Environment for Development
- By Jiang Nanqing
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E-mail China Today, October 19, 2015
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Achim Steiner attends the unveiling ceremony of the Kubuqi Action in Inner Mongolia which aims to fight desertification. |
China's Green Economy
UNEP launched the Green Economy Initiative in 2008, calling on governments to increase investment in green industries to develop an economy featuring resource efficiency and social inclusion, which are precisely the targets of the Chinese government. Since 2009, UNEP and the Chinese government have jointly carried out research on the concept, investment, and indicator system of the green economy, and also the accounting system of the environmental protection industry. These studies objectively analyze the environment industry's potential contribution to economic growth, and also help bring the industry into the national accounting system.
UNEP is involved in the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) project, jointly launched by five UN organizations – UNEP, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), International Labor Organization (ILO), and United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) – aiming to solve the problems of multiple facets of the green economy. Cooperation among UN organizations makes it possible to cover major elements of this issue, and provide a comprehensive set of services and tools for developing a green economic strategy for countries.
In China, PAGE has chosen Jiangsu as a pilot province. The research team held rounds of discussions with relevant departments about problems, challenges, and demands when developing a green economy, and also carried out field research in cities like Nanjing and Zhenjiang. In collaboration with the provincial government, it analyzed investment and supporting policies and drew up a blueprint for Jiangsu's green development.
Sustainable energy is a key part of the green economy. When UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched "Sustainable Energy for All" (SE4ALL) in 2009, a series of platforms were established for accelerating the initiative in many fields, like district energy, building, transportation, lighting, and appliances. UNEP is actively engaged in two of the 11 action areas identified by SE4ALL – efficient lighting and vehicle fuel efficiency, and district energy. It is also taking responsibility for propelling it through the mode of public-private-partnership (PPP).
In 2012, the UNEP and China's National Lighting Test Center co-established the Global Efficient Lighting Center (GELC). The center's aim is to promote LED lighting and help set up related policies, standards, and quality inspection systems in African, Asian, and Pacific countries based on China's experience and technologies. In November 2014, the Global Efficient Lighting Forum was held successfully in Beijing. UNEP also positively conferred with the Chinese government and industrial partners to realize a leapfrog in the high-efficient home appliances and equipment market, which covers a range of electrical appliances and also electric vehicles and IT products. The aim is to reduce electricity consumption and slow the rate of climate change.
As China is stimulating domestic demands, sustainable consumption and production naturally becomes one of the key cooperation areas with the UNEP. As the secretariat of the 10-Year Framework of Programs on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10YFP), the UNEP advocated the CCICED's setting up of a research project on green consumption, and collaborated widely with Chinese cities, NGOs, and guilds to promote the concept. It has co-hosted China Sustainable Consumption Week annually since 2013.
