PAGE CHINA NEWS FOR THE GREEN JOBS WORKING GROUP. DECEMBER 2021
LEARNING AND SHARING OPPORTUNITIES
Just Transition Forum 2021: Energy and jobs to power the future, (Online 13-17 December 2021)
The Forum gathered social partners, sector experts, policy makers, academia and civil society to discuss the latest research, knowledge and insights and to share best practices and lessons learned. The Forum in particular drew on the outcomes from recent major international processes such as the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy as well as the COP26. To find all sessions of the Just Transition Forum 2021 in one place: Click here
WHAT WE'RE READING
China
Plans for carbon reductions in major sectors afoot
2021-12-30 Source: China Daily
China's implementation plans to peak carbon emissions within several raw material industries are in the pipeline, an official from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said on Wednesday.
Feng Meng, deputy head of raw material industries at the MIIT, said the ministry has worked with the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments to jointly formulate carbon peak implementation plans for nonferrous metals, building materials, petrochemicals, steel and other industries, which will clarify the roadmap and specific task arrangements for carbon emission reduction goals.
China's energy regulator pledges energy security, green development
2021-12-28 Source: Xinhua
China's National Energy Administration (NEA) has made specific arrangements to ensure energy security and promote green and low-carbon development next year (2022), said the administration chief.
The tone of next year's work will be seeking progress while maintaining stability, Zhang Jianhua, head of the NEA, told a national energy work conference. He stressed efforts to safeguard energy security, boost oil and gas exploitation, and improve the country's capability of a safe and sound power supply.
30% cut expected in new high-emission projects
2021-12-24 Source: China Daily
The number of smokestack projects approved by government is expected to have declined this year (2021) as China forges ahead with its ambitious climate goals, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said on Thursday.
The number of such projects going through environmental impact assessments this year is estimated to have decreased by 30 percent year-on-year, Liu Zhiquan, head of the ministry's environmental impact assessment and emission management department, told a news conference.
"Aside from striving to set up a supervision mechanism with long-term effectiveness for projects with high energy consumption and emissions, the ministry will enhance its support to guide local environmental authorities on such work," Liu said.
World Meteorological Organization's regional center opens in Beijing
2021-12-17 Source: China Daily
A report on climate change released on Thursday said the key to reducing carbon dioxide emissions lies in energy transition to a low-carbon path. Co-authored by experts from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the China Meteorological Administration and other institutions, the Annual Report on Actions To Address Climate Change 2021 mentioned challenges and actions needed to achieve carbon targets.
Vice-minister stresses role of green technology in carbon-free future
2021-12-16 Source: China Daily
A senior environmental official has called for intensifying efforts to explore green technological innovation as countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative work toward a green recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, by making use of an innovation center established in China.
Zhao Yingmin, vice-minister of ecology and environment, made the remarks on Thursday as he addressed the opening ceremony of the 2021 BRI Green Innovation Conference.
China's carbon market sees trading volume top 100 million tonnes
2021-12-16 Source: Xinhua
China's carbon trading market saw its total trading volume surpass 100 million tonnes, the Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange said Wednesday.
The carbon market reported a total of 107 million tonnes in trading volume and 4.43 billion yuan (about 695 million U.S. dollars) in turnover as of the end of trading on Wednesday, the 102nd trading day since its operation on July 16.
6 countries vow water cooperation
2021-12-08 Source: China Daily
Lancang-Mekong River countries have vowed strengthened cooperation on water resources management as they forge ahead to cope with common challenges in the basin, including drought caused by climate change.
Heads of water resources authorities of the six countries made the remarks as they gathered online on Tuesday for the Second Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Forum.
The Mekong River, known as the Lancang in China, is a vital waterway that stretches across China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
China issues 5-year plan to boost green development of industrial sectors
2021-12-03 Source: Xinhua
China on Friday released a plan for the green development of its industrial sectors during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), a step forward in the country's pursuit of low-carbon growth.
By 2025, significant progress will have been made in the green and low-carbon transformation of China's industrial structure and production, with technologies and equipment for green development widely applied, according to the plan issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
World's top 10 countries in green bond issuance
Global green bond issuance grew for the ninth straight year, climbing to a record high of $269.5 billion at the end of last year (2020), up from $266.5 billion in 2019, according to the nonprofit organization Climate Bonds Initiative.
The United States had the largest issuance of green bonds with $51.1 billion, followed by Germany with $40.2 billion and France with $32.1 billion. China and the Netherlands rounded out the top five with $17.2 billion and $17 billion, respectively
Indonesia
Indonesia begins construction of world's largest green industrial park
2021-12-21 Source: Xinhua
Indonesia Tuesday began construction of what would become the world's largest green industrial park in Bulungan district on the country's second-largest island of Kalimantan.
"We hope that this will be the largest green industrial park in the world, not only in North Kalimantan, not only in Indonesia, but in the world," Indonesian President Joko Widodo said during the groundbreaking of the park. The construction process is expected to employ around 100,000 workers, and more than 200,000 others once it is operational.
