Development assistance is already provided on a largel scale over long time periods by many industrialized countries. The question arises if the chosen methods and approaches were successful? And if not Why? The World Bank should built on the lessons learnt from related experiences and from my point of view should focus on projects that show how green economy can be implemented in the major living places (urban areas) and for feeding humankind (in agricultural areas) whereas these both sectors also represent the main arease where our economic activities cause pollution and also anthropogenic Greenhouse gas emissions.

Governments, industry and the civil society worldwide increasingly recognize that the linear model of economic growth as presently applied is unsustainable from an economic, environmental and social perspective and that they cannot build their future on a linear “take -make-dispose” model. Applying the principles of “Circularity” means to explore opportunities that promote closed material loops and resource efficiency across the entire value chain. This concept implies designing products for reuse, recovering as much as possible from resources while in use, using products as long as possible, remanufacturing products at the end of service life, and in essence avoiding waste generation in production and supply. We know now that only around 9% of the resources we use are part of cirularity, meaning resources loss, low resources efficiency and waste generation are major problems to be solved. The World Bank should chose presentable cases where models are established that show how we can etsablish sustainable and healthy economy in urban areas as samples to be followed by other countries. These cases should include the typical issues we face in developing countries such as high involvement of the informal sector, low environmental awareness, low infrastructural involvement, lack of funding etc. From my perspective it will be needed to demonstrate how the local level can be enabled and motivated to establish and operate daily economy and practices (e.g. transport and waste management, waste water collection and treatment, rainwater and flood water management). While environmentally sound waste management including recycling plays a central role to close the loop of product lifecycles, they need to be complemented with actions more upstream related to cut resource use (and producing more with less), to increase production efficiency and by reducing waste. If it comes to waste, espcially food waste, plastic and singel-use packaging as most visible impacts of linear economy need to be enhanced. An integrated, comprehensive approach is required, with the involvement of the whole supply chain, and supporting legislation that motivates to install circular product design, to enhance consumer behavior and to develop innovative and sustainable business models based on resource efficiency and circular economy approaches. Moving towards a circular economy is essential for all governments to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) amid growing scarcity of natural resources and growing urban- populations. The World Bank should support such projects that show how the Nationally Determined Countributions as formulated by the majority of nations with the Paris Agreement can effectivly and efficiently implemented by low income countries within the next decade.

The Global Waste Management Outlook (UNEP & ISWA, 2015) states that the potential impact of improved waste and resource management on reducing GHG emissions across a broad range of economic sectors could be 15-20%. This estimate does not consider all sources and climate impacts related to the waste sector, because other relevant GHG emissions such as black carbon are not included in the IPCC’s approach yet (GIZ, 2017).

References:

GIZ (2017):

NDC factsheet: Sectoral implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Circular Economy and Solid Waste Management. - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Eschborn, Germany.

UNEP and ISWA. (2015):

Global Waste Management Outlook. page 270. Retrieved on August 27 2018 from https://www.unep.org/ietc/sites/unep.org.ietc/files/GWMO_summary_0.pdf

World Bank, Ecosys & Vivid Economics (2017):

State and Trends of Carbon Pricing. – Washington D.C., USA.

Podria contribuir, las buenas tenciones no alcanzan. Asi lo demuestra la realidad

Sustainable pro-ecological development is tautology.

Just as Sustainable Development is an oxymoron

Totalmente de acuerdo

Supongo que algo siempre se puede hacer. Tienen tecnicos de excelente nivel. Pero..... Hasta el presente no han dado resultados exitosos. Quizas el desarrollo local sea mejor paliativo al hambre, las guerras, etc. El mundo pasa por una crisis sin precedentes y es una crisis etica y moral. Ya lo decia Einstein no podemos resolver problemas pensando de la misma manera que cuando lo creamos.

Dear Colleagues and Friends from RG,

I would like to add considerations on the following topic to the above discussion:

Main problems of pro-ecological transformation of the energy sector.

The above discussion inspired me to formulate the following question:

What are the main problems of the environmentally friendly transformation of the energy sector?

On the basis of the above considerations and conclusions from the discussion on interesting issues discussed, I formulated the following thesis that in connection with the growing greenhouse gas emissions, the global warming process which is progressing faster and faster it is necessary to carry out the pro-ecological reform of the energy sector in order to convert classic energy based on the burning of minerals into energy based on renewable energy sources. However, there are various barriers to financing renewable energy sources and problems of environmentally friendly transformation of the energy sector. Below I have described the key determinants confirming the formulated research thesis. To the above discussion I would like to add the following conclusion formulated as a summary of my previous considerations on this topic: Barriers for financing renewable energy sources.

