9 September 2016: More than 1,200 participants gathered for the 2016 Global Green Growth Week (GGGWeek2016) to discuss the challenges of promoting growth that is socially inclusive, assessing renewable energy infrastructure projects, and channeling finance towards green growth objectives. Organized by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the Week included the fourth annual conference of the Global Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP) and the Global Green Growth Summit.

The GGKP conference took place from 6-7 September, on the theme of ‘Transforming Development Through Inclusive Green Growth,’ with participation from leaders including former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, Global Water Partnership (GWP) chair Oyun Saanjasuren, and environmental economist Pavan Sukhdev. The GGKP is a partnership of over 50 organizations, founded by the GGGI, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Bank.

Speakers debated whether economic growth can be both inclusive and green, and discussed ways to manage the impacts of green growth transitions on the poor. Participants also explored environmental pricing and payment schemes, the role of the informal economy and small-scale enterprises, and approaches to measuring and modeling change. A panel discussion focused on ways that inclusive green growth can contribute to achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change. The GGKP also presented awards for ‘Best Paper’ on the topic of male-female and urban-rural differences in smallholder farming, food security and climate change in South Africa, and for ‘Best Young Researcher Paper’ on a comparison of financing mechanisms for rural electrification in Tanzania.

The Global Green Growth Summit took place on 8 September. It convened over 300 heads of private and public financial institutions, heads of governments, and project developers to explore ways to increase the flow of ‘green finance’ to sustainable development projects at the national level, especially in the areas of sustainable cities, renewables, and resilience building. Former President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono opened the summit, and Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UN Enviroment Programme (UNEP) delivered the keynote speech. A series of thematic discussions addressed: whether ‘green finance’ is flowing to the countries and regions that need it; what kind of financing instruments would improve the ability of developing countries to access ‘green finance’; and whether the financing needs of renewable energy projects, sustainable urban development, and resilience to climate impacts are being met.

Other highlights of Global Green Growth Week, which took place on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, included an Asian Regional Policy Dialogue session on 7 September, where GGGI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an Indonesian state-owned enterprise, PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (PT SMI). According to GGGI, the partnership will assist PT SMI in assessing and commercializing renewable energy projects in 25 countries, as well as promoting rural electrification within Indonesia, also helping Indonesia to contribute to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) hosted a side event on 8 September, which highlighted its cooperation with UNEP and GGGI, showcasing work done in collaboration with Colombia, Mongolia and Peru. PAGE is supporting the governments of Colombia and Peru in developing their national green growth strategies and policies, and is working with the Government of Mongolia to green public buildings. PAGE is a partnership between UNEP, the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). [GGGWeek2016 Website] [Programme] [GGKP Agenda] [Global Green Growth Summit Agenda] [GGGI Press Release on Awards] [GGGI Press Release on MoU] [PAGE Event Webpage] [PAGE Event Concept Note]