Annual Report

Policy dialogues placed at 2024 international fora – Climate COP29, Biodiversity COP16, WCEF, OPN Forum, and Summit of the Future – drew attention to the critical role of just transition in National Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the urgent need to redirect public and private finance for building green, inclusive and nature-positive economies. These global events provided platforms for governments from PAGE countries and representatives from employers, workers, business and finance to have their voices heard on green transitions. To enhance regional momentum on green finance in Central Asia, PAGE held a South-South collaboration workshop inviting senior government experts from Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan to share their solutions for advancing green finance in line with national environmental commitments.

PAGE leveraged the collective economic expertise of the UN Resident Coordinator network, working with the UN Development Coordination Office on trainings and thematic dialogues focused on key elements of green economic transformation. In 2024, two webinars broadened UNRC economists’ insights into just transitions and sustainable finance, examining the role of the UN transitions approach for advancing a just and equitable green economy, and exploring the critical role of finance in support of just transitions and the broader SDG agenda. These dialogues strengthen RCO economists’ positions as thought leaders, providing them with knowledge and tools for green economic transformation at the country level.

With the Green Industry Summer School, recurring national training programmes and public e-courses on green economic transformation, PAGE builds a critical mass of actors able to apply green economy principles.

In the 2024 Green Industry Summer School, industry practitioners explored the role of circular economy, resource efficiency, and low-carbon technologies in meeting international climate goals.

By the end of 2024, 39 recurring training courses had been delivered through staff colleges and similar institutions, enhancing institutional capacity and equipping cohorts of government officials with essential skills in partner countries.

On the UN CC:e-Learn platform, PAGE offers 7 open-access online courses in 10 languages on green finance, industry, trade and fiscal policy, that have attracted over 200’000 learners with 56’897 certificates issued.

Since PAGE’s inception, 75,000 learners benefited from PAGE’s learning portfolio on green economy.

Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa and Kazakhstan will continue their journey with PAGE to transform economies into drivers of sustainability – being the first countries confirmed in 2024 for strategic policy support under the updated Strategy. In Brazil, PAGE supports the Ministry of Finance with a macroeconomic assessment of the impacts of the Ecological Transformation Plan; in Indonesia the Ministry of Planning seeks to further operationalize its Circular Economy Roadmap and Action Plan; South Africa’s Presidential Climate Commission implements a just transition forum to accompany the country’s phase out from coal; and Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and National Resources aims to build a financial architecture for critical investments in the water sector.

Through a strategic alliance with the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action (CFMCA), PAGE provided technical input on nature finance and green fiscal reforms to the Coalition’s broad network of finance ministries across regions. With contributions to the Coalitions’ regional meetings in Africa and Asia-Pacific and high-level events at the Biodiversity COP16, PAGE helped to embed sustainability, resilience, and nature and biodiversity finance in fiscal policy discussions at the highest levels. This also opened the opportunity for countries from the PAGE network, namely Senegal and Mauritius,to newly connect with CFMCA and benefit from the conversation on innovative ways to finance their transitions to low-carbon and nature-positive economies.

Policy dialogues placed at 2024 international fora – Climate COP29, Biodiversity COP16, WCEF, OPN Forum, and Summit of the Future – drew attention to the critical role of just transition in National Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the urgent need to redirect public and private finance for building green, inclusive and nature-positive economies. These global events provided platforms for governments from PAGE countries and representatives from employers, workers, business and finance to have their voices heard on green transitions. To enhance regional momentum on green finance in Central Asia, PAGE held a South-South collaboration workshop inviting senior government experts from Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan to share their solutions for advancing green finance in line with national environmental commitments.

PAGE leveraged the collective economic expertise of the UN Resident Coordinator network, working with the UN Development Coordination Office on trainings and thematic dialogues focused on key elements of green economic transformation. In 2024, two webinars broadened UNRC economists’ insights into just transitions and sustainable finance, examining the role of the UN transitions approach for advancing a just and equitable green economy, and exploring the critical role of finance in support of just transitions and the broader SDG agenda. These dialogues strengthen RCO economists’ positions as thought leaders, providing them with knowledge and tools for green economic transformation at the country level.

