EC-GGGI Seminar: Cooperation on Climate and Development Strategies in Developing Countries and Emerging Economies

The European Commission (EC) - Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Seminar in Brussels will take place on June 17, in Brussels, Belgium.

The event is being co-hosted by GGGI and the European Commission under the theme of “Cooperation on Climate and Development Strategies in Developing Countries.” The EC-GGGI Seminar will serve as an opportunity to present experiences, share lessons learned and success stories, and explore progress and challenges in country-level adoption of green growth development strategies by placing an emphasis on Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) planning and implementation.

The seminar is intended to start a discussion between EU institutions, representatives of GGGI, and selected partner institutions on ways to advance the development, financing, and implementation of green growth strategies that help countries to achieve economic growth while meeting their NDCs under the Paris Agreement.

Around 30 participants, including representatives of the European Commission, GGGI and partner institutions such as UN Environment are expected to attend the seminar.

This half-day seminar discusses country-wide adoption of green growth and related development strategies, with focus on planning and implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), long-term low emission development strategies (LEDS), and other development considerations towards achieving the Sustainable development Goals (SDGs), mobilizing climate finance, and raising climate ambitions.

Session 1: The Role of Green Growth in Planning and Implementing NDCs and LEDS and achieving the SDGs

Moderator: Frank Rijsberman, Director-General, Global Green Growth Institute, GGGI

Case Study: Presentation of Fiji LEDS experiences - process, outcomes and lessons learned

Presenter: Orestes Anastasia, Head, Thought Leadership Department, GGGI

Panel Discussion: Panelists will share thoughts and ideas on how green growth contributes to the development and implementation of NDCs and LEDS in support of the Paris Agreement and the SDGs.

Panelists:

• Etienne Coyette, Head of the Climate Change sector, DG DEVCO (TBC)

• Deo Saran, Ambassador of Fiji to the Kingdom of Belgium and Permanent Representative to the European Union (TBC)

• Oliver Greenfield, Convenor, Green Economy Coalition (TBC)

• Asad Naqvi, Head, UN Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) 

• Orestes Anastasia, Head, Thought Leadership Department, GGGI

Session 2: Mobilizing Climate Finance for NDC Implementation

Moderator: Philip Owen, Head of Unit, Climate Finance, Mainstreaming, Montreal Protocol, DG CLIMA

Case Study: Presentation of climate finance mobilization by GGGI

Presenter: Lasse Ringius, Director of Green Investment Services, GGGI HQ, Seoul

Panel Discussion: Panelists will discuss success and challenges in mobilizing climate finance for NDC implementation. They will also share insights on mobilizing public and private funding based on successful experience in developing countries and emerging economies.

Panelists:

• Mikołaj Dowgielewicz, EIB, Permanent Representative Brussels office (TBC)

• Representative of DG ENER, DG ENER (TBC)

• Representative in Brussels, World Bank (TBC)

• Barbara Botos, Deputy State Secretary, Government of Hungary (TBC)

• Lasse Ringius, Director of Green Investment Services, GGGI

Session 3: Strategies for Raising Climate Ambition

Moderator: Dexippos Agourides, Director for Africa & Europe, GGGI

Introductory words by the EC: Yvon Slingenberg, Director, DG CLIMA (TBC)

Panel Discussion: Panelists will discuss strategies for raising national climate ambitions, including sectoral strategies, mobilizing private funding, generating business opportunities and green jobs, linkages with other sectors and development issues, challenges, and needs.

Panelists:

• Roland Sourds, member of the cabinet, EEAAS (TBC)

• Viwanou Gnassounou, Assistant Secretary General, ACP Secretariat (TBC)

• Karsten Vagn Nielsen , Ambassador of Denmark in Brussel (TBC)

• Elizabeth Press, Director, Planning and Programme Support, IRENA

• Gebru Jember, Regional MRV specialist, Africa Regional Office, Ethiopia, GGGI

Closing

Summary, main takeaways, and concluding remarks: EC representative