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Strengthening energy-food-finance nexus in countries in special situations in response to energy and food crisis
No full textThe impact of the energy and food crisis has disproportionately affected the region’s countries in special situations, comprising least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and small islands developing States (SIDS), due to their underlying structural vulnerabilities including small land areas, limited resources and geographical isolation, and heavy import reliance to secure energy, food and other essential needs. The brunt of the impacts have fallen on poor households and marginalised groups, lowering their real income and consumption, increasing the prevalence of food insecurity and risk of malnutrition and heightening labour market inequalities.
Urgent actions are needed for these countries to accelerate the transformation of their energy and food systems toward cleaner, more secure and reliable ones. The complex interlinkages and interdependence across these sectors, however, require that countries strengthen the existing mechanisms by adopting a nexus approach that holistically captures the systematic nature of energy, food and finance issues and explores synergistic opportunities across these sectors to mitigate potential conflicts.
This policy brief examines the impact of the energy and food crisis on Asia-Pacific countries in special situations. It considers potential solutions and good practices that are applicable to these countries by addressing crosscutting challenges of energy, food and finance in a holistic and inclusive manner. In doing so, it provides policy recommendations to drive the energy, food and finance system transformation in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in these countries.</p
Harmonization of national laws with the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities : country case study Thailand
No full textThis publication emanates from an ESCAP research project to study the trends of Asian and Pacific countries
in harmonizing national laws with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It examines the
extent to which reporting obligations have been fulfilled in a timely and substantive manner and the ways in
which the national human rights institution and civil society organizations, in particular organizations of
persons with disabilities, have been involved in that process. It further analyses good practices in
harmonization, and challenges which have arisen in relation to the implementation of the Convention in
Thailand. This analytical country case study was prepared under the above mentioned ESCAP project and
draws from credible sources. It is issued for the attention of members and associate members in the ESCAP
region towards further enhancement of the effective harmonization of domestic legislation with the
Convention and the implementation of the Convention.
Click here to view the analytical regional overview and five country case studies (Australia, China, India, Republic of Korea, Thailand)Government of Chin
Valuing and investing in unpaid care and domestic work - country case study : Uzbekistan
No full textThis case study on Uzbekistan enhances ESCAP technical and advisory assistance to its member States, in particular aligning with the region’s efforts to bring care to the centre of public policy. The study aims to draw great attention and resources to the unpaid care component of the care economy and support efforts by member States towards developing and implementing care-responsive and gender-transformative policies. The scope of care in this framework takes a broad lens towards direct and relational care work (paid and unpaid) as well as other areas needed to build back better: reskilling and upskilling employability in care sectors, embracing the digital transformation of the care economy, promoting active ageing and lifelong learning, developing the creative industry and encouraging social entrepreneurship and smart cities.</p
Trade regulations for climate action : new insights from the global non-tariff measures database
Get PDFThis report examines the use of trade-related regulations, known as non-tariff measures (NTMs), in support of domestic and international climate change mitigation efforts. The analysis can help policymakers and other stakeholders better understand the linkages between trade and climate policies and make more informed decisions to use trade as a driver for climate action. NTMs cover a wide array of policy tools which can be directly linked to climate action or be imposed primarily for safety, health and broader environmental protection purposes.
UNCTAD and UN ESCAP developed a methodology that identified 2’366 climate change-related NTMs in UNCTAD’s Trade Analysis Information System (TRAINS) database. While this only represents 2.6 per cent of the measures in the database, they are concentrated in world’s largest traded and most CO2 intensive sectors, such as the automotive sector. Consequently, 26.4 per cent of world trade is regulated, representing trade worth US$ 6.5 trillion.
Climate change-related NTMs cover a higher share of trade in high income and industrialized middle income countries, as they are the largest traders in these CO2 intensive sectors. Low income economies’ import baskets feature less CO2 intensive goods and their NTMs therefore have a smaller impact on global trade. But low income countries make no fewer regulatory efforts in combating climate change through NTMs. In fact, the share of climate change-related NTMs among countries’ total number of NTMs is highest in low income countries. Particularly, Small Island Development States (SIDS), which face very tangible risks from climate change, tend to take above-average action against it.
Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) account for more than 61 per cent of all identified climate change-related NTMs. Other common NTMs are quantitative restrictions and export-related measures. While broader types of relevant NTMs are similar across countries, there is significant divergence in the details and specific requirements that hints at lacking international coordination and causes unnecessary trade costs. More international cooperation and coordination could reduce trade costs as well as regulatory efforts through sharing of best practices.
The overall economy-wide costs of climate change-related NTMs are relatively small. However, where NTMs are indeed applied, they can have significant impacts. While NTMs are generally applied in a non-discriminatory manner, they have a disproportionate effect on developing and least developed countries, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and women traders. </p
Integrated straw management in India
Get PDFThe burning of crop residue generates severe air pollution in the Indo-Gangetic plain area of South Asia. Crop residue burning affects people's health, degrades soil health that impacts agricultural production and food security and emits greenhouse gases contributing to climate change. Given its nature, it has a cross-border implications as the flow of air determines the outreach of air pollution. Crop straw yields have continued to grow, sustaining a high level with increased agricultural production in South Asia. The lack of suitable agricultural technology and machinery to sustainably utilize the straw or promote its recycled usage has led to straw burning, causing a high level of air pollution, including through transboundary sources.This paper presents the status of crop straw management for major crops in Pakistan, namely wheat, rice, maize, sugarcane and cotton. For each of these crops, data is provided on the area and production levels, harvesting methods and machinery used for the management of straw that is produced, uses of straw and issues related to straw burning. Different types of agricultural machinery and equipment that have been developed and used for planting and harvesting of crops as well as for the management of the straw in Pakistan are documented. The potential for the use of biomass for the generation of electricity is also briefly examined. The paper highlights major issues that affect the adoption of suitable technologies for the management of crop residues. Recommendations are made on actions that can be taken at the federal, provincial and international levels for the sustainable management of crop residue in Pakistan.
JEL Codes(s): O13, Q16, Q53, Q55</p
Assessment Report on the Implementation of the SPECA Innovation Strategy for Sustainable Development and its Action Plan
No full textAssessment report on SPECA Innovation Strategy, presented by Mr. Rumen Dobrinsky, Director for Strategy, European Alliance for Innovation and Ms. Lyudmyla Tautiyeva, Consultant, IPDS, ECTD, UNECE
Regional cooperation among SPECA countries: innovation in the digitalization of trans-Caspian multimodal and supply chain information exchange
No full textPresentation by Mr. Mario Apostolov, Regional Adviser, ECTD, UNECE (online
Report. Seventeenth Session of the SPECA Governing Council
No full textThe Governing Council of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) will hold its 17th session on 18 November 2022 as hybrid session with in-person and online participation. Under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan, seven SPECA participating countries, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will discuss the outcomes of 2022 SPECA Economic Forum and adopt its conclusions and recommendations.The seventeenth session of the Governing Council of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) was held on 18 November 2022 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The 2022 SPECA Economic Forum entitled “Greener and Safer Future” held on 16-17 November 2022, preceded the session of the Governing Council. The 2022 SPECA high-level meetings were jointly organized by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Chair country of SPECA in 2022, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The 2022 SPECA high-level meetings were held in a hybrid format allowing for participation both in-person and online
Speech by Deputy Minister A.S. Zhambakin. 2022 SPECA Economic Forum
No full textTheme: Greener and Safer FutureSession 5: Digital Transformation – Leveraging digital opportunitie