In order to raise regional awareness and engagement on the green economy, the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), together with the UN and other strategic partners, has launched Regional Ministerial Conferences to discuss the issue. The events are divided into five regions: Asia-Pacific; Africa; Americas; Middle East and North Africa; and Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
The conferences seek to identify possibilities for dissemination and adoption of new clean and green technologies. This action takes place within the South-South and Triangular Cooperation, and also in accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda for 2030. In addition, it is also intended to analyze what prevents the eco-innovation of the regions, including lack or limited access to relevant green financial instruments.
The conferences have three main areas of focus: improving regulatory and policy frameworks for green economy; promoting innovative green investments through public-private partnerships; and increase the capacity of each country to development of holistic green actions.
With these events, WGEO hopes to explore the opportunities that exist today to achieve an impactful and perceptible transition to the green economy. The Regional Ministerial Conferences will focus on practical measures that countries can take to initiate and facilitate this transition.
The host cities
The Regional Ministerial Conferences on Green Economy 2019 have already begun in Bangkok, Thailand, which received the Asia-Pacific ministers and authorities from 10-12 June. The meeting sought to promote applicable green economy solutions based on evidence and discussions among participants.
Following Bangkok, Cairo, Egypt, will receive the representatives of the African continent to discuss the issue between June 17 and 19 and Fortaleza, in Brazil, will host the Americas’ conference from June 24 to 26.
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The city of Manama, in Bahrain, will host the Regional Ministerial Conference of the Middle East and North Africa from 2 to 4 July. The closing of the meetings will be in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, which will receive the authorities of Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States.
Following the five meetings, the discussions and solutions presented at the Regional Ministerial Conferences will be used to expand the discussions at the World Green Economy Summit (WGES), which will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, between the 20th and October 21st.
+ The Brazil Africa Institute is one of the supporters of the Regional Ministerial Conference of the Americas
Green economy
The transition to a green economy model requires a policy framework that draws the general economic activity to the green sectors, creating investment opportunities and business development. Creating such a conducive environment can include a number of elements, such as involving national legislative structures, creating policies, tax incentives and subsidies, as well as simplifying access to international markets and technical assistance.
Technological innovation, another important aspect, is at the heart of the transition to a green economy: it is because of recent advances in clean technology that the whole idea of a greener economy has been possible. In this way, additional technological innovations will be directly related to the speed and quality with which our conventional societies will become greener societies.
A key feature of all green financial instruments is that they enable lending / investment taking into account environmental sustainability criteria. While green funding comprises a number of financial instruments such as public funds, venture capital and angel investors, project finance, capital, debt, pension funds and green infrastructure bonds, the transition to a greener economy requires the investment of resources significant investments in green sectors.