CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP ON GREEN FINANCING GUID

Concept note

Given China’s recent commitment of green and sustainable development under the Green Belt and Road initiative (BRI), CPEC is becoming a priority in gaining facilitation and support in Pakistan in all sectors of development with a specific focus on energy, infrastructure, and agriculture. With Pakistan’s goal to not build new coal-fired power plants in 2020 and China’s announcement to not build new coal-fired power plants abroad in 2021, the Chinese government is not just in full support of Pakistan's green endeavors; it becomes apparent that the green cooperation and response to the two-fold challenges of environment and climate change is a mutual aspiration of both countries. This is evident through China’s increased investments in the renewable energy sector of Pakistan in recent times. Due to the recent prominence of CPEC and President Xi's commitment and vision in this regard, we feel the time is just right for us to reach out and forge new coalitions and explore avenues to boost economic growth and prosperity of the country with an increasing role of environmental conservation and sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the development priorities of CPEC. The increased focus on CPEC development priorities brings attention to key areas of cooperation for both China and Pakistan including renewable energy and energy efficiency, nature-based solutions and ecosystem management, green finance and investment, circular economy, sustainable consumption and production, south-south environmental cooperation, sustainable transportation, and environmental laws, regulations, and standards. Keeping these areas of cooperation in view, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) aims to organize a High-level Policy Dialogue on Green CPEC Development to engage the key stakeholders from both countries including the governments, investors, regulators, developers, academia, and civil society to reflect on the success of major initiatives implemented under BRI and seek a way forward to build better together. The objectives of this event are:

1. To engage and support different stakeholders for information exchange on the opportunities and the development priorities (green financing, green banking, green budgeting etc.) of CPEC to help achieve common sustainability goals.

2. To facilitate a constructive dialogue between the Chinese government and investors to lead and support CPEC green development roadmap towards delivering the SDGs, and climate targets while ensuring socio-economic development in Pakistan.

3. To discuss potential avenues and opportunities of replicating the best practices from China in green growth, policies, and innovation to Pakistan through knowledge sharing, capacity building, technology transfer, and science for policy.