Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the International Labor Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme and the Ministry of Environment and Water will host tomorrow (March 3, 2014) the first Global Conference on Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) at the Conrad Hotel in Dubai. The gathering is taking place in collaboration with United Nations Industrial Development Organization and United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
The conference will witness the participation of 50 ministers and international representatives from the environment, labor and industry sectors and economic experts. Other participants will include delegates from Switzerland, Finland, South Korea, Norway, Mexico, and Mongolia, among others, as well as directors of several international organizations, 500 representatives from UN, the private sector, universities, research centers, and regional organizations. The conference will review the international practices regarding green economy and successful practices and policies to widen the scope of ‘Partnership for Action on Green Economy’ initiative. It will also look into the progress of green economy initiative and highlight its social, economic and ecologic benefits. It will also present the initial activities and programs concerning the ‘Partnership for Action on Green Economy’ initiative in some countries as well as future possibilities, investment opportunities and transfer of relevant technologies.
H.E. Dr. Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, said: "UAE’s hosting of PAGE forms part of our commitment to support global efforts towards the attainment of the event’s goals. It also highlights our determination to adopt the green economy to promote sustainable development in response to UAE Vision 2021. We would also like to demonstrate the pioneering role of the country in terms of attaining sustainable development.”
The UAE has made concrete steps to attain sustainable development – one of which is the active participation in global efforts to seek innovative solutions geared towards environmental protection and sustainability. This is in response to UAE Vision 2021 and the directive of H.H Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, to integrate green efforts into the national development agenda.
PAGE provides a platform for participants to evaluate the best practices and the existing methods to boost the green economy initiative through interactive sessions in which countries will share their strategies and highlight the role of key global organizations to achieve these policies.
The conference will also underscore the significance of green economy in today’s setting as well as the best practices being observed by countries to achieve this goal. Specifically, it will highlight policies, investment and trade opportunities, technology transfer, job opportunities and relevant capacity building efforts, innovations, and social transformation.