The Global Green Growth Forum (3GF), initiated and hosted by the Danish government, positions public-private partnership on the international agenda for green growth.
UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon (Photo: Business Wire)
"3GF offers a space for world economic leaders to challenge conventional thinking and find new green avenues to growth. Jointly we can promote the bold decisions which will make all of us winners of tomorrow´s green industrial revolution," says newly elected Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt.
The Forum´s inaugural event was attended by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Kenya, Raila Odinga, 12 Ministers and deputy Ministers, five leaders of UN organizations, 50 global corporate leaders, leading civil society organizations and world leading experts. The 200 participants came from 27 countries across five continents.
In his keynote speech Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the importance of public-private collaboration, "The green growth agenda can help drive the advancement of sustainable development for the twenty-first century. It is good business "´ good politics "´ and good for society."
This point was further emphasized by Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Villy Søvndal, "The transition to a green economy will not happen without strong determination on our part. And most importantly, it will not be possible unless governments and the private sector go hand in hand".
Energy, transport, trade and finance, key elements of a green industrial revolution, were the focus of the two days. Concrete public-private partnerships were brought to the table, explored and advanced with participants committing to translate insights gained into their own activities going forward. Specific public-private actions were scoped or launched during the Forum in the following areas:
- Sustainable biofuels for civil aviation
- Green international trade
- Global green public procurement
- Energy efficiency and renewable energy
Several initiatives will be progressed in international policy processes going forward, including those in energy efficiency, renewable energy and finance leading to the next Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) in London, April 2012. The founding government partners, Denmark, Korea and Mexico, committed to support public-private interaction in the next G20 summit hosted by Mexico, and Rio+20 in Brazil.
3GF has been developed in association with the Global Green Growth Institute and was formed as a public-private partnership with a number of businesses and international organizations. Progress of 3GF initiatives discussed and advanced this year will be revisited next year, when the second Global Green Forum will be held in Denmark on 9-10 October 2012.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Information on Global Green Growth Forum is available at www.globalgreengrowthforum.dk.
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