With the Green Industry Summer School, recurring national training programmes and public e-courses on green economic transformation, PAGE builds a critical mass of actors able to apply green economy principles.

In the 2024 Green Industry Summer School, industry practitioners explored the role of circular economy, resource efficiency, and low-carbon technologies in meeting international climate goals.

By the end of 2024, 39 recurring training courses had been delivered through staff colleges and similar institutions, enhancing institutional capacity and equipping cohorts of government officials with essential skills in partner countries.

On the UN CC:e-Learn platform, PAGE offers 7 open-access online courses in 10 languages on green finance, industry, trade and fiscal policy, that have attracted over 200’000 learners with 56’897 certificates issued.

Since PAGE’s inception, 75,000 learners benefited from PAGE’s learning portfolio on green economy.

National partners reflected on the accomplishments of PAGE support to Argentina’s green transition in a workshop convened in Buenos Aires in November 2024. Engaging with a wide range of economic and social partners, PAGE has successfully contributed to strategies across various levels of government. The government adopted the ‘Argentina 2030 Productive Plan’, in conjunction with labour adaptation plans in key sectors: construction, tourism and automobiles. As vehicle to deliver on the plan serve a Sustainable Industrial Development Platform providing resources for SMEs to advance sustainable industrial development, and the development of an Information System for Circular Economy in the framework of the National Registry on Waste-Streams for Recycling-Market-Actors. The transition to green jobs was driven by the nation-wide roll out of a National Green Jobs Programme, linked to a newly introduced green jobs indicator system and a new award system for innovative solutions for labour formalisation and just transition.

See the infographic: PAGE Infografía impactos (EN)

The Government of Kazakhstan celebrated its achievements under PAGE with a Transition Ceremony involving representatives of key ministries, state bodies, international organizations and business on the occasion of the 4th International Congress organized by the Kazakh Association of Regional Environmental Initiatives in October 2024 in Astana. PAGE has played a pivotal role in the update of the country’s guiding Concept for the Transition to a Green Economy, and the development the Carbon Neutrality Strategy and an Action Plan. In conjunction with the government started enforcing a revised Environmental Code and Water Code and the President signed a new Law on Sustainable Public Procurement in 2024 to promote sustainable goods and services. Furthermore, PAGE supported national partners with analytical work focusing on carbon tariffs, fiscal reform, industrial decarbonization, environmental quality and the socio-economic implications of coal phase-out.

In India, PAGE supported a landmark achievement with it conceptual and analytical work on eco-certification provided to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Since October 2024, the new Eco-mark Rules aligning with India’s Lifestyle for Environment Mission replace the Eco-mark Scheme of 1991 and provide labels for products that meet approved environmental criteria – ranging from cosmetics, detergents, oil, coffee and tea to textiles and electronical goods. PAGE analysis helped to establish a clear and improved framework for product certification increasing market transparency and consumer trust. Building on this success, PAGE continues to assist the MoEFCC in developing operational guidelines for the scheme, addressing critical components such as designating verifiers, conducting market surveillance, and verifying the authenticity of eco-mark-awarded products.

