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On 30 November 2021 (11:00 - 12:30 PM EAT, UTC +3), Poverty-Environment Action for Sustainable Development Goals (PEA), in collaboration with the Sussex University Sustainable Research Programme (SSRP) and the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) organized the 7th in its 2021 webinar series, a webinar on Financial Crises, Poverty and Environmental Sustainability in the Context of SDGs and COVID (with Sussex University and UNRISD), to present recommendations from these studies which also provided an opportunity for participants to suggest additional policy recommendations related to crises-poverty-sustainability nexus.

UNDP’s human development index office has noted that because of the current pandemic and related financial crisis, low and medium human development countries face income and livelihood losses due to mandated confinement policies and other mitigation measures. At the same time, they are more constrained in the policy space (fiscal and monetary instruments) to cope with the economic effects of the pandemic. Sovereign debt levels, which were already elevated prior to the pandemic, have increased further, threatening debt sustainability. In the absence of corrective and forward-looking actions, there is a severe risk of debt crises that will hamper achievement of the 2030 Agenda. UNDP has also estimated that the number of people living in extreme poverty in the low and medium human development countries could increase to between 626 million under a ‘COVID Baseline’ scenario and 753 million under a ‘High Damage’ scenario.

Financial crises and COVID have also seen effects on the environment. Empirical evidence based on a large number of financial crises over the period 1970–2014 shows positive environmental effects associated with financial crises (e.g., reductions in atmospheric emissions), but these are short-lived. The current pandemic crisis seems to follow the same pattern. Temporary decreases in pollutant emissions and increases in water quality but also an increase in destructive practices, such as increases in plastic pollution and waste and increase in tropical logging due to reduced monitoring and enforcement and green investments.

The UNDP-UNEP Poverty-Environment Action for Sustainable Development Goals (PEA) project in collaboration with the Sussex University Sustainability Research Programme (SSRP) and the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) have published a compilation of studies on the interplay among financial distress, poverty dynamics and environmental sustainability to foster a better understanding of the multiple, complex and often opposing ways and channels through which financial crises, poverty dynamics and environmental sustainability interact and to offer timely and unique contributions to the immediate global challenge of sustainable development. The policy recommendations from these studies, and other sources, have been compiled with a view to preparing a brief for policy makers to better understand and address poverty and environment impacts of financial crisis.

The recorded webinar is accessible on YouTube as linked below:

On 25 November 2021 (11:00 - 12:00 PM EAT, UTC +3), Poverty-Environment Action for Sustainable Development Goals (PEA) held the 6th webinar in PEA’s 2021 webinar series, with the objective - among others - to increase awareness of the work being done on blue economy under PEA but also to get feedback from participants - to guide PEA’s programme in 2022 and to inform the proposed ADB, UNEP, and UNDP BlueInvest Asia platform.

What sustainable blue economy interventions look like is still very new to many of us. The issue is how to navigate from sustainable blue economy strategies to actual action-oriented financing.

The concept of a "blue economy" came out of the 2012 Rio+20 Conference. It is based on the premise that healthy and sustainable ocean ecosystems are more productive and a must for sustainable ocean-based economies and livelihoods. This concept promotes economic growth, social inclusion and improved livelihoods at the same time as ensuring the environmental sustainability of oceans and seas. It defines a new paradigm of ocean economy, one that is in balance with the long-term capacity of the assets, goods and services of marine ecosystems, and that considers social inclusiveness.

It is important for the countries to capitalize on blue assets but while securing these opportunities, poverty and environment dimensions should also be integrated into the blue economy planning and financing mechanisms being developed by member States and key development partners in Asia and the Pacific. This is relatively a nascent area, but countries and development partners are making efforts to make use of the ocean economy and explore this innovative source of finance. The knowledge base and experience is limited but growing. In order to accelerate the process, it is vital for countries and development partners to share their knowledge and experiences.

UNDP-UNEP Poverty-Environment Action for SDGs (PEA) has been working on mainstreaming Poverty-Environment, climate and gender objectives into the Blue Economy concept. The project has provided technical support to initiatives at country and regional level.