A look at Indonesia's stance on green recovery
2021-12-17 Source: Antara News
As climate crisis threatens everyone, commitments to build back better have been voiced by country leaders with regard to sustainable development and green recovery. These ambitions have also been put forward by Indonesia, both at the national level and at multilateral forums.
At the national level, Indonesia has shown an ambition to mainstream its environmental agenda with development measures. This has been reiterated by high officials such as The Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Agency (Bappenas) that stated economic development should be carried out in alignment with the preservation of the environment, which can be achieved through a green economy.
Such a commitment was also emphasized by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) that declared Indonesia’s pledge to tackle climate change issues in the country. In addition, Indonesia’s presidency on the G20 forum in 2022 also takes theme on “Recover Together, Recover Stronger” which focuses on three key issues, which include inclusive handling of health issues, digital- based transformation, and transition toward renewable energy.
World Bank recommends Indonesia cut coal subsidies amid green transition
2021-12-16 Source: Reuters
The World Bank has urged Indonesia to drop a policy forcing miners to supply a set amount of subsidized coal to its state power company (PLN) as stated in their report released on Thursday. The policy recommendation is intended to encourage more private investment in renewable energy in Indonesia to help the country achieve a target of becoming carbon neutral by 2060 or sooner.
The Bank argues that the subsidy via Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) policy whereby coal miners must supply 25% of annual production to PLN at a maximum price of $70 per ton has incentivized more consumption of carbon and sent distorted price signals, which discourages a transition away to cleaner sources of energy. The report also recommended changing rules on minimum local content requirements for energy projects because this had increased project costs and impeded competition.
Renewable energy regulations in Indonesia
2021-12-15 Source: Asia Business Law Journal
The government of Indonesia has shown a serious commitment to achieve its 23% renewable energy utilization target in 2025 by giving more relaxed rules and opportunities to investors. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) recently announced that Indonesia managed to generate 217MW in the first semester of 2021 from hydro, solar, geothermal and bioenergy-based power plants.
The Ministry also states that it is now focusing on promoting a greater use of solar power. From a regulatory perspective, the government has set a positive momentum for investments in Indonesian renewable energy- based power generation for example by passing a regulation on rooftop solar power plants connected to the electricity grid of holders of an electricity supply business license for public interest in August. The MEMR and the State Power Company (Perusahaan Listrik Negara, or PLN) has also stipulated its long-awaited electricity supply business plan for 2021-2030 that target higher share of RE in the energy mix.
Thailand
“COP 26 Debrief” held to digest implications of new climate goals
2021-12-17 Source: National News Bureau of Thailand (TNN)
Thailand is now making preparations on raising its goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions to 40%, instead of 20-25%, by 2065. The revision to the country’s medium-term emissions reduction target comes in response to pledges made at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) and the realization that global temperatures are trending toward a 2.3 degrees Celsius increase.
Investment in Eco-Friendly BCG on Upward Trend, Thailand BOI Says
2021-12-02 Source: Bangkok Post
Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) Secretary General Ms. Duangjai Asawachintachit announced investment applications worth 128.4 billion baht (ca. USD 3.8 billion) for environmentally friendly activities classified as Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) in the first 9 months of 2021, confirming the acceleration of a trend seen in recent years.
UN NEWS
2021 Year in Review: Climate action, or blah, blah, blah?
2021-12-30 Source: UN News/ Climate and Environment
This year saw another steady stream of UN-backed reports reinforcing a stark message: man-made climate change is an urgent and even existential threat to life on Earth. Will the international community’s efforts to tackle the crisis, as seen at the COP26 UN Climate Conference, result in meaningful action?
From the Field: Interweaving ecosystems in Indonesia
2021-12-19 Source: UN News/ Climate and Environment
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) is working with local communities in Indonesia’s Kalimantan forests to protect biodiversity and generate sustainable livelihoods. Traditionally, the cultivation of natural dyes are used for traditional weaving in Kalimantan, Indonesia’s territory on the island of Borneo. These methods are being used as a means of forest conservation, with the planting and cultivating natural dye-producing plants.
38℃ record Arctic temperature confirmed, others likely to follow: WMO
2021-12-14 Source: UN News/ Climate and Environment
A new and disturbing high temperature record for the Arctic of 38 degrees Celsius, or just over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, was confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on Tuesday. Worryingly, the temperature reading taken last June in the Siberian town of Verkhoyansk – which is located 115 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle - is “just one of a series” of potentially record-breaking observations from around the planet in 2020, that the agency is seeking to verify.
Land and water ecosystems, ‘stressed to a critical point’
2021-12-09 Source: UN News/ Climate and Environment
Land and water resources are “stressed to a critical point”, following significant deterioration over the past decade, according to a major new report released on Thursday by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Entitled, State of the World’s Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture – Systems at breaking point (SOLAW 2021), the report highlights the challenges that lie ahead in feeding a global population that should near ten billion by 2050.
COP26: Convert climate ‘promises to action’, urge UN rights experts
2021-12-03 Source: UN News/ Climate and Environment
Marking the 35th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development, independent UN human rights experts on Friday issued an urgent call to “move from promises to action” on the outcomes of the UN’s landmark COP26 climate conference.
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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
Source: https://www.un-page.org/
