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UNEP / GREEN ECONOMY AFRICA
STORY: UNEP / GREEN ECONOMY AFRICA
TRT: 1.55
SOURCE: UNEP
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS
DATELINE: 04 DECEMBER 2013, NAIROBI, KENYA
FILE, RECENT, NAIROBI, KENYA
1. Various shots, exterior UN Headquarters
DATELINE: 04 DECEMBER 2013, NAIROBI, KENYA
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Partha Dasgupta, Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of Cambridge: “This particular conference, the VANTAGE conference, is of enormous significance, in my judgment. Because it’s high time that an international institution like UNEP were able to bring together experts from a wide variety of regions to discuss ways to introduce natural capital into economic calculations, in particular calculations pertaining to the long run. Because it’s the long run which is jeopardized by our neglect of natural capital.”
3. Wide shot, conference room
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Partha Dasgupta, Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of Cambridge: “GPD growth, over even an extended period would not be picking up the fact that the crucial base on which your production and livelihood depends, is actually disappearing.”
FILE – 05 NOVEMBER 2013, KENYA
5. Various shots, deforestation in Kenya
DATELINE: 04 DECEMBER 2013, NAIROBI, KENYA
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Nick Nuttall, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Spokesman and Director, Division of Communications and Public Information: “Governments have agreed that we should be trying to find a new indicator of wealth. Something that translates -and goes beyond -, the narrowness of that GDP which I mentioned earlier. So this conference today is actually looking at the valuation and accounting of nature within economies.”
FILE – WORLD BANK - JUNE 2010, SIDI DAOUD, TUNISIA
7. Various shots, wind farm turbines
FILE – WORLD BANK - OCTOBER 2010, KIMPARANA, MALI
8. Wide shot, sign of Kimparana Solar Plant
9. Tilt down, wide of solar panels
10. Close up, panels
FILE – WORLD BANK - JUNE 2010, AIN BENI MATHAR, MOROCCO
11. Various shots, solar plant
African ministers and experts spotlight efforts to incorporate natural wealth accounting in development planning.
The international conference on “Valuation and Accounting of Natural Capital for Green Economy (VANTAGE)” in Africa –taking place in Nairobi on 3 and 4 December- brings together ministers, economists, scientists and development experts to review and recommend policy action towards incorporating the valuation of natural resources and ecosystems services in development planning and accounting.
SOUNDBITE (English) Partha Dasgupta, Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of Cambridge: “This particular conference, the VANTAGE conference, is of enormous significance, in my judgment. Because it’s high time that an international institution like UNEP were able to bring together experts from a wide variety of regions to discuss ways to introduce natural capital into economic calculations, in particular calculations pertaining to the long run. Because it’s the long run which is jeopardized by our neglect of natural capital.”
Natural capital is a critical asset, especially for low-income countries, where it makes up around 36% of total wealth, according to recent World Bank estimates.
In May 2012, 10 African countries, along with various public and private organizations, adopted the Gaborone Declaration, which outlines a set of concrete principles and development goals that include valuing natural capital in the development planning process.
One month later, the Rio+20 Summit outcome document, The Future We Want - endorsed by more than 190 countries - called for broader measures of progress to complement conventional indices, such as GDP.
SOUNDBITE (English) Partha Dasgupta, Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of Cambridge: “GPD growth, over even an extended period would not be picking up the fact that the crucial base on which your production and livelihood depends, is actually disappearing.”
As of 2005, half of Africa’s most biologically rich terrestrial areas lost more than 50% of their area due to cultivation, degradation or urbanization.
In Kenya, for example, deforestation stripped the country’s economy of an estimated $68 million in 2010, dwarfing the economic benefits or urbanization.
SOUNDBITE (English) Nick Nuttall, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Spokesman and Director, Division of Communications and Public Information: “Governments have agreed that we should be trying to find a new indicator of wealth. Something that translates -and goes beyond -, the narrowness of that GDP which I mentioned earlier. So this conference today is actually looking at the valuation and accounting of nature within economies.”
According to the World Bank, Africa’s population is expected to increase by approximately 800 million people by 2040. This projected increase will put even more pressure on the continent’s natural resources.
Ecosystems serve a myriad of purposes in both the earth's natural processes and in human life, and contribute significantly to a nation's wealth. Without full valuation of less-tangible benefits from ecosystems, their exploitation will remain unsustainable and degradation inevitable.
END
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