The recorded webinar is accessible on YouTube as linked below:

On 17 November 2021 (1:00 - 2:30 PM EAT, UTC +3), Poverty-Environment Action for Sustainable Development Goals (PEA) organized the 5th in its 2021 webinar series, a webinar on green private finance, endeavoring to better define what we mean by green private finance and to present some of the relevant tools available from UNDP and UNEP. The webinar also aimed at encouraging PEA country level staff to consider discussing these tools with government counterparts with a view to including these or related green private finance work in the subsequent year’s PEA annual work plans. Additionally, the webinar envisaged to promote private green finance in the Poverty Environment Action for SDGs (PEA) programming, in the UN system and among development partners.

Green Finance is broader than Climate Finance in that it also addresses other environmental objectives such as natural resource conservation, biodiversity conservation, and pollution prevention and control. The concept of private green finance refers to actions undertaken by governments and private entities that mobilizes and aligns private financing for economic activities that are supportive of environment improvement, climate change mitigation and more efficient resource utilization. These economic activities include the financing, operation and risk management for activities in areas such as environmental protection, energy savings, clean energy, green transportation, green buildings as well as environment-oriented financial products or services, such as loans, credit cards, insurances or bonds.

The recorded webinar is accessible on YouTube as linked below:
 

Attachments:

Photos : 2021 webinar series - #5/2021, Green financing in private investment

On 11 November 2021 (11:00 - 12:30 PM EAT, UTC +3), Poverty-Environment Action for Sustainable Development Goals (PEA) held the 4th in the 2021 webinar series, titled “Eliminating Poverty and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability through PEA’s Integrated Approach to Implementing the SDGs”, aimed at sharing learning to date on Poverty-Environment Action’s Integrated Approach, considering pressing imperatives to ramp up integration, and gaining participants’ advice on an updated approach that would be fit for meeting new and growing demands. In addition, its objectives were:

• To explore how Poverty-Environment Action’s Integrated Approach can best tackle today’s complex challenges, notably contributing to inclusive green post-COVID recovery and accelerating achievement of the SDGs
• To seek participant perspectives that will inform the content and approach of a new, online ‘3rd Edition’ Poverty-Environment Action Mainstreaming Handbook
• To welcome sharing the perspectives of participants who bring unique country experience on how we can overcome challenges to implementing an integrated approach to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Poverty-Environment Action is all about integrated action to achieve integrated poverty-environment and climate outcomes, usually done through a range of integrated decision-making processes.

The recorded webinar is accessible on YouTube as linked below:

Attachments

Photos : 2021 webinar series - #4/2021 Eliminating Poverty and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability through PEA’s Integrated Approach to Implementing the SDGs

On 6 December 2022 (11:30-13:00 CET), the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) and the World Bank are hosting a session on to discuss how Europe can further boost the circular economy transition within and beyond its borders.

The event will examine key existing constraints and the policy domains where ambitious action will be needed in the coming years to further boost the circular economy agenda both within and beyond the EU borders. 

During the event, the World Bank will launch its new report, “Squaring the Circle: Policies from Europe’s Circular Economy Transition,” which reviews Europe’s experience in spearheading circular economy policy. The report identifies key features in the EU policy landscape that that have been successful in driving the circular transition, but also existing barriers to future progress and key measures to overcome them.

On 29 November 2022 (10:00-11:30 EST), the World Resources Institute (WRI) will organize a webinar on the opportunities of forests to improve cities. The webinar will be the official launch of a major new research report, Better Forests, Better Cities, hosted by WRI and the Pilot Projects Design Collective.

Efforts to conserve, restore, and manage forests can benefit cities through improved air quality, decreased flood risk, improved health outcomes, and more. This first-of-its-kind report evaluates the benefits to human health and well-being, water, climate mitigation, and biodiversity that forests and other nature-based solutions at all scales provide to cities and their residents.

