ITCILO in South Africa for the 3rd PAGE Ministerial Conference on Advancing Inclusive and Sustainable Economies

ITCILO in South Africa for the 3rd PAGE Ministerial Conference on Advancing Inclusive and Sustainable Economies

The Partnership on Green Economy is organizing its 3rd International Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, on 10-11 January 2019, in collaboration with the Centre. Under the heading “Advancing Inclusive and Sustainable Economies”, the Conference will bring together some 500 delegates for a robust discussion on tools and strategies for shaping greener economies, with the aim of achieving the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

PAGE Ministerial Conference poster

Some of the featured speakers are Guy Ryder, Director General of the International Labour Organization, and Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General of Amnesty International, together with more than 10 ministers of environment, finance and industry from all over the world. South Africa’s environment minister, Nomvula Paula Mokonyane, is hosting the event.

The Conference will kick off the evening before with a televised debate on the topic of “What makes your country wealthy?” CNBC news anchor Nozipho Mbanjwa’s main question to leaders from politics, business and NGOs will be whether we have been getting “wealth” wrong all these years.

Through a series of parallel sessions with high-level speakers from South Africa and abroad, the  Conference will share the latest evidence and ideas on four key topics: 1) green finance, 2) strategies and policies for a green economy, 3) social and economic inclusion, and 4) sustainable consumption and production in the circular economy.

South Africa has been a pioneer in this field and the third PAGE Ministerial Conference will provide an opportunity for South Africa, together with other PAGE member states, to reinforce its commitment to transitioning to a green and sustainable economy.

Since 2013, the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) has grown into an increasingly prominent alliance of UN Agencies, international partner organizations and governments. The partnership is recognized as an innovative and efficient model of excellence for delivering on the 2030 Agenda. Drawing on the expertise of five UN Agencies – UN Environment, the International Labour Organization, the UN Development Programme, the UN Industrial Development Organization and the UN Institute for Training and Research – PAGE challenges business-as-usual growth and business models, and places sustainability at the heart of economic systems.