4 May 2012: CIFAL Jeju convened a workshop on green growth and low-carbon cities in the Asia-Pacific region, during which participants shared common challenges and good practices in implementing green growth policies.
CIFAL Jeju is part of the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)’s network of International Training Centre for Local Authorities/Actors (CIFAL) training centers for sustainable local development. The workshop, which was held from 2-4 May 2012, in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Korea, was the fifth in a series of workshops aimed at building local government capacities on green growth and low-carbon cities in the Asia-Pacific region.
Participants at the workshop had the opportunity to learn about the “green growth” concept, as well as about Korea’s green growth policies and the Eco-Towns Model of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) that generates low-carbon and integrated waste management plans for local governments. In addition, participants presented case studies from Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which provided concrete examples of implementation of green growth policies.
Based on needs assessments and key challenges identified during the workshop, participants identified four key themes for localizing green growth and greener economies, namely learning on: accessing green technology and financing; generating political will and local leadership; generating mass behavioral change through effective communications; and ensuring local integration of national commitments and plans to develop effective local policy and planning frameworks.
Workshop participants also took part in a field trip to the Jeju Smart-Grid Testbed, which aims to raise energy efficiency and implement green-energy infrastructure by building eco-friendly infrastructure that reduces carbon dioxide emissions.
CIFAL Jeju plans to host further green growth training workshops for local governments in the Asia-Pacific region, with the next one planned for September 2012. [UNITAR Press Release] [CIFAL Jeju Press Release]