The webinar will host a number of relevant speakers, such as Frances Seymour, Distinguished Senior Fellow, Forests Program (WRI) and Dr. Sarah Jane Wilson, Research Lead and Forest Geographer (Pilot Projects Design Collective).

On 1 December 2022 (12:00-17:00 GMT) for the Western Hemisphere, and on 2 December 2022 (08:00-13:00 GMT) for the Eastern Hemisphere, the African Development Institute of the African Development Bank Group and the African Union Commission will host a global community of practice (G-CoP) policy dialogue on leveraging the African diaspora for inclusive growth and sustainable development in Africa.

The event will feature several panel discussions involving leaders and representatives of African diaspora organizations. Themes to be discussed  include the securitization of remittances, diaspora bonds, trade and investment promotion, research, innovation, knowledge, and technology sharing and brain circulation.

It will also explore ways to leverage the wealth of skills and competencies of the African diaspora to support inclusive growth and sustainable development in Africa. Given the continent’s huge financing, trade, and knowledge gaps, the public sector cannot meet the needs alone.

 (30 November 2022) 

Toxic chemicals, waste, and pollutants pose serious environmental and health consequences to all people. But due to different exposure routes and biophysical characteristics, women, men and children are impacted differently. Women often have fewer opportunities to engage and lead on relevant aspects of chemicals and waste, and gender issues are not considered during chemicals and waste planning, decision-making and research. 

The webinar aimed to facilitate knowledge exchange by showcasing women-led and gender-just solutions in SIDS’ chemicals and waste management from grassroots to national and international levels in policy, practice and entrepreneurship; raise awareness and understanding on the existing knowledge and gaps in gender and chemicals and waste. The event launched the Gender Community of Practice on the Green Forum – a new collaborative space for stakeholders in the green economy. 

Watch the webinar recording here.  

Discussion moderated by Margaux Granat, Gender Expert, ISLANDS

Melanie Ashton, CCKM Project Manager, ISLANDS opened the webinar by underlining the ISLANDS focus on gender mainstreaming across SIDS chemicals and waste management, supported by the Programme’s gender-responsive approaches to overcome inequalities. She shared a recent experience from the Pacific region, where a testimonial was made on the everyday struggles in overcoming gender norms and stereotypes, and how small measures – like introducing a childcare to informal communities in landfill sites and extending long-term employment to women in the mining sector – can go a long way to addressing gender disparity.  

Margaux Granat reiterated that gender is the key cross-cutting priority and prerequisite for meeting SDGs including chemicals and waste management, and without achieving it, none of the achievements are sustainable.  

Anna Holthaus, MSP Institute, outlined why gender matters in chemicals management from three dimensions: biological, social and the potential for societal transformation. From the biological perspective, the bodily difference between men and women – e.g., reproductive systems, unique phases of life such as pregnancy and menopause – lead to varying impacts of chemicals exposure, which are not researched sufficiently. From the social perspective, the gendered roles of society and the traditional division of labor often lead to the discrepancy in men experiencing more direct and acute exposure to harmful chemicals, whereas women, indirect and gradual. Finally, Holthaus mentioned how there lies potential to generate societal transformation from integrating the gender dimension into chemicals management, as it helps us to identify challenges to ensuring public safety – such as price and lack of risk assessment – and enhance them (e.g., pre-emptively wearing protective gears tailored to varying bodily measurement).  

Keima Gardiner, Ministry of Planning and Development, Trinidad and Tobago elaborated on the leadership and commitment from international policy bodies, as well as national governments. Within the secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Convention, Gardiner mentioned the growing female representation at the high-level, including the female presidencies of the Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions. From the national and regional level, she mentioned the similar trend of growing female representation within the offices, as well as regional bodies like the Basel Convention Regional Training Centre for the Caribbean (BCRC Caribbean). In terms of the significance of securing such female voices in various institutional structures, she pointed out the benefits from addressing the varying impacts of chemicals and waste (created by the different occupational exposure due to gendered labor), as well as interlinkages with the other angles such as ethnic dimension and cultural considerations.  

