The war in Ukraine comes at a time when African countries are still struggling to recover from the destabilizing effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic. It is threatening to derail development progress in African countries, pushing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 further out of reach.
Access to clean, reliable and affordable energy is an enabler for sustainable socio-economic development. In a post-COVID-19 world, this is all the more important. Yet the sector’s progress towards energy for all could be endangered by the effects of the pandemic. The European programme GET.invest supports clean energy companies in the African and Caribbean region to navigate the crisis.
2018 has been a year of significant momentum for the three SWITCH programmes, with the launch of a second implementation phase in both Africa and Asia, and the conclusion of the first phase in the Mediterranean. Events will take place in the coming weeks, in all target regions.
GREEN CITIES FOR A GREENER FUTURE The next edition of EU Green Week will explore ways in which the EU is helping cities to become better places to live and work. Showcasing policy developments on air quality, noise, nature and biodiversity, waste and water management, it will promote participatory approaches to urban development, networking schemes, and tools for sharing best practices, engaging local authorities and citizens, and encouraging them to share their vision of a sustainable future. EU Green Week 2018 will include events across Europe, a high level conference in Brussels from 22-24 May 2018, and Opening and Closing events (21 and 25 May) to take place in the Member States. These High Level Opening and Closing events will have a particular prominence, setting the tone for the week's debates, and showcasing political conclusions at the end.
Wildlife rangers, land rights activists and farmers still in danger around the world - The end of plastic waste? - Nice award for Virunga Lodge
In an attempt to promote internationally the sustainable products of green artisans, communities, and small businesses from Asia, the SWITCH-Asia Network Facility set up an online platform called SWITCH Products. SwitchMed has joined this initiative to include products and services from ‘The Switchers’ — green entrepreneurs from the Mediterranean.
As highlighted in the article on pollution and health, pollution has hit the attention of the public opinion and now governments are asked to proactively address this threat. But this is a global issue, which requires a global common response involving everyone, including the public and, very importantly, the private sector, as well as citizens.
The SWITCH Africa Green (SAG) project supports seven countries in Africa – Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa and Uganda – to achieve sustainable development by engaging in transition towards an inclusive green economy based on sustainable consumption and production (SCP) patterns. Based on consultations with national authorities and assessments of opportunities to adopt greener practices, SWITCH Africa focuses on agriculture, integrated waste management, manufacturing and tourism.
Enabling access to finance for green businesses and circular economy in the southern Mediterranean is the mission of the newly created Switchers Fund.
Launched in 2007, the European Union’s SWITCH-Asia Programme has supported more than 100 projects in 17 developing Asian countries, reducing the environmental impact of thousands of small enterprises and contributing to poverty alleviation.
This year’s Green Growth and Sustainable Development (GGSD) Forum will focus on investment, innovation and employment aspects of the fast-growing ocean-based industries, together with policies to protect and sustainably use marine and ocean resources and ecosystems. It will explore how economic development and conservation needs can be balanced successfully through innovations in established and emerging ocean industries, as well as marine spatial planning instruments.
The 13th Asia Pacific Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production (13th APRSCP) is themed 'Enabling Sustainable Consumption and Production Towards Achieving Green Growth'. It is co-hosted by the Asia Pacific Roundtable for Sustainable Consumption and Production and ENSEARCH, and will be held on 24-26 October 2017 in Melaka. The 13th APRSCP is endorsed and supported by the Melaka State Government. For registration and more information, please visit the Ensearch website (http://www.ensearch.org/aprscp/) or contact Jenny/Nabiha at po@ensearch.org.
The project encompasses the EU eco-village approach, striving to increase and diversify incomes to strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change.
