Presentation by the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation
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1) Pacific SIDs meeting : Objectives & Outcomes and the Way Forward
2) MSG Declaration on Environment and Climate Change
3) Key Issues 4) Objective of the MSG GGF 5) 5 MSG Green Growth Goals 6) Consultative Modality 7) Transition towards Green Growth in the
MSG Countries
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To assess the progress & remaining gaps in the implementation of Barbados Programme of Action and the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation;
To seek a renewed political commitment by all countries to effectively address the special needs and vulnerabilities of SIDS
To identify new and emerging challenges and opportunities for the sustainable development of Small Island Developing States This includes strengthening collaborative partnerships between SIDS and the international community; and
To identify priorities for the sustainable development of SIDS for consideration, as appropriate, in the elaboration of the UN development agenda post 2015.
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Presentation Notes
Pacific SIDS Regional Preparatory Meeting, Nadi, Fiji, 10-12 July 2013 The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development ("Rio+20), in recognition of the urgency for global partnerships towards coordinated, balanced and integrated actions to address the sustainable development challenges facing Small Island Developing States (SIDS), called for a Third International Conference on SIDS which will be held in Apia, Samoa in September 2014. The three regions of the SIDS: (i) Pacific; (ii) Caribbean; and (iii) Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, and South China Sea (AIMS) have held their regional preparatory meetings in July, the outcomes of which will be presented at the SIDS Inter-regional conference in Barbados on 26 – 28 August 2013. This process will culminate in the 2014 International Conference on SIDS which will be held in Apia, Samoa in September 2014. For the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS), their regional preparatory conference was successfully held in Nadi, Fiji on 10 - 12 July, 2013. Under the SIDS Guidelines for the regional preparatory meetings, there are four objectives that each region should strive to accomplish at the end of their respective meetings which will be transposed into the outcomes of the SIDS Inter-regional conference in Barbados and ultimately the 2014 International Conference on SIDS in Samoa
Climate Change: Reduction of green house emissions well below 1.5 degrees Celsius pre-requisite for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals
MDGs– the need for accelerated efforts to achieve MDGs and that poverty remains a key issue
Inclusiveness – involvement of all stakeholders and partnerships at all levels crucial in the development process key element of sustainability
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Achieving the sustainable development goals of the Pacific region and the full implementation of the BPOA and MSI is only possible with urgent global action to reduce green house gas emissions to keep global average temperature increase well below 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and long-term stabilization of atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations at well below 350ppm CO2-equivalent levels. The meeting notes with alarm that atmospheric concentrations of CO2 exceeded 400 parts per million for sustained lengths of time throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere earlier this year. lack of ambition and urgency to reduce greenhouse gasses under the UNFCCC, recognizing that without scaled up short term action by Parties, the chance to hold temperature increase to below 1.5°C may be lost. The steady increase in carbon emitting infrastructure locks Parties onto a high emission pathway, and positive feedbacks in the climate system, if triggered, could accelerate the anthropogenic greenhouse effect. Immediate mitigation actions and policies are needed before 2017 to prevent dangerous lock in of global fossil fuel infrastructure that will make achieving the 1.5 C goal exceedingly difficult. Adaptation is a priority for the Pacific region, and the provision of sufficient, additional and predictable financial resources to SIDS to implement climate change adaptation and mitigation projects and support national climate change priorities remains a significant gap. Where funds exist, application procedures often preclude SIDS in the Pacific region from accessing those funds and capacity building efforts have not addressed this persistent problem.
Political Commitment - leadership and sustained commitment are critical to realizing our goals.
Infrastructure (water & sanitation, waste management etc.) essential for sustainable development
Sustainable Energy the move towards renewable energy and energy efficiency are crucial elements of the sustainable development agenda
Natural resources – sustainable practices in the use of ocean and land resources
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Infrastructure The meeting agreed that infrastructure for water and sanitation, waste management, energy, transportation, telecommunications and health is essential for sustainable development. In many instances sustainable energy has not always been considered a national priority for sustainable development, despite the fact that it lies at the heart of sustainable development. Renewable energy infrastructure has proven to be a powerful force in tackling poverty alleviation and improving living conditions for our remote and most isolated communities. It opens opportunities for the provision of basic human needs, improved health, education and economic opportunity in all our countries. It sits at the very heart of the advancement of our sustainable development agenda.
outcomes of all the three SIDS preparatory meetings for the Pacific, Caribbean and the AIMS regions discussed at the Inter-regional SIDS Conference in Barbados , August 2013.
Inaugural meeting of the High level Political Forum (HLPF) intended to replace the Commission on Sustainable Development
With the theme “The Sustainable Development of SIDS through genuine and durable partnerships” the third International Conference on SIDS to be held in Samoa.
