Project Title

Exploring APEC's Path Towards Empowering Sustainable Green Growth 

Project Year

2024   

Project Number

EC_203_2024A 

Project Session

Session 2   

Project Type

Standard 

Project Status

Project in Implementation   
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Project No.

EC_203_2024A 

Project Title

Exploring APEC's Path Towards Empowering Sustainable Green Growth 

Project Status

Project in Implementation 

Publication (if any)

 

Fund Account

APEC Support Fund 

Sub-fund

ASF: Structural Reform for Sustainable Green Growth (SRSGG) 

Project Year

2024 

Project Session

Session 2 

APEC Funding

141,071 

Co-funding Amount

Total Project Value

141,071 

Sponsoring Forum

Economic Committee (EC) 

Topics

Legal Infrastructure; Structural Reform; Green Economy 

Committee

Economic Committee (EC) 

Other Fora Involved

 

Other Non-APEC Stakeholders Involved

 

Proposing Economy(ies)

Singapore 

Co-Sponsoring Economies

Australia; Canada; Korea; New Zealand; Peru; Chinese Taipei; Thailand 

Expected Start Date

01/01/2025 

Expected Completion Date

31/12/2025 

Project Proponent Name 1

Ng Wei Jing 

Job Title 1

Not Applicable 

Organization 1

Ministry of Trade and Industry 

Postal Address 1

Not Applicable 

Telephone 1

+6563327641 

Fax 1

Not Applicable 

Email 1

Ng_Wei_Jing@mti.gov.sg 

Project Proponent Name 2

Not Applicable 

Job Title 2

Not Applicable 

Organization 2

Not Applicable 

Postal Address 2

Not Applicable 

Telephone 2

Not Applicable 

Fax 2

Not Applicable 

Email 2

Not Applicable 

Declaration

Ng Wei Jing 

Project Summary

"Exploring APEC's Path Towards Empowering Sustainable Green Growth" is a project showcasing APEC economies' approach and innovative solutions to sustainable green growth. Through a physical workshop consisting of a series of presentations and interactive discussions, participants from APEC economies will learn about and discuss various economies' strategies in promoting sustainable green growth - this includes but is not limited to economies' sustainable policy frameworks, existing industry practices that promote the use of sustainable materials or technologies, and setting new rules and standards in advancing trade and environmental sustainability. By fostering interaction and knowledge exchange, this project equips participants with the tools and know-how to implement relevant sustainable policies, practices, and solutions in their own economies, paving the way for a greener, more sustainable Asia-Pacific future.

Relevance

Region
Environmental challenges, such as climate change and uncertain energy security, are among the world’s foremost challenges. Mitigating these challenges necessitates that economies, through sustainable policies, practices, and solutions, facilitate their respective transitions to the green economy. The EAASR Mid-Term Review Report further noted that APEC was ‘less green’ compared to its peer regions, and suggested for APEC to continue with the efforts to transition into the green economy and a more sustainable growth. It is against this backdrop that this project is organised, to act as a platform for APEC economies to share existing knowledge and develop ideas on new sustainable policies, practices, and solutions to implement, in order to ensure an environmentally sustainable and resilient growth.

Eligibility and Fund Priorities
This project applies to the APEC Support Fund (ASF): Structural Reform and Sustainable Green Growth (SRSGG) Sub-Fund. Specifically designed to build on APEC’s strong, balanced, secure, sustainable and inclusive growth agenda, this project aligns with the SRSGG sub-fund’s objectives to ‘promote the development of and increase the uptake of low-carbon transition and low/zero emission technologies’. This project aims to impart knowledge, abilities, skills and technical know-how to APEC economies on sustainable green growth, and more specifically – sustainable policies, practices, and solutions, in order to respond to climate change and environmental threats.

Capacity Building
The workshop and site visit(s) held as part of this project enable participants to obtain, share, strengthen, maintain and develop knowledge, abilities, skills and technical know-how to improve their structural reform policies, institutional structures or processes. Focusing on those with responsibility for developing structural reform programmes or policies across government, participants will learn from presentations, interactive discussions, and site visit(s) expertise that is relevant to sustainable green growth.

