Thursday, March 6, 2014

UAE will host conference on green economy

By The Gulf Today

To show its commitment to facilitating a global transformation to a green economy, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host the first global conference on the UN Partnership for Action on Green Economy (Page) from March 4-5.

PAGE is a joint initiative by Unep, ILO, Unido and Unitar to provide comprehensive assistance to countries seeking to develop and implement inclusive green economy strategies.

“I would like to thank the UAE for offering to host this important event,” said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and Unep Executive Director.

He said, “The conference provides an opportunity for more nations to consider how joining the PAGE initiative can assist in their transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient, employment-generating economy.”

The inaugural Page conference, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to support and promote the adoption of the Green Economy at the international level,” said Dr Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water.

At the national level, he added, the UAE Government is also advancing its green economy plans through Ministry of Environment and Water, which is developing a road map and policy recommendations for the UAE Green Growth Strategy announced on January 2012 under the slogan “Green Economy for Sustainable Development.”

In addition, the UAE, in close collaboration with the Page partners, has invited high-level government representatives and policymakers to take part in the meeting.

More than 50 ministers and 300 participants representing governments, the private sector, civil society and development agencies are expected to attend.

The conference will be an opportunity to review the progress on implementing the Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication following Rio+20, and also a chance to consider how greener economies can contribute to the emerging post-2015 development agenda and new global architecture for sustainability. Moreover, the conference will explore the context of the social benefits of transitioning to inclusive, environmentally friendly and resource-efficient green economies.

The Page partnership was launched earlier this year in response to country-led demand for support and training on how to implement green economy policies and best practices. The Rio+20 declaration, “The Future We Want”, also asked UN entities to support countries interested in making this transition by providing them with the tools and resources.

Drawing on the expertise of its various members, Page assists participating states to build enabling conditions by shifting investment and policies towards the creation of a new generation of assets, such as clean technologies, resource-efficient infrastructure, well-functioning ecosystems, green skilled labour and good governance.

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