The MHREC volunteer team met in the last weeks for interactive sessions to discuss and learn more about climate change. Before the workshops, each volunteer had completed a United Nations e-course on different issues related to climate change. The volunteers were given the opportunity to discuss and explain what they had learned from their individual courses, as well as to reveal a summary to the other volunteers.
One of our volunteers, Hari followed the “How to prevent e-waste” course. Hari shared that he learnt that to prevent e-waste, consider extending the lifespan of your devices by opting for repairs or upgrades instead of immediate replacements. Donate or sell old electronics in working condition, giving them a second life. Engage in responsible recycling through designated e-waste collection centers or programs to ensure proper disposal and extraction of reusable materials. Encourage conscious consumption by making informed choices when purchasing new gadgets, considering their longevity, recyclability, and eco-friendly certifications.
The e-course on e-waste management was eye-opening in highlighting the staggering impact of electronic waste on the environment and the urgent need for sustainable practices. The statistics on the exponential growth of discarded electronics and their environmental repercussions left a lasting impression, emphasizing the importance of collective action towards responsible disposal and mindful consumption habits.
Another volunteer, Rachel followed the course “Introduction to Green Economy“. Rachel learnt that the pursuit of an Inclusive Green Economy (IGE) involves utilising indicators to gauge social, economic, and environmental aspects. It addresses persistent poverty, overstepped planetary boundaries, and inequality in the sharing of prosperity. The UN Environment Programme defines IGE as enhancing human well-being, promoting social equality, and reducing environmental risks. In order to achieve an IGE, it is important that the indicators, the framework, and the measurement used are selected carefully and according to the goals wants to achieve and the circumstances themselves.
Indicators are used to identify major issues, to formulate appropriate policy responses and assess potential impacts of policy and then to monitor actual impacts. The defined criteria can help practitioners make their own selection of indicators to suit context, goals, time and budget. Conceptual frameworks are logical structures through which indicators are developed, selected, grouped and/or communicated, they explain the key factors, concepts or variables shaping the system under study.
The Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP) framework is an issue-based indicator framework is particularly appropriate for IGE policymaking. Measurement of indicators of an Inclusive Green Economy can be categorized in four different ways: (i) dashboards, (ii) composite indicators, (iii) footprints and (iv) adjusted economic indicators, with all approaches having different strengths and weaknesses.
The thing that stuck Rachel the most about this ecourse was the close link between sustainable development and the concept of an Inclusive Green Economy which is highlighted through the SDG framework.
MHREC 
You must be logged in to post a comment.