Ruth Spencer, Marine Ecosystems Protected Areas (MEPA) Trust, Antigua and Barbuda, highlighted the importance of integrating women’s voice into the local-level environmental management. Reflecting from her experience, Spencer mentioned there have been inconsistency in enforcing regulations locally – including safe and adequate uses of chemicals. In those cases, female members of the community have been at the forefront of pointing them out, addressing them, and pushing for action. Based on such a trend, she viewed the female voice as the source to strong and resilient community against adverse environmental impacts and natural disasters, as they take on the role of community stewards holding authorities accountable. Spencer conveyed the necessity of mainstreaming more female voice into the actual decision-making processes locally and nationally.  

Marina Keil, Founder and Director, Samoa Recycling and Waste Management Association (SRWMA) shared her experience as a female who was able to break into the industry traditionally dominated by men. Keil noted that, she initially entered the recycling industry motivated by profit but later realized the recycling facility she operates is not an environmental champion, but rather a culprit to further pollution. She underscored the need for more thorough management of the residue from the dismantling practices. Successfully utilizing a training support provided by the Samoan Ministry of Environment, Keil shifted her approach to a more sustainable recycling practice established the first ever recycling and waste management association, both in Samoa and the Pacific. As the Association successfully became the focal point for recycling and managing hazardous and low-value waste streams such as plastics, waste oil and e-waste, the association has been replicated in other Pacific countries. From her experience, Keil highlighted the importance of providing opportunities for female leaders in the waste management sector and enhancing their capacity to devise and operationalize an impactful plan for sustainable recycling practices.  

Tanya Yanuyanurua, Pacific Recycling Foundation (PRF), Fiji, shared her experience on mainstreaming the rights of the marginalized groups into recycling and waste management. As the PRF advocates for increased awareness and best international practices on recycling, they choose to work with the most vulnerable members of the community, including women, individuals with disability, and members of the LGBTQIA+. This stems from the realization that there is a human element attached to waste recycling, explained Yanuyanurua. Some of the achievements include their recent workshop, during which they were able to revise the term of 'informal waste pickers' – who are individuals that collect recyclables to generate income – to the Community Pillars of Recycling (CPR). Through the workshop, CPR were provided with financial and literacy training, personal protective equipment (PPE), and food and dignity packages (during COVID-19). Further outreach and support have been given to: the youth recycling ambassadors in schools, community recycling projects whose majority (60%+) population are women and girls, and other intersectional identities around recycling and waste management. 

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 The Implementing Sustainable Low and Non-Chemical Development in Small Island Developing States (ISLANDS) Programme is a $515-million, five-year initiative backed in part by the Global Environment Facility, which is providing $75 million. It supports 33 small island developing states in four regions – the Atlantic, Caribbean, Indian and Pacific oceans – to reduce and manage hazardous waste and improve chemicals management in their territories. ISLANDS is led by UNEP, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the Inter-American Development Bank.   

On 29 November 2022, the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance (the Lab) is hosting a webinar on the call for innovative climate finance solutions to accelerate the transition to a net-zero economy.

In this webinar, the Lab will cover 2023 call for ideas’ application process, review case studies from previous cycles and end with a Q&A session. The webinar will cover the:

• Application process
• Selection criteria
• Priority areas for this cycle
• Benefits of Lab support (valued in excess of USD 250,000)
• Lab process

The webinar in Portuguese will be held on 30 November (register). The application deadline for the open call is 26 December 2022 at 17:00 PST.

On 14 November 2022 (15:00-15:45 GMT), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will host a webinar on regreening Cities on tackling climate change at the COP27 Climate Classroom. 

The event will focus on ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), which is the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of a strategy to aid people in adapting to the adverse effects of climate change. The approach is crucial for building climate resilience in cities and peri-urban areas.

The webinar will explore how the use of nature-based solutions and ecosystem restoration can help cities adapt to the impacts of the climate change, particularly by drawing on practical examples.