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other partners (e.g. the Commonwealth Secretariat) to
transform the report findings into action has assisted
developing countries to adopt green economy roadmaps
(see sections below).
Green Economy in a Blue World: Small Island Developing
States (SIDS) Report
Linking with the Green Economy in a Blue World report,
UNEP, the UNDESA SIDS Unit and GRID-Arendal pro-
duced a report that focused specifically on green econom-
ic challenges and opportunities for small island develop-
ing states —Green Economy in a Blue World: Challenges
and Opportunities for SIDS.The report was launched by
UNEP in December 2012 at the Nairobi Convention COP.
Following the launch UNEP and partners organised two
follow up workshops in 2013 to highlight the importance
of the Green Economy for SIDS parties to the Cartagena
and Nairobi Conventions respectively.47
As a result of their small size, small populations and re-
mote location, SIDS face specific sustainable develop-
ment challenges, and are particularly vulnerable to eco-
nomic and environmental shocks. At the same time, many
of them harbour extraordinary marine ecosystems and
benefit from the services they provide. This study looks at
SIDS’ challenges and opportunities in greening five eco-
nomic fields: fresh water management, waste manage-
ment, small scale fisheries and aquaculture, energy, and
tourism. Recommendations for SIDS include the articula-
tion of clear transitional policy instruments, the establish-
ment of sound regulatory frameworks, and coordination
of policies across countries in regional groups.
Green Economy in a Blue World capacity development
partnerships:
i) Collaboration with the World Bank
A partnership with the World Bank was formalized in Janu-
ary 2012. GRID-Arendal was asked to develop and co-host
a series of webinars on Green Economy in a Blue World
themes as part of the World Bank Global Development
Learning Network. Interactive webinars were conducted
for the East Asia and Pacific Region Sector of the World
Bank’s Environment Group. The three sessions (held in
April and June 2012 and November 2013) highlighted op-
portunities and discussed practical experiences of how
ocean ecosystem-based economic development can be
sustained and contribute to building strong and climate
resilient communities.48
47. See
secretariat-hosting-green-economy-workshop-april-15-17 and
48. Video archives of the sessions are available at:
economy_in_a_blue_world/
SIGNIFICANT OUTCOME: Meeting partner
expectations (1)
Extract from a letter from Christophe Crepin Sector
Leader, Environment East Asia and Pacific Region, The
World Bank
“We would like to express our gratitude for GRID-
Arendal’s partnership in hosting the first session of the
“Green-Economy in a Blue World” Global Development
Learning Network Seminar Series held on April 2012 ,3.
As the premier session, it was successful in engaging with
policy-makers from twelve nations in the East Asia and
Pacific region with representatives from national and
local governments, international NGOs, and academic
institutions. We strongly believe that promoting the
dialogue and transfer of knowledge between regional
stakeholders is an important component of enhancing
marine and coastal resource management”.
10 April 2012
Cooperation between GRID-Arendal and the World Bank
continued through an engagement to design and facili-
tate the 3rd Wealth Accounting and Valuation of Ecosys-
tem Services (WAVES) Partnership Meeting in Wash-
ington DC in April 2013. The Massachusetts Institute
of Technology’s Presencing Institute (PI) was engaged
by GRID-Arendal as a co-facilitation partner, bringing in
innovative social technologies and group facilitation ap-
proaches. The workshop preparation included interviews
with a subset of the 200 workshop participants to deter-
mine expectations and adjust the design and agenda of
the 5-day workshop. A post-workshop survey showed the
highest positive responses (with respect to design and
facilitation) of all 3 annual workshops to date. A feature
article was also produced.49
SIGNIFICANT OUTCOME: Meeting partner
expectations (2)
Extract from a letter from Glenn-Marie Lange, Program
Leader, WAVES Global Partnership Agriculture and
Environmental Services Department, The World Bank
“We would like to express our deep gratitude toGRID-Arendal
for facilitating the 3rd Annual Partnership Meeting of the
World Bank-led Global Partnership for Wealth Accounting
and Valuation for Ecosystem Services (WAVES). This was a
pivotal meeting for the partnership. The facilitation brought
a highly effective and innovative approach to building a
broad partnership, sharing country experiences and technical
training, and establishing a process to design the way forward
[and was] instrumental in bringing together a community
of practice that will support widespread adoption of natural
capital accounting in the years to come.”
5 May 2012
49.
natural-capital-accounting