How Emerging Economies will Green the World; and The Global South Agenda for a Sustainable World
Geneva, 29-30 November and 1 December 2011 Rooms XXIV and XVII Palais des Nations
Geneva, 22 November 2011 - UNCTAD and the EnergyPact Foundation will jointly host a Conference at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from 29 November to 30 November on How emerging economies will green the world, followed by a special session on 1 December 2011 on The Global South Agenda for a Sustainable World. This special session is being held in the context of the 50 th anniversary of the Non Aligned Movement.
With the Rio+20 conference just months away, this conference provides a timely opportunity to reflect on some of the key issues that will need to be addressed, in particular, the major challenge of reducing pressure on the environment while also advancing social development.
The lead in building a more sustainable and inclusive world must still come from the advanced countries. However, even if these countries begin to match their words with deeds, their efforts, by themselves, are no longer likely to be sufficient to address pressing environmental challenges such as warming global temperatures. The focus of the conference will be on the Global South - on the urgent issues, the innovations taking place and the dynamics of South-South cooperation. The aim is to build support for a sustainable agenda that yields benefits for the environment and the economy and for developing and developed countries. A key theme will be the interaction between energy, environment and development.
If the idea of a greener economy is to play a more significant role it must be able to support development strategies that are energy efficient, low carbon and high growth. A successful transition to a green economy will not be automatic and will require national policies and international cooperation. Governments need to set the agenda. Clear policies and incentives can stimulate public and private sector engagement in transformative sectors such as renewable energy. Many developing countries have established a strategy for greening the economy and have seen innovative approaches across different sectors. Each innovation acts as a building block towards a more sustainable future.
Reconciling national economic development objectives with the global impact of pressure on the environment can only be achieved through cooperation which in turn requires dialogue. Strengthening of partnerships between South-South and South-North are vital. The Conference will bring together participants from across the South, with speakers from governments, international organizations, business and financial communities, civil society and academia to share experiences, lessons and concerns.
The conference will start at 2pm on the 29th November with a high-level panel on the role of nuclear energy in the transition to a green economy. This will be followed by the launch of UNCTAD´s Trade and Innovation Report at 4.15pm. The theme of this year´s report is Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs). Energy is central to both development and climate change and there is an urgent need to develop new approaches - but this will need government support. RETs provide an important means of increasing energy access and potential employment.
The debates on the 30th November will focus on emerging economies in the transition to the green economy. These economies can play a pivotal role in addressing climate change. Many have already established strong growth trajectories and their consumption levels and carbon emissions are increasing. But these countries have also have developed many initiatives to combat climate change through the private sector and the state. This day of the conference will include sessions on the challenges raised by growing urbanization; the role of the state and the private sector in shaping incentives and promoting investment in a low-carbon economy; and international efforts to coordinate collective responses to the challenges of sustainable development.
The special session, on December 1, convened to mark 50 years of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), will examine the way in which the challenges of climate change can be met in a sustainable manner with particular attention to the dynamics of South-South cooperation. The world has changed greatly since the formation of NAM and countries face a different set of issues and threats. This day of the conference will focus on the changing role of South-South and South-North relationships - and in particular on the role of the BRICs and the extent to which they constitute a cohesive policy force. The debates will consider the role of the Global South in helping to steer the world to a more sustainable development path.
