The Caribbean Green Economy Conference 2013
Green Economy as a Vehicle for
Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication in the Caribbean
4-6 June 2013
Rex Resorts (Rex and Royal Saint Lucia)
Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
Background
To advance thinking and action on green economy in the Caribbean region, the Council
of Trade and Economic Development (COTED) from the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) on Environment and Sustainable Development, endorsed the concept note
on “Advancing Caribbean States’ Sustainable Development Agenda through Green
Economy Policies”, in its Thirty-Seventh Special Meeting held in September 2011. In the
same meeting, Caribbean countries agreed that UNEP’s assistance and lead was required
in developing a green economy initiative in close collaboration with the Caribbean
Community Secretariat and its member states, with inputs from relevant regional and
international organizations. The call for green economy transformation in the region is
also voiced by other regional institutions that recognize myriad challenges the Caribbean
region faces in economic, social and environmental spheres. Later on, the outcome
document of Rio+20, The future we want, considered the green economy as an important
tool for achieving sustainable development and poverty eradication and asked the UN
system to provide toolboxes, methodologies, best practices, and platforms to interested
countries to support the transition to such a green economy.
In the Caribbean, green economy offers opportunities to address the particular
development challenges being faced by the region. The international financial crisis has
resulted in significant loss of GDP to several Caribbean countries, which has caused,
inter alia, growing unemployment and shrinking of many economic sectors including
tourism. At the same time, the region is affected by environmental challenges, such as
sea-level rise, degradation of coral reefs and unsustainable resource use. The economic
cost of these environmental challenges is high and constantly growing. Furthermore, the
limited diversification of the countries’ economies, narrowness of output and exports,
openness to and dependency on trade, limited resource-base and small population, small
market and small geographical size, makes them comparatively more vulnerable to
unstable and unpredictable global economic and climatic situation. Price volatility is
especially a notable risk for the food and energy security in the Caribbean.
The Government of Saint Lucia and UNEP are thankful for the financial
support offered by the European Union for this conference and the
Caribbean Green Economy Initiative
.
The Caribbean Green Economy Initiative
In order to support the Caribbean countries achieving their national goals of sustainable
development and poverty reduction through green economy, the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), in collaboration with CARICOM and with the
financial support of European Commission, is implementing a Caribbean Green
Economy Initiative (CGEI). The initiative, formally entitled “Advancing Caribbean
States’ Sustainable Development through Green Economy” provides direct technical
assistance to three pilot countries in the region and capacity building support to the whole
region.
The Caribbean Green Economy Conference 2013
This conference “Green Economy as a Vehicle for Sustainable Development and Poverty
Eradication in the Caribbean” is the first regional event under the CGEI and is being
hosted jointly by the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science &
Technology of Saint Lucia and UNEP. By brining together policymakers, civil society,
academia and the private sector, it will provide an opportunity for cross fertilization of
ideas, experiences and institutional innovations, combined with capacity building and
networking. It will also offer opportunities to discuss options and opportunities that the
green economy approach presents to address challenges being faced by the region and to
develop a framework for the way forward.
The conference will also enable the creation of a regional green economy network as a
living platform for sharing national experiences and further strengthening intra-Caribbean
and intra-SIDS cooperation in the area of green economy. This network is expected to
connect a vibrant community of policy makers, practitioners and thinkers who are
focused on achieving poverty reduction and sustainable development through green
economy.
Key issues
The conference will, inter alia, discuss the following major issues:
1. Economic, social and environmental challenges being faced by the Caribbean
Region;
2. Options and opportunities that the green economy approach offers to address
these challenges;
3. Green economy experiences from the region and beyond;
4. Available tools and approaches to develop national policies which are based on
solid economic and scientific knowledge;
5. Capacity building and technical assistance needs of the region to advance
mainstreaming of green economy thinking in national planning processes;
6. Ways and means of strengthening and supporting intra-Caribbean and intra-SIDS
cooperation on green economy.
Format
Deliberations will be carried out in the form of interactive discussions and will be
preceded by keynote speeches and presentations. The conference will be held in English.
