South African Green Economy Summit formulates draft statement of conclusion

South Africa’s Green Economy Summit, which took place from 18 to 20 May 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa (SA), has formulated a draft statement of conclusion focusing on the development of a job intensive green economy in SA and a resolution to cooperation on cross cutting issues. Convened under the overarching theme, "Towards a resource-efficient, low-carbon and pro-employment growth path”, the summit intended to, amongst other things, engage various stakeholders on the development of a green economy plan.

The Summit was hosted by the Departments of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs, Science and Technology as well as Trade and Industry, with over 500 participants from government, business, non-governmental organizations and the environmental sector in attendance. Ministerial addresses on the opening day of the Summit were delivered by the Ministers of each of the aforementioned hosting Departments, including the Minister of Public Works. President Jacob Zuma also delivered a key note address as part of the opening day proceedings.

The draft statement of conclusion, which was discussed on the closing day of the Summit, committed government, business, civil society and non-governmental organisations to ensuring that the country’s growth path was resource efficient, far less carbon intensive and more labour absorbing. The draft statement acknowledged that the global threat of climate change and national and international sustainability required green industries to be developed, recognising that countries globally were supporting the development of such industries for positive employment outcomes. The statement also acknowledges the role of Local Government in the green economy as ideally placed to implement green economy interventions. It recognises the importance of communication, education and regulation which will be necessary to ensure local level green growth and job creation.

ICLEI Africa participated in a Local Government focused pre-event of the Summit, which prepared a Local Government statement that was fed into the main Summit.  ICLEI Africa also hosted an exhibition, focused on its Energy and Climate Change work, in the dedicated exhibition area of the event.

The opening ceremony of the SA Green Economy Summit (18 May) was briefly linked, via live video message from Achim Steiner (UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director), to the  Rio+20 Preparatory Committee meeting that took place at the UN Headquarters in New York. The preview findings  of the UNEP Green Economy Report was presented at the UN Headquarters as contribution to these preparatory meetings in New York. UNEP launched its Green Economy Initiative at the height of the global financial and economic crisis in late 2008 in order to assess how sectors – such as renewable energies, clean and efficient technologies, water services and sustainable fisheries – could contribute to economic growth, creation of decent jobs, social equity and poverty reduction, while addressing climate risk and other ecological challenges.  For more see www.unep.org/greeneconomy

Draft state of conclusion

http://www.environment.gov.za/NewsMedia/MedStat/2010May20/FINALdraftgreensummit.pdf