PAGE CHINA NEWS FOR THE GREEN JOBS WORKING GROUP, JUNE 2021
EVENTS
Asia-Pacific Climate Week 2021
The APCW 2021 Virtual Thematic Sessions take the pulse of climate action in the region, explore climate challenges and opportunities, and showcase ambitious solutions. These sessions focus on priorities identified earlier in the year at the Virtual Regional Roundtables and the outcomes will be carried forward to the Ministerial Sessions later this year. This is an opportunity for regional stakeholders to have their voice heard and contribute to COP 26.
The APCW Virtual Thematic Sessions are scheduled from 6 to 9 July and will be hosted by the Government of Japan. Some relevant sessions include:
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July 6 - 10:25 BKK: Regional approaches toward integrated climate solutions
Register for APCW here -
July 6 - 14:00 BKK: Just Energy Transition: Webinar World Economic Forum and Agora Energiewende
Register here -
July 7 - 9:00 BKK: Imagining A Sustainable Energy Future by 2050
Register here -
July 8 - 15:00 BKK: Who Invests in and Who Finances Just Transition Pathways In Asia?
Registerhere -
July 9 - 8:00 BKK: Report Launch: Regional Study on Green Jobs Policy Readiness in ASEAN
Sign uphere.
LEARNING AND SHARING OPPORTUNITIES
Learning and Skills Development for a Green Recovery: Promoting Low-Carbon Development towards Green Economy in Indonesia, 23 June 2021
PAGE Indonesia in cooperation with Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS) had successfully delivered the webinar on “Learning & Skills Development for Green Recovery: Building Back Better with Low Carbon Development in Indonesia.” The Webinar is aimed to facilitate multi-stakeholder’s discussion with regards of learning and skills required for an inclusive green recovery in the context of Low Carbon Indonesia Build Back Better platform. The event had initiated vibrant discourse from the representations from Government Agencies, Development Partners, NGOs, Academicians, as well as tripartite constituents which touch upon topics such as green learning, just transition, and green recovery.
Green Entrepreneurship and Decent Jobs for Youth in Mongolia, 25 June 2021
Under the aegis of the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth, the Government of Mongolia and the International Labour Organization (ILO) organized the webinar in collaboration with the Young Entrepreneurs Council (YEC) of Mongolia to facilitate knowledge sharing among policymakers, practitioners and experts working towards the promotion of youth employment in Mongolia.
Highlights from the 2021 Global Academy on the Green Economy
Returning with a packed agenda, the 2021 PAGE Global Academy on the Green Economy was held from 10-21 May, engaging 78 speakers across 11 plenary sessions and 8 technical sessions — presented in three languages — for 120 participants from 29 countries. The Academy was capped by a Knowledge Fair, where PAGE countries were able to share experiences and best practices in virtual booths, offering an opportunity for peer learning and exchange. The interactive Academy serves as an intensive tool for experts and leaders to deep dive into key topics on green economy. The 2021 edition focused heavily on all areas related to green recovery — aiming to enhance real-time and real-world experience and knowledge sharing for policymakers to gain essential insight and support in their respective recovery agendas. To extend the impact of the Academy’s shared exchange component, a follow-up survey is in progress to support future exchanges.
A "Just Transition Toolkit" for textile and garment supply chain in Asia
2021-07-01 Source:ILO
Under the Decent Work in Garment Supply Chains Asia project, the ILO is releasing a "Just Transition Toolkit". The Toolkit looks at how to drive behaviours and practices throughout the textile and garment supply chain in Asia, and will provide specific advice on just transition in the garment sector to social partners and industry stakeholders groups including: governments and policy actors, enterprises, workers.
WHAT WE'RE READING
Sustainability as new investing theme rises
2021-06-25 Source: China Daily
Sustainability will be one of the most exciting investment themes in China's stock market in the years to come as green efforts across the globe are spurring the growth of Chinese new energy companies, top global asset managers said. BlackRock, the world's biggest asset manager, said it has moved to an overweight position on new energy over the past six months and is prudently rejigging its portfolio with investments in solar inverters, electric vehicle batteries and photovoltaic-related components.
Details of carbon emission trading system unveiled
2021-06-24 Source: China Daily
With just days to go until the expected launch of China's carbon emission trading system, further details have been released on how the much-anticipated system will work, and these reveal the prospect of a market that will be a major engine driving the nation's green transformation as predicted by financial industry experts. The Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange will be responsible for opening accounts and the operation of the national carbon emission trading system, according to an announcement it released.
