Smart ICT and Internet applications have the potential to improve the environment and tackle climate change. Top application areas include manufacturing, energy, transport and buildings. Information and communication also foster sustainable consumption and greener lifestyles. At the same time, direct and systemic impacts related to the production, use and end of life of ICTs require careful study in order to comprehensively assess “net” environmental impacts. A better understanding of smart ICTs provides policy makers with options for encouraging clean innovation for greener economic growth. This summary was prepared by Eldis.
The main purpose of the study is to build a framework that will strengthen Peru’s BioTrade-related national programmes and will serve as a catalyst for the country’s transition to a green economy. The study bases its analysis on a review of the most relevant existing literature on BioTrade and on an extensive consultation process with stakeholders involved in the development of BioTrade in Peru (e.g. specialists, policy-makers, donors, commercial investors).
This study will be a useful resource for policy-makers, such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the government authority that draws policies regarding the creation of incentives to improve the environment for additional investment opportunities. The study offers suggestions, including the use of financial and economic instruments, to promote further growth of the BioTrade sector. The study also supports the National BioTrade Commission’s efforts to build a better public understanding of BioTrade and to raise the general awareness about the sector within the Peruvian society.
UNEP’s Green Economy initiative is about meeting the multiple challenges on a planet of six billion people rising to over nine billion by 2050, by maximising the impact and opportunities of different investment choices in order to globally propel low carbon, resource efficient growth.
Encouraging financial flows between rich and less well-off countries is key as is the involvement of the private finance sector and global investment community. UNEP has been actively engaged with financial institutions around the world for over 15 years to facilitate more sustainable investment patterns.
This report focuses on the kinds of public finance mechanisms needed to incentivise and scale-up private sector investment.
Cities are home to more than half the global population and are responsible for 60 to 80 per cent of energy use and more than 75 per cent of carbon emissions. This report examines how cities can better access climate finance through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). It recommends reforming the existing CDM to allow for methodologies geared towards cities. It also recommends the development of a CDM programme of activities for pilot cities that would inform the future development of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) and assist in the transition to a green economy.