Environment & NRM – Page 2

Agriculture, Food Security & Rural Development, Areas of Expertise, Economic Growth, Environment & NRM, Information and Communication Technology for Development

Ambassador Verveer discusses “Women’s Economic Success and Global Growth”

Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, Melanne Verveer. (Photo: US Dept of State)

On Monday, July 23, 2012 the Center for American Progress hosted Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, Melanne Verveer for a discussion on “Women’s Economic Success and Global Growth.” Amb. Verveer’s talk focused on the crucial role women play in sustainable development and economic growth worldwide. US women generate $3.5 trillion yearly, and women’s employment in developing countries contributes more to the global economy than China. By 2050, women will control 2/3 of all spending worldwide. Noting that women traditionally spend their earnings in sectors that create a multiplier effect (i.e., health, education, food), Amb. Verveer emphasized the tremendous consumer power women will wield in global markets. She also highlighted growing research that shows how countries where women’s rights are more closely equal to those of men are more peaceful and prosperous than countries that ignore, marginalize or limit the role of women.

Amb. Verveer spoke of three main areas the State Department focuses on increasing the role and influence of women: Economic Empowerment, Women in Development, and Peace and Security. Within the Women in Development sector, three initiatives discussed fit squarely within Integra’s areas of expertise: Feed the Future (Agriculture), Global Climate Change Initiative (Environment) and mWomen (Information and Communications Technology).

Agriculture: Women are vital to agricultural development, often making up the majority of farmers in developing countries and the backbone of agriculture-based economies. FAO reports claim that if men and women farmers had equal access to credit, training, property rights and technical inputs, yields could improve 20 to 30 percent and the number of malnourished people worldwide could be reduced by 150 million people.

Environment: Women bear the burdens of climate change disproportionately more than men. Yet women are uniquely empowered to address climate change because of their central role in agriculture, forest management, and running the home (i.e., making crucial energy decisions as pertains to energy sources used in the home).

ICT4D: Increased technological access creates opportunities for financial security and independence. With mobile access, women are able to gain information about the current market, including data on pricing and weather systems, in addition to business insights and trainings, access to support networks, and the ability to transfer and save funds. “The significance of mobile technology cannot be underrated,” said Ambassador Verveer, who emphasized both the economic and social value of mobile technology. While 350 million women still do not have access to cell phones, the State Department is working to bridge this gap in connectivity through various initiatives, including the GSMA mWomen initiative. mWomen is committed to reducing this gender gap in connectivity by 50%.

In each development sector highlighted, Ambassador Verveer reiterated that gender equality is not only smart economics, but in line with US values and “a moral imperative of the 21^st Century.” While the State Department and USAID continue to add gender guidance components to trainings and major international initiatives, true change will only be achieved once gender equality becomes institutionalized and integrated across all bureaus. Women’s rights need to be viewed as human rights essential to fostering economic growth, social stability and a more peaceful prosperity worldwide.

To view full event video, click here. To read Ambassador Verveer’s article on “Why Women Are a Foreign Policy Issue,” click here.

July 27, 2012/by actualize

Areas of Expertise, Environment & NRM

Did We Get “The Future We Want” from Rio+20?

In June 2012, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Marking the 20^th Anniversary of the Earth Summit, Rio+20 provided an opportunity for the world to reaffirm commitments to poverty erradication, sustainable development and environmental protection. Below, we explore various outcomes of Rio+20:

Photo credit: Voices of Youth

1. New Sustainable Development Goals

As a replacement for the Millennium Development Goals which end in 2015, the governments of Colombia and Guatemala have proposed Sustainable Development Goals. These goals would link environmental and human development concerns within broad categories such as changing consumption patterns, combating poverty, and advancing food security. While negotiations in Rio did not agree to specific themes, terms or commitments, an “open working group” of 30 nations was appointed to determine priorities for the pledge by September 2013.

2. Words, Words, Words

From cries of disgust and disappointment—Greenpeace deemed the summit “a failure of epic proportion” — to careful phrased optimism about sustainable development, Rio+20 was a war of words. Promises were made, fingers pointed, and cries of injustice abound, but in the end the most important words were found within “The Future We Want”. A non-binding communiqué ratified by all UN members that resulted in no financial commitments or concrete benchmarks.

