Description of project:
Since 2010, the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) has been engaging Caribbean stakeholders in dialogues to explore ‘green economy’ in the Caribbean context and the pathways for transformation of our economic development models. One of the needs recognised is to engage local stakeholders, including civil society and resource users in communities, in movements to shape and create the green economy policies that respond to local realities. The Green Economy Coalition (GEC), of which CANARI is a member, responded to this need with a global project Creating enabling policy conditions for the transformation towards an inclusive green economy being funded by the European Commission. The project has established seven national/regional hubs in the global south, including one in the Caribbean which CANARI is managing under the #GE4U: Transformation towards an inclusive green economy in the Caribbean project. See here for the project summary.
Highlights
- CANARI is co-hosting the annual Green Economy Coalition global meeting November 1-3, 2017 in Trinidad and Tobago. The theme of the meeting is “Green enterprises: driving the transition from local to global” to focus on the potential of small and micro enterprises to drive new approaches to economic development. See here for more information.
- The Caribbean Green Economy Action Learning Group (GE ALG) is holding a series of webinars to analyse opportunities for transforming economic development in the Caribbean. One webinar looked at current ‘blue economy’ initiatives and a blog was written by CANARI’s Executive Director emphasising the importance of having a vision of economic development that is environmentally sustainable, inclusive, builds resilience and is grounded in good governance by and for Caribbean people.
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- Inclusive civil society movements supporting the development and implementation of green economy policies – one at national and one at regional level
- Civil society, small businesses, policy makers and researchers working closely together to implement inclusive transitions to green economies through changes to policies, practice and legislation
- Evidence, inventions and recommendations being employed within national, regional and international processes.
- Building Caribbean knowledge and networks for green economy transformations:
- Regional multi‐stakeholder green economy network convened and conducting action learning and advocacy: The Caribbean Green Economy Action Learning Group (GE ALG) has been reconvened with an updated Terms of Reference and 23 members from diverse sectors across the Caribbean islands are working together to catalyse change.
- Online Caribbean Green Economy Knowledge Platform established (see concept): This is currently in development and will be launched at the end of 2017 to showcase green economy initiatives from across the Caribbean.
- Case studies on green economy initiatives in the Caribbean documented and communicated to key target audiences: Two case studies from Trinidad and Tobago are in development.
- One global GEC event hosted in the Caribbean: CANARI co-hosted the annual Green Economy Coalition global meeting on November 1-3, 2017 in Trinidad and Tobago. The theme of the meeting was “Green enterprises: driving the transition from local to global” to focus on the potential of small and micro enterprises to drive new approaches to economic development. See here for more information and Reflections on our 2017 global meeting and the report by the Green Economy Coalition.
- Exploring opportunities for green economy transformation in the Eastern Caribbean small islands:
- Diagnostic study conducted and sub‐regional dialogue held with policy makers to explore potential pathways to green economy transitions in the Eastern Caribbean (see concept): In collaboration with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission, CANARI is conducting a diagnostic study of potential opportunities and capacity needs for a transition to inclusive and sustainable economic development in the Eastern Caribbean. The draft study will be presented to the OECS Council of Ministers for Environmental Sustainability and the Economic Affairs Council in early-mid 2017. This is intended to inform sub-regional economic policy, development plans and institutions that are needed to deliver a sustainable and inclusive economy in the OECS. See here for more information.
- Building knowledge and readiness for green enterprises in Trinidad and Tobago (see GETT Going concept):
- National multi‐stakeholder SME network convened and acting as leaders, change agents and innovators for promoting green enterprises as a pathway to a green economy in Trinidad and Tobago: A Trinidad and Tobago Action Learning Group on Small and Micro Enterprises (TT SME ALG) has been established (see Terms of Reference) comprising 30 members from enterprises and support agencies. Members have been working together to analyse how green enterprises deliver economic, environmental and social benefits and how they can be better supported, including by more enabling national and sectoral policies. Activities so far included:
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- A workshop on February 15-16, 2017 to assess the current national context and learn from experiences of the Fondes Amandes Community Reforestation Project as a green enterprise (see here for the workshop report)
- A meeting on April 20, 2017 to review the draft National Development Strategy 2016-2030 (Vision 2030) and the draft National Environmental Policy for Trinidad and Tobago and assess how these policies can provide clear direction to enable green enterprises to play a greater role in T&T’s development
- A field exercise on July 29, 2017 to learn from experiences of the Green Market as a green enterprise (see here for Facebook post)
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- Diagnostic studyconducted and national green economy dialogue held in Trinidad and Tobago to raise awareness and build readiness for using SMEs as a pathway to a green economy transition with recommendations made for policy and practice: A diagnostic study is being prepared with input from the TT SME ALG and will be finalised by the end of 2017.
- Green enterprises can drive the transition to inclusive green economies in the Caribbean
- CANARI’s contribution to delivery of the SDGs
- Blue economy or ‘bluewashing’ Caribbean coastal development?
- Investing in Natural Capital for an Inclusive Green and Blue Economy
- Going Green with the CANARI project.
- #GE4U catalysing action towards a green economy in the Caribbean.
- CANARI Policy Brief 19: Supporting SMEs to be pathways to a Caribbean green economy
- CANARI Policy Brief 13: Towards a green and resilient economy for the Caribbean
- Rethinking Caribbean economic development: exploring a green economy approach
- Green economy: catalysing and supporting sustainable small, medium and micro enterprise development
- 10 steps to greening SMEs