Introduction to a Green Economy: Concepts and Applications

Introduction to a Green Economy:

Concepts and Applications

E-Learning Course, 4^th Edition

21 October – 13 December 2013

In order to provide interested stakeholders from government, business, civil society and academia with an introduction to the green economy concept UNITAR in partnership with UNEP, ILO and UNIDO is delivering the e-learning course“Introduction to a Green Economy: Concepts and Applications”, 21 October - 13 December 2013. Participants will learn about different concepts and facets of the green economy, including its contribution to addressing climate change. Special attention is given to global, national and sector-specific challenges and opportunities to advance sustainable, low-carbon and socially inclusive development. Additionally, participants will begin to acquire basic skills for applying the green economy concept in an economic, policy-making and personal context.

The ability of national actors to act on the green economy is key for effective policy making and achieving tangible results. To address this challenge UNITAR is working closely with UNEP, ILO and UNIDO in a new Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), focusing on national capacity development.

Comprehensive information and registration details are availablehttps://www.unitar.org/event/introduction-green-economy-concepts-and-applications-4th-edition.

Registration is open until 13 October 2013.

Please feel free to disseminate information about this course through your networks, and don’t hesitate to contact us (envgov@unitar.org) should you need any further information.

Yours,

The UNITAR Environmental Governance Programme Team

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BACKGROUND

The concept of a green economy is receiving increasing international attention, as countries explore new patterns of development that take into account economic, social and environmental sustainability considerations. The ability of national actors to act on the green economy is key for effective policy making and achieving tangible results. To address this challenge, United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is working closely with UNEP, ILO and UNIDO in a new Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), with a focus on national capacity development.

In order to provide interested stakeholders from government, business, civil society and academia with an introduction to the green economy concept UNITAR, together with PAGE partners, is delivering an interactive e-learning course from 21 October to 13 December 2013.

TARGET GROUPS

The course targets groups and individuals that are interested in obtaining a general understanding about the green economy concept and latest developments. They include:

• Civil servants in national Ministries, provincial departments and local authorities

• Diplomats from Permanent Missions and Ministries of Foreign Affairs

• Environmental managers in private sector and civil society organizations

• Faculty, researchers and students

• Interested citizens

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Participants will learn about different concepts and facets of the green economy, as well as global, national and sector-specific challenges and opportunities to advance low-carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive development. Additionally, participants will begin to develop basic skills for applying the green economy concept in a real world economic, policy and/or personal context.

After completing the course, participants will be able to:

• Define the concept of a green economy and explain its value
• Identify enabling conditions for greening national economies
• Identify principal challenges and opportunities for greening key economic sectors
• Describe national planning processes in support of a green transformation
• Recognize international and regional initiatives and support services to foster green development
• Apply the green economy concept to a real world economic, policy and/or personal context

METHODOLOGY

The course pedagogy is adapted to professionals in full-time work. Participants are provided with the opportunity to learn through various experiences: absorb (read); do (activity); interact (socialize); and reflect (relate to one’s own reality). The total number of learning hours is 40 over an 8 week period. During weeks 1-5 the reading of an e-book is complemented by a range of learning activities and experiences that include interactive exercises, discussion forums, and an applied case study. Weeks 6-8 are reserved for wrap-up and completing course assignments.

COURSE FEE AND REGISTRATION

The course participation fee is 600 USD.

A number of full/partial fellowships are available for participants from developing countries working in the public sector, academia or non-profit organizations. Priority for fellowships will be given to applicants from Least Developed Countries (LDCs). For details please contact the UNITAR Environmental Governance Programme atenvgov@unitar.org

Register at:

https://www.unitar.org/event/introduction-green-economy-concepts-and-applications-4th-edition

Registration deadline: 13 October 2013.

The UNITAR e-Learning Team

Geneva, Switzerland

Website: www.unitar.org

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2013 Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo

The 2013 Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo will be held jointly with the 2013 Islands & Isolated Communities Congress at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, September 9 - 11.

The event is the preeminent meeting place for international leaders and energy experts at the forefront of the clean energy movement. Securing energy independence and developing a clean energy industry that promotes the vitality of our planet are two reasons why it is critical to reaffirm already established partnerships and build new ones throughout the Asia-Pacific region and the world. The Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo and the Islands & Isolated Communities Congress provide a forum for the high-level global networking necessary to advance this emerging clean energy culture. Read our 2012 attendee testimonials at right.