Yangtze River Delta region should set 'green' example, official says
2021-06-04 Source: China Daily
Zhao Yingmin, vice-minister of Ecology and Environment, called the Yangtze River Delta region to play an exemplary role in exploring a low-carbon and sustainable development path as China forges ahead to go carbon neutral. Vice-minister Zhao made the remark in the 2021 Roundtable of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) in Suzhou, Jiangsu province. Zhao also stressed that carbon reduction will be a key strategic direction in the period. Zhao said the Yangtze River Delta, as a highly open region with high economic vitality and innovative capability, could play an important and demonstrative role as the country endeavors to bring its climate targets into reality. The region is expected to align ecological civilization with socioeconomic development, he said.
China Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC) launches carbon neutral acceleration plan for Chinese fashion brands
2021-06-03 Source：China Economic Net
In order to further accelerate the 2030 action of climate innovation in China's textile and garment industry, CNTAC officially held the launch of “carbon neutral acceleration plan for Chinese fashion brands" in Ningbo on 1 June.
At present, the era of invisible environmental cost for enterprises has passed. Fashion brands have begun to choose suppliers through quantitative and visible environmental impact. And the promotion of the whole life cycle green governance has become a trend. As the focus of green development, the textile and garment industry has always been in the forefront of climate innovation and sustainable development in China. In December last year, the China textile and garment industry life cycle evaluation working group (CNTAC LCA Working Group) was formally established.
Sun Ruizhe, President of CNTAC, said that 2021 is the first year of the 14th five year plan. The industry needs to have a deep understanding of the new contradictions and challenges brought about by the great changes, the new tasks and new requirements under the new development pattern of "double circulation", find the right position, grasp the opportunities and do the right thing. The establishment of the CNTAC LCA working group is to accurately position the textile and garment industry and do the right thing at the right time.
Baidu announces plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030
2021-06-23 Source: Xinhua
Chinese internet giant Baidu has announced plans to achieve carbon neutrality in its operations by 2030, aiming to use advanced technology and innovative mechanisms to minimize its ecological footprint. Starting in 2020, Baidu is eyeing six different operational aspects to fulfil carbon neutral targets, including data centers, office buildings, carbon offsets, intelligent transportation, AI cloud and supply chains.
Europe "ready" to take leadership in addressing climate change: von der Leyen
2021-06-01 Source: Xinhua
Europe is ready to take leadership in the fight against climate change, said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission (EC), via video link at the 2021 Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Seoul Summit. "Europe is ready to lead, and we are also ready to share our ideas and strategies on climate action," said Von der Leyen at the summit. She outlined her commission's Green Deal, which sets goals towards carbon neutrality for 2050, with a mid-term target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.
Indonesia’s Climate Foresight Hits Home
2021-06-8 Source: The Jakarta Post
The President of Indonesia’s speech during virtual leaders’ summit on climate held by US President in April implies message consistent with coal producing and consuming nations as well as the direction of the World Coal Organization. The President underscored Indonesia’s commitment to tackle down climate issues while calling up support from developed countries in assisting developing countries achieving the net zero ambitions in more credible way. He also commented that the Paris Agreement Partnership had to be strengthened around a better understanding of better strategies that can accelerate net zero emission. With respect to coal, the message signaled an end for coal generation by 2060. However, considering that coal provides so much to the country economy and energy security, the discussion on coal phasing out needs to be refocused on phasing-in clean coal technology. With this refocusing, it is hoped that developing countries can achieve the climate target while maintaining their ability in providing affordable and clean energy for their economy and society in which coal will likely still be the choice.
Coaling it Quits: Indonesian Direction towards Net Zero Emission
2021-06-11 Source: The Jakarta Post
Government officials have sent mixed messages about the country’s net-zero emissions pledge and the future of coal. Sectoral Ministries such as Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) and Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) has introduced different net zero emission scenarios and target ranging from 2050 to 2070. However, there is still no clear plans and decision from the current cabinet about the target which in turn may threat the attainment of global fight in achieving climate target. Developed countries assistance such as those in the form of grants and clean technology investment is deemed to be necessary in assuring that Indonesia will attain its climate commitments and targets.
UN NEWS
The trillion dollar climate finance challenge (and opportunity)
2021-06-16 Source: UN News/ Climate and Environment
It’s overwhelmingly accepted that climate change is a very significant threat to humanity and while there are countless solutions to tackling what has been described by the UN as the “existential threat” of our times, it is still not fully clear how these solutions will be paid for.
Investments in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure are growing, however from January 2020 to March 2021, globally, more money was spent on fossil fuels, which when burned, create the harmful gasses driving climate change.