Instead, much of the conference discourse centered around the dominant buzz word and concept of “the green economy.” We at Integra recently blogged about inclusive green growth efforts and sustainable development initiatives of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

Graphic displaying the Zero Hunger Challenge spectrum of milestones

Photo credit: UN

3. An Initiative to End Hunger

At the conference, UN General Secretary Ban Ki Moon launched the Zero Hunger Challenge, an initiative that aims to put an end to hunger, ensure resilient food systems, increase productivity and income of smallholder farmers, especially women, and eliminate food waste. The UN campaign is supported by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the World Food Programme, Unicef, the World Bank, and various governments.

4. An Appreciation for the Energizing and Influential Power of Sideshow Events

More than 3,000 fringe events took place outside of the negotiations, producing significant outputs and exciting commitments. Passionate and innovative individuals, committed grassroots organizations, and forward thinking corporations were able to mold policy and influence international agreements in new and exciting ways. These outside movements energize and influence negotiations, and are an important reminder that individuals still have incredible influence on the state of the world.

5. Innovative Pledges from Unlikely Sources

While government negotiators could not agree to binding pledges, various corporations, individual states and industry groups committed to bold and creative ways of approaching the challenge of sustainable development. Some of the more interesting pledges include:

–Grenada announced its transport and electricity sectors will only use clean energy sources by 2030.

–Unilever promised to cut its greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2020 and find sustainable sources of beef, soy and palm oil to prevent the deforestation now stemming from production of these three major crops.

–Eight international development banks agreed to invest $175 billion to sustainable public transport systems over the next decade.

–European PVS industries made a commitment to recycle 800,000 tons of PVC each year through the VinylPlus programme.

–Microsoft will roll out an internal carbon fee on its operations in more than 100 countries, part of a plan to go carbon-neutral by 2013.

Photo credit: UNEP

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was strengthened with more funding, stronger powers to initiate scientfic research, a leadership role in coordinating global environmental strategies, and a vote of confidence for the organization’s much publicized transition to a focus on creating a green economy backed by strong social provisions.

July 24, 2012/by actualize

Areas of Expertise, Economic Growth, Environment & NRM

A Panel Discussion on the World Bank Report, “Inclusive Green Growth”

Marianne Fay, Chief Economist of the Sustainable Development Network, presenting the World Bank report, "Inclusive Green Growth".

Marianne Fay, Chief Economist of the Sustainable Development Network. Photo credit: World Bank

On June 26, 2012, Dr. Marianne Fay, Chief Economist of the Sustainable Development Network presented the World Bank report entitled “Inclusive Green Growth”, followed by a panel discussion in Washington, D.C. Commentators included Dr. David Reed, the Senior Vice President, Policy of the World Wildlife Fund, and Dr. Rosina Bierbaum, Professor of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy at the University of Michigan.

Following the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development, panelists upheld the importance of inclusive, sustainable economic growth. Accordingly, the report puts forth a three-pronged strategy to achieve this goal. Highlighted methods include appealing to immediate and short-term benefits, creating incentives for private sector investment, and promoting sustainable decision and policy making such as natural capital accounting.

Referencing Christine Lagarde’s recent speech on sustainable development, Dr. Fay pointed out that while “getting the prices right” is fundamental to building a green economy, that it would not act as a catalyst on its own. Similarly, Dr. Bierbaum informed the audience that cost-efficient alternatives are insufficient for stimulating investment. Panelists insisted that in order to achieve a green economy, a change in human behavior must occur, alongside a shift in private investment, given the proper incentives. Nevertheless, while each commentator recognized the importance of attracting the private sector and communities to facilitate this change, little was discussed as to what those incentives might be.

Pointing out another important issue, Dr. Reed emphasized the need for a micro-level focus on members of the communities such as farmers, civil society members, microfinance institutions and social entrepreneurs. While he supported the World Bank report, he also pointed out what he called a “major disconnect” between the document and a strategy on how to involve all stakeholders in fostering a green economy; not just the World Bank and government agencies. His comments raised the question as to what incentives could build such a network to support this effort?