Leading up to the development of the SDGs and the post 2015 agenda 6
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At the end of the SIDS regional preparatory meetings in July, all three regions would have endorsed their respective Regional Synthesis Reports. These would be a culmination of their respective member states’ National Assessment Reports on the achievements, challenges and perspectives on the way forward with regard to the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), The Barbados Plan of Action (BPoA), The Mauritius Implementation Strategy (MIS) and the post-2015 development agenda (SDGs). The outcomes of all the three SIDS preparatory meetings for the Pacific, Caribbean and the AIMS regions that were held in July will be presented at the Inter-regional SIDS Conference in Barbados on 26 – 28 August 2013. From the Inter-regional Conference in Barbados, the inaugural meeting of the High level Political Forum (HLPF) on sustainable development is expected to take place in New York on 23 September 2013. This will be the first formal meeting of the HLPF since a decision was taken to establish the forum at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20) in June 2012. The HLPF aims to follow up on the implementation of sustainable development, and to build on the strengths, experiences, resources and inclusive participation modalities of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), and to replace the Commission. This will take place on the first day of the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly which will be presided over by the Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the UN, Ambassador John. W. Ashe. The formal launching of the 2014 International Conference on SIDS by the President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Ambassador John. W. Ashe will take place in December 2013. The President-elect of the UNGA was a guest of the Fiji government during the regional meeting in Nadi. The Third International Conference on the SIDS would be held in Apia, Samoa in September 2014 with the theme, “The Sustainable Development of SIDS through genuine and durable partnerships”. The outstanding key events leading towards September 2014 will continue to be a SIDS-led and SIDS-owned process.
Agreed by Leaders under the MSG Declaration on Environment and Climate Change on 30 March 2012
The MSG Green Growth Framework is intended to be a
tool that assists MSG countries in pursuing integrated sustainable development, to restore a balance between the environmental, societal and economic pillars of sustainable development.
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Presentation Notes
In March 2012, the MSG Leaders signed the MSG Declaration on Environment and Climate Change demonstrating the MSG’s commitment to fighting climate change, a critical issue we will be facing in the coming years and whose effects are already being felt by our communities. In line with the Agreement Establishing the Melanesian Spearhead Group which focuses cooperation towards sustainable development centered on the human person (Article 5, paragraph 1), as well as key principles from the RIO+20 Outcome Documents and in particular paragraph 56, the MSG Green Growth Framework is intended to be a tool that assists MSG countries in pursuing integrated sustainable development, to restore a balance between the environmental, societal and economic pillars of sustainable development.
• Integration of green growth opportunities into national planning
• Better integration of national sustainable development policies, including climate change mitigation and adaptation and others such as Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), social development, poverty reduction, infrastructure)… “Connecting the dots”
• Promote innovative financing mechanisms – e.g. climate financing, REDD+/payment for ecosystem services (PES), renewable energy
• Fiscal and budgetary reforms to promote more sustainable production and consumption, and to finance a green growth transition
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Green economy recognizes the need for growth but, not just growth but quality growth that maintain the balance between the three dimensions of development—economic, social, and environmental---and is therefore sustainable. Economic policy decisions taken today need to incorporate a longer time horizon. Action taken now to insure against unfavourable, irreversible or even catastrophic outcomes can avoid significant economic losses in the future. Basically two broad policies are being considered: Broad framework policies that mutually reinforce economic growth and conservation of natural resource – include core fiscal and regulatory settings such as tax Policies providing incentives to use natural resources
Overall Objective: “Enhancing economic growth and development
through the avoidance of loss of biodiversity and unsustainable use of natural resources, and the prevention of environmental degradation with a view to improving society’s welfare”.
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The Green Growth strategy is aimed at supporting sustainable development by promoting economic growth that aims to eradicate poverty, promote employment and income generating opportunities without adversely impacting on the environment. It is a shit of focus to the environmental (and social) quality of growth. . Our Green Growth Framework will also be based on the three pillars development - economic, social and sustainable development. It is therefore critical that in formulating our Green growth Framework, that emphasis must be centred on improving the social welfare and livelihoods of our people.
Goal 1: Improving quality of growth and maximising net growth Shift focus away from growth that focuses on maximising production (as measured by GDP) towards livelihoods and employment generation, resilience, inclusiveness and ecological sustainability
Promoting sustainable consumption and production
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The first Green growth goal is - Improving quality of growth and maximising net growth. This is shifting of focus from quantity of growth to quality of growth. While green growth cannot solve the root causes of poverty, improving the ecological quality of growth also improves several aspects of the economic and social qualities, given that economies and societies both depend on the goods and services provided by the natural environment.
Goal 2: Closing the gaps between economic and ecological efficiencies Use of fiscal tools (such as environmental tax and subsidy reform) where appropriate to reduce poverty; raise fiscal revenues; and improve eco-efficiency, public healthM Melaneisia Blue Carbon Initiative Melanesia Terrestrial Commitment
Collaboration of MSG Governments and traditional landowners in support of, and create synergies between, Sustainable Land Management (SLM) and Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) in major water catchments and river systems, mountain and coastal eco-systems as well as ensure sustainable land use practices are applied with agriculture and development
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The second Goal is aimed at promoting innovative financing to re-examine how MSG countries can sustain and finance environmental activities at a scale required to ensure long term conservation and management of natural resources. Some of the key measures under this Goal include: Fiscal and Budgetary Reforms- this is to strengthen sustainable consumption patterns and finance green growth investment opportunities MSG Blue Carbon Initiative - will develop a strategy as well as inform decision makers on the important roles of mangroves, wetlands, coastal swamps and sea grass beds MSG Terrestrial Commitment - which aims both to sustainably manage terrestrial ecosystems in government decision-making, and strengthen local communities in sustainably managing their natural resources and with the economic benefits this can bring.
