Global Green Growth Knowledge Platform Launches Its Geneva Office
Bern, 22.01.2014 - The Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP) was created to close knowledge gaps in green growth strategies and practice to help countries implement green growth policy. The Geneva office of the GGKP officially opened its doors on 22 January 2014.
The green economy has been on the global agenda ever since the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development in June 2012. Many governments are taking political measures to support the transition of their economies into green economies. Only national economies that efficiently use our planet's limited natural resources and pursue green growth will be stable, effective and competitive in the long term.
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the World Bank and the Global Green Growth Institute created the Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP) in 2012 so that required green growth knowledge and suitable policies could be shared and applied by different countries. The platform is able to collect and process theoretical knowledge and practical experience and make it available to interested countries. In this way, the platform can assist governments in implementing green economic policies.
At the official GGKP office launch on 22 January 2014 in Geneva, Bruno Oberle, Director of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), emphasized how important it is to develop a green economy at both the national and international levels. "We are convinced that the new platform will help build a solid knowledge base for a green economy". Various actors may need the platform not only to coordinate and communicate with each other, but also to identify and utilise potential synergies.
Switzerland is involved in creating a resource-efficient economy at both the national and international levels. It intends to conserve natural resources and develop the economy in line with this goal. The knowledge platform recognizes its involvement and chose Geneva as the location for its office, which will aid Switzerland in its dialogue with other countries on developing economic and conservation policies that enable the sustainable use of natural resources. Its location will also allow close cooperation with the agencies of the UN Environment Programme, which is responsible for the green economy, among other issues. Finally, it will make it possible to utilise synergies with other relevant institutions in Geneva (WTO, WEF, WMO, WWF, WBCSD) and Switzerland's many educational institutions. Through UNEP, Switzerland supports the activities of the GGKP office with approximately CHF 1.4 million (FOEN). Switzerland also provides CHF 284,000 in co-financing for the office facilities (FDFA/DP).Address for enquiries
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Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
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Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
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