Four United Nations agencies have launched a partnership that will help countries develop national green economy strategies, Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE).
Over the next seven years, the goal is to support 30 countries in "turning the page" toward reliance on clean technologies, which will reduce environmental risks and poverty. They will start by helping seven countries in a pilot over the next two years.
"The ultimate intention is to achieve environmental sustainability, decent job creation, reduced poverty and improved human well being," they say.
The Partnership is an outgrowth of Rio+20, which took place last year. It resulted in the document, The Future We Want, which recognizes a green economy as a key vehicle for sustainable development and poverty eradication.
"This is yet another example of how UNEP with partners is implementing the outcomes of Rio+20. The Partnership for Action on Green Economy will work with countries to catalyze change at the national level, assisting them with targeted economic and policy instruments and training that will accelerate their green economy transition across sectors ranging from clean energy to sustainable agriculture," says Achim Steiner, UN Under Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director. "With the support of PAGE, developing countries in particular can put in place the policies needed to reap the economic and environmental benefits of an inclusive, resource-efficient, low-carbon pathway, and avoid the risks and shocks of carbon-intensive infrastructures."
The four UN agencies are the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
More specifically, PAGE will build enabling conditions in participating countries by shifting investment and policies towards the creation of a new generation of assets – clean technologies, resource efficient infrastructure, well-functioning ecosystems, green skilled labor and good governance.
"ILO estimates that at least half the global workforce – or 1.5 billion people – could be affected by the transition to a green economy," says Director-General Guy Ryder. "PAGE aims to embed the right policies and opportunities at the national level as countries move forward with their inclusive green economy plans, and thus ensure this transition creates more and better jobs and benefits all of society."
"Promoting new green industries, and helping existing industries become more resource-efficient, will be a key focus of the partnership," says Kandeh Yumkella, Director General of UNIDO. "While business and industry should be aligned with national green economy efforts, governments need to set the parameters in order for business to thrive."
Here is PAGE’s website:
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