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Governance and creating an enabling environment for a Green Economy

6-7 Oct 2011

The OECS Model

Green Growth Investment Forum

Creating the enabling environment

1. Removal of policy, legal and institutional barriers

2. Sensitising all stakeholders to the new operating environment

3. Operationalising the ‘new’ approach

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Policy Instrument:

St. George’s Declaration of Principles for Environmental Sustainability in the OECS (SGD)

Policy Framework

Signed by All 9 Member States in 2001

SGD was developed through broad consultation with all stakeholders

SGD

The SGD underscores the obligation of Member States, to ensure, both jointly and severally, the sound management of their biophysical environment

SGD embedded in the Revised Treaty of Basseterre Establishing the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Economic Union: Protocol of Eastern Caribbean Economic Union - Art 24

Purpose of the Organisation under the New Treaty of Basseterre

To promote co-operation among Member States having due regard to the Treaty of Chaguaramas and the Charter of the UN

To maintain unity and solidarity among MS …….

To establish the Economic Union as a single economic and financial space;

To seek to achieve the fullest possible harmonisation of foreign policy among MSs, to seek to adopt wherever possible, common positions on international issues …..

To assist Member States in the realisation of their obligations and responsibilities to the international community ……

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Policy Framework

21 PRINCIPLES

Principle 1: Foster Improvement in the Quality of Life

Principle 2: Integrate Social, Economic and Environmental Considerations into National Development Policies, Plans and Programmes

Principle 3: Improve on Legal and Institutional Frameworks

Principle 4: Ensure Meaningful Participation by Civil Society in Decision Making

Principle 5: Ensure Meaningful Participation by the Private Sector

Principle 7: Foster Broad-based Environmental Education, Training and Awareness

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Policy Framework

Principle 8: Address the Causes and Impacts of Climate Change

Principle 9: Prevent and Manage the Causes and Impact of Disasters

Principle 10: Prevent and Control Pollution and Manage Waste

Principle 11: Ensure the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources

Principle 12: Protect Cultural and Natural Heritage

Principle 13: Protect and Conserve Biological Diversity

Principle 14: Recognise Relationships between Trade and Environment

Principle 16: Manage and Conserve Energy

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Operationalisation of the SGD

Through National Environmental ManagementStrategies - NEMS

The NEMS articulates the vision, goal, principles and values for environmental management in the context of the SGD

Also defines specific directions and mechanisms and includes specific actions and results to realise policy objectives

NEMS is a requirement of the Government in discharge of its obligations under the SGD

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Legal Instruments and Institutional Arrangements

Adjustments to existing legal instruments

ongoing

Institutional reform ongoing

Meaningful participation:

civil society/private sector

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Opportunities for investment and promoting good governance

Ocean Governance

Building Resilience to Climate Change and Variability Sustainable Energy (RE + EE) Disaster Risk Reduction Protected Areas + Biodiversity Management Carbon Financing Sectoral interventions (water + coastal

resources, agriculture, tourism)

Thank You