Translation for statements/speeches/presentations made in French can be offered on
request.
Preliminary Agenda for the Regional Green Economy Conference
Green Economy as a Vehicle for Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication
in the Caribbean
Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
Rex Resorts (Rex byRoyal Saint Lucia)
Date: 4-6 June 2013
Day/Time
Session
DAY 1
4 June
8:30 – 9:00 am
Registration
9:00 –10:30 am
Opening Remarks and Key note speeches
Facilitator: Mr. Cletus Springer- Director of the Department of Sustainable
Development of the Organisation of American States (OAS)
-
Crispin d’Auvergne- Chief Sustainable Development and Environment
Officer, Ministry of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and
Technology
-
Steven Stone, Chief, Economics and Trade Branch, United Nations
Environment Programme
-
Jannik Vaa, Delegation of the European Union to Barbados and the
Eastern Caribbean
-
Alwin Hales, Permanent Secretary (Ministry of Water, Land,
Environment and Climate Change – Government of Jamaica)
-
Mr. Sylvester Clauzel, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of
Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology –
Government of Saint Lucia
Feature Speaker
Ambassador Edwin Laurent, Senior Advisor, The Caribbean Green
Economy Initiative
-
Formal Opening of Conference
Hon. Kenneth Darroux, Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources,
Physical Planning and Fisheries – Government of Dominica (tbc)
10:30 - 11:00 am
Coffee Break
11:00 – 11:30 am
Objectives and Introductions
Facilitator: Mr. Crispin d’Auvergne (Ministry of Sustainable Development,
Energy, Science and Technology, Saint Lucia)
-
11.30 – 1.00 pm
Participants Introductions
Objectives, expected outcomes and agenda (Asad Naqvi, UNEP)
Presentation of the project “Advancing Caribbean States’ Sustainable
Development through Green Economy” (Simon Lobach, UNEP)
Participants Expectations
Caribbean challenges, Caribbean realities
Given the unique socio-demographic and geo-environmental realities of the
Caribbean, a green economy agenda for the region must be tailored taking into
account these realities. Presentations and discussions in this will highlight the
ecological roots of the most pressing social, economic and environmental
challenges being faced by the region.
Facilitator: Gordon Bispham (Caribbean Policy Development Centre)
Presentations:
- Ethelmark Durant (Ministry of Finance – Government of Barbados)
- Dr. Elvis Nurse (Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency
Panellists:
- Mr. Veetal Rajkumar (Ministry of Natural Resources and the
Environment – Government of Guyana)
- Ricky Wilson (United Nations Development Programme)
Plenary Discussions
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Lunch Break
2:00 - 3:30pm
Current activities undertaken to address development challenges
Facilitator: Ms. Aviva St. Clair Deputy Chief Economist, Economic Planning
Unit, of Ministry of Finance
Interactive exchange sessions (30 minutes)
- Breakout group 1: mobilising investment
- Breakout group 2: fiscal policy reform
- Breakout group 3: ensuring inclusive development
Presentations in plenary and Q&A
3:30 – 3:45 pm
Coffee Break
3:45 – 5:00 pm
Green Economy: what does it offer the Caribbean region?
The session will discuss how a green economy agenda, founded on the
Caribbean realities, can help address key challenges being faced by the region.
This discussion will focus on how a green economy approach can lead to
creating more and better jobs, higher level of prosperity for all, realization of
trade opportunities and building the foundation for long term sustainability of
economic development.
Facilitator: Mr. Sylvester Clauzel (Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of
Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology – Government of
Saint Lucia)
5:00 – 5:15 pm
Presentations:
- Asad Naqvi (UNEP)
- Kelvin Sergeant (ILO)
- Rainer Engels (GIZ)
Plenary Discussions
Wrap-up and concluding remarks
DAY 2
5 June -
Policy instruments
9:00 – 9:15
World Environment Day
09:15 – 09:30
Recapitulation of Day 1
9:30 – 11:00 am
Overview of green economy tools and approaches
A number of tools and approaches are available at the international and national
levels. Techniques used for green economy assessments such as quantitative
assessments through system dynamics modelling, or assessing the green jobs
potential. The session will showcase the work that is currently being undertaken
by various organisations with regard to indicators that go beyond GDP to
measure accomplishment of economic, social and environmental objectives.
