Renewable energy (RE) trade among developing countries is growing faster than global and North-South RE trade as developing countries, led by China, take advantage of decreasing manufacturing costs, increased investment, and the falling costs of renewables, says a new report released during the first United Nations Environment Assembly.

The Green Economy report, “South-South Trade in Renewable Energy: A Trade Flow Analysis of Selected Environmental Goods,” produced by UNEP, identifies key growth markets for the trade in environmental goods and services (EGS). The report focuses on the RE sector and maps the flow of trade of RE goods among developing countries. It also outlines how countries can accelerate more inclusive growth in South-South RE trade.

"The EGS market - which is expected to grow to around $US1.9 trillion by 2020 - offers developing countries an unprecedented opportunity to drive the green economy transition," said UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

The report calls for increased South-South trade cooperation - with a focus on more low-cost environmental goods, establishing favourable trade policies and agreements, and developing a skilled energy labour force - to increase significantly South-South trade in EGS, and accelerate the green economy transition.

The report issues key findings across the board, looking at the role renewables can play in the transition to a green economy, trends in trade, and the domination of solar power.

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During the first United Nations Environment Assembly, held on 23-27 June in Nairobi, a comprehensive environmental Work Plan was endorsed between UNEP and the Russian Federation. The Work Plan supplements a cooperation Agreement signed in April 2013 by UNEP and Russia. It contains over 30 joint projects aimed at protecting the country’s environment. The projects include the application of "green standards" and ecologically safe technologies; water resources management; regulation of the use of chemicals; regulation of waste processing; sustainable production and consumption; and raising public awareness about the importance of environmental protection. The Work Plan also contains guidelines on implementing UN environmental agreements and programmes. It pays specific attention to implementing the Global Environment Facility's Arctic Agenda 2020 Programme, in which UNEP was appointed as the Coordinating Agency by the Russian Government. The Programme, launched in 2011, was set up to address the serious challenge of the Arctic region's melting ice.

Speaking at the signing event, UNEP’s Executive Secretary Achim Steiner said “the programmes and priorities we’ve endorsed today with the Russian Federation provide a sharper focus and stronger momentum for addressing most of the environmental problems that could impact Russia's further economic development”.

Gennadiy Gatilov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation said “I am pleased to note that the preparatory work has been completed and the Work Plan agreed by the Russian Government and UNEP. In the Plan we set to ourselves ambitious objectives for practically entire range of environmental protection goals and will make every effort to implement them into life. I suggest that we now consider the work plan approved and to proceed to its implementation”.

More Information: vladimir.moshkalo@unep.org and isabelle.valentiny@unep.org

UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner and EU Commissioner for Environment Janez Potočnik signed on 25 June a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to reinforce the collaboration between the European Commission and UNEP in the field of environment and climate change. The agreement - signed in the margins of the first United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi - lays the basis for strengthened cooperation between UNEP and the European Commission at global and regional levels. It builds upon a previous MoU signed in 2004.

More Information: alexa.froger@unep.org

The first session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) endorsed the Batumi Outcome, which requested UNEP to provide the Secretariat services for the Pan-European Biodiversity Platform. UNEA has also approved the establishment of a trust fund for the Secretariat of the Platform.

In 2011, the Pan-European 2020 Strategy for Biodiversity was endorsed as the successor of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy (PEBLDS). It refocuses efforts to prevent further loss of biodiversity in the pan-European region, in line with the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, its Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020.

The 6th Biodiversity in Europe Conference held in April 2013 in Batumi (Georgia) reaffirmed the new institutional arrangement, creating the pan-European Biodiversity Platform. Now, UNEA’s decision brings more opportunities for enhancing cooperation on the basis of the Pan-European Biodiversity Platform.

During the first Steering Committee of the Pan-European Biodiversity Platform, held in Antalya (Turkey) in December 2013, the Platform’s Terms of Reference and the general objective to implement the Pan-European 2020 Strategy for Biodiversity and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 were adopted.

The Steering Committee also endorsed the work programme 2014-2017. The text highlights the priority for the Pan-European region to enhance capacity building and technical support for the revision and implementation of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), particularly for indicator development; integrating biodiversity and natural capital into economic and development frameworks and policies; and coordinating and strengthening MEA implementation.

More Information: thierry.Lucas@unep.org