Objectives

This project provides an opportunity for information sharing on the best practices and strategies on sustainability among APEC economies. In today’s climate circumstances, APEC economies must continue to strengthen the APEC sustainability agenda and further advance collaboration to achieve our respective climate goals. This priority is featured in the Putrajaya Vision 2040 and Aotearoa Plan of Action. One of the project outputs is a sustainability-centered workshop that facilitates information and experience among APEC economies. Participants can identify policies, practices, and solutions that best suit their own context, needs, and specificities.

Alignment

APEC

This project is aligned to the objectives of the Aotearoa Plan of Action, which specifically directs economies to “implement policies consistent with their international obligations to advance environmentally sustainable and resilient growth, including by contributing to meeting APEC goals.” 

This workshop achieves that aim by facilitating knowledge sharing and interactive discussions between participating APEC economies, and capacity building to develop innovative solutions such as sustainable infrastructure, and cost effective low and zero emissions technologies. 

Furthermore, this workshop aligns with the Putrajaya Vision 2040’s aim of comprehensively “addressing climate change, extreme weather and natural disasters, for a sustainable planet.”

Forum
This project is aligned to the Enhanced APEC Agenda on Structural Reform (EAASR). The work completed under this project will inform the Economic Committee’s (EC) deliberations and contribute key insights that will assist with the development of future policies and guidance. Specifically, this will advance the EAASR’s pillar of ‘Harnessing innovation, new technology, and skills development to boost productivity and digitalisation”, as the project seeks to impart knowledge on sustainable policies, practices, and solutions for economies to tap on. Further, this project will boost the resilience and productivity of business as economies embark on refreshing the energy grid of their markets and adopt more environmentally-friendly approaches. 

This project is also aligned to the Committee on Trade and Investment’s aim of ‘strengthening connectivity and infrastructure’, and ‘promoting innovative development and inclusive approaches’. This project endeavours to facilitate dialogue between policymakers and business leaders to build a more cohesive approach toward sustainability and renewable technology. 

This project is similarly aligned to the Energy Working Group’s mandate to maximise the energy sector’s contribution to the economic and social well-being of the people in the APEC region, while mitigating the environmental effects of energy supply and use. In line with the Cebu Declaration in 2015, this project endeavours to share more about climate-proofing energy infrastructures and energy efficient technologies to advance energy-related trade and investment in APEC.

TILF/ASF Justification

Not Applicable.

Beneficiaries and Outputs

Outputs

1) Background Study on Sustainable Green Growth in APEC Economies

The background study may include, among other things:

(i)  Understanding the kind of policy environment (i.e., incentives and regulations) that encourages sustainable green growth, as well as its success factors

(ii)  Compilation of best practices being undertaken (i.e., non-binding guidelines, voluntary commitments, public-private collaboration initiatives etc. There will be a minimum of 5 best practices being listed.)

(iii)  Assessment of gaps/ areas in which economies could do more

(iv) Potential collaboration opportunities or alignment among APEC economies. 

This background study will enable APEC economies to recognise the policy environment that best facilitates sustainable green growth, learn from best practices currently being undertaken in the region, acknowledge the gaps to fill, and understand future collaboration opportunities with other APEC economies. 

This background pages is expected to be a minimum of 10 pages (excluding annexes), and will be annexed to the Project Summary Report.

2) In-Person Workshop and Site Visit(s)

The in-person workshop and site visit(s) will be held in Singapore across 3 days. It is expected to have 30 participants. 

During the workshop, participants will learn from speakers/experts presenting on their economies; strategies in promoting sustainable green growth. This could range from sustainable policy frameworks, existing industry practices that promote the use of sustainable materials or technologies, or experience in setting new rules and standards to advance trade and environmental sustainability. Participants will also be engaged in discussions, including how economies can best tackle challenges or obstacles to sustainable green growth. 

Potential site visit(s) in Singapore to:

(i)  Sembcorp-Tengeh Floating Solar Farm

(ii)  Singapore Polytechnic-Sembcorp Solar Photovoltaics Research Lab

(iii)  Jurong Island 

* Tentative schedule as follows:

Day 1, 9:00am - 5:00pm: Workshop 9:00am - 9:30am: Registration

9:30am - 9:45am: Opening Remarks and Overview of Workshop Objectives

9:45am - 10:30am: Keynote Address on: (i) the importance of sustainable green growth; and (ii) current trends in sustainable development  10:30am - 12:00pm: Presentations by experts/ speakers on successful sustainable policy frameworks from various economies

12:00pm - 2:00pm: Lunch Break

2:00pm - 3:30pm: Presentations by experts/ speakers on sustainable industry practices

