PAGE CHINA NEWS FOR THE GREEN JOBS WORKING GROUP: FEBRUARY 2022
LEARNING AND SHARING OPPORTUNITIES
ILO Asia-Pacific Green Jobs Network Meeting, 23 February 2022, online
The February 2022 meeting of the ILO Asia-Pacific Green Jobs Network was held on 23 February 2022. The meeting shared updates on the (i) preparation of the Webinar on plastic waste through responsible business conduct: Experiences from Southeast Asia and (ii) preparation of the 6th Regional Skills Technical Working Group Meeting, followed by an exchange on country updates and selected green news items.
Annex 1: Summary A-P Green Jobs Network_23 Feb 2022
WHAT WE'RE READING
China
75% want single-use plastics eliminated, global survey finds
2022-02-23 Source: China Daily
About 75 percent of people worldwide want single-use plastics to be banned as soon as possible, according to a poll released on Tuesday, as United Nations members prepare to begin talks on a global treaty to rein in soaring plastic pollution. Activists said the results send a clear message to governments meeting in Nairobi for the fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly in February to press ahead with an ambitious treaty to tackle plastic waste, a deal being touted as the most important environmental pact since the Paris Agreement on climate change in 2015.
China's PV exports value $28b in 2021
2022-02-21 Source: China Daily
China saw strong exports in photovoltaic products (PV) last year as the world picked up efforts to cope with climate challenges, said the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. In 2021, China's exports of PV products surpassed $28.4 billion, data from the ministry showed. As of the end of 2020, China had secured the largest share in the global output of polycrystalline silicon, PV cells and PV modules, and led the world in PV capacity additions for eight consecutive years.
China empowers green, digital future with mega data project
2022-02-21 Source: Xinhua
China has started work on a mega project to build an integrated national big data system to improve overall computing power and resource efficiency, both crucial factors defining the country's future productivity and development sustainability. The project involves establishing eight national computing hubs in the country's economic powerhouses and less developed yet resource-rich regions, plus 10 national data center clusters, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the top economic planner.
China employs digital technology for rural vitalization
2022-02-17 Source: People’s Daily
According to an action plan for the development of digital villages between 2022 and 2025 recently issued by the Chinese government, actions will be taken to upgrade digital infrastructure, innovate and develop intelligent agriculture, develop new types and models of businesses, enhance digital governance capacity, and improve other aspects. The action plan issued this time has set a direction, phased goals and approaches for the development of digital villages.
China to build green air logistics network by 2025
2022-02-16 Source: Xinhua
China plans to build a preliminary "safe, smart, efficient and green" air logistics system by 2025, according to a special plan on the development of aviation logistics. Air logistics costs will notably reduce by then; and air logistics services for high-end manufacturing, postal-express delivery, and cross-border e-commerce will continuously improve, says the plan issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
China advances green, low-carbon development in systematic way
2022-02-12 Source: People’s Daily
The year 2021 marks the start of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) and a milestone year for synergizing the reduction of pollution and carbon emissions and promoting the all-round green transformation in economic and social development.
The country made good progress in resource conservation, with its energy consumption per gross domestic product (GDP) dropping 2.7 percent year on year. Clean energy consumption saw rapid growth in the country. Renewable energy, including natural gas and hydroelectric, nuclear, wind, and solar power, accounted for 25.3 percent of China’s total energy consumption in 2021, one percentage point higher than that a year before.
Power generated by renewable energy sources climbed to 2.48 trillion kWh, which made up 29.8 percent of China’s total electricity consumption last year. Meanwhile, the production of green products grew rapidly in 2021, with the country’s output of new energy vehicles (NEVs) and photovoltaic cells surging 145.6 percent and 42.1 percent year on year, respectively.
China to foster urban environmental infrastructure construction
2022-02-10 Source: Xinhua
China will further promote the construction of urban environmental infrastructure to support the country's green development. The country will establish a comprehensive, efficient, intelligent, green, and safe modern environmental infrastructure system by 2030, said a guideline issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and three other government bodies.
