The complex assessment of the areas for accelerated low-carbon growth will be conducted in Belarus. According to the preliminary assessments of reaching the SDGs, about 20% of targets need acceleration, including the planetary goals 13-15. As acceleration needs better prioritization in public spending, a special finance assessment in the area of environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources will be conducted. The assessment was launched in November and will be completed by May 2022.

The complex assessment of the areas for accelerated low-carbon growth will be conducted within the Joint Programme “Promoting new tools of sustainable development budgeting that prioritize vulnerable populations in Belarus”. The Programme is funded by the Joint SDG Fund and jointly implemented by UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women and the Resident Coordinator Office in Belarus. The UN agencies will implement their parts across various thematic areas with UNDP playing the convening role and working with other UN agencies on specific components to ensure continuity across SDGs. Within the Joint Programme UNDP is partnering with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection to conduct a finance assessment in the area of environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources.

Following the meeting of experts of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus, the representatives of the relevant state departments and academia, the Global Green Economy Index (GGEI) methodology was found the most suitable to identify less financed areas that can accelerate the green growth and support reaching SDGs 13-15.

Founded in 2010, the Global Green Economy Index is conducted on an annual basis to advance awareness and understanding in country governments, local communities and global business networks of the countries’ rankings in terms of the green economy. It is trusted by policymakers, corporate leaders, investors, and academia worldwide. The methodology uses data provided by the World Bank, UN and national statistics to assess topics like climate change performance; efficiency improvements in buildings, transport and energy sectors; the vitality of each market for green investment; and the health of key environmental topics like air quality, forests and biodiversity.

The GGEI subindexes are calculated with the involvement of 5,000+ experts that conduct perception surveys on the assessment of different markets around green economic performance. The expected outcome of this methodology – recommendations on the opportunities attractive for local and international investors that would allow to accelerate green growth in the 2020s.

As the most vulnerable groups of population receive benefits from ecosystems, the potential benefits of the country’s new momentum in low-carbon economic growth are new jobs. Special focus on green jobs that can engage more women in many sectors, like ecotourism, can support the implementation of “leaving no one behind” principle while recovering greener.