Green Growth

Although at the global level, the Rio+20 Summit in 2012 called for the adoption of a green economy, Asia and the Pacific pioneered the concept of green growth in the context of intergovernmental discussions at the Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development (MCED) in Asia and the Pacific held in 2005 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The meeting issued the Ministerial Declaration that adopted green growth as a strategy for achieving sustainable development.

Green growth, or environmentally sustainable economic growth is a strategy of sustaining economic growth and job creation necessary to reduce poverty in the face of worsening resource constraints and climate crisis. It is a strategy of investing in natural capital, thus making “green” a driver of economic growth that is ecologically sustainable. Green growth can also be used as an efficient strategy to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as it turns the trade-off between the three dimensions of sustainable development into synergy.

Seoul Initiative Network on Green Growth (SINGG) project

EDD facilitates a regional platform to exchange experiences and best practices on issues related to sustainable and inclusive growth: the annual Policy Dialogue Forum of the SINGG project. The forum has been providing opportunities for Member States to share their experience and lessons learned from the policy implementation for 20 years.

EDD continues supporting Member States in Asia and the Pacific in addressing their environmental issues by providing policy strategy or technical advice through SINGG pilot projects since 2005. Over 51 pilot projects in 22 countries have been implemented so far.

19th SINGG Policy Forum (29-31 Oct 2024)

The nineteenth Policy Consultation Forum of the Seoul Initiative Network on Green Growth was organized under the theme “NDC 3.0: National Effort and Region-wide Collaboration for Climate Actions in Asia and the Pacific”. Co-organized by UNEP and the government of the Republic of Korea, the forum brought together over 100 participants, including government officials and environmental experts from around 20 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

The forum was supported by IUCN, FAO, UNFCCC, and NDC Partnership, whose collaboration played a crucial role in driving the discussions forward and strengthening regional partnerships for climate action. Through 10 engaging sessions, the forum provided a platform for sharing best practices, lessons learned, and actionable recommendations. It also contributed to preparations for COP29 and supported member states in raising their ambitions for NDC 3.0. The forum highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in addressing the global climate crisis, with emphasis on development priorities and climate finance.

[Mongolia]

Implementation of measures for GHG emissions reduction and improving air quality in Mongolia (Feb - Oct 2023)

Due to its long winters, Mongolia has a high demand for energy to provide heating. As coal is the main fuel source, the government has been actively working to reduce its usage. Heating Only Boilers (HOBs), which are designed to provide heating to communities lacking access to district heating, rely heavily on raw coal.

To resolve this challenge, the pilot project provided a technical solution including the transition from solid fuel to gas. Gas-fired HOBs show higher efficiency compared to coal-fired ones, with a minimum efficiency of around 87%, and produce fewer air pollutants. This change is estimated to reduce GHG emissions of 390,351 tCO2eq, expected to contribute to the NDC target of Mongolia. This method could also be considered for implementation in Central Asia, where coal accounts for almost half of their fuel sources for district heating.

[Cambodia]

Pilot Project for Developing a Sustainable Drinking Water Improvement System in Kampong Chhnang Province (Jan - Dec 2023)

The rural population of Cambodia faces a significant shortage of clean drinking water. To address this issue, the project team provided the following solutions: 1) development of new water sources to ensure a reliable supply, 2) installation of solar panels for clean electricity generation, 3) construction of underground and rainwater treatment facility, 4) establishment of a water delivery system to enhance sustainability.

This resulted in a clean water supply for 8,631 residents, and the project is estimated to reduce GHG emissions by 2,115 tCO2eq. Additionally, the project suggests the possibility of generating more carbon credits through domestic certification, which could contribute to international emission reduction efforts.

Pilot Project for Developing a Sustainable Drinking Water Improvement System in Kampong Chhnang Province1

[Lao PDR]

Policy Support Project to Enhance Chemical Accident Response in Lao PDR (Apr - Nov 2024)

Lao PDR is expected to expand its manufacturing sector, which may lead to a higher risk of chemical explosive accidents. Although the ‘Law on Chemical Management’ has been enacted, there are still no established methods for implementing and monitoring safety management in facilities that handle hazardous chemicals.

The project aimed to assist in developing a national response manual to improve preparedness and management of chemical accidents. As part of the project, a local policy workshop was conducted for knowledge exchange, which included reviewing the current management system of the workplace. Additionally, chemical management officials of Lao PDR were invited to the Republic of Korea for training on chemical safety management and response. The project resulted in the delivery of a ‘Chemical Accident Response Manual’, tailored to the specific needs of Lao PDR.