate energy efficiency gains in selected sectors over time and support the implementation of Peru’s NDCs. A series of workshops was conducted to develop modelling capabilities in the country and in 2019, energy efficiency policies were modelled with the IGEM for green manufacturing and green services.
Together, the Green Economy Policy Review methodology and the country-level application of the IGEM help facilitate the assessment, monitoring, and evaluation of Inclusive Green Economy policies adopted at the country level. They enable policymakers to systematically assess, evaluate, monitor, and enhance existing policies, and inform the conception, design, and implementation of future Inclusive Green Economy pathways.