3:30pm - 4:30pm: Group discussion sessions on challenges to sustainable green growth

4:30pm - 5:00pm: Wrap up 

Day 2, 9:00am - 5:00pm: Site visit(s) 9:00am - 12:00pm: Site Visit(s)

- Before the site visit(s), introductory presentations will be given. For Jurong Island for example, the introductory presentation would contain a detailed overview of the island's industrial landscape, key facilities, and ongoing projects, helping participants understand the strategic importance of the site. The presentation will also outline the necessary safety protocols, ensuring that all participants are prepared for the unique environment of Jurong Island. The presentation would end with a question & answer and feedback segment, where participants may indicate specific interests or questions about the facilities or projects. This would allow for a more targeted and engaging site visit.

12:00pm - 2:00pm: Lunch Break

2:00pm - 5:00pm: Group discussion session on key insights and takeaways from the site visit(s) 

Day 3, 9:00am - 5:00pm: Workshop

9:00am - 10:30am: Presentations by experts/ speakers on strategies for involving stakeholders such as businesses, IOs/NGOs, in the policy- making process

10:30am - 12:00pm: Experts' panel discussion on establishing rules and standards that enhance sustainability

12:00pm - 2:00pm: Lunch Break

2:00pm - 3:30pm: Group discussion sessions on practical strategies for addressing identified challenges

3:30pm - 4:30pm: Group presentations to present key insights and solutions

4:30pm - 5:00pm: Closing session, distilling the key learning points and providing information on resources and future initiatives. Participants will also be asked to respond to a post-workshop survey. 

(*) The schedule is to be confirmed, given that the in-person workshop and site visit(s) are still some time away.

3) APEC Publication: Project Summary Report

The project summary report may include, among other things:

(i)  Findings from the background study

(ii)  Sustainable green practices and initiatives shared by participating economies during the in-person workshop

(iii) Recommended policies, practices, and solutions for APEC economies to consider when approaching sustainable green growth policy reform. 

The project summary report enables a wider reach of the project's findings, such as for government officials who did not attend the in-person workshop and site visit(s) in Singapore to have a summarised version of the background study, condensed learning points from the workshop and site visit(s), as well as the recommended policies, practices and solutions that APEC economies can consider when approaching sustainable green growth policy reform. 

This report is expected to be a minimum of 12 pages (excluding annexes) and will be uploaded to the APEC Publications website.

Outcome

1) Increased knowledge of policies and practices promoting sustainable green growth
The combination of the background study, workshop, and site visit(s) will significantly enhance understanding of policies and practices that promote sustainable green growth within APEC. The background study provides a comprehensive analysis of the current policy environment, showcasing best practices, identifying existing gaps, and highlighting future collaboration opportunities. This foundational knowledge will be further deepened during the workshop, where participants can engage directly with experts, discuss real-world applications, and participate in interactive sessions. The increase in knowledge can be measured through various means, including participant feedback surveys, assessments of understanding before and after both the study and the workshop, and the evaluation of actionable insights that attendees can implement in their own contexts.

2) Applicability and value of project in sustainable green growth policy reform
Participants will learn from other economies' practices throughout the workshop (including but not limited to understanding how the policies, practices, and solutions learned can be applied to suit their economies' context, needs, and specificities) and Singapore's sustainability solutions through the site visit(s).

Beneficiaries

Direct beneficiaries are the policymakers from government who are responsible for economic structural reform policy or sustainable green growth policy. They will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights from the workshop’s presentations, interactive discussions, and site visit(s). 

Indirect beneficiaries would be APEC economies, the Economic Committee, the Committee on Trade and Investment, and Energy Working Group as this project supports existing APEC efforts towards the Putrajaya Vision 2040 and Aotearoa Plan of Action, as well as the EC’s EAASR and CTI’s “Sustainability and Inclusion” pillar of work. Complementing the EWG’s expert groups’ work on Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EGEEC) and New and Renewable Energy Technologies (EGNRET) as well as its Energy Resiliency Task Force (ER-TF), this project will contribute to APEC’s knowledge on the policies, practices and solutions that tangibly ensure sustainable green growth.

Dissemination

The Project Summary Report will be submitted for consideration as an APEC Publication, they will thereafter be uploaded to the APEC Publications website. This ensure that the findings of the project are accessible, relevant, and valuable to a wide range of stakeholders across APEC economies. 

