COVID-19 has forced the global economic system to a near-standstill. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reorient our economy towards a greener, fairer future by investing in natural capital. But so far, governments have dedicated less than 3% of COVID recovery spending to natural capital investments.

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in partnership with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) are searching for Greenpreneurs to participate in business incubation and accelerator programmes.

The Eastern Caribbean Greenpreneursip Incubator Programme will offer a 12-week virtual training programme for existing, innovative, early-stage MSMEs. Entrepreneurs in the programme will be matched with mentors and will have the opportunity to enter a business plan competition for $10,000 in seed funding or interest-free loans up to $500,000.

Photo by Omar Eagle-Clarke on Unsplash

OECD has developed a Green Recovery Database that evaluates the environmental impacts of COVID-19 economic recovery efforts.

The database features around 680 national-level measures, spread over 43 countries and the European Union. It covers environmental impacts beyond energy and climate, including pollution (air, plastics), water, biodiversity, and waste management.

A new report from the University of Oxford and the Green Fiscal Policy Network finds that very little stimulus spending is flowing towards green recovery initiatives. The report highlights five green policy areas that could optimize a sustainable economic recovery: green energy, green transport, green building upgrades and energy efficiency, natural capital, and green research and development.

Photo by Anna Jiménez Calaf on Unsplash

"Many rural counties in the United States face the dual challenges of lagging economic growth and increasingly severe effects of climate change.

These challenges have been intensified by economic losses from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated existing inequalities and highlighted urgent infrastructure needs. At the same time, catastrophic wildfires, record heatwaves, drought and other severe weather events linked to climate change threaten rural communities and livelihoods."

Peru – one of the 20 PAGE partner countries – stands at a crossroads.

Three-quarters of its workers are informal or self-employed. The country’s diverse natural resources – which serve as the backbone of its economy and labour market – are also under threat.

So what is it doing to change the script? How is it addressing labour challenges and ensuring decent employment for all while also promoting green jobs as part of a just transition?

Find out in the latest episode of #TheGreenRenaissance podcast, as we sit down for an open discussion with Katia Samanamud (Ministry of Labour for Peru) and Ana Belén Sánchez López (International Labour Organization).

Give it a listen: https://bit.ly/3iNsiw3

Captions in English and Spanish: https://bit.ly/3i2OJ0Z

For many economies, COVID-19 pandemic is critical, and millions of tourism businesses and workers are eager for holidaymakers to return, especially given how badly the sector has already been hit.

International tourist arrivals last year fell to levels not seen since 1990. UNCTAD estimates the crisis has cost the world about $4 trillion and placed over 100 million direct tourism jobs at risk.

As the impact is so big as the numerous suppliers and businesses are linked to the core sector, the kick-start of recovery in tourism is urgent.

More than $750 billion a year in additional global investment in nature will be needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, according to the latest research by the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP) and the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3).

Leading experts took part in a GGKP webinar on 6 July to outline solutions for pluging this investment gap, and how policymakers and businesses can value risks and identify financing opportunities for enhancing natural capital and building sustainable economic growth.

Read the summary and catch up on the recording in the link below.

"On average, firm-level investments in resource efficiency can yield 15 tons of C02 equivalent emissions reductions and $14,700 in savings per year".

Check out the latest Green Industry Platform Insights blog by ITC's Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton on MSMEs going green to compete.