PAGE CHINA NEWS FOR THE GREEN JOBS WORKING GROUP - JULY 2022
WHAT WE'RE READING
China
Forum on EU-China climate cooperation held in Madrid
2022-07-14 Source: Xinhua
A forum aiming to promote EU-China cooperation on climate change was held in the representative office of the European Commission in Madrid on Thursday. The event, titled "Promoting EU-China cooperation in the field of Climate Action, Sustainable Finance as a driver for change," aimed to open a discussion about the opportunities for cooperation between the EU and China to combat climate change. European and Chinese representatives of the public and private sectors reviewed progress in green finance, and discussed ways for further progress.
China to build more low-carbon communities
2022-07-14 Source: Xinhua
China will encourage more residential communities to evolve into low-carbon ones as part of the country's efforts to meet its climate goals. By 2030, about 60 percent of the urban communities are expected to become "green communities," featuring more convenient, doorstep services that can be obtained by residents by walk, according to a government plan unveiled Wednesday by the country's housing and urban-rural development ministry and top economic planner.
Residents of such communities are expected to use more low-energy-consumption home appliances and less single-use products, conserve electricity in daily life, and opt for new energy vehicles, said the plan. By 2025, all the country's new urban buildings will be constructed in line with green building standards.
China details plan to boost industrial energy efficiency
2022-06-30 Source: Xinhua
Chinese regulators have released an action plan on boosting industrial energy efficiency, detailing major targets and tasks to optimize the energy structure as the country takes steady steps to spur green transformation.
By 2025, China aims to achieve a comprehensive improvement in the energy efficiency of major industrial sectors, a substantial rise in energy efficiency in key areas such as data centers, and an
increase in the proportion of green low-carbon energy use, according to the plan jointly released by six government departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Energy efficiency in sectors including iron and steel, petrochemicals, non-ferrous metals and building materials will have reached an internationally advanced level by then, according to the plan.
India
Report projects 100 percent electric two-wheeler penetration in India by 2027
2022-07-26 Source: Mongabay India
A recent report by the Indian government’s think tank, NITI Aayog, and Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) forecast 100 percent penetration of electric two- wheelers in the Indian market by 2026–27 in an optimistic scenario. The report has developed eight scenarios to highlight the future penetration of electric two-wheelers in the country. The report, however, states that in a scenario where current incentives are withdrawn by 2024, India will achieve only 72 percent penetration by 2031.
Indonesia
Carbon Tax in 2022 Is Still on The Table Despite Delays
2022-07-15 Source: Jakarta Globe
The government has reiterated its intention to implement a carbon tax this year despite having delayed the policy two times in April and earlier this month due to inflation and global recession concerns since there are no technical difficulties. In line with the implementation of the carbon trade, the government of Indonesia will also run a carbon tax mechanism this year by targeting coal power plants and later, will be expanded to other NDC sectors by 2025.
Y20 Summit: ILO Calls for Formalization of Informal Economy
2022-07-20 Source: Jakarta Globe
The ILO recently called for the formalization of the informal economy, when virtually addressing the Y20 Summit in Jakarta on Monday (18 July 2022). The DG emphasized that there is a very clear consensus that we are aiming at the formalization of the informal economy as it puts governments, employer community, and workers at a disadvantage. To get more enterprises formalized, Ryder highlighted the need to cut bureaucratic red tapes and make the formal registration of enterprises as simple as possible. Adjustment on the social security and finance
systems to ensure that formalization is also critical in this regard. According to the National Statistics, Indonesia had 78.14 million informal workers as of Feb. 2021.
During the summit, The DG also pointed out the need to get youth into the labor market, particularly decent jobs, to cash in on the demographic dividend. Youth employment is one of the priority areas of the 2022 Y20 Summit.
Malaysia
Malaysia reaffirms commitment to sustainable agenda, post-pandemic recovery
2022-07-19 Source: Xinhua
Malaysia reaffirmed its commitment to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development following the recently concluded UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York.
Malaysia also organized side events in conjunction with the forum and highlighted Malaysia's experience as well as three other Southeast Asian countries -- Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand -- on their achievements and challenges in localizing SDGs. Speakers also shared their experiences on building back better in the context of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Apart from that, Malaysia, together with Indonesia and the Philippines, in collaboration with the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) and the International Coconut Community (ICC) organized a side event entitled "Catalyzing Actions for Sustainable Vegetable Oils in Support of Sustainable Development Goals."
Thailand
TCMA joins FTI EXPO 2022 as it accelerates ‘hydraulic cement’ adoption Low-carbon cement targets greenhouse gas emission reduction
2022-07-25 Source: Bangkok Post
Thai Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMA), the collaboration of Thailand’s leading cement producers, joins forces with all sectors to accelerate adoption of ‘hydraulic cement’, a low-carbon cement, and stimulate industry-wide GHG emission reductions. GHG emission reduction involves green mining, low carbon cement, and co-processing of waste in cement kilns. This is in line with circular economy and aims to propel the industry to achieving net zero emissions in 2050 in accordance with Thailand Cement & Concrete Net Zero 2050 roadmap.
Vietnam
Vietnam Approves Long Term Strategy on Environmental Protection: Decision 450
2022-06-01 Source: Vietnam Briefing
The Vietnamese government issued Decision 450/QD-TTg to promote environmental protection to 2030 with a vision to 2050. The Decision is a turning point for Vietnam’s national strategy as the country strives to achieve its dual goal of environmental sustainability and economic profitability.
