Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) has its board meeting in Durban (December 5)

Durban, South Africa - Monday, December 5th 2011 [ME NewsWire]

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) held its 8th Board of Directors Meeting on the sidelines of the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to theUnited Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) in Durban on December 5, 2011. The GGGI Board of Directors has selected two new board members: Kevin Rudd, Foreign Minister of Australia and Christian Friis Bach, Minister for Development Cooperation of Denmark to initiate greater cooperation around the world on developing green growth policies.

The meeting was attended by former Prime Minister of Korea and GGGI Board Chairman Han Seung-soo; the UAE Special Envoy for Energy and Climate Change and Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber; Minister Trevor Manuel in the Presidency for the National Planning Commission of South Africa as well as various other influential leaders who specialize in green growth and climate change.

The Board of Directors reviewed GGGI’s 2011 activities and discussed the 2012 work program. One of the main topics of focus was GGGI’s transition into an international organization. To assist on this matter, the Board established three Subcommittees to help with GGGI's human resources, auditing, and finance processes.

GGGI Board Chairman Han Seung-soo said, "GGGI has made strong advances in a short period, engaging a diverse group of countries, organizations, and institutions to drive this new growth model. The opening of our offices in Abu Dhabi and Copenhagen, and the intensification of our policy advisory and capacity-building work, give GGGI new reach and momentum for 2012 – and also demonstrates the seriousness with which the world views green growth”.

Dr. Al Jaber said, “GGGI is proving