Unfortunately, conventional technologies in many industries and industrial sectors still dominate in many countries. For example, in my country currently only 15 percent. electricity is generated from renewable energy sources and the remaining 85% from traditional energy based on mineral combustion. By 2030, it is planned to increase the share of electricity production from renewable energy sources to 32 percent. This is not much considering that in many countries this plan is set at a minimum of 50 percent. energy production from renewable energy sources in 2030. In addition, an important determinant of the necessary pro-ecological reforms in the energy sector that should be implemented in the next decade is the problem of rapidly growing greenhouse gas emissions in recent years, the global warming process that is progressing more rapidly, and the resulting weather anomalies and climatic disasters that are increasingly common including forest fires, drought in green areas and agriculture, melting glaciers, flooding in coastal areas, etc.

On the other hand, in some countries green technologies are increasingly being developed. Commercial companies and public institutions financed or co-financed from subsidies received from the state's public finance system participate in this process. These processes are usually inspired, initiated and co-financed by the state. Ecological innovations are increasingly being developed as part of the system of implementing the principles of sustainable pro-ecological economic development conducted according to the concept of green economy and projects as well as pro-ecological reforms financed from green finance funds. The development of green technologies is important because every day in many media there is more information about the growing scale of devastation of the natural environment through the development of human civilization. In recent years, environmental pollution has been increasing and the global warming process is increasing rapidly.

Research conducted for many years by climatologists confirms that the global warming process is mainly caused by an increase in greenhouse gas emissions generated by the energy sector based on classic energy producing electricity from mineral combustion and the automotive industry also based on internal combustion engines. In addition, innovations in the field of renewable energy sources should be created and implemented as soon as possible. The energy sector should be changed as soon as possible and reformed in order to develop renewable energy sources.

Classic energy sources based on the combustion of minerals should be replaced by energy technologies based on renewable energy sources, i.e. first of all solar, wind, water and possibly also nuclear energy should be developed. Therefore, in the context of increasingly faster climate change processes, accelerating the global warming process, increasing pollution of the natural environment, international financing systems for pro-ecological projects should be created. Within these systems, international institutions should be created to finance projects for implementing ecological reforms, creating and implementing eco-innovation, etc. Grants should be awarded for research projects in the field of renewable energy development.

In connection with the above, it is necessary to increase expenditure in all countries on ecological reforms in order to implement the principles of sustainable ecological development according to the green economy philosophy. In addition, international financing systems for the creation and implementation of green innovations and green reforms should be developed in many branches of modern economies, primarily in energy through the development of renewable energy sources. National and international systems for financing pro-ecological reforms in the green finance formula should be developed.

The next several years is the last moment to carry out the necessary ecological reforms to avoid a chain reaction of increasing climatic disasters and reduce the scale of environmental pollution and protect most of the remaining biosphere, biodiversity from irreversible degradation. Therefore, humanity should reduce greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, energy based on renewable energy sources, electromobility, organic farming, waste sorting, recycling, etc. should be developed. Therefore, financial outlays for creating new ecological innovations, green technologies and their implementation in industry. However, despite the obvious need to increase expenditure on renewable energy sources, unfortunately in recent years to a significant and sufficient extent as required, these expenditures do not grow in many countries.

In line with the above, in my opinion, due to the growing greenhouse gas emissions, the global warming process is progressing faster and faster, it is necessary to carry out a pro-ecological reform of the energy sector in order to convert the classic energy based on the burning of minerals into energy based on renewable energy sources. However, there are various barriers to financing renewable energy sources and problems of environmentally friendly transformation of the energy sector.

Do you agree with me on the above matter?

In connection with the above, I am asking you the following question:

- What are the formal, systemic, business, political and other limitations in financing pro-ecological reforms consisting in building wind farms, photovoltaic panels and other power plants producing electricity in the formula of renewable energy sources?

- In your opinion, should environment-friendly reforms of the energy sector be carried out in order to convert classic energy based on burning minerals into energy based on renewable energy sources?

- What are the main barriers to the development of renewable energy sources in your opinion?

- What are the main problems of the environmentally friendly transformation of the energy sector into your country?

- What is your opinion on this topic?

Please reply.

I invite you to discussion and scientific cooperation.

Thank you very much.

Best wishes.

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Dear Johannes Paul, Stella Bonaventura, Christopher Gordon, Thank you for the information provided and the link to interesting data in the above-mentioned issues. Thank you very much for the answers to the question: What pro-ecological activities should be carried out by The World Bank in the matter of the sustainable pro-ecological development of the World?

Thank you very much for an inspiring, interesting and substantive answer. In view of the above, in my opinion, in recent years the importance of pro-ecological activities by The World Bank. I also believe that due to the unfavorable climate changes, the importance of green finance is growing as an important element of the implementation of the principles of sustainable development into economic processes and the pro-ecological transformation of the traditional brown economy to a sustainable green economy / circular economy. An important element of this process is the improvement of system solutions for the development of external financing processes for the creation and implementation of eco-innovations based on green finance, green banking, green credits, etc.

What do you think about it?

Thank you very much and best regards, Have a nice day,

Dariusz Prokopowicz