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China to build more eco-farms by 2025
2022-02-10 Source: Xinhua
China plans to build more ecological farms in the coming years to advance modernization and green development in the agricultural sector, said a guideline published Wednesday by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. According to a five-year plan on farming published last month, China will have made significant progress in the farming industry by 2025, boosting the capability of providing key farming produce and achieving green production.
China rolls out measures for green-oriented transition mechanism of energy
2022-02-10 Source: Xinhua
China has rolled out policies and measures to improve the mechanism for a green-oriented transition of energy across the country, according to the National Development and Reform Commission. The country will speed up building a clean, low-carbon, safe, and highly-efficient energy system while deepening reforms of mechanisms and innovation in the energy sector, said a document jointly released by the commission and the National Energy Administration.
Road to greater green consumption
2022-02-09 Source: China Daily
China will improve green power consumption in leading private and State-owned companies involved in driving economic growth, according to an implementation plan for promoting green consumption released last month. Green power refers to power generated from renewable resources. Local authorities should set a minimum level of green power consumption for energy-intensive enterprises to ensure the use of green energy, according to the plan released by the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top economic planner. The plan proposed measures to develop green consumption in other key industries and sectors, including food, clothing, residential buildings and transportation.
China, Mongolia to strengthen cooperation in all-round way: joint statement
2022-02-07 Source: Xinhua
China and Mongolia have agreed to strengthen cooperation on development in an all-round way in the spirit of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, according to a joint statement of the two countries' governments published on Sunday. The two countries will strengthen cooperation on ecological environment as well as prevention and control of desertification, jointly address global climate change, create a clean and beautiful ecological environment, and build a community of life for human and nature, said the statement.
China's green loans maintain rapid growth in 2021
2022-02-01 Source: Xinhua
China's green finance saw robust expansion last year, a central bank report showed, adding to the evidence of the country's continuous efforts to pursue low-carbon growth. Outstanding green loans in yuan and foreign currencies reached 15.9 trillion yuan (about 2.5 trillion U.S. dollars) by the end of 2021, jumping 33 percent from the previous year, according to the People's Bank of China (PBOC).
China maps five-year plan for transportation development
2022-01-28 Source: People’s Daily
China outlined a modern comprehensive transportation system over the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period in a circular recently issued. According to the circular, by 2025, China will have generally realized integrated transportation development, achieved breakthroughs in pursuing intelligent and green transportation, and made prominent improvements in overall capability, service quality and efficiency of the transportation sector.
Coordinated efforts urged to attain climate targets
2022-01-26 Source: China Daily
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has called for coordinated efforts in cutting carbon emissions and promoting the green transition of socioeconomic development, saying that China must resolutely curb its consumption of fossil energy.
Speaking at a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Monday, Xi said China must give greater priority to the development of new energy and clean energy and accelerate the development of large-scale and profitable wind power, solar power, biomass energy, geothermal energy, ocean energy and hydrogen power.
He called for parallel efforts in bolstering the coordination of policies and measures and enabling different areas to adjust their industry structure and determine their action plans, saying that sweeping approaches must be avoided.
China publishes five-year plan for construction industry
2022-01-26 Source: Xinhua
China unveiled a development plan for its construction industry over the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) to push the pillar sector of the country's economy onto a greener, smarter and safer path. The industry will maintain a 6-percent share of the country's GDP into 2025, according to the document from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. The plan states that the industry will more greatly modernize its industrial chain, form the preliminary stages of a green and low-carbon production mode, see more widespread application of information technologies, and steadily improve the safety and quality of buildings.
India
How Union Budget 2022-23 Deals with Climate Change Policy in India
2022-02-05 Source: India Times
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2022-23 where climate action has been highlighted as one of the priority areas, along with inclusive development, energy transition, financing of investments, among others. Several measures have been suggested to help the country shift to a low carbon economy, including increased budget allocation for domestic manufacturing of solar modules (additional INR 19.5 crore), co-fire 5-7% biomass pellets resulting in CO2 reduction in thermal power plants, introducing a battery swapping policy for the electric vehicle industry, the announcement on sovereign green bonds, amongst other measures.
