Benjamin Simmons, Manager of the Green Growth Knowledge Paltform (GGKP) Secretariat, provides an overview of the GGKP, reflects on next steps and introduces the website's new "Insights" feature.
The Green Growth Knowledge Platform was first conceived in recognition of some key challenges. First, because the concepts of green growth and green economy are relatively new and developed quickly, the analysis, data and tools to support a green economy transition are often lacking, or in some cases, non-existent. Second, even in cases where the information has been produced, it is often not organized or presented in a format that is easily accessible to the governments, experts and other professionals that need it most. Finally, although there is increasing demand globally to explore green growth development paths, there is often a lack of practitioners and experts with the knowledge and training to support these efforts.
Generating, managing and sharing knowledge
The GGKP was established to address these concerns by:
- Creating an open and collaborative process to identify and respond to major knowledge gaps in green growth theory and practice;
- Building a knowledge infrastructure that compiles and organizes the most important technical resources, including research, tools and data, so users have easy access to this information; and
- Fostering information sharing and training at global, regional and national levels through peer learning events, conferences and workshops.
The GGKP does this by cultivating and engaging a global network of international organizations, research institutes, and experts committed to the common objectives of generating, managing and sharing knowledge in a collaborative environment.
A short history
The GGKP was incubated in the World Bank as part of an effort to establish knowledge platforms on a few critical global issues by fostering networks of institutions and individuals.
From GGKP’s earliest days, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the United Nations Environment Programme and the Global Green Growth Institute joined the World Bank in their efforts to construct the platform. These four institutions set about conceptualizing and developing the platform, which culminated in its formal launch in January 2012.
Although still in its infancy, the platform has enjoyed a number of successes.
The first was the convening in early January 2012 of the GGKP Annual Conference held in Mexico City. The Conference included over 150 participants from 30 countries, including from over 20 developing countries. This initial annual conference was followed by a second GGKP Annual Conference organized in April 2013 at the OECD headquarters in Paris involving over 300 participants.
An expanding partnership and research portfolio
Most importantly, the GGKP partnership has expanded dramatically in the last year with ten leading international organizations and research institutes joining, including the African Development Bank, Climate & Development Knowledge Network, Environment for Development Initiative, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, International Labour Organization, International Trade Centre, Nordic Development Fund, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations Development Programme, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.
The GGKP also welcomed two affiliated programs: the Green Growth Best Practices initiative and the World Bank’s Data and Decision-Making Tools for Green Growth initiative. Both of these independent initiatives have a strategic relationship with the GGKP and will yield analysis and tools linked to the GGKP.
In addition, more than 20 research working papers have been commissioned by the GGKP from world-class economists and other experts to survey the current state of knowledge on green growth across a wide range of topics, including on green innovation, trade, natural resource management, infrastructure and urban development, employment, ecosystem resilience, human behavior, and welfare measurement.
On the basis of this analytical work, the GGKP has initially prioritized three areas on which to build GGKP research programs: 1) technology and innovation; 2) trade and competitiveness; and 3) green growth indicators and measurement. All three are following distinct paths of implementation but reflect the core GGKP mission of undertaking collaborative research and catalyzing a wider community of scholars and practitioners.
The first output from these research programs was the launch of a report, “Moving towards a Common Approach on Green Growth Indicators” produced jointly by the OECD, World Bank, UNEP and GGGI. The report represents an ambitious effort to develop internationally agreed indicators for monitoring progress towards green growth.
What’s Next
GGKP’s future success depends on its ongoing and close relationship with its partners and its ability to capitalize on this partnership to generate new knowledge and share it broadly. We have recently launched a new “Insights” section of our website to further this objective. The Insights section allows our partners, as well as other international organizations, research institutes and experts to reflect on and highlight their latest research, activities and events related to green growth and green economy.
In the third quarter of 2013, the GGKP will follow on this recent development by launching a second generation web platform to further draw the green growth community together and provide information on related research and activities. The web platform will include a number of useful features, including a resource library that features relevant research, policy papers and tools, and a project database that highlights green growth related activities taking place globally.
We are eager to continue building strong links with those interested in furthering green theory and practice. One way to engage in the community is through our recently launched Twitter account (@GGKPlatform) or by joining our LinkedIn Group. And of course, if you or your institution is interested in partnering with the GGKP, please make sure to contact us.
Benjamin Simmons
Manager
GGKP Secretariat