The Russian Federation has set as the objective of its 2013 Presidency of the Group of 20 (G20): developing a set of measures aimed at boosting sustainable, inclusive and balanced growth and jobs creation around the world.

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has released a report, titled 'Green Economy and Trade: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities,' which argues that an increase in trade in environmental goods and services and certified products can stimulate the transition to a green economy, while such a transition can create further opportunities for increased trade in such products and services. The report analyzes challenges to such a transition, in particular for developing countries that are endowed with abundant renewable resources, and provides suggestions to overcome them.

Participants at the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Biofuels Conference have assessed the Biofuels Screening Toolkit, which was developed to help ensure the sustainability of biofuels production, in recognition of the potential negative effects of biofuels production on the environment and on food security.

The European Commission adopted a green infrastructure strategy designed to: promote green infrastructure in the main policy areas; improve research and data, strengthen the knowledge base and promote innovative technologies; improve access to finance for green infrastructure projects; and support EU-level green infrastructure projects. The main policy areas include agriculture, forestry, nature, water, marine and fisheries, regional and cohesion policy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, transport, energy, disaster prevention and land use policies.

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are critical in creating smart sustainable cities and addressing climate change, according to participants at the Eighth International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Symposium on ICTs, the Environment and Climate Change. Participants adopted a “Turin Roadmap” that calls on ITU to promote smart technologies in cities and develop key performance indicators to assess ICTs impacts in cities and countries around the world. Participants also discussed, inter alia: climate change adaptation and mitigation; disaster preparedness; e-waste; and a transition to a green, resource efficient economy.

The World Bank's Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) has highlighted the Philippines as an example of a country committed to policy and institutional reform aimed at driving the country's energy transition, despite challenges.

Organized by the Financial Times and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), this event focuses on the role of the private sector in addressing climate change through opportunities in green energy, clean technology and water in the emerging Europe, Central Asia, Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) made a US$30 million equity investment in NSL Renewable Power Private Ltd. (NRPPL) for the construction of hydropower and wind power projects designed to generate 530 gigawatt-hours of electricity in India. The projects are expected to decrease carbon dioxide emissions by 400,000 tons per annum after 2017.

The UN Development Programme's (UNDP) Environment and Energy Group (EEG) released a report, titled ‘Towards Transformational Change: UNDP's Work in Environment and Sustainable Development 2008-2012.' The publication features a collection of stories from around the world in four strategic areas: mainstreaming environment and energy; mobilizing environmental finance; promoting adaptation to climate change; and expanding access to environmental and energy services for the poor.

During their 2013 annual meeting, the Trust Fund Committees and Sub-Committees of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) approved five revised Investment Plans for the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), and established a global index of the business environment for energy aiming to improve opportunities for investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy access under the Program for Scaling Up Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries (SREP).