As Dr. Fay mentioned, no matter how high gas prices rise, the majority of a population will continue to pay for the fuel if they do not have a public transportation system that provides them with another option. Accordingly, governments and the private sector must work together to provide and invest in the infrastructure necessary to support green growth. Sustainable transportation systems and increasing access to ICT, for example, are two topics that took center stage at the Rio+20 conference last week. Multilateral banks committed over $175 billion dollars to support sustainable transportation systems in the developing world, and ICT has been recognized as a key strategy for inclusive sustainable development.

While the World Bank and similar financial institutions may not be able to provide incentives for private sector investment, they can provide funding to assist financially struggling governments pursue this path of sustainable development. Marianne Fay suggested that a combination of both regulatory policies and price instruments be used, in conjunction with social policies that help the poor deal with the transition. The discussion concluded with a reminder to the audience, that the goal is not to slow growth, but to change the way in which we develop. Perhaps once the incentives are better defined, and strategies are tailored to the context of each individual country, drivers of the economy will be more open to change.

July 6, 2012/by actualize

Areas of Expertise, Economic Growth, Environment & NRM

Paths to Sustainable Development from Christine Lagarde, IMF

Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the IMF giving a speech at the Center for Global Development in Washington, D.C.

Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the IMF. Photo credit: International Monetary Fund

On Tuesday, June 12, 2012, Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), presented a speech at the Center for Global Development in Washington D.C. entitled “Back to Rio, the Road to a Sustainable Economic Future”.

Mrs. Lagarde spoke of a “triple crisis”, comprised of economic, environmental and social factors, stressing her belief that none of the issues could be improved in isolation from one another. In order to address these problems, she called for a different type of economic growth that would use a variety of fiscal and monetary policies to address the environmental and social issues simultaneously. Fiscal policies mentioned included cap and trade schemes on carbon emissions, and various environmental taxes. In regards to how the IMF can assist in this matter, Mrs. Lagarde stated that the organization can help set prices and fill infrastructure gaps with clean energies to help increase economic growth. With the ability to lend to the developing world, she stressed, “Now the IMF needs more resources for concessional lending, to help vulnerable countries navigate an increasingly volatile world. This is one of my top priorities.”

Mrs. Lagarde also highlighted the dual effects of environmentally-sensitive fiscal policy, to reduce environmental damage while generating tax revenue for the economy. Illustrating this point, she stated, “Right now, less than 10 percent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions are covered by formal pricing programs. Only a handful of cities charge for the use of gridlocked roads. Farmers in rich countries are undercharged—if charged at all—for increasingly scarce water resources.” Mrs. Lagarde also mentioned that the IMF currently involved in natural resource accounting, along with the United Nations and the World Bank, to monitor the stock and use of natural resources such as land, water, and subsoil assets.

Mrs. Legarde brought attention to the need for social safety nets, particularly in developing countries, where she feels people are the most vulnerable to environmental consequences. Furthermore, she reminded the audience that the hardest-hit populations are usually those who contribute the least to the economic and environmental crises. In an effort to help relieve the stress, she cited the IMF’s effort to replenish the poverty reduction fund and provide resources to those countries in need. She also called for governments to move away from subsidy regimes that do not account for income disparities between different populations.

Following Mrs. Lagarde’s speech, a Questions and Answer session was led by Nancy Birsdall, President of the Center for Global Development. An important topic of discussion was how the global community can best take a green measurement of GDP. Mrs. Lagarde emphasized that the way in which we measure, determines the way in which we think; so while it may not become a mainstream measurement of growth, some type of value or index is crucial in order to compare and address the cost of natural resources, the value of goods, etc. She also mentioned that this is something the Department of Statistics at the IMF is currently working on with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

In preparation of the Rio+20 Summit, United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Mrs. Lagarde outlined a variety of important issues for attendees to take into account. The conference took place this week in Brazil, marking the 20^th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in Rio de Janeiro.

June 22, 2012/by actualize

Case Studies

Contact Details

Quick Links

About

Expertise

Impact

Join

Sign up for Updates