GREEN ECONOMY IN THE ARAB REGION

Fareed Bushehri, Regional DTIE Officer,

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA)

Greener & Smarter ICT

16-17 MAY 2012

KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Current Consumption Rates Patterns

1900 2100 2002 2050

Two planets are needed by 2050

UNEP’s Working Definition of a Green Economy

A system of economic activities related to the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services that result in improved human well-being over the long term, while not exposing future generations to significant environmental risks and ecological scarcities

UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE

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SOME DEFINITIONS OF GREEN ECONOMY

CONCEPTS A low carbon economy: part of a GE measured by the

carbon level of economic activities

Green growth: GDP growth subject to green

conditions as well as focusing on green sectors as

new growth engines - growth in a GE is green growth

Green jobs: jobs in green sectors, also known as

green collar jobs

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WHY A GREEN ECONOMY

By 2030

Global energy demand up by 45%

Oil price up to US$180 per barrel (IEA)

GHG emissions up 45%

Global average temperature up 6°C

Sustained losses equivalent to 5-10% of

global GDP

Poor countries will suffer costs in

excess of 10% of their GDP (Stern)

ON A BUSINESS AS USUAL PATH

Power 24%

Industry 14%

Waste 3%

Agriculture 14%

Land use 18%

Buildings 8%

Transport 14%

Other energy related

5%

ENERGY EMISSIONS

NON-ENERGY EMISSIONS Source: Prepared by Stern Review, from data frown from

World Resources Institute Climate Analysis Indicators Tool

(CAIT) on-line database version 3,0

Shifting to a Green Economy Why Now?

• Global economic, food, fuel and climate crises provide an opportunity to reconsider traditional development and business models

• Significant international momentum for transition to a green economy

– United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012 (Rio+20) will include theme on “green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication”

– G20 reaffirmed their commitment to “move toward greener, more sustainable growth” (Sept 2009)

– CSD 18th and 19th sessions will examine priorities and needs for shifting to sustainable consumption and production

UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE

What does a Green Economy Offer for

Developing Countries?

Green economy policies can help developing countries attain economic and social gains on several fronts, e.g. deployment of cleaner energy technologies and improved access to energy services; improved resource efficiency through investments in cleaner production approaches; increased food security through the use of more sustainable agricultural methods; and access to emerging new markets for their green goods and services.

Improvements in resource efficiency and diversifying the energy matrix can reduce import bills and protect a country from price volatility in energy markets, while reducing the environmental footprint and associated health costs of economic activity.

There are a number of ongoing developing country initiatives that are demonstrating a positive benefit stream from specific green investments and policies, and if scaled up and integrated into a comprehensive strategy, could offer an alternative sustainable development pathway, one that is pro-growth, pro-jobs and pro-poor.

• Number of policies and officially approved plans to promote green economy

• Green private investment as a % of total private investment

• Green government expenditure as a % of total expenditure

• Green stimulus as a % of total stimulus and GDP

• Amount of credit available and utilized for green sectors as a % of total available and utilized credit.

• Etc.

Action Indicators of a Green Economy

UNEP Green Economy Initiative (GEI)

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UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE

GEI Objective

Advise countries in greening their economies by working with a wide range of partners to provide cutting edge economic analysis and research products

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WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT THE GEI

It focuses on the positive links between being “green” and economic growth/decent job creation/poverty reduction

It promotes green sectors as new growth engines and enables developing countries to leapfrog into modern economies

It has the potential to address multiple challenges facing the humankind

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WHAT YOU CAN DO?

