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
Handbook of Green Finance: Energy Security and Sustainable Development
Finance is the engine of development of infrastructural projects, including energy projects. By providing several thematic and country chapters, this handbook explains that if we plan to achieve sustainable development goals, we need to create opportunities for new green projects and scale up the financing of investments that furnish environmental benefits. New financial instruments and policies such as green bonds, green banks, carbon market instruments, fiscal policy, green central banking, fintech, and community-based green funds are among the chief components…
Addressing the challenge of Marine Plastic Litter using Circular Economy methods
Plastics are versatile materials, being inexpensive, light, easily shaped and durable and have brought immeasurable benefits to many areas of life. However, as of 2015, approximately 6,300 Mt stock of plastic waste had been generated. Around 9% of this had been recycled, 12% was incinerated, and 79% was accumulated in landfills or the natural environment; a huge loss in economic terms and alarming with respect to potential harm that this could mean to humans, animals and plants and our ecosystems. …
Guidance on improving the quality of ESG information for decision-making
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and FSR - Danish Auditors - have published a first-of-its-kind guidance on how companies can improve the quality of their environment, social and governance (ESG) information by considering the basic building blocks of internal controls. It’s important for companies to pursue investment grade ESG data collection, analysis and reporting. But companies first need to understand the business case for improving the internal control environment and the quality of ESG data. The guidance offers a…
Digitalization in Maritime Transport: Ensuring Opportunities for Development
Digitalisation and new developments in artificial intelligence, blockchain, the Internet of things and automation, are of increasing relevance to maritime transport. They help optimise existing processes, create new business opportunities and transform supply chains as well as the geography of trade. Notwithstanding the potential opportunities and benefits offered by these technologies, they also entail risks and potential costs to maritime actors in developing countries. It is thus necessary to establish a level playing field. This policy brief discusses the role…
Belt and Road Economics: Opportunities and Risks of Transport Corridors
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) strengthens infrastructure, trade, and investment links between China and some 70 other countries that account collectively for over 30 percent of global GDP, 62 percent of population, and 75 percent of known energy reserves. Regional cooperation on the new and improved transport infrastructure and policy reforms could reduce trade costs and improve connectivity, leading to higher cross-border trade and investment and improved growth in the region. This study analyses the economics of the Belt…
Lifelines: The Resilient Infrastructure Opportunity
Infrastructure - electricity, telecommunications, roads, water, and sanitation—are central to people's lives. Without it, they cannot make a living, stay healthy, and maintain a good quality of life. Access to basic infrastructure is also a key driver of economic development. This report lays out a framework for understanding infrastructure resilience - the ability of infrastructure systems to function and meet users' needs during and after a natural hazard. It focuses on four infrastructure systems that are essential to economic activity…
The Asian Development Bank: Asia’s future climate bank?
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has the potential to become Asia’s ‘climate bank’. The institution could and should become a driving force of climate-resilient, low-carbon sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific. The ADB has already achieved a considerable amount on all these fronts, but more is required to meet the climate challenge. This report examines how the ADB can align with the Paris Agreement on climate change, focusing on the South East Asian countries of Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines in…
2018 Joint Report on Multilateral Development Banks’ Climate Finance
In 2018, multilateral development banks (MDBs) committed a total of US$ 43 billion of climate finance worldwide which amounts to 29% of the total MDB financing. This eighth edition of the Joint Report on Multilateral Development Banks’ Climate Finance is an overview of climate finance committed in 2018 by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDBG) and the…