Printed and Electronic Publications: Materials for the workshop (including the agenda and to the extent possible, presentation materials) will be circulated in soft copy to participants beforehand. Hard copies of the workshop agenda and other necessary discussion materials may be prepared in hard copy for the workshop to ensure all participants are aware of the programme and discussion questions. 

Channels of Dissemination: The workshop will be recorded in accordance with the Recording Policy in the Guidebook of the APEC Project. Selected photos may be shared via the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore's social media platforms after the necessary consent is obtained from the experts/speakers and participants. 

Target Audience: Policymakers from government who are responsible for economic structural reform policy or sustainable green growth policy. 

There is no intention to sell outputs arising from this project.

Gender

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Work Plan

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Risks

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Linkages

This project pursues linkages to the Committee on Trade and Investment and Energy Working Group as sustainable green growth goes beyond the Economic Committee’s work on structural reform, and touches upon the CTI’s fourth pillar on Inclusion and Sustainability Issues, as well as EWG’s current work to maximise the energy sector’s contribution to the economic and social well-being of the people in the APEC region, and mitigate the environmental effects of energy supply and use. 

We will also explore opportunities for private sector representation, and potential contributions to ABAC’s Green Skills workstream. 

The project summary report that would be submitted thereafter will enable economies who did not participate physically to benefit from the project as well, as they are able to read a summary of the presentations and key insights from participants’ discussions.

Sustainability

Post-APEC Funding Impact:

1.  Capacity Building: Participants from the in-person workshop and site visit(s) will be able to impart the knowledge and lessons learned to other government officials in their economy. Future discussions will also be enriched through the knowledge and perspective gained from the project.

Networks: Participants will be able to utilise their newly expanded network of speakers/experts and other participants hailing from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and cultures.

Value to Beneficiaries:

1. Documentation: The Project Summary Report will be made available on the APEC Publications website. This ensures that the findings of the project continue to be accessible, relevant, and valuable to a wide range of stakeholders across APEC economies. 

Next Steps:

1.  Based on participants' recommendations and feedback after the in-person workshop and site visit(s), the PO may consider follow-up projects.

The findings from the Background Study and Project Summary Report may be utilised for future initiatives, including but not limited to non-binding guidelines on sustainable green growth policy reform.

Project Overseers

Joey is an Assistant Director in the International Trade Cluster division of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore. As part of the Multilateral Trade Policy team, she represents and safeguards Singapore’s trade and economic policy at international fora, including APEC.

Cost Efficiency

Not Applicable.

Drawdown Timetable

Not Applicable.

Direct Labour

Not Applicable.

Waivers

Not Applicable.

Are there any supporting document attached?

Yes 
Attachments
Version: 3.0 
Created at 02/02/2025 00:03  by Lucy Phua 
Last modified at 21/03/2025 14:30  by Lucy Phua 
Version HistoryVersion History

Project No.

Project Title

Project Status

Publication (if any)

Fund Account

Sub-fund

Project Year

Project Session

APEC Funding

Co-funding Amount

Total Project Value

Sponsoring Forum

Topics

Committee

Other Fora Involved

Other Non-APEC Stakeholders Involved

Proposing Economy(ies)

Co-Sponsoring Economies

Expected Start Date

Expected Completion Date

Project Proponent Name 1

Job Title 1

Organization 1

Postal Address 1

Telephone 1

Fax 1

Email 1

Project Proponent Name 2

Job Title 2

Organization 2

Postal Address 2

Telephone 2

Fax 2

Email 2

Declaration

Project Summary

Relevance

Objectives

Alignment

TILF/ASF Justification

Beneficiaries and Outputs

Dissemination

Gender

Work Plan

Risks

Monitoring and Evaluation

Linkages

Sustainability

Project Overseers

Cost Efficiency

Drawdown Timetable

Direct Labour

Waivers

Are there any supporting document attached?

hdFldAdmin

Project Number

Previous Fora

Secretariat Comments

Reprogramming Notes

Consolidated QAF

Endorsement By Fora

PD Sign Off

Batch

Forum Priority

Committee Ranking Category

Committee Priority

PDM Priority

Priority Within Funding Category

Monitoring Report Received

Completion Report Received

PMU Field 1

PMU Field 2

PMU Field 3

On Behalf Of

Proposal Status

Originating Sub-Forum

Approval Status
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