UNEP ’ s Programs and Projects in Ghana Green Economy, Trade, Energy

1. UNEP’s Programs and Projects in Ghana Green Economy, Trade,Energy Lennart Kuntze, UNEP Trade, Policy and Planning Unit Economics and Trade Branch (ETB) Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE)

2. Outline • Green Economy (in Ghana) • Green Economy and Trade Opportunities Project (GE-TOP) • GE-TOP • The Solar Export Potential Study (SEPS) • GE-TOP Action Plan • UNEP Energy

3. 1. Green Economy (in Ghana)

4. The Green Economy • Pioneered by UNEP’s Green Economy Report • “A Green Economy results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.” (2011) • Essence: Identifies win-win’s at the nexus of environment and economic growth

5. Green Economy Scoping Study (GESS) & Indicators (GEI) • Qualitative Analysis of Ghana‘s Green Economy Potential • Validation Workshop: August 20-21, 2013 • UNDP, UNEP, MESTI: mainstreaming Green Economy in MTPF 2014-17 • Environmental degradation costs Ghana about 10 % of annual GDP • The Energy Sector contributes 50.66 % to national GHG emissions • Analysis of Electricity Sector: Twin goal based on 5000 MW target 2015

6. Green Economy Assessment (GEA) & Action Plan • The Green Economy Assessment: • Broad Quantitative assessment: policies to achieve SD targets in Ghana • Objective: “better understand how gov‘t policies, and public and private investments, can help achieve fundamental macroeconomic objectives“ • Derives policy recommendations for the transition to a Green Economy The Action Plan: Concrete actions towards an inclusive Green Economy

7. 2. Green Economy and Trade Opportunities Project (GE-TOP)

8. Phase I: The GE-TOP Report • The GE-TOP reportexploresthenexusbetween international tradeandthegreeneconomy, showing • how the transition to a greener economy can create sustainable trade opportunities, economic growth and progress in developing countries • Analyzes emerging trade opportunities and challenges in six economic sectors (incl. case studies) • Discusses enabling conditions (policy tools, market based instruments etc.) for harnessing green export opportunities

9. GE-TOP Country Work • Phase II: Builds on the theory of the GE-TOP report • Three pilot projects for Phase II (- March 2014): Peru (BioTrade), Viet Nam (Aquaculture), Ghana (Solar Energy) • Aims to identify and foster sustainable trade opportunities through quantitative trade assessments and policy recommendations • Phase III: Capacity Building (subject to confirmation)

10. Why (solar in) Ghana? • The National Goals: 10% renewables, 5000 MW generation capacity • The “Energy Economy”: National Electrification & Export Capacity • The policy landscape: e.g. RE Act 2011 • WAPP & existing energy trade relations with neighbours • Favorable Conditions for Solar Energy (4-6.5 kWh/m2/day) • Ghana with comparative advantage (generation, transmission, know-how)

11. GE-TOP Ghana • Joint UNEP Energy & Trade project • Foster solar energy exports from Ghana to the ECOWAS sub-region • Contribute to a change of thinking on Power Trade in West Africa (WAPP) • Ghana as frontrunner of Regional Energy Integration (e.g. World Bank) • Two National Workshops: September, December

12. GE-TOP Ghana: Solar Export Potential Study (SEPS) • Aim: “To analyze the environmental and socio-economic impacts, and technical and financial feasibility, of solar energy exports from Ghana” • Ghana - Burkina Faso as case study for inner-WAPP energy trade • Solar PV value chain analysis: Ghana’s potential for contribution • Recommendations for tapping Ghana’s solar (trade) potential • Builds on prior analyses and strong “SEPS Team” involvement

13. GE-TOP Ghana: Action Plan • Identification of financial and capacity-building needs and means to implement and upscale the recommendations of SEPS • A concrete pathway to effectively harnessing solar trade opportunities • UNEP & TEC, in close cooperation with the “SEPS Team”

14. 3. UNEP Energy Branch

15. UNEP Energy: The DNA • Aim: to foster low-carbon development • 3 intervention areas: • provide policy advice • catalyze clean energy finance (public & private) • stimulate the uptake of low carbon technology • The Approach: a “R&D Lab” (innovative research & projects) • A key asset: strong partnerships (URC, Frankfurt School)

16. UNEP Energy: The FIRM project • FIRM General • National low-carbon development through technology-based mitigation that is compatible with NAMA‘s • Strengthen capacity & identify concrete opportunities (see TNA) • Helps 7 countries develop NAMAs related to energy & transport • FIRM Ghana • Guidance for the development of a comprehensive LCD strategy • 55 NAMA’s identified in Ghana, 2 selected under FIRM • 1. Transport, 2. Energy Efficiency

17. Contacts • Thankyou! • Lennart Kuntze • Trade, PolicyandPlanning Unit • Economics and Trade Branch • United Nations Environment Programme • Lennart.kuntze@unep.org

18. The GE-TOP Report: RE Trade Opportunities • Exports of renewable energy supply products: various developing countries/country firms have seen significant growth in exports • Exports of renewably sourced electricity: Many developing countries have a comparative export advantage as they possess abundant renewable resources • Renewable energy and construction consultancy services: Increasingly, developing countries gain the expertise/capacity to provide these services • Many developing countries have submitted NAMAs under UNFCCC • Key barriers to renewable energy trade: Import tariffs, non-tariff measures