Synthesis and outcomes from GGKP Third Annual Conference

GGKP News

The Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP) held its Third Annual Conference on the theme of "Fiscal Policies and the Green Economy Transition: Generating Knowledge -Creating Impact" in Venice, Italy, from 29 through 30 January 2015. The conference was hosted in partnership by Ca' Foscari University of Venice, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and drew together 247 participants to debate and discuss newly developed research on the most effective means of introducing and reforming fiscal measures in support of green growth.

The GGKP has now released a Conference Report which provides a synthesis of the key themes and insights to emerge from the GGKP Third Annual Conference as well as an overview of each of the meeting's individual sessions.
 
Some general comments reiterated throughout the conference which are discussed in the conference report are that:
  • The political economy challenges of green fiscal reform should not be underestimated. Policies must take the economic, social and political dimensions into account.
  • Fiscal policies must be designed with the final objective in mind and after careful reflection on the best instruments to achieve given policy objectives, the role of institutions and the true costs of instruments employed.
  • For measures to take effect and achieve an intended outcome, their early implementation or a longterm view may be required.
  • Taxing carbon can be macro-economically more efficient than taxing capital, labour, value added or consumption.
  • Fiscal policy can be a powerful tool to build the proper incentives.

To learn more click on the below image to read the conference report.