Delegates from China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan met in Beijing in June for a high-level workshop on UNEP’s Green Economy and China’s Ecological Civilization approaches.

The event follows a fellowship programme aimed at building capacity among research fellows for a Green Economy scoping report for Central Asia, whose production will be led by international expert Dr. John Shilling.

The two-day workshop, which took place on 11 and 12 June, also brought together experts from UNEP, the United Nations Development Programme, the Global Green Growth Institute and other international organizations to facilitate a dialogue on the development of a ‘Green Silk Road’ that strengthens the sub-region’s transition to an inclusive Green Economy.

During the event, government officials, researchers and international experts shared information about their own national Inclusive Green Economy and sustainable development practices, and discussed opportunities for sub-regional cooperation. China’s implementation of its own Ecological Civilization approach was shared as an example that holds valuable lessons for other countries in the region.

This workshop took place within the framework of the UNEP project entitled ‘South-South Cooperation in Mongolia and Central Asia Countries: Sharing Knowledge on Inclusive Green Economies and Ecological Civilization’. As part of the project, researchers from China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have spent six-weeks in a research fellowship programme at Beijing Normal University.

The high-level workshop marks the end of the six week fellowship programme, during which the research fellows have attended seminars and lectures with Chinese experts and visited various relevant organizations, institutions, and field sites, in addition to carrying out their research work under the guidance of Dr. Shilling.

A full version of this story can be found here

For more information: chiara.moroni@unep.org

Following their annual Steering Committee meeting, representatives of the Ministries of Environment and Economy from the six EaP Green countries have taken part in an exchange on the success stories and challenges for organic agriculture in the region organised by UNEP.

Officials from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine gathered for the 4thSteering Committee meeting of the EU-funded ‘Greening Economies in the European Neighbourhood’ (EaP Green) Project in Chisinau, Moldova on 18 June 2015. The meeting was jointly organized and attended by the project implementation partners, the EU, OECD, UNECE, UNIDO and UNEP.

In an encouraging welcoming speech, Mr. Sergiu Palihovici, Minister of Environment of the Republic of Moldova, highlighted his government’s recent establishment of a green economy inter-ministerial working group and national targets for the transition towards a green economy.

Focus on organic sector

Back-to-back with this year’s Steering Committee meeting, UNEP furthermore organized a special session on organic agriculture, where a vivid exchange took place among representatives of governments, international organizations, NGOs and farmers and producers on the role of the sector in the transition to a green economy.

Policies and instruments for the promotion of organic agriculture were highlighted and discussions took place on national success stories and challenges presented by five NGO representatives of the EaP countries. It was found that the organic sector provides significant opportunities to stimulate a green economy transition in the region due to the low levels of pesticide and fertilizer use, the significant share of small farms, the availability of agricultural workforce and the potential to export to the growing EU market.

However, common challenges – such as the overall low awareness of organic agriculture, the barriers and cost for certification and labeling, as well as little support from policy-makers - remain.

Rounding off the fruitful exchange on organic agriculture, meeting participants were invited to taste locally produced organic vegetables, fruits, cheeses and beverages at the evening reception.

For more information: rie.tsutsumi@unep.org

When farmer earnings are included, economic gains from organic agriculture could immediately trump those from conventional farming even if crop yields are up to 20% lower, reveals a new UNEP study on green economy in Moldova published in June.

The report titled ‘Green Economy Scoping Study for the Republic of Moldova’ was launched by UNEP on 18 June 2015 in the country’s capital Chisinau. It lays out the costs and benefits to different green economy scenarios focusing on organic agriculture, energy demand (energy efficiency) and energy supply (renewable energies).

The report was prepared in the framework of the “‘Greening Economies in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood” programme (EaP GREEN ). EaP GREEN is funded by the European Union and implemented jointly by four international organisations – UNEP, OECD, UNECE and UNIDO. The launch took place in the margins of a Special Session on Organic Agriculture which was organised by UNEP during the 4th Annual Steering Committee Meeting of EaP GREEN.

The UNEP study finds that Moldovan farmers can expect to profit from expanding organic agriculture in the medium and long-term thanks to premium market prices for organic products, lower production costs and increasing demand from EU countries. Under the 30% lower-yields scenario, it would cost €176 million in economic incentives to farmers for the conversion from conventional farming and ensure Moldova has 5.8% of its agriculture land under organic production by 2030.

Among other policy options sounded, Moldova can further expect to earn back investments in renewable energy within ten years, while investments in energy efficiency could secure savings in energy consumption of more than €100 million by 2020. Benefits would consist of reduced energy demand and related costs, diversification of the energy supply and lower emission rates, on top of the additional impacts stemming from a green economy such as economic growth and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

The report – which aims to help Moldova meet its National Development Strategy - recommends several policy interventions to help the country achieve the examined benefits, such as designing the right network of economic incentives across policy tools (e.g. regulation, fiscal instruments and informational tools) and developing a green economy policy package to balance government expenditure and revenues (e.g. targeted subsidies and taxation).

For more information please contact: rie.tsutsumi@unep.org
or visit: www.green-economies-eap.org

A new UNEP report taking stock of moves towards sustainable consumption and production policies could provide a platform for the exchange of good practices for the whole region.

The study, titled ‘Sustainable consumption and production policies and initiatives in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus,’ was presented to policymakers from Eastern Europe and the Caucasus on 18 June in Moldova. The report was funded by the European Union and developed under the ’Greening Economies in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood’ ( EaP GREEN ) programme.

The paper includes recommendations for furthering work in specific fields, for example on how to best organise bodies in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine that deal with SCP.

These countries have a lasting industrial legacy from the Soviet era, yet also a bounty of natural resources and unique ecosystems. The report therefore aims to fill knowledge gaps on SCP policies and practices which can be designed to economic, social and environmental challenges.

On energy efficiency for example, the report shows how Moldova is attracting investment for 85 projects to renovate hospitals, schools and other buildings. Like several others in the region, the country relies heavily on energy imports and electricity prices have risen sharply in recent years – meaning energy efficiency moves can protect economic growth and ensure savings.

Meanwhile, in Armenia, a local organic certification company, ECOGLOBE, has been accredited by the German and US authorities, the report reveals. As a result, manufacturers certified by the company can now sell produce on the US and EU organic market, where demand is expected to continue to rise.

Among its recommendations, the paper suggests that government focal points be designated for dealing with green economy and SCP issues, so as to ensure greatest efficiency in the transition.

For more information contact: rie.tsutsumi@unep.org
or visit: www.green-economies-eap.org