UN chief: Desertification and drought destabilizing well-being of 3.2 billion people
2021-06-27 Source: UN News/ Climate and Environment
Land degradation from climate change and the expansion of agriculture, cities and infrastructure “undermines the well-being of 3.2 billion people”, the UN chief said in his message for World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. “Restoring degraded land would remove carbon from the atmosphere…help vulnerable communities adapt to climate change…and it could generate an extra $1.4 trillion dollars in agricultural production each year”, Mr. Guterres spelled out. And best of all, land restoration is “simple, inexpensive and accessible to all”, he added, calling it “one of the most democratic and pro-poor ways of accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.
Restoring nature ‘the test of our generation’: UN General Assembly President
2021-06-14 Source: UN News/ Climate and Environment
Stepping up global efforts to combat land degradation is the only way to safeguard food and water security, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ward against future threats to health and the environment, theUN General Assembly President told ambassadors meeting in New York. Addressing a high-level dialogue on desertification, land degradation and drought, Volkan Bozkir described restoring nature as “the test of our generation”, outlining the cost of inaction.
UN-backed report finds no G7-based stock exchange indices align with Paris climate goals
2021-06-10 Source: UN News/ Climate and Environment
New research co-authored by the UN Global Compact revealed that none of the G7 leading industrial nations’ main stock indices are aligned with global emissions targets set out in the Paris Agreement, thwarting efforts to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
Just ahead of the G7 Summit in the United Kingdom, theTaking the Temperature report shows that indices on the main exchanges of G7 countries are on average at 2.95° C, while four of the seven are on temperature pathways of 3° C or above – way over the Paris benchmark. Stock indices consist of the most significant companies listed on a country’s largest exchange and are vital benchmarks to understand market trends and direction.
The report also identified four urgent priorities for climate action. It recommended that businesses and Governments collaborate to harness a positive feedback cycle whereby private actions and Government policies reinforce each other. Secondly, corporations must work with suppliers to decarbonize supply chains. Third, it calls for investors to embed science-based targets into sustainability-linked bonds and climate financial standards. Finally, the report advised financial institutions to set portfolio-level science-based targets with underlying assets to create a domino effect in all sectors of the economy.
Global push needed to ensure ‘clean, affordable and sustainable electricity’ for all
2021-06-07 Source: UN News/ Climate and Environment
The seventh Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), SDG7, aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. However, those nations which remain most off the grid, are set to enter 2030 without meeting this goal unless efforts are significantly scaled up, warns the new study entitledTracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report, published by the International Energy Agency (IAE), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), World Bank, and World Health Organization (WHO).
Still time to reverse damage to ‘ravaged’ ecosystems, declares UN chief, marking World Environment Day
2021-06-07 Source: UN News/ Climate and Environment
Amidst the triple environmental threat of biodiversity loss, climate disruption and escalating pollution, Secretary-General António Guterres launched “an unprecedented effort to heal the Earth”, on the eve ofWorld Environment Day. “We are ravaging the very ecosystems that underpin our societies”, the UN chief warned in his message for the Day. Our degradation of the natural world is destroying the very food, water and resources needed to survive, and already undermining the well-being of 3.2 billion people – or 40 per cent of humanity. But fortunately, the Earth is resilient and “we still have time to reverse the damage we have done”, he added.
UN launches Decade on Ecosystem Restoration to counter ‘triple environmental emergency’
2021-06-04 Source: UN News/ Climate and Environment
Heads of Government, religious leaders, activists and artists joined the United Nations in a rallying cry to heal the planet, launching theUN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. With humanity facing a “triple environmental emergency” of biodiversity loss, climate disruption and escalating pollution, now is the time to act, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a video message for the online virtual gala. The UN Decade runs through 2030, which is the timeline scientists have identified as humanity’s last chance to prevent catastrophic climate change.
G20 ministers recommit to human-centred roadmap out of crisis
2021-06-23 Source: ILO
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has welcomed the re-commitment by the G20 group of nations to a coherent and human-centred approach to recovery from the COVID-19 crisis that leads to greater social justice and decent work for all. The Declaration issued at the conclusion of the G20 Labour and Employment Ministerial Meeting in Italy echoes the ILO Global Call to Action for a Human-Centred Recovery, adopted by delegates at the June session of the 2021 International Labour Conference.
First international treaty to address violence and harassment comes into force
2021-06-21 Source: ILO
The first international treaty on violence and harassment in the world of work comes into force on June 25th 2021 – two years after it was adopted by the ILO’s International Labour Conference (ILC). To date, six countries have ratified the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190) – Argentina, Ecuador, Fiji, Namibia, Somalia and Uruguay. Ratifying countries are legally bound by the provisions of the Convention a year after ratification. Together with Recommendation No. 206, Convention No. 190 recognizes the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment and provides a common framework for action.
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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@ilo.org
Source: https://www.un-page.org/
