	Astana, Kazakhstan 27 September-2 October 2010. The sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development (MCED) in Asia and the PacificAs part of the preparations for the upcoming MCED6 ESCAP is asking readers to nominate their Champions of Green Growth. We are looking for outstanding examples from the Asia and Pacific region of new projects or programmes which will contribute to the country's Green Growth agenda. The winning examples will be presented at MCED 6 and showcased to all member states. Please send your examples to escap-esdd-evs@un.org
	Bangkok, Thailand 4 June 2010 - ESCAP is proud to announce the launch of the new online Green Growth e-Learning programme. This online learning tool has been specially developed based on ESCAP's unique Green Growth Capacity Development Programme. Participants from the previous training workshops will be able to build on their previous knowledge of Green Growth policy tools for sustainable development from their office or home. To access the e-learning please click here
	Putrajaya, Malaysia 18-19 May 2010 -UNESCAP has teamed up with UNDP and the British High Commission in Malaysia to host a 2-day National Workshop on Green Growth entitled Malaysian Green Growth Policy Tools Training Workshop for Low Carbon Development. In partnership with the Malaysian Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water, participants learned about policy tools for low carbon development and how Malaysia can use Green Growth concepts to support their New Economic Model (NEM). For more information please click here
	Seoul, Republic of Korea 29 March – 1 April 2010 – The 2nd Training of Trainers Capacity Development Seminar entitled “Green Growth: A Path to Good Governance” explored policy tools to promote good governance and environmentally sustainable economic growth across the Asia and Pacific region. Organized by ESCAP and the United Nations Project Office on Governance (UNPOG) in conjunction with the Regional Helpdesk on Sustainable Consumption and Production participants learned a variety of policy tools to help green their economies and improve governance in national economies. For more information on ESCAP’s capacity development programme please click here.
	On 8 February 2010, the Royal Government of Cambodia expressed its support for the implementation of the newly drafted National Green Growth Roadmap. The document was drafted by the Interministerial Green Growth Working Group under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment of Cambodia. Click to download a copy of the meeting report and read more about Green Growth in Cambodia.
	Following the guidance and advice provided by ESCAP on the opportunities for greening growth, the Government of Fiji has taken a great first step and has developed and approved a National Employment Centre Decree. The objectives of the Centre include the promotion of environmentally-friendly employment opportunities and the creation of social enterprises, green productivity and local economic development programmes through sustainable enterprise development. Click here to download a copy of the decree and here to download the supplement.
	Manila, Philippines 9-11 September 2009 The International Conference on Green Industry in Asia, entitled Managing the transition to resource efficient and low carbon industries recently held in Manila was organized by UNIDO, UNEP, ILO and ESCAP. Conference participants discussed: policies and strategies; regulatory and institutional frameworks; new business opportunities as well as the support services that would be required by industry to shift to more sustainable patterns of production that would foster resource-efficient low-carbon economies. The conference was concluded by the adoption of the non-binding Manila Declaration on Green Industry in Asia. In addition, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo also confirmed that the Philippines is developing a new national Green Growth strategy. For more information click here
	Kanchanaburi, Thailand 31 August - 5 September 2009 - ASEAN ToT Green Growth Capacity Development Seminar Navigating towards a sustainable development path and adapting to climate change are enormous tasks that can appear beyond the capacity of many countries. In this light, there has been an increasing request for capacity development assistance from governments in the region. To meet such needs ESCAP in partnership with the Regional Helpdesk on SCP in Asia and the Pacific and with generous support from the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office has prepared a unique training package for Green Growth for ASEAN Government Officials. Building on the success of last months training, ESCAP has taken steps to include a session on policy tools aimed at fostering low-carbon development. Cick here for more information.
	Paris July 2009 - OECD Declaration on Green Growth. The OECD has issued a declaration on Green Growth at its annual ministerial meeting in Paris. The organisation pledged to strengthen their efforts to pursue Green Growth strategies as part of the response to the current crisis and beyond, acknowledging that “green” and “growth” can go hand-in-hand.Click to access a copy of the OECD declaration on Green Growth.
	Bangkok July 2009 -ESCAP's Green Growth Capacity Development Team has finalised the first drafts of the Green Growth training of trainers toolkit. The toolkit was unveiled at the first training of the trainers seminar in late June, in Bangkok, Thailand. Answering to requests from regional governments, the team is currently expanding on the trining tool kit to prepare for additional seminars. In addition, the team is cooperating with partners and clients to create e-learning modules of the training material. Click to access the capacit development page with updated brochure and PDF versions of the training modules.
	United Kingdom 27-29 October 2009 – The international conference - Sustainable Innovation 09 - provides a platform to discuss future opportunities and challenges related to the design, development and commercialization of low-carbon innovation, technologies, products and services. Click to access their web site.
	In order to internalize green economic growth, sustainability concerns must be integrated into countries’ development strategy. To that end, the ESCAP team has decided to roll out a Green Growth Training of Trainers capacity development initiative that aims to involve country representatives on a cross ministerial level. The development effort will take off in 2009 and is generously supported by Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). Read more details here.

More events and announcements

The Paths to Green Growth

To assist the capacity development of policy and decision makers, UNESCAP is focusing on the following paths as the most important policy measures to enhance Green Growth:

What is Green Growth?
Green Growth is a policy focus for the Asia and Pacific region that emphasizes environmentally sustainable economic progress to foster low-carbon, socially inclusive development.

Where is Green Growth?
Green Growth is a globally relevant approach to sustainable economic growth that was developed in Asia. It is impeartive that countries in the Asia and Pacific region continue their economic growth to alleive poverty and to achive social progress. However, increased environmental degradation, climate change and diminishing natural resources require an unconventional approach to support the export-driven economic activities of the region.

Why Green Growth?

The Asia and Pacific region has been at the forefront of the 21st century surge in economic growth, a situation driven primarily by exports and which has led to expanded production requirements needed to fuel an ever increasing amount of trade. This has significantly compounded the environmental carrying capacity pressures of many countries in the region. These countries are now shouldering an increasingly greater share of regional and global environmental production-related burdens. Coupled with evolving production patterns, these impacts are driving changes in consumption patterns in these countries and policies are needed to ensure that these developments will be environmentally sustainable. The past axiom of “grow first, clean up later”, can not apply in a region that has such a limited natural resource base and a rapidly growing population directly dependent on natural resources. In light of the recent fuel, food and financial crisis is is now imperative for countries in the region to reassess their development paths.

How to Achieve Green Growth?
In order to achieve Green Growth it is crucial to change development approaches from ‘grow first, clean up later’ to a more responsible long-term attitude. Governments can promote this by encouraging economic growth with an emphasis on environmental and social concerns.

Sustainable Livelihoods Approach: The Social Link to Green Growth

UNESCAP’s Green Growth Programme has evolved to emphasize the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA), a rights-based approach that recognizes the poor as a key stakeholder in the development process. Green Growth encourages the use of participatory assessments which identify the main constraints, opportunities and concerns faced by the poor and to include them into the policy planning and implementation cycle.The SLA supports vulnerable communities by providing pro-poor social services and by creating an enabling environment for sustainable development.

The concept of sustainable livelihoods is used by some as a replacement term for sustainable employment and work in the formal and informal economies with reference to a person’s capacity to maintain and enhance their capability and assets both now and in the future, while not undermining the natural resource base. Adopting this approach allows Green Growth to work towards win-win solutions: addressing the environment in ways which enhance opportunities for the poor to participate more fully in society and thus improving their quality of life. For more information on the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach please click here..