Uruguay’s new National Circular Economy Strategy, launched by the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining in April 2024, is a key element in the country’s transition towards inclusive, green and circular economy. The strategy sets the path for an improved institutional landscape to enable policies for circular production and consumption and encourage circular initiatives and business models. With the strategy, circular economy (CE) is embedded within the country’s sustainable development framework, complemented by the National Circular Economy Action Plan, the National Integrated Waste Management Plan, as well as vehicles to incentivize circular economy in industry and research such as the Annual CE Awards, a CE Laboratory and CE Innovation and Research Fund. PAGE has supported the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining since 2023 to develop the strategy in collaboration with the Ministries of Economy and Finance, Environment, Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, and the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

With the launch of the Green Financing Programme with an initial capital of over USD 8 million, the Kyrgyz State Development Bank marked an important milestone for the country’s National Green Economy Development Progamme by establishing a financial mechanism for green investments. The Green Financing Programme provides access to funding for green projects and public-private collaboration making it a key element for achieving the country’s climate action targets and green economy objectives. PAGE supported the development and launch of the programme and will continue, through UNDP, to work closely with the State Development Bank to monitor implementation progress, assess impacts, and ensure effective scaling of green finance mechanisms.

Led by the Ministry of National Planning (BAPPENAS), national partners celebrated the achievements of PAGE Indonesia in a National Dialogue in December 2024 in Jakarta. PAGE partners helped advance the country’s ambition on circular economy, energy transition and capacity development. The government integrated inclusive green economy into its national medium- and long-term development plans and the delivery of the Low Carbon Initiative providing guidance for sectoral policy reforms and policy direction for Indonesia’s provinces. In conjunction, the government developed a National Circular Economy Roadmap and Action Plan and a National Energy General Plan, for which PAGE provided analysis on circular economy in the food and beverages sector and on green jobs and just transition policy readiness in the energy sector. Recently, PAGE supported a Low Carbon Development Plan for West Java and a Food Loss and Waste Action Plan in Bali. Since 2022, Indonesia’s Green Economy Index, inspired by PAGE’s global Green Economy Progress Measurement Framework, aids policymakers to track progress in sustainable development.

National partners reflected on the accomplishments of PAGE support to Argentina’s green transition in a workshop convened in Buenos Aires in November 2024. Engaging with a wide range of economic and social partners, PAGE has successfully contributed to strategies across various levels of government. The government adopted the ‘Argentina 2030 Productive Plan’, in conjunction with labour adaptation plans in key sectors: construction, tourism and automobiles. As vehicle to deliver on the plan serve a Sustainable Industrial Development Platform providing resources for SMEs to advance sustainable industrial development, and the development of an Information System for Circular Economy in the framework of the National Registry on Waste-Streams for Recycling-Market-Actors. The transition to green jobs was driven by the nation-wide roll out of a National Green Jobs Programme, linked to a newly introduced green jobs indicator system and a new award system for innovative solutions for labour formalisation and just transition.

See the infographic: PAGE Infografía impactos (EN)

The Government of Kazakhstan celebrated its achievements under PAGE with a Transition Ceremony involving representatives of key ministries, state bodies, international organizations and business on the occasion of the 4th International Congress organized by the Kazakh Association of Regional Environmental Initiatives in October 2024 in Astana. PAGE has played a pivotal role in the update of the country’s guiding Concept for the Transition to a Green Economy, and the development the Carbon Neutrality Strategy and an Action Plan. In conjunction with the government started enforcing a revised Environmental Code and Water Code and the President signed a new Law on Sustainable Public Procurement in 2024 to promote sustainable goods and services. Furthermore, PAGE supported national partners with analytical work focusing on carbon tariffs, fiscal reform, industrial decarbonization, environmental quality and the socio-economic implications of coal phase-out.

In India, PAGE supported a landmark achievement with it conceptual and analytical work on eco-certification provided to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Since October 2024, the new Eco-mark Rules aligning with India’s Lifestyle for Environment Mission replace the Eco-mark Scheme of 1991 and provide labels for products that meet approved environmental criteria – ranging from cosmetics, detergents, oil, coffee and tea to textiles and electronical goods. PAGE analysis helped to establish a clear and improved framework for product certification increasing market transparency and consumer trust. Building on this success, PAGE continues to assist the MoEFCC in developing operational guidelines for the scheme, addressing critical components such as designating verifiers, conducting market surveillance, and verifying the authenticity of eco-mark-awarded products.