Country needs will be identified, and participants will provide their experiences
in this area. The session will offer an opportunity to discuss the suitability of
different approaches and tools for green economy work in the Caribbean region.
Different tools to consider include (see Annex for further reference) :
- System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA)
-
Quantitative modelling
Green economy assessment
“Beyond GDP”: green economy indicators
Facilitator: Roger Turnquest (Ministry of Finance, Government of Bahamas)
Presentations:
- Steven Stone (United Nations Environment Programme)
- Tim Scott (United Nations Development Programme)
- John Matuszak (World Bank)
- Mchale Andrew (Invest St. Lucia)
11:00 - 11:30 am
Coffee Break
11:30 – 13:00 pm
Caribbean experiences with green economy policies and practices
Some Caribbean countries have established replicable models for green
economy policies and practices. In this session, countries will share their
experiences with green economy and highlight best practices and lessons
learned. The discussion will focus on how to replicate and scale up successful
experiences.
Facilitator: Dr. Wendell Parham (CEO, Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries &
Sustainable Development – Government of Belize)
Presentations:
- Nyasha Hamilton (Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment –
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
- Dr. Winston Moore (University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus)
Panellists:
- Keith Nichols (Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre)
- Crispin d’Auvergne (Ministry of Sustainable Development, Energy,
Science and Technology – Government of Saint Lucia)
1:00 –2.00 pm
Lunch Break
2:00 - 3:30pm
Green economy potential in the Caribbean region
Interactive exchange sessions (30 minutes)
- Breakout group 1: green economy opportunities and challenges for
sustaining economic growth
- Breakout group 2: green economy opportunities and challenges for
combating poverty
- Breakout group 3: green economy opportunities and challenges for
building natural capital
Presentations in plenary and Q&A (60 minutes)
Facilitator: Le-Anne Roper, Planning Institute of Jamaica
3:30 – 3:45 pm
Coffee Break
3:45 – 5:00 pm
Key drivers for economic growth in the Caribbean: merging growth and
sustainability
Given the relative homogeneity of Caribbean economies, a number of sectors
that have high potential for guiding a green economy transition can be easily
identified. Tourism and agriculture are two examples of key drivers for
economic growth in many Caribbean countries, given their numerous linkages
with other economic sectors, but also manufacturing and mining are worth
including. The experiences from different Caribbean countries and sectoral
organisations will guide the discussion. The benefits and the gains in sector
efficiency, which derive from a green economy transformation in Caribbean key
sectors, will be illustrated during this session.
Facilitator: Pamela Thomas (Caribbean Farmers Network)
Presentations:
- Peter Murray (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States),
- Andrew McHale (Invest Saint Lucia)
Panel discussion:
- Emmanuel Anthony (Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development
Institute)
- Bishnu Tulsie (Saint Lucia National Trust)
5:00 – 5:15 pm
DAY 3
Wrap-up and concluding remarks
6 June
Looking forward
9:00 – 9:15 am
Recapitulation of Day 2
9:15 – 10:30 am
Green Economy Pathways for the Caribbean
In this session, options and opportunities for a Caribbean pathway to a green
economy will be discussed. More specifically, the session will:
1. Identify priorities for a regional green economy agenda.
2. Incorporate green economy into the post-2015 agenda for the
Caribbean.
Facilitator: Cletus Springer, Director of the Department of Sustainable
Development of the Organisation of American States (OAS)
Panellists:
- Tighe Georghegan (CANARI)
- Gordon Bispham (Caribbean Policy Development Centre)
10:30 - 11:00 am
Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:30pm
Green Economy Pathways for the Caribbean Continued
In this session, possibilities for the ways forward in the green economy
transition will be discussed. Specific components of this session will be:
a) How should the Caribbean Green Economy Network be shaped?
b) Defining a regional green economy strategy.
c) Identify capacity building and technical assistance needs for
transitioning towards a green economy.
d) Caribbean centre of excellence on green economy.