Indonesia
This year, Indonesian businesses are ready to deliver on COP26's climate commitments
2022-02-22 Source: World Economic Forum
This year, Indonesia is hosting the G20 – a strategic multilateral platform connecting the world’s major developed and emerging economies. As part of the G20, the B20 brings together the global business community to provide recommendations in advance to the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Bali, Indonesia later in this year. The stage is set for sustainable energy transition. This was a clear message when President Joko Widodo and the Indonesian and international leaders agreed to set this as one of the top priorities at the recent B20 inception meeting.
The need for a fair and just transition has been a key theme throughout the B20 meeting, as the sage has been set for a sustainable energy transition. The B20 is poised to be the ‘climate’ B20, demonstrating how public and private, local and global, can all work together for the world to stay on track for 1.5C.
G20 economies urged to push green bonds to fight climate change
2022-02-18 Source: Xinhua
The Group of 20 (G20) meeting's host country Indonesia has urged finance leaders from the world's 20 top economies to push the issue of green bonds as part of a sustainable finance instrument to fight climate change. Bank Indonesia's Governor Perry Warjiyo made the remarks on the second day of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting here on Friday.
Green Taxonomy to empower sustainable financial tools: OJK
2022-02-18 Source: Antara
Indonesia's Green Taxonomy will strengthen green and sustainable instrument development, Deputy Commissioner for Financial System Stability of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) said at a G20 Finance Track Side Event here on Friday. The OJK, with the help of eight ministries, have finished Indonesia Green Taxonomy edition 1.0 to support the development of (financial) green tools. The taxonomy is a guide for green economic activities that lists the classification of implementations that support environmental protection and climate change mitigation and adaptation. It is also meant to serve as a reference for the preparation or arrangement of incentives and disincentives from various ministries and institutions. It can also help financial services sector players understand and categorize green activities while developing a portfolio of products or services.
JHT; Aspek Indonesia Asks Manpower Minister to Stop Forming Misleading Opinions
2022-02-18 Source: Tempo.co
Indonesia's Labor Union Association (Aspek Indonesia) president asked Manpower Minister to stop forming opinions that mislead the public. She lamented the ministry’s press release on old-age benefit (JHT) which was considered deceitful. She questioned the results of the meeting between workers and the minister on Feb. 16, regarding the understanding of ministerial regulation No. 2 of 2022. According to Aspek, JHT as social security could be justified so long workers are still employed and pay the dues based on the law, while those who are dismissed or resign are no longer listed as participants. The Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) gave the government two weeks to revoke the JHT regulation. Otherwise, workers and labor unions will continue to hold rallies and other needed actions as a form of objections.
Jokowi Summons Manpower Minister; Controversial JHT Changes to Be Revised
2022-02-12 Source: Tempo.co
The Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah in a written statement on Tuesday finally addressed the series of criticisms aimed at the changes made for the old age benefit (JHT) program that will only allow fund withdrawals at the age of 56. The minister assures that this will be revised after she was summoned by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. Fauziyah acknowledged that the changes made on the withdrawal requirement under the Manpower Minister’s Regulation No.2/2022 had sparked criticism from workers. Despite not detailing about which part of the regulation will be revised, she assures that the JHT will be beneficial for workers who are affected by layoffs amidst the pandemic.
Indonesia’s G20 Presidency Seeks Global Deal on Energy Transition
2022-02-10 Source: Jakarta Globe
Indonesia seeks to achieve a global deal on accelerating energy transition out of its G20 presidency this year. Indonesia’s G20 presidency has chosen energy transition as one of its top priorities. The energy transition working group (ETWG) zeroes in on energy access, technology, and funding. Energy transition would require a substantial amount of funding. This will place a heavy burden on developing nations, particularly in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is also imperative to ensure a just energy transition by minimizing the negative socio-economic impacts. And so, Indonesia calls for robust global cooperation.
Thailand
Energy Ministry Unveils New Plans to Reduce Carbon Emissions, Promote Investment
2022-02-21 Source: TNN
The Ministry of Energy has unveiled strategies to reduce carbon emissions by promoting investments in New S-curve industries and preserving the environment. According to Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow, Thailand emits about 350 million metric tons of greenhouse gas annually. He said that at the current rate, the nation will have to spend about 700 to 800 billion baht a year on carbon cleanup projects.
