Model aimed at economic growth

The National Business
The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) supports and promotes a model of economic growth known as the “green growth”, which targets key aspects of economic performance such as poverty reduction, job creation, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. GGGI PNG deputy country representative Peniamina Leavai spoke to Business reporter PETER ESILA on its progress in PNG

QUESTION: What is the GGGI?
PENIAMINA LEAVAI: The GGGI supports 40 members to deliver on sustainable development goals and the nationally determined contributions to the Paris Agreement.
Based in Seoul, Republic of Korea, it is a treaty-based international, inter-government organisation that supports developing a country’s transition to a model of economic growth that is environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive.
The GGGI has a unique in-country presence and prominent role as a neutral, trusted adviser and strategic development partner embedded in member and partner governments.
These advisers are directly engaged with governments in setting the strategic direction for national programme development guided by a country planning framework with the Government.
Its operating model maximises the potential to translate green growth strategies and policies (especially economic policies) into green investment plans, mobilising green finance commitments needed to bolster support for low-carbon and climate-resilient economic development and strong institutional capacity development.
The GGGI supports and promotes a model of economic growth known as “green growth”, which targets key aspects of economic performance such as poverty reduction, job creation, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability.
It works with countries around the world, building their capacity and working collaboratively on green growth policies that can impact the lives of millions.
The organisation partners with countries, multilateral institutions, government bodies, and the private sector to help build economies
that grow strongly and are more efficient and sustainable in the use of natural resources, less carbon intensive, and more resilient to climate change.
Q: What is the GGGI’s status in PNG, and some of its projects?
PNG was one of the early founding members of the GGGI in 2012.
It has a team based in Port Moresby, Enga, Milne Bay and New Ireland.
Its projects in PNG include:

  • CLIMATE Resilient Green Growth Project: Incorporate climate resilient green growth in multiple sectors across PNG’s provinces and deliver green growth projects with leveraged finance.
    Status: Ongoing.
    US$: 4.41 million (about K15mil)
    Donor: Australian government.
    Duration: 2019-2021;
  • CLIMATE Action Enhancement Package (CAEP). To provide technical support to the PNG Government in revising its National Determined Contribution with a focus on the energy, and the agriculture, forestry and other land-use sector and improve measurement, reporting and verification and REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest degradation) functions of Climate Change Development Authority (CCDA).
    Status: Ongoing.
    US$: 332,542 (about K1.16mil).
    Duration: 2020-2021.
    Key Partner: CCDA;
  • READINESS support to strengthen PNG’s engagement with the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The project strengthened PNG’s engagement with the GCF and supported the functions of PNG’s National Designated Authority.
    Status: Completed
    US$: 677,427 (about K2.3mil).
    Donor: GCF.
    Duration: 2018-2019.
    Key Partner: CCDA;
  • CAPACITY building to strengthen sustainable implementation of renewable energy technologies for rural energy access.
    To strengthen inclusive informed decision-making by resource
    owners and local government officials for integration of green economy and renewable energy into local-level planning and to strengthen implementation of RE
    for rural electrification.
    Status: Ongoing.
    US$: 1.5mil (about K5mil).
    Donor: Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
    Duration: 3 years. 2019-2021.
    Key Partner: CCDA.
    Project member countries: PNG, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu.
  • PACIFIC Green Entrepreneurs Network. The network
    aims to support green and inclusive job growth by supporting entrepreneurs (particularly women and youth) develop their green and sustainable businesses whose business models include solutions aimed at contributing to their country’s climate and sustainable development goals.
    Status: Ongoing.
    US$: 2,475,000 (about K8,664,123).
    Donor: Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD).
    Duration: 2019-2021.
    Key Partner: SMEs.
    Project member countries: PNG, Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu;
  • LOW emissions climate resilient development. The regional programme aims to develop a national inclusive green finance policy for the banking sector to boost financial inclusion and guide public and private sector investment towards low emission and climate resilient development.
    Status: Ongoing.
    US$: 187,512 (about K656,415).
    Donor: New Zealand ministry of foreign affairs & trade.
    Duration: 2021-2023.
    Key Partners: Bank of PNG, Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI).
    Project member countries: PNG, Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu;
  • CLIMATE Finance Advisory Network. The network is designed to provide a prompt and practical solution to the climate finance bottleneck in small island developing states, least developed countries and African countries. PNG and eight other Pacific countries have requested for highly trained climate finance advisors embedded in the country with ongoing technical support from the network.
    Status: Initiation.
    US$: 7.4mil (K26mil)
    Donor: Global Affairs Canada.
    Duration: 2021-2023.
    Key Partners: CCDA.
    Project member countries: PNG, Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

Q: What are some of the priority areas that businesses can venture into the green growth?
The GGGI has a five-year plan outlining its work in PNG (2021-2025) called the country planning framework that outlines priorities that businesses can venture into partnership with GGGI for green investments.
The priority areas include:

  • COASTAL Resilience (for example, mangroves as ecosystem for livelihoods, aquaculture, marine issues – fisheries, flood protection and pollution);
  • SOLAR PV (Photovoltaics)
    (for example energy transition access and productive use – solar energy pumping, solar pave auctions, rooftop, use scale plants, storage);
  • GREEN Investments (for example green bankable projects, investment proposals, national financing vehicles, green and climate instruments, carbon-focused engagements);
  • CLIMATE Action (for example inclusive green growth plans, long-term low emissions and development strategies, nationally determined contribution support, climate monitoring-reporting-verification system design, climate diplomacy);
  • CLIMATE Resilient Agriculture (for example solar irrigation, application in agri value chain, resilient cropping practices, resource conservation);
  • SUSTAINABLE Forests ( REDD+ (Reduced Emission from deforestation and forest degradation), landscapes financing mechanisms, natural capital markets innovations); and,
  • CROSS-CUTTING issues – poverty eradication, gender equality and social inclusion.
Posters about the different GGGI projects – Climate Action Enhancement Package (below) and Pacific Green Entrepreneurs Network. – Agencypics