Sustainable Growth Newswire
EPF compiles a selection of policy oriented-research from around the globe pertaining to its policy initiatives. To receive a weekly email of the newswire, please subscribe to our newsletter
Engaging the Private Sector in National Adaptation Planning Processes
Adapting to the impacts of climate change, whether at the national, sub-national or community level, is not the responsibility of national governments alone. It requires the coordinated input of multiple stakeholders, including local authorities, development partners, communities and civil society. Businesses and investors also need to be involved, as they are the key engines of economic growth in developing countries, accounting for 60 per cent of gross domestic product, 80 per cent of capital flows and 90 per cent of…
Launching the Sustainable Finance Map of Geneva
One of the greatest challenges to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is paying for them. Recently, IISD and its partners Sustainable Finance Geneva, the SDG Lab and the Canton de Genève launched an interactive mapping to better understand the organizations working on sustainable finance in and around Geneva. This is the vital first product in a broader collaboration around sustainable finance. This comprehensive map identifies 145 organizations on both sides of the lake working on sustainable finance in some way.…
If you want to prosper, consider building roads
If you want to prosper, first build roads, says a Chinese proverb.1 This certainly appears to hold true in Africa. China’s Belt and Road and Silk Road initiatives are creating fresh waves of road, rail, port, and energy investment in Africa, making the continent more connected internally and with the outside world. There are concerns about China’s interests in Africa, with criticisms often ranging from China’s self-interest to the nature of the financing relationship and increasing indebtedness of African economies.…
More than just cherry blossoms: PPPs & infrastructure bloom at World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings
Spring in Washington, D.C. means cherry blossoms, warmer weather, and of course the Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund. And with them, the buzz and crowds nearly rival those at ground zero for spring in D.C. at the National Mall’s reflecting pools. The meetings and related events, held April 9–14, are attended by about 2,800 delegates from member countries, 350 observer organization representatives, 800 members of the press, and 550 representatives from civil society organizations.…
Advancing inclusion through clean energy jobs
The transition to a clean energy economy continues. Motivated by mounting scientific evidence, shifting market forces, and in some cases policy, U.S. industries are installing more zero-carbon energy sources, developing more energy-efficient products, and adopting more environmentally-sensitive standards. More recently, debates have broken out in Congress over the need for an ambitious Green New Deal centered on clean economy employment. The result: Shifts in “green jobs,” carbon emissions, electricity consumption, and resilience to climate shocks have become some of the highest…
Digital identification: A key to inclusive growth
Digital identification, or “digital ID,” can be authenticated unambiguously through a digital channel, unlocking access to banking, government benefits, education, and many other critical services. The risks and potential for misuse of digital ID are real and deserve careful attention. When well-designed, digital ID not only enables civic and social empowerment, but also makes possible real and inclusive economic gains—a less well understood aspect of the technology. In this research, we develop a framework to understand the potential economic impact of…
World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings: Webcast of Roundtable Discussion – Boosting Investment in People and Infrastructure
Investing in people helps them share in the benefits of economic growth and technological progress. Investing in infrastructure grows the pie that can be distributed to all. Public investment levels need to be raised in countries at all levels of development. But investment needs must be met without harming fiscal sustainability. Improving the governance of infrastructure investment is key to increasing its value for money. This seminar panel will explore how best to address these challenges. World Bank Group…
What Successful Public-Private Partnerships Do
Despite spending $2.5 trillion a year on roads, railways, ports, water, and other public infrastructure projects, countries around the world are still falling far short of what they need to invest. Thus, it’s no surprise that there is renewed interest in public-private partnership (P3) projects, where businesses supplement public investment in return for reaping rewards such as tolls and fees. But many P3 projects go off the rails. At the crux of successful P3 infrastructure projects is a simple but…