The focus of this white paper is communications and the notion that better, more coordinated information exchange is a key strategy for furthering green investment and green growth. The research and client engagements associated with the Global Green Economy Index (the leading measure of national green reputations and performance covering 27 countries and cities) have revealed actionable examples where communications and the technologies that enable them can help to advance green economic growth today.
Using the example of the Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water’s (MEW) support for the residential solar water heating (SWH) market, this report highlights how sound governmental policies can boost a green economy. It evaluates the creation of a national financing mechanism for SWH, including the effects of government subsidies, interest free loans and sales activities in the residential SWH market in 2011. The study finds that installing solar water heaters saved a total of 18,390 tons of carbon dioxide resulting in a yearly saving of US$ 3,754,687. The success of the financing mechanism is attributed to close cooperation among the Central Bank of Lebanon, the MEW and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Recommendations include: increase awareness raising efforts; build capacity for commercial banks that facilitate solar loans to avoid delays and to simplify applications; and provide risk guarantees for low and middle income households.
This summary was prepared by Eldis.
The 12th Five-Year Plan (FYP) adopted by the Chinese government in March 2011 devotes considerable attention to energy and climate change and establishes a new set of targets and policies for 2011-2015. While some of the targets are largely in line with the status quo, other aspects of the plan represent more dramatic moves to reduce fossil energy consumption, promote low-carbon energy sources, and restructure China’s economy. Among the goals is to “gradually establish a carbon trade market.” Key targets include:
The Overseas Development Institute, working alongside Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit and the International Poverty Reduction Center in China, have been developing a collaborative, research, policy engagement and knowledge transfer exchange programme. The aim is to provide stakeholders with firm evidence of ways to promote effective investment in green growth. This working paper presents the findings of the programme’s scoping study, conducted in India and China, which sought to identify and better understand drivers for green growth.
The paper begins by outlining the tenets of the green growth paradigm, defining the concept of green growth as being both sustainable and inclusive. It then presents the findings of the scoping study and looks at the evolution of green growth thinking. The authors also explore the potential for sharing lessons learnt, both between India and China and with other countries, and set out a proposal for identifying policy and initiative case studies for further analysis and impact assessment.
The scoping study consisted of:
Bamboo, rattan, seagrass and other raw materials used in handicrafts production are an important part of Viet Nam’s natural capital. These are valuable resources that need to be protected, harvested and utilised in a sustainable manner to ensure a vibrant crafts sector now and for future generations. The environmental impacts of crafts production by households and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are often considered negligible given the scale of their operations, yet taking into account their sheer number, use of natural materials and limited capabilities, their production practices should also be appropriately addressed. Piecemeal interventions just at the production cultivation or stages, will only produce equally limited results. A comprehensive and integrated approach is needed to make green and clean-up the entire value chain, starting from raw materials collection, processing, crafts production and transportation, right up to final markets. Coordinated interventions to make green five value chains were supported in Viet Nam, respectively in the: bamboo and rattan, seagrass, sericulture and silk, lacquerware and handmade paper sectors.