Cristiana Pasca Palmer Head of Unit, DEVCO C2 Climate Change, Environment, Natural Resources

1. Green Economy in EU development cooperation: reconciling environment sustainability and growth objectives Cristiana Pasca Palmer Head of Unit, DEVCO C2 Climate Change, Environment, Natural Resources

2. Outline • Why the need for greening the economy? • What EU development policy says about green economy? • EU's approach • Opportunities to promote green economy in future EU- Central Asia countries programs

3. I. WHY IS IT IMPERIOUS TO GREEN ECONOMIES? 1.8 global hectares per person Source: Mathis Wackernagel, Global Footprint Network, 2007

4. I. WHY IS IT IMPERIOUS TO GREEN ECONOMIES? • CENTRAL ASIA'S FOOTPRINT Source: ecological footprint atlas 2010

5. I. WHY IS IT IMPERIOUS TO GREEN ECONOMIES? Environment should not just be seen as a threat; i.e. ecological deficit should be controlled to minimize risks. Environment should also be seen as wealth: environmental assets make 26% of national wealth in developing countries - as opposed to 2% in OECD countries (World Bank 2005)

6. II. What EU development policy says about green economy • Agenda for Change: • EU development policy should "promote a ‘green economy’ that can generate growth, create jobs and help reduce poverty by valuing and investing in natural capital" • Relevant EU and international commitments reflected in EU development policy: • Hyderabad commitments on biodiversity • EU commitment to allocate 20% of its 2014-2020 budget for climate relevant expenditure • Rio+ 20 conclusions

7. EU's approach: Concept Green Economy Sustainable development ApproachesTools 1. Greening the brown economy 2. Growing the green economy • Opportunities • Innovative business models • Address environmental concerns • from initial stages of product design • Eliminate environmental destruction • “cradle to cradle” • Safeguarding • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle • Slow down environmental destruction • “cradle to grave” Adapted from C.Pasca Palmer: Growing the green economy in transitioning economies (CIERP, Tufts University (USA), 2009)

8. EU's approach: integration across different cooperation programs

9. Opportunities to promote green economy in the new EU- Central Asia countries programs (NIPs)

10. Opportunities to promote green economy in the new EU- Central Asia countries programs

11. Conclusions • Green economy already a priority in national policies in Central Asia (e.g. Kazakhstan GE Strategy) and EU support programs; • Sustainable practices key to sustainable growth in Central Asia, including to diversify the economy and secure agricultural outputs in a context of climate change, droughts and land degradation • Strong potential to integrate green economy in EU-Central Asia bilateral programs, including on rural development and education • Support to green economy transformation under Global Public Good and Challenge (GPGC) thematic programme • Internal measures being taken within DEVCO to support green economy in EU programs: new training modules, awareness raising meetings, consultation of stakeholders to formulate EU's approach.