Goal 3: Planning and development of eco-efficient infrastructure
Raising MSG public and private sector investment in Natural capital in the form of “green” infrastructure underpins human wellbeing and socio-economic progress.
Establishment of MSG sustainable infrastructure systems that facilitate a higher-quality delivery of housing, transport, energy, water, waste management, and sanitation services, with less use of resources, to support social and economic development in an integrated, eco-efficient and inclusive manner.
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Boosting growth and development prospects while greening the growth trajectory at the same time will require increased investments flows into infrastructure. Governments will need to assess and remove barriers preventing/discouraging institutional investors from investing in infrastructure which will enable greener growth.
Goal 4: Promoting sustainable business opportunities
Adopting MSG Green Business guidelines and promoting and securing eco-innovation measures by creating an enabling environment for private sector led green growth
This includes green business initiatives such as the use of energy efficient and savings business practices, water conservation and waste water management, recycling, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, etc.
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The fourth goal of the MSG’s Framework of Green Growth is to encourage MSG businesses to take a strategic approach to sustainability. Sustainable business is necessary for MSG because as other countries continue to develop sustainable business and place greater emphasis on it, MSG will be left behind and will be at competitive disadvantage if it does not keep up to speed by implementing sustainable business processes.
Goal 5: Integrated planning for Green Growth and Sustainable Development
National sustainable development frameworks should harmonise and integrate green growth tools, and other national and sectoral development strategies such as climate change adaptation plans, infrastructure development plans etc
Mainstreamed Green Growth into the activities within the private sector and public sectors, and each country needs to put in place some form of enforcement mechanism for vital components and to ensure real impact
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The final Goal in the Green Growth Framework is about integration of Green growth and sustainable development into the national development plans strategic planning processes at the national level. Whilst the goal is to work towards setting our own MSG regional framework , we all know that implementation will take place at the national and stakeholder levels, and it is necessary that national issues are reflected in the MSG Green Growth framework. The integration of the green growth goals into the national development plans would also overcome the silos that exist around economic and environmental policy making.
i. Green Growth Dialogues to anchor green growth at the national level
ii. Green Growth Framework and Knowledge Management (KM)
iii. Green Growth Framework Matrix iv. Linkages to National and Regional
Processes
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The MSG Green Growth Framework will require a transitional approach that focuses on integration into existing development planning and implementation frameworks. The following are the transitional measures that members have agreed to undertake Green Growth Dialogues to anchor green growth at the national level - MSG countries together with its partners (ESCAP, SPC, GIZ and IUCN) have identified a number of initiatives aimed at creating greater ownership of development policies and priorities in the respective countries at their national levels. For many of the MSG countries, the focus is about creating a platform through which the policy discussions and clearer strategies can be agreed to, to begin the transition from a ‘brown economy’ towards a green economy. The transition process will clearly contribute to the goals of ‘rebalancing the sustainable development pillars’. It is therefore envisaged that these platforms would draw down on the principles and policy discussions at the regional MSG level for greater coherence and relevance at the national level. This link would enable greater synergies and cross-fertilisation between processes at national and regional levels. Green Growth Framework and Knowledge Management (KM) - The development of the KM approach can also be used as an opportunity for MSG member countries to further refine and develop ownership of the framework and goals to ensure that they fit with the MSG context. In this regard, the Secretariat has received funding from the Center for Trade in Agriculture (CTA) based in Brussels for the development of knowledge-sharing platform on GG. This work is progressing well. The e platform will facilitate knowledge acquisition and sharing, communication and exchange of best practices on green growth amongst the various stakeholders. Green Growth Framework Matrix -With regional partners, the MSG Secretariat is to develop a Green Growth Framework Matrix (including goals, indicators and possible milestones) that supports the implementation of the framework at the national level and is harmonised with the process of development of the post-2015 development agenda, including consideration of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Linkages to National and Regional Processes- The Secretariat with the help of partners will engage with national and regional stakeholders on GG development to engender broad ownership of the Framework and ensure effective coordination at the national and regional levels. Closing Shaping sustainable economies is the fundamental challenge of our time. It requires outstanding leadership, new means of communication and innovative collaborations across borders. The MSG Leaders have provided the vision of building prosperous, green economies and communities - and a better tomorrow for the citizens of Melanesia. In closing, although Melanesia has a very distinct and unique set of environment and climate change challenges, they are not insurmountable. The formulation of the Green Growth Framework provides for the preservation of the intrinsic value of our environment for our future generations and prosperity. Our Leaders are resolute in their commitment to finding a common destiny for our people, in living in harmony with nature, our environment and our culture, for this is the basic cornerstone for our long term sustainable and inclusive growth and development.