UN NEWS
New environmental report offers solutions for ‘triple planetary crisis’
2021-02-17 Source: UN News
Deadly wildfires, noise pollution and other looming environmental threats could cause widespread ecological damage, and need to be urgently addressed, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in a new report. “The Frontiers Report identifies and offers solutions to three environmental issues that merit attention and action from governments and the public at large,” said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen.
Adapting to climate change ‘happening worldwide’, essential
2021-02-14 Source: UN News
The impacts of climate change are already “very visible” and “happening worldwide”, the head of the UN weather agency told the start of the 55th Session of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which convened on Monday. The meeting opened to approve the report of the second IPCC Working Group focusing on impacts, adaptation and vulnerability to climate change which will be added to the Sixth Assessment Report later this month.
World must ‘change track’ to protect oceans from climate crisis: Guterres
2021-02-11 Source: UN News
The planet is facing the triple crises of climate disruption, biodiversity loss and pollution, Secretary-General António Guterres told the One Ocean Summit on Friday, warning that “the ocean shoulders much of the burden”. As the ocean serves as a giant carbon and heat sink, it is growing warmer and more acidic, causing its ecosystems to suffer. “Polar ice is melting and global weather patterns are changing”, the UN chief said in his video message to the conference, taking place this week in the northern French coastal city of Brest. “We need more, and more effective partnerships, to address land-based sources of marine pollution…urgency in the deployment of offshore renewable energy, which can provide clean power and employment, and…[less] fossil fuels in the ocean economy”, he said. Mr. Guterres welcomed “encouraging steps” taken by some countries, including France, to end single-use plastics and urged others to follow suit.
Island States must bolster resilience to existential climate threats
2021-02-02 Source: UN News
The massive volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga followed by another earthquake and aftershocks just days afterwards, has highlighted once again the vulnerability of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), a meeting this week convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has heard.
Wetlands: ‘Unsung heroes’ of the climate crisis
2021-02-01 Source: UN News
For the first time, the United Nations on Wednesday celebrates World Wetlands Day, recognizing that these fragile ecosystems make a crucial contribution to biodiversity, climate mitigation, freshwater availability, and economic resilience. A broad definition of wetlands includes ecosystems such as lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps, coral reefs, and many others; but also, human-made artificial sites such as fishponds or reservoirs.
Though they cover only around 6 per cent of the Earth’s land surface, 40 per cent of all plant and animal species live or breed in them. Wetlands are also vital for human wellbeing and security. More than a billion people across the world depend on them for their livelihoods, about one in eight people on Earth.
The theme for the very first World Day is “Wetlands Action for People and Nature”. It serves as an urgent call to act and to invest financial, human and political capital, to save the world’s wetlands from disappearing altogether - and to restore those areas already lost. Wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests and are Earth’s most threatened ecosystem. In just 50 years - since 1970 - 35 per cent of the world’s wetlands have evaporated.
Healthcare waste from COVID threatens environment: WHO
2021-02-01 Source: UN News
Tens of thousands of tonnes of extra medical waste from the response to the COVID-19 pandemic has put tremendous strain on healthcare waste management systems around the globe, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday. According to the agency’s Global analysis of healthcare waste in the context of COVID-19: status, impacts and recommendations, the mainly plastic trash threatens human and environmental health, and exposes a dire need to improve waste management practices.
UN report finds nature conservation funding must triple globally this decade
2021-01-27 Source: UN News
G20 leading industrialized nations must embrace their role as influential leaders against climate change, by aligning development and economic recovery with international nature and climate goals, according to a new UN report, published on Thursday. In its joint report on finance for nature in the G20 countries, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Economics of Land Degradation Initiative, examined how wealthy nations can better support nature-based solutions (NbS). In addition to promoting sustainable farming and supply chains, or initiatives such as creating green spaces in cities to tackle rising heat, G20 States - a group representing many of the world's most advanced economies - must address interrelated climate, biodiversity, and land degradation crises by increasing their annual investments in nature to $285 billion by 2050, said the State of Finance for Nature in the G20 report.
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More information on PAGE China News for Green Jobs Working Group:
Pei Hongye
pei@iloguest.org
Cristina Martinez
martinezc@ilo.org
Zhang Xubiao
zhangxubiao@iloguest.org
