About this Discussion

Green growth provides a means by which economic, environmental and social goals can be simultaneously achieved. It presents an opportunity to make existing industries more sustainable while at the same time encouraging new industries and a diversified economy. 

Achieving a green and inclusive economy will be critical for tackling climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. SMEs will play an indispensable role in achieving this economic transformation due to the large share of global business they represent. Accounting for about 99% of enterprises in OECD countries, SMEs also employ a significant share of people, especially in low-income countries, where they contribute to, on average, 78% of employment compared to 65% in high-income countries.  

Due to their large numbers, the very diverse nature of their businesses and their typically small number of employees, the barriers to greening the operations of SMEs are generally more complicated to overcome than those for larger companies.

Industry and Entrepreneurship

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Clara Mottura commented on Stephani Widorini's Post in Climate Change, Industry and Entrepreneurship

"I am a passionate advocate of the role of young people, students and university researchers in tackling climate change. I’ve written of the need for young people to 'study to leave school with a mindset to be creators of alternative, competitive low carbon solutions for the mainstream economy'... I’ve argued forcefully that climate action won’t come about through policy and regulation alone but economic opportunities, innovation and enterprise."

Dr. Richard Munang, climate action and development policy expert who won the Africa Green Champion Award 2020, shares his optimism in youth as the climate action solution provider on this blog post.

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https://thegreenforum.org/blog/my-optimism-youth-climate-action-solution-provider

Chemical pollution has passed safe limit for humanity.

The cocktail of chemical pollution that pervades the planet now threatens the stability of global ecosystems upon which humanity depends.

The chemical pollution planetary boundary is the fifth of nine that scientists say have been crossed, with the others being global heating, the destruction of wild habitats, loss of biodiversity and excessive nitrogen and phosphorus pollution.

We must act now to revert this trend.

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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/18/chemical-pollution-has-passed-safe-limit-for-hum...

Cobalt, lithium, nickel and graphite, historically of secondary interest to miners, have gained exceptional value in a world trying to set fossil fuels aside due to their use in electric batteries.

But will mining ever been sustainable and fair?

From Congo to Serbia, the rising quest for these materials is demonstrating how the clean energy revolution, meant to save the planet from perilously warming temperatures in an age of enlightened self-interest, is already caught in a familiar cycle of exploitation, greed and gamesmanship that often puts narrow national aspirations above all else.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/20/world/china-congo-cobalt.html?campaign_id=54&emc=edit_cli...
Clara Mottura commented on Clara Mottura's Post in Climate Change, Energy, Industry and Entrepreneurship

The Covid pandemic has made even more evident our reliance on technology. Indeed, our way of working has changed - with some of us even working remotely full time.

We often see this as a more sustainable pattern, but is this really the case?

Computers, servers and other electronic devices require large amounts of natural resources.The energy to run them emits high amounts of CO2, and
programmed obsolescence and the low percentage of recycling are generating e-waste. Plus, the vast majority of data in the cloud are not used.

Without denying the many benefits brought by these technologies, including for the environment, it is important for users, services providers and policy makers to understand what the impacts are and to learn how we can move towards greener digital technologies.

Read the brief to discover more!

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https://www.unep.org/resources/emerging-issues/growing-footprint-digitalisation

Eight years ago when UNIDO-Egypt embarked on a mission to accelerate the uptake of industrial energy efficiency there were barely any local service providers, and even fewer local success stories. Fast forward to today and hundreds of Egyptian industrial organizations and technical consultants have been trained by UNIDO; new energy services companies have emerged; key government ministries have introduced policy incentives; 1,220 GWh of energy has been saved and millions of tons of CO2 emissions have been avoided.

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https://www.industrialenergyaccelerator.org/brazil/establishing-a-thriving-market-for-industrial-ene...

As a programme partner of the World Resources Forum 2021, the Green Industry Platform and GO4SDGs, are jointly hosting an online workshop “In Africa for Africa: Weaving solutions for textile circularity challenges” on 12 October. The workshop will invite SMEs, retailers, and other textile value chain stakeholders to discuss how to bridge communication gaps and deliver a coordinated support structure for circularity.

Limited free tickets are available! Write to contact@greenindustryplatform.org to secure your free registration!

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https://thegreenforum.org/event/africa-africa-weaving-solutions-textile-circularity-challenges
Suhardiyoto Haryadi commented on Suhardiyoto Haryadi's Post in Industry and Entrepreneurship

Hi all, I am joining and hope to share some valuable activities soon.

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International Trade Centre(ITC)

On September 27-28 2021, the International Trade Centre’s (ITC) is hosting the Trade for Sustainable Development Forum 2021, one of the leading global events on sustainable value chains. Read More

In the latest #TheGreenRenaissance podcast, reflections from PAGE@HLPF 2021 ?

Find out how governments can turn economic recovery into sustainable economic transformation (... the answer? A mix of finance, private sector incentives, citizen engagement, and partnerships).

Listen and subscribe ? bit.ly/3ziY6A6

With Guy Ryder (International Labour Organization), Inger Andersen (UN Environment Programme), Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter (Federal Ministry for the Environment, Germany), H. E. Elizabeth Thompson (Government of Barbados), Dr. Febrio Nathan Kacaribu (Ministry of Finance, Indonesia) and Melati Wijsen (Youth Climate Activist).

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https://www.uncclearn.org/podcasts/the-green-renaissance-podcast/
https://youtu.be/7KtjUuav71g

At its latest board meeting in March 2021, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) approved $1.2 billion in funding for 15 climate change projects in developing countries. However, funding for only two of these projects, or 1.5% of the total amount, went directly to developing country institutions.

Most of the climate finance provided by the GCF flows through international institutions such as the UN Development Programme (UNDP) or the World Bank. The GCF has accredited 62 developing country institutions as eligible for direct access so far, but 42 of them have yet to receive actual project funding.

Why is it crucial to give developing countries greater direct access to finance?

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https://www.wri.org/insights/why-green-climate-fund-should-give-developing-countries-greater-direct-...