Building Resilience to Climate Change in the Pacific Islands,

Port Vila, Vanuatu 31 October-2 November 2012

Green Economy: “…we needed greater balance to ensure that one dimension of development is notachieved at the expense of the others” Prime Minister of Samoa, ESCAP 68th Session, Bangkok, 21st May 2012

Economic

EcologicalSocial

Enabling (Good Governance and the Means of Implementation)

There are 2,600,000 or a fifth of the total Pacific islands population living in poverty, mostly in PNG (high growth).

“The future we want” reinforced the global commitment towards balancing the economic, social and environmental pillars of sustainable development.

Climate Change and Natural Disasters

“The future we want” reinforced the global commitment towards balancing the economic, social and environmental pillars of sustainable development.

Green Economy (para 56)

We … consider green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication as one of the important tools available for achieving sustainable development and that it could provide options for policymaking but should not be a rigid set of rules.

Operationally, tools and policy options … “targeted and coherent policies and investments” for achieving its objectives as stated in para 56: (a) sustaining economic growth while (b) eradicating poverty, enhancing social inclusion, improve human welfare, create employment and decent work opportunities for all and (c) maintaining the healthy functioning of the Earth’s ecosystems.

Green Economy Understood

• “inclusive and equitable economic growth”’, “opportunities for all”, “reducing inequalities”, “ecosystems conservation, regeneration and restoration and resilience”; “people are at the centre”

• “addressing the root causes and challenges of poverty through integrated, coordinated and coherent strategies at all levels” (106);

• “We recognize that fundamental changes in the way societies consume and produce are indispensable for achieving global sustainable development” (224)

Examples of green economic policy tools• Ocean: (1) ecosystem and precautionary approach“ (158) trust fund etc., etc.,

as mentioned here; (2) fisheries (a) IUUF; (b) “ … prohibition of certain forms of fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, recognition that appropriate special and differential treatment for developing and LDC … be part of WTO fisheries subsidies”

• SCP … “phase out harmful and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption and undermine sustainable development” … “We invite others to consider rationalizing inefficient fossil fuel subsidies by removing market distortions, including restructuring taxation (Fiji, Palau – mining (Gillard carbon/mining the Pac and CC), fisheries, beche de mer, etc’) and phasing out harmful subsidies (global fuel/renewable), where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, with such policies taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries, with the aim of minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development and in a manner that protects (remove fuel subsidy, add tax resource/environ – cross-subsidy) targeted subsidies the poor and the affected communities” (225)

Green Economic Policy Tools• Valuing what is important:

– From vulnerability to value (Taholo – biodiversity “agenda”: critique of GE) – valuing the Pac ocean and its contribution to the word (PIF, ESCAP);

– Data (GDP and Rio+20)– Macroeconomic framework - fiscal policies/investment for renewable energy– CC and ND;– Agriculture (actual contribution to GDP);– Fisheries;– Food Security actual contribution;– Gender – (5-7% GDP) - costing/budgeting – Youth – (unemployment – security/stability) -– NCDs – Samoa (WS$18) – – Community (Vanuatu) “sharing and caring” (Melanesia – MDG/post-2015 development

agenda)– Leadership/Governance – ($75 bn)

Is it green economy or blue economy?

Is it green economy or green growth?

“Applying the Green Economy in a Blue World is not like jumping

off the deep end but like obtaining the skills and tools to

swim and sail to enjoy the benefits of our ocean of

opportunities”

Prime Minister of Samoa at the UNESCAP 68th Session , Bangkok 21st

May, 2012

Green economy tools and policies can address some of the most pressing problems facing the Pacific— food security; inequality; poverty; health etc NCDs–apart from other benefits like renewable energy and income opportunities. And at community level

Transition to a Green Economy: - Tools and needed policy options and reforms;- Institutional, regulatory and legal frameworks

(National Systems);- Means of Implementation (Financial – GCCF … ;

Capacity Building; Tech Transfer; and Trade);- Reform/Change Leadership: “GG raises too many

questions for the leaders?”: i.e., Leadership – by/with not for the community; uneven playing field and trade off – “there is room for everyone” i.e., PNGans … but (MG) … managing different/conflicting values/norms … locally and globally

The Way Forward: (a) Process for SDGs and MDGs/post-2015 UN Development Agenda;(b) Issues;(c) Green Growth Framework