National climate change strategy to 2050 approved
2022-07-27 Source: Vietnam Plus
Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh on July 26 signed a decision approving the national climate change strategy to 2050.
UN NEWS
UN General Assembly declares access to clean and healthy environment a universal human right
2022-07-27 Source: UN News
With 161 votes in favour, and eight abstentions*, the UN General Assembly adopted a historic resolution on Thursday, declaring access to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, a universal human right.
FAO warns 90 per cent of Earth’s topsoil at risk by 2050
2022-07-27 Source: UN News
A full 90 per cent of the Earth’s precious topsoil is likely to be at risk by 2050, according to the
UN Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO.
In a bid to protect soil globally and help farmers, the FAO warned on Wednesday that the equivalent of one soccer pitch of earth erodes, every five seconds. It also takes around a thousand years to create just a few centimetres of topsoil and to help land restoration. Now, the UN agency is calling for more action by countries and partners who’ve signed up to the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) over the last decade.
Why the UN General Assembly must back the right to a healthy environment
2022-07-22 Source: UN News
In late July, the UN General Assembly is expected to vote on a draft resolution recognizing the
human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. The resolution recognizes the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a human right essential for the full enjoyment of all human rights and, among others, calls upon States and international organizations to adopt policies and scale up efforts to ensure a clean, healthy and sustainable environment for all.
But why is it important for the wider UN membership to recognize this right? And what will the adoption of this resolution mean for people around the world? UN News spoke to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment, Mr. David Boyd, and asked him about these and other questions.
‘Moment for Nature’ essential to beat back threats, spur climate action
2022-07-19 Source: UN News
With less than eight years remaining to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the President of the UN General Assembly convened a ‘Moment for Nature’ debate on Tuesday to examine the interconnected environmental threats hampering efforts to achieve sustainable development.
The day-long event is being held to assess recent decisions on the global environment agenda and to present solutions to common bottlenecks, such as the gaps between commitments and actions, as well as the need for wider mobilization.
WMO warns of frequent heatwaves in decades ahead
2022-07-19 Source: UN News
With temperatures expected to remain above normal until the middle of next week, the World Metrological Organization (WMO) warned that heatwaves will occur more and more frequently, into the 2060s.
The pattern is linked to the observed warming of the planet that can be attributed to human
activity, raising serious concerns for the planet’s future, the UN weather agency said.
UN report: Value of nature must not be overridden by pursuit of short-term profit
2022-07-11 Source: UN News
The values that we ascribe to nature are vital parts of our cultures, identities, economies, and ways of life, all of which should be reflected in policy decisions surrounding our natural world, according to a new UN-backed report released on Monday.
However, the new Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services’ (IPBES) assessment report finds when making policy decisions, there is a too much global focus on short-term profits and economic growth that often undervalue nature.
Convergence of conflicts, COVID and climate crises, jeopardize global goals
2022-07-07 Source: UN News
Intersecting global crises are threatening the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and impacting food supplies, health, education, and security across countries worldwide, according to a new UN report released on Thursday.
The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022 reveals that the convergence of increased fighting, the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, and the long-term climate crisis, could push an additional 75 to 95 million people into extreme poverty this year – compared with pre-pandemic projections – and jeopardize the SDG blueprint for more resilient, peaceful and equal societies.
“The road map laid out in the Sustainable Development Goals is clear,” stated Liu Zhenmin, UN Economic and Social Affairs chief (DESA), adding that “just as the impact of crises is compounded when they are linked, so are solutions”.
Meanwhile, the world is on the verge of a climate catastrophe where billions are already suffering the consequences of global warming and increasingly extreme weather.
Energy-related CO2 emissions rose by six per cent last year, reaching their highest level ever, completely wiping out pandemic-related declines.
To avoid the worst effects of climate change, global greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025 and then decline by 43 per cent by 2030, falling to net zero by 2050.
Instead, under current voluntary national commitments (NDCs) to climate action, greenhouse gas emissions are set to rise nearly 14 per cent over the next decade.
And this year, an estimated 17 million metric tons of plastic entered the ocean – a number that is expected to double or triple by 2040.
UN Ocean Conference ends with call for greater global commitment to address dire state of the ocean
2022-07-01 Source: UN News
Following a week of discussions and events in Lisbon, Portugal, the UN Ocean Conference concluded on Friday, with governments and heads of state agreeing on a new political declaration to Save Our Ocean.
Recognizing the past “collective failure” in the Conference’s final declaration, world leaders called for greater ambition to ensure that the dire state of the ocean is addressed, and admitted frankly to being “deeply alarmed by the global emergency facing the ocean”.
ILO Director-General welcomes BRICS commitment to green jobs, skills development, workers’ protection
2022-07-15 Source: ILO
The Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Guy Ryder, has welcomed the commitment by the Labour and Employment Ministers (LEMM) of the BRICS countries to promote green employment, invest in skills development and protect workers in new forms of employment.
The LEMM Declaration, issued at the end of the Ministers’ meeting, which took place on 14 July in Beijing, China, stresses that “the global labour market is still under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with current and future challenges caused by climate change, technological transition and demographic shifts”. The declaration identifies three priorities for labour and employment policy responses to the pandemic: promoting green jobs for sustainable development, developing skills for a resilient recovery and protecting workers’ rights in new forms of employment.
In their declaration the BRICS Ministers “commit to acquire a deeper understanding of green jobs, adopt policy measures for employment and human resources development that meet the needs of green growth, low-carbon and sustainable development together with other government agencies and social partners,” and to take advantage of “the triple benefits of mitigating and adapting to climate change with a just transition for all.”
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