Kim Hak-Su, United Nations Under-Secretary General and the Executive Secretary of UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (UNESCAP), voiced the organization's support and confidence of success for China's determination and latest moves to embrace a Green Growth model as desired by UNESCAP, in an interview with Xinhua on Thursday at the UNESCAP headquarters in Bangkok.
Mr. Kim flew to Beijing Friday to attend the China Development Forum 2007 (CDF), in which he will share a "Green Growth" blueprint proposed by UNESCAP for policy-makers of China, to echo the theme of the forum -- "China: Toward New Models of Economic Growth".
The CDF, an annual event sponsored by one of China's leading think tanks Development Research Center of the State Council, will gather around 80 leading executives, academics, and senior government officials from China and abroad at the prestigious Diaoyutai State Guesthouse to have a high-end brainstorm.
The Forbidden City, Beijing. Having more clear days and
blue skies would definetely put the Chinese capital in a
positive light during the upcoming Olympics.
The anticipated event will turn global attention
to Beijing in 2008.
"ESCAP holds Expert Group Meeting: Developing Eco-Efficiency Indicators of Economic Growth, January 2007"
As a part of ESCAP’s programme to promote the “Green Growth” approach to sustainable development it is developing indicators of the eco-efficiency (EEI) of economic growth. ESCAP organized an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on Developing Eco-Efficiency Indicators of Economic Growth from 30 to 31 January 2007 in Bangkok, Thailand. The EGM is a part of a project generously supported by the Government of Korea. More than 30 experts attended from research think tanks, NGOs, private sector, international and UN organizations and ministries of planning.
The ESCAP EEI is being developed to fill the gaps of other indicator initiatives related to sustainable development. Often other initiatives fail to establish linkages between the economic, environmental and social dimension of sustainable development. Furthermore, earlier indicators often have little relevance for policy making. The ESCAP EEI is different. Firstly, the EEI will measure how the environment is used for economic activity and how it is affected by economic activity needed to reduce persistent poverty in the region. Secondly, the EEI are more policy relevant than other indicator initiatives, since they are being created in consultation with academics and policy makers from the region who have been using indicators to evaluate national and international policy making. This work will support analytical work and policy development on the “Green Growth” approach and further enhance the capacity of ESCAP to assist countries in improving the eco-efficiency of economic growth.
Green tax discussed on Joint Roundtable Workshop, December 2006
UNESCAP and the Korean Association of Public Finance And Economics (KIPF) are jointly holding a Roundtable Workshop on Prospects of Green Tax and Budget Reform: Principles and Country Experiences: Revenue Neutrality and Double Dividend from 14 to 15 December, at the Shangri-La in Bangkok, Thailand.
The meeting is going to provide a concise overview of the numerous possibilities green tax and budget reforms create with important social and environmental implications, such as the double dividend effect - increased employment, improved environmental protection and decreased CO2 emissions. The meeting will also discuss the issue of Revenue Neutrality and Double Dividend from green taxation. The target group of the meeting are Korean finance decision makers and economic planners. Attached for your information is the provisional agenda.
As the Republic of Korea is in the process of reforming its tax system, finance decision makers and economic planners are interested to learn from the experiences of Germany , Sweden, UK as well as other countries in the region such as Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. There will be a pool of international resource persons as well, who would present issues as the UK Climate change levy, millennium assessment and the need of green tax and budget reform, German and Swedish experience of introducing environmental tax.
First Green Growth Policy Dialogue, November 2005
The First Green Growth Policy Dialogue, which addressed the issues of enhancing eco-efficiency through green tax and budget reform (GTBR) was held from 8 to 9 November 2005 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. It was organized by UNESCAP in collaboration with the Korean Association of Public Finance and Economics (KAPFE) and the Korea Institute of Public Finance (KIPF). The meeting sought the opportunity for economic, financial and environmental policy makers from Ministries of Finance and Environment, economists and practitioners to discuss how to improve eco-efficiency of economic growth through taxation and budget system reform. More on <www.unescap.org/esd/environment/mced/tggap/index.asp>
Second Green Growth Policy Dialogue, May 2006
The Second Green Growth Policy Dialogue, which focused on the less debated role of public policy in providing sustainable consumption choices and in relation to the resources saving society and green growth. The Policy Dialogue was organized by UNESCAP in close collaboration with the China Standard Certification Centre and with assistance from the National Development Reform Commission of China and was held in Beijing, China from 23 to 25 of May 2006. While trying to apply the green growth approach in improving eco-efficiency of consumption pattern in support of the Marrakech process, the Policy Dialogue focused on, as well as on the role of public policy, including tools such as demand side management and cultural values as agents of change of lifestyle towards sustainable consumption. More on <www.unescap.org/esd/environment/mced/tggap/2rpd_bm.asp>
First Meeting of the Seoul Initiative Network on Green Growth, November 2005
The 1st Meeting of the Seoul Initiative Network on Green Growth (SINGG), which was jointly organized by the Secretariat and the Ministry of Environment of Republic of Korea in cooperation with the Korea Environment Institute, was held from 10 to 11 November 2005 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Participants at the meeting discussed how to implement the Seoul Initiative on Green Growth formulated an implementation plan for the years 2006-2010 and adopted the Joint Announcement for the Implementation of the Seoul Initiative on Green Growth. The Joint Announcement includes the establishment of the Seoul Initiative Network, the target areas and focus activities of the Seoul Initiative Network More on <www.unescap.org/esd/environment/mced/singg/index.asp>.
First Policy Forum of the Seoul Initiative Network
The First Policy Consultation Forum of the Seoul Initiative on Green Growth, which is being organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea (KMOE) and the Korean Environment Institute (KEI) with generous support form the Government of the Republic of Korea will be held from 6 till 8 September 2006 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The Meeting will create the opportunity for governmental officials from UNESCAP member states to exchange views and build a consensus on one of the important policy issues of Green Growth approach: Promoting sustainable infrastructure development.
Infrastructure is fundamentally important for economic development and for its underlying environmental impact. By adopting Resolution 62/3 on “Jakarta Declaration on enhancing regional cooperation in infrastructure development including that related to disaster management”, UNESCAP emphasized the importance of sustainable infrastructure development as a key element for realizing environmentally sustainable economic growth and development to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
The Policy Consultation Forum will discuss various approaches in promoting environmentally sustainable and eco-efficient infrastructure development in the region, focusing on water supply, wastewater management, solid waste management, and transportation infrastructure. The Forum will explore a number of policy options for incorporating the Green Growth concept into infrastructure development system and will identify ways to enable governments to design practical strategies for sustainable infrastructure development.
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