Facilitator: Travis Sinckler (Ministry of the Environment and Drainage,
Government of Barbados)
12:30 – 13:30pm
Lunch break
13:30 – 15:00 pm
Plenary discussion leading to the adoption of a communiqué
Facilitator: Ambassador Edwin Laurent, Senior Advisor, The Caribbean Green
Economy Initiative
Panellists:
- Hon. James Fletcher (Minister of Sustainable Development, Energy,
Science and Technology – Government of Saint Lucia)
- Alwin Hales, Permanent Secretary (Ministry of Water, Land,
Environment and Climate Change – Government of Jamaica)
- Dr. Wendell Parham (CEO, Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries &
Sustainable Development – Government of Belize)
15:00 – 16:00 pm
Closing session
Moderator: Sylvester Clauzel (Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of
Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology – Government of
Saint Lucia)
Closing remarks
Dr. Steven Stone (United Nations Environment Programme)
Closing remarks
Hon. James Fletcher (Minister of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and
Technology – Government of Saint Lucia)
Annex. 1
Decision-making Tools, Policy Instruments, and Measurement Frameworks
to Support Inclusive Green Economy Approaches
Integrated decision-making tools
There are a range of decision-making tools which focus on improving both environmental and social
outcomes. Environmental Assessments (SEAs) refer to a range of analytical and participatory approaches
that aim to integrate environmental considerations into policies and evaluate the inter-linkages with
economic, social, and climate change considerations. They comprise a variety of tools, rather than a
single, fixed and prescriptive approach.
World Bank. Strategic Environmental Assessment Toolkit: http://go.worldbank.org/XIVZ1WF880
Poverty and social impact analysis (PSIA) involves the analysis of the distributional impact of policy
reforms on the well-being of different stakeholder groups, with a particular focus on the poor and
vulnerable. World Bank A User’s Guide to Poverty and Social Impact Analysis
There are also examples of modeling approaches such as the analysis of labour market and income
effects, where the knowledge of how the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy will affect
employment, especially underlying job movements, as well as income generation and distribution is vital
to informing policy.
ILO (2011) Assessing Green Jobs Potential in Developing Countries: A Practitioner’s Guide.
UNDP Institutional Context Analysis methodology for assessing political and institutional factors, and the
use of national and external resources.
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/democraticgovernance/oslo_governance_centre/Institutional_and_Context_Analysis_Guidance_Note/.
Policy instruments
Green Investment Strategies
The report “Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication”
examines the potential effects on inclusive growth, employment creation and environmental gains of
investing 2% global GDP in 10 key economic sectors. The report offers a range of tools and instruments
that can help policy makers identify investment options and policy reforms to advance their sustainable
development goals.
UNEP Green Economy Report: Synthesis for Policy Makers:
www.unep.org/greeneconomy/Portals/88/documents/ger/GER_synthesis_en.pdf
Economic Instruments for Environmental Management
As natural resources come under increasing pressure and countries face ongoing budget constraints,
economic instruments – pollution taxes, user fees and other incentives to improve environmental quality
– can provide an important tool to complement command-and-control measures to ensure sustainable
development.
Integrated Policymaking for Sustainable Development: A Reference Manual,
www.unep.ch/etb/publications/IPSD%20manual/UNEP%20IPSD%20final.pdf
Integrated Assessment for Mainstreaming Sustainability into Policymaking: A Guidance Manual
www.unep.ch/etb/publications/AI%20guidance%202009/UNEP%20IA%20final.pdf
The Use of Economic Instruments for Environmental and Natural Resource Management
www.unep.ch/etb/publications/EI%20manual%202009/Training%20Resource%20Manual.pdf
UNDP www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/Environment%20and%20Energy/Examples-ofInclusive-Green-Economy-Approaches-in-UNDP's-Support-to-Countries-June2012_Updated-Sept2012.pdf
Environmental Fiscal Reform (EFR)
EFR refers to a range of taxation and pricing measures which can raise fiscal revenues, increase efficiency
and improve social equity while furthering environmental goals.
