Press Release
- Two new GGKP tools linking experts and policymakers with green growth solutions
- Supported by the Governments of Germany and Switzerland and the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE)
- Launched as part of the PAGE Ministerial Conference in Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany, 27 March 2017 – In cooperation with the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), and the Governments of Switzerland and Germany, the Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP) launched two new virtual tools that create greater links and synergies between policymakers and the expert advice they need to transition to a green economy.
Over 300 individuals from governments, civil society, the private sector, development partners, media and the public met in Berlin to kick-off the second Ministerial Conference of the Partnership for Action on Green Economy, held from March 27-28. Co-hosted with the Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) of Germany, the conference focussed on ‘Inclusive and Sustainable Economies Powering the Sustainable Development Goals”.
"Switzerland welcomes the launch of these practical tools which strengthen the synergies in the field of green economy and enhance the actions of PAGE and the GGKP," said Marc Chardonnens, State Secretary for the Environment, Director of the Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland
“Countries need access to expert knowledge and successful examples of sustainable economic development. The Expert Connect allows policymakers to engage leading experts on their most pressing questions,” said Benjamin Simmons (Head, Green Growth Knowledge Platform).
The Green Growth Expert Connect online service allows policymakers direct access to consult with the world’s leading green economy policy experts. This service will provide rapid and tailored support for policymaking. Expert Connect will facilitate the matching of government requests with a technical expert ready to assist. The service will draw on the GGKP’s five thousand strong green growth community of practice to identify leading experts.
These experts will be available on a range of green economy topics, including fiscal reform, access to finance, indicators and metrics, ecosystem valuation, sustainable consumption and production, sustainable trade, and government procurement.
Expert Connect will be available at no cost to government agency representatives from developing countries and the technical institutes assisting them. The types of assistance offered by the experts will include: reviewing draft strategies, analysing policy options, sharing experiences from other countries, facilitating networking with peers and providing information on other programs.
The Green Growth Best Practices Database compliments Expert Connect by drawing together more than 150 case studies from the GGKP’s 55 Knowledge Partners. The database is continuously growing with regular contributions from GGKP partners. These case studies contain specific policies and practices that work to advance the green economy. The database focuses on the best examples of where and why green growth principles are working.
“The number one request we receive from governments is to provide them with concrete examples of green economy polices in action,” said Mr. Simmons.
The need for this type of database is supported by evidence from GGKP user surveys completed last year, showing that there is strong demand for these case studies.
The Green Growth Expert Connect service will be developed with, and hosted on, the Green Growth Knowledge Platform website. The Platform represents the largest global community of organisations and experts committed to collaboratively generating, managing, and sharing green growth knowledge and data.
The Best Practices Database can be accessed here: www.greengrowthknowledge.org/best-practices
NOTES TO EDITORS
About the Green Growth Knowledge Platform
The Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP) is a global partnership of international organisations and experts that identifies and addresses major knowledge gaps in green growth theory and practice. Founded by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) and the World Bank, the GGKP draws together over 55 partner organisations.
About the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE)
The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) seeks to put sustainability at the heart of economic policies and practices to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and support nations and regions in reframing economic policies and practices around sustainability to foster economic growth, create income and jobs, reduce poverty and inequality, and strengthen the ecological foundations of their economies. PAGE brings together five UN agencies – UN Environment, International Labour Organization, UN Development Programme, UN Industrial Development Organization, and UN Institute for Training and Research – whose mandates, expertise and networks combined can offer integrated and holistic support to countries on inclusive green economy, ensuring coherence and avoiding duplication.
For more information please contact:
- Benjamin Tyler Smith (Knowledge Management Officer, Green Growth Knowledge Platform): [email protected]
- Benjamin Simmons (Head, Green Growth Knowledge Platform): [email protected]