Pathways to Transformative Change in the Asia Pacific Region Mark Elder, Magnus Bengtsson, Lewis Akenji, Simon Olsen April 27, 2015 Asia Pacific Regional Environmental Information Network 1 (REIN) Conference, Bangkok, Thailand
Overarching Messages Environment is the foundation for development and human well-being. Clean air, water, land, ecosystem services Environmental considerations and well being should be at the core of development planning Value of global ecosystem services: 125 trillion USD/ year Conventional economic development is starting to undermine itself and human well-being Climate change, air pollution, water-energy-food nexus Shortage of water for coal fired power plants (& other uses) in some areas Value of global ecosystem services lost: 4.3~ 25.2 trillion USD/year Greater efficiency = > economic growth creates fewer jobs (jobless recovery) Development has transgressed planetary boundaries Need to return to safe operating space for human life on earth. GDP: not a good measure of development or human well-being Example: GDP counts hospital costs, but not clean air 2 Leads to mis-prioritization and allocation of resources
PATHWAYS TO TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE Consider how to incorporate into GEO6 3
Financing and Budgeting for Development Large amounts of money are already planned to be spent on development (infrastructure, transport, etc.) Investment should be shifted in a more sustainable direction (infrastructure, energy, transport, etc.) The private sector is encouraged to do this voluntarily Self interest: unsustainable practices undermine long term profits Government should lead with economic incentives & regulations. Government finance & budgets: taxes and spending Shift taxes from “goods” (e.g. labor) to “bads” (e.g. pollution) Green procurement and spending Eliminate subsidies for fossil fuels & unsustainable activities Innovative financing, many others 4
Overall Economic Perspective Additional investments for SDGs (beyond already planned) 2 or 3 trillion USD World GDP (2014) – purchasing power parity 107.5 trillion USD World GDP (2014) – official exchange rates 78.22 trillion USD Existing global financial assets 273 trillion USD Annual world savings (46% from developing countries) 17 trillion USD World taxes as % of GDP (2014) 28.4% World military spending (2014) (2.3% world GDP) 1.8 trillion USD World unemployment (2014) 8.3 % Marine and coastal ecosystem services value 24 trillion USD (market: 3 trillion; non-market: 21 trillion) Global ecosystem services value 125 trillion USD SDG investment would be about 2.5 or 3 % of Global GDP (ppp) SDG investment could be easily funded by a small increase in taxes or borrowing, or private sector investment in directly profitable areas SDGs may contribute much more to security than military spending. Investments generate jobs, profits, improve livelihoods, well-being 5
Sustainable Consumption & Production Sustainable Consumption Sustainable Production Change consumer choices Regulation (education, eco-labels) Product standards Remove less sustainable Resource efficiency options (choice editing) Cleaner Production Promote a sharing Reduced waste = > economy and public reduced costs services that reduce need Waste as a resource for private ownership New products Restrict easy consumer loans and advertising for unsustainable consumption New Business Opportunities 6
Need for an Integrated Approach Separate management of areas will be ineffective, and cause problems for other areas. Example: Water-energy-food nexus Energy is needed for water, and water is needed to produce energy (including fossil fuels). Water & energy needed for food. World water stress (shortages, pollution) In some areas, there may be a shortage of water for electricity and food production. Other important water uses: drinking, household use, industry Major obstacles are institutional Ministries and departments need to cooperate (or be reorganized, or need more high level political attention) Researchers also need an integrated approach 7 SDGs can help to promote an integrated approach
Pathways for Specific Areas Specific I ssue Areas Science & Education Enhance resilience Strengthen scientific knowledge of environmental Decarbonize economies issues Preserve ecosystem Links between environmental services and biodiversity issues & development Prevent & control air, Improve communication of water, soil pollution scientific knowledge to Sound management of policymakers and the public chemicals & waste Education for Sustainable Development 8
Strengthen Environmental Governance & Institutions All countries already have environmental laws & regulations, signed multilateral environment agreements. Enforcement & implementation of existing environmental regulations & policies should be strengthened. Contents of existing policies and regulations should be strengthened Common existing mandates of environmental authorities Implement & enforce existing laws, regulations, policies, standards Environmental monitoring, data collection Environmental impact assessment (EIA) of projects Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of policies Public awareness, outreach, advocacy, publication of environmental information Promote scientific research on the environment Capacity-building, environmental education (formal & informal) Networking and partnerships with civil society Coordination of environment-related issues within the government International environmental cooperation (MEAs, multilateral, bilateral, etc.) 9
Governance & Institutions: Capacity Building Many kinds of capacity Many stakeholders Strengthen capacity of environment ministries Strengthen mandate, include coordination More funding, human resources Delivery mechanisms at sub-national levels More inclusive, participatory, multistakeholder processes Access to information, transparency, accountability 10
Governance & Institutions: Mainstreaming Environment into Other Policy Areas This is not just about asking other ministries to consider the health of the environment. Environment is the foundation of development and human well being Environmental problems will increasingly make it difficult for other ministries to implement their own mandates Example: water-energy-food nexus Environment ministries should take the lead But cannot do by themselves Need additional capacity (or mandate) to do so 11
Already some progress and good examples Some countries in the region already have some integrative sustainable concepts. Sound Material Cycle Society, Ecological Civilization, Green Development, Green Growth, 3Rs, Sufficiency Economy, Gross National Happiness Some countries already have made some progress on solutions But transformation needs to be accelerated 12
Green Jobs for the Environment Environmental protection can provide jobs Strengthen environment ministries & authorities Environmental monitoring and enforcement Environmental information Environmental impact assessment Community forest management Funded by government spending (tax on pollution, etc.) Private companies need workers for sustainability issues Circular economy – large need for labor Examples: recycling, reusing Renewable energy Large investment in SDGs can expand green jobs Some advantages of environmental jobs Jobs for both skilled and unskilled workers 13 Difficult to send to lower cost countries
Possible Implications for GEO6 Need to enhance the appeal of GEO6 beyond the environmental community. Try to include costs and benefits if possible (broadly) Of environmental problems and challenges Of potential solutions & pathways Try to highlight linkages between issue areas Integrated approaches? Try to highlight linkages to other aspects of development Social and economic impacts Discuss institutional arrangements in issue areas? Governance? Institutional barriers to progress? 14 There is increasing scientific literature on these issues.
Thank You ! www.iges.or.jp 15
Recommend
More recommend