Government official: Share with UNEP thoughts on how the GEI can help your country in both development and environmental terms. Adopt green procurement policies to encourage the growth of green sectors

Business: Operate and share your experience in practicing green investments and green businesses

Researcher: Contribute your analytical inputs, including data and information on economic, social, and environmental contributions from investing in green economies and from implementing the enabling policy reforms

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Civil society: communicate the GEI to your constituencies, get feedbacks, and help UNEP ensure that the GEI adequately captures the particular concerns of your constituencies

Media: Publicise the GEI and encourage debates on the various streams of the GEI

Educator or student: a) promote and take green economy related courses and training;

b) advocate green economic practices in your campuses; and

c) influence those around you to prepare them mentally for a shift towards a green economy

WHAT YOU CAN DO? (CONT’D)

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WHAT YOU CAN DO? (CONT’D)

• Shareholder: Demand environmental information disclosure from the companies you invest in and adjust your portfolio towards green assets that are likely to provide a steady stream of income.

• Consumer/Producer: adopt green consumption and production behaviours and life styles. a) Use environmental as well as health labels for

consumer products;

b) Give preference to products and services provided in an environmentally friendly manner; and

c) Minimise and recycle waste.

E-WASTE

Challenges

• Volumes – Increasing sales of EEE, decreasing lifetimes

– ~40M tons e-waste generated worldwide

– EU in 2007: ~2.5M tones recycled, 8.3 - 9.1M tons generated (EMPA)

• Material Content – Valuable and energy-intensive precious metals

– Toxic materials

Material Occurrence in E-waste Health and Environmental Impact

Beryllium

(OECD 2003, Taylor et

al. 2003)

copper-beryllium alloys, springs,

relays and connections;

beryllium sensitization/chronic beryllium

disease

human carcinogens

released as beryllium oxide dust or fume

during high temperature metal processing

Cadmium Contacts, switches, nickel-

cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries,

printer inks and toners

persistent and mobile in aquatic

environments (ATSDR 2000)

damage to the kidneys and bone toxicity,

released if plastic is burned or during high

temperature metal processing

Lead Circuit boards/ cathode ray tubes

CTR (1 – 3 kg per CRT);

Risk for small children and fetuses

Damage to the nervous system, red

blood cells, kidneys and potential

increases in high blood pressure;

Incineration can result in release to the air

Mercury Lighting devices that illuminate

flat screen displays, switches and

relays

Impacts the central nervous system

Land filling and incineration of flat panel

displays results in the release to the

environment

PCBs (polychlorinated

biphenyls)

Insulating fluids for transformers

and capacitors, flame-retardant

plasticizers

Suppression of the immune system, liver

damage, cancer promotion, damage to

the nervous system

Damage to reproductive systems

Some Facts

• One ton of recycled cell phones can generate up to 230 grams of gold

• More than 70% of a mobile phone can be recycled.

• Current mass of phones being recycled is only about 0.001-0.003% of the total weight of waste electronic equipment each year.

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Desk Study on

E-Waste Management

in the Arab Region

Commissioned by:

UNEP & CEDARE (Centre for environment & Development in Arab Region & Europe)

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Aim and Scope of the Study

• The aim of this mapping study was to identify all actors and activities in the ICT E-waste field in the Arab region.

• The main actors were the governmental organizations, the companies producing or selling ICT devices or deliver ICT services and the non-governmental organizations addressing different issues in the E-waste field.

• The study aimed at giving an overview of all available information and the current situation and practices in the target region.

• Outline the available legislation and regulations, the state of E-waste Management, and detail profile of the key stakeholders.

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E-Waste Challenges

• The growing quantity

• Hazardous substances in electronic products

• The need of E-waste Technology, Inventory and Knowledge

• The need for E-waste policies and regulations

• E-waste Export from Arab States

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E-waste Opportunities

• Refurbishment and Material Recovery

• Creating Jobs and Improving Job Quality

• Reduction of the Environmental Impact

• Recycling Friendly Design

• Long-term environmental management strategies

• Powerful and effective environmental agencies

• Clear political and legislative mandates

• Environmental research, education and media

What is needed in the Arab Region?

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Thank You

Fareed Bushehri, Regional DTIE Officer, UNEP/ROWA, P.O. Box 10880, Manama, Bahrain. Tel: +973-17812777 E-Mail: fareed.bushehri@unep.org Web: www.unep.org.bh