The Islands and Isolated Communities Congress co-located with the Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit

Islands and Isolated Communities are the planet’s vanguard societies facing imported energy dependencies, constrained resources, and vulnerability to climate change. Join global leaders developing solutions and projects; from island nations worldwide, to land-locked greening cities, to isolated military installations.

The sustainability and resiliency of island communities depends on best practices developed in energy, water, agriculture, security, resource and disaster risk management and societal actions. As island communities are facing these complex and interdependent challenges across the planet, the Islands and Isolated Communities Congress is focused on building a global movement to champion these solutions. The solutions developed on islands will lay the foundation for best practices world-wide. More

 

 

Youth Prepare at Regional Level for SIDS 2014

13 August 2013: Three regional youth workshops took place in conjunction with the Regional Preparatory Meetings for the UN Small Island Developing States (SIDS) 2014 Global Conference.

Held in Jamaica, Fiji and Seychelles, in July 2013, these meetings brought together over 70 young people representing 30 different small island countries to discuss SIDS' development issues.

Sponsored by the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the workshops allowed youth from the Caribbean, Pacific and Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China Seas (AIMS) regions to participate in the regional preparatory process for the Conference, which will take place in Apia, Samoa, in September 2014.

Important issues for island development identified by the participants included education, climate change, health and sustainable energy. Participants from all three regions made individual commitments to take action on these issues in their home communities, and highlighted the overall importance of youth partnership and activism.

Participants in each regional workshop developed youth statements, which were presented to each of the Regional Preparatory Meetings and will be presented together at the Inter-Regional Preparatory Meeting (IPM), convening in Barbados from 26-28 August 2013. [UNESCO Press Release] [SIDS Regional Youth Consultations and Statements Website] [2014 SIDS Conference Website] [IISD RS Coverage of SIDS Regional Preparatory Meetings]

related meetings:

SIDS Conference - Interregional Preparatory Meeting

read more: http://larc.iisd.org/news/youth-prepare-at-regional-level-for-sids-2014/

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Save the Date: World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction 2015

Subject to an anticipated decision of the UN General Assembly later in 2013, the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) is to take place in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, from 14 to 18 March 2015 (five days inclusive).

Hosted by the Government of Japan in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), as secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, the WCDRR will review the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action and is expected to adopt a successor framework for disaster risk reduction.

The post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction will build on the knowledge and practice developed through the implementation of the International Framework for the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction of 1989, the Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action of 1994, the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction of 1999 and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 66/199, UNISDR will continue to ensure extensive and inclusive multi-stakeholder consultations for a post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction.

Kind regards,
UNISDR


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International Day for Disaster Reduction 2013
http://www.unisdr.org/2013/iddr

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)
Visit our website: http://www.unisdr.org
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Share your Disaster Risk Reduction content: http://www.preventionweb.net/submit

 

Climate change mainstreaming guide now available - SPREP

The Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) Project has launched a comprehensive practical guide to mainstreaming climate change adaptation in the Pacific. A key output of the project, the guide represents a significant step forward in incorporating climate risks into development planning and practice in the region.

"Climate change actually threatens all aspects of development," says PACC Project Manager, Taito Nakalevu. "That's why we need to take it into account for all policy development, as well as projects on the ground. This mainstreaming guide shows people how to do that."

The guide follows standard project and policy cycles and shows how climate change risks can be incorporated at each step in the process. For example, when analysing a situation ahead of designing a project, climate projections can be included to understand how the future climate might impact the project. Vulnerability assessments can be carried out in light of possible changes in climate, and activities can be oriented towards reducing these vulnerabilities.

The guide includes case studies from the region, many of them drawn from the PACC project itself. PACC has pilot projects in 14 Pacific island countries, demonstrating best practice in three key climate-sensitive areas: food production and food security, coastal zone management, and water resources management.

"The aim is to have climate risks included as a matter of course in all decision making at all levels," explains Taito. "The PACC Project is addressing this from the bottom up, through the demonstration projects, and also from the top down through efforts to mainstream at the highest policy levels. It's a new approach, and we are pleased with the results so far."

The mainstreaming guide is aimed at country practitioners, regional governments and organisations, and development partners. The PACC team hopes to collect experiences and lessons learned over the next few years and use these to review and revise the guide over time.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is the implementing partner of the PACC project, which is funded by the Global Environment Facility and the Australian Government, with the United Nations Development Programme as the implementing agency. More

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