This literature review assesses the extent to which developing countries can make the transition towards low or lower patterns of growth. It explores the potential impacts of climate change on economic growth and the investment needs for increasing growth resilience. The paper outlines the challenge of establishing patterns of low carbon growth and discusses the cost of greenhouse gas mitigation. The feasibility of low carbon growth in developing countries is explored, including a review of the evidence, the economic impacts, its limitations and possible next-steps. The literature suggests that significant mitigation levels can be achieved without having a major impact on growth objectives. The paper presents the various aspects of climate resilient growth patterns and how to realise them respectively. Topics covered include a review of the evidence and methods, understanding the political context and the matter of technological deployment.
These guidelines will focus on the assessment of managed resources by providing additional detail, key ecological concepts and methodologies for completing a resource assessment, and guidance to incorporate findings into management plans and monitoring systems.
The present document complements the guidelines developed by UNCTAD (2009) for the development and implementation of management plans for wild collected plant species used by organisations working with natural ingredients.
Section 2 will feature examples of applied resource assessments using specific case studies for three traded species based on two information sources: existing cases of UNCTAD BioTrade partners and examples from scientific publications or project reports.
Rapid economic growth in India during the last two decades has accentuated the demand for energy and natural resources related to water, land and forests. Based on a review of the current policy framework in these areas and data from fieldwork in the northeastern region of India, this paper addresses two inter-related themes: (i) how emerging economies like India have dealt with the question of access to resources in response to the opposing demands of inclusive growth and social divides; and (ii) the specific case study of the 'Green Mission' and hydroelectric power (HEP) dams on the river Teesta in India’s northeastern Himalayan region.
This summary was prepared by Eldis.
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.