Global Subsidies Initiative, IISD, www.iisd.org/gsi/
www.unpei.org/PDF/policyinterventions-programmedev/EnvFiscalReform-whatshouldbedone.pdf
Reforming Fiscal Policies, Low Carbon Green Growth Roadmap for Asia and the Pacific, ESCAP,
www.unescap.org/esd/environment/lcgg/documents/roadmap/Roadmap/individual/2.2.2.pdf
Public Climate and Environmental Expenditure Reviews (PEERs)
PEERs examine government resource allocations within and among sectors, and/or at national and subnational levels of government, and assesses their efficiency and effectiveness in the context of
environmental and social priorities.
www.unpei.org/PDF/budgetingfinancing/Public-Env-Expend-Reviews-PEERS.pdf
www.environmental-mainstreaming.org/documents/EM%20Profile%20No%2012%20%20PEER%20(5%20Oct%2009)%20(2).pdf
Social Protection Instruments
Social protection instruments are a way to make green growth more inclusive and socially acceptable
including by easing the burden of the transition on the disadvantaged. There are a range of social
protection schemes including public works programmes, micro-credit and conditional cash transfers.
Some of these schemes are now expanded to include climate and environmental aspects now known as
“climate adaptive” social protection. Examples of the latter include micro-insurance that takes account
of the risks of climate disasters, and conditional cash transfers linked to forest management, known as
Reduced Emissions for Deforestation and Degradation.
UNDP and ILO (2011), “Sharing Innovative Experiences: Successful Social Protection Floor Experiences”.
south-south.ipc-undp.org/library/successful-social-protection-floor-experiences.html
UNDP Human Development Impact Assessment of Trade Policy: A Toolkit
Low Carbon Green Growth Development Policies
A comprehensive toolbox of green growth/green economy policies for resource efficiency, including
physical infrastructure such as transport, buildings and energy systems, as well as market prices,
regulations and lifestyles.
Low Carbon Green Growth Roadmap for Asia and the Pacific, ESCAP,
www.unescap.org/esd/environment/lcgg/documents/roadmap/Roadmap/
www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/Environment%20and%20Energy/Climate%20Strategies/UNDP
-LECRDS-Guidebook-v17-web.pdf
Measurement Frameworks
System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA)
The SEEA Central Framework, which was adopted as an international statistical standard by the UN
Statistical Commission in 2012, is a multi-purpose conceptual framework that describes the environment
and its inter-relationships with the economy. It applies the accounting concepts, structures, rules and
principles of the System of National Accounts to environmental information, allowing for the integration
of environmental and economic information in a single framework to help monitor green economy and
sustainable development initiatives. The SRRA Experimental Ecosystem Accounting provides a
complementary approach by focusing on ecosystems, their conditions and flows of services to economic
and human activity.
unstats.un.org/unsd/envaccounting/seeanews.asp
Measuring Progress Towards a Green Economy
This brochure introduces a framework for the use of indicators in developing and tracking green
economy policies. The objective is to provide brief guidance on the use of indicators in major stages of
policymaking using environmental issues as an illustrative entry point.
http://www.unep.org/greeneconomy/Portals/88/documents/research_products/MeasuringProgress.pdf
GGKP Scoping Paper: Moving towards a Common Approach on Green Growth Indicators
http://www.unep.org/greeneconomy/Portals/88/documents/partnerships/GGKP%20Moving%20towards
%20a%20Common%20Approach%20on%20Green%20Growth%20Indicators.pdf
IUCN: Environmental Accounting: What’s It all About? (2001) in
www.unpei.org/PDF/budgetingfinancing/Environmental-accounting.pdf
UNEP: Green Accounting Virtual Resource Center website
www.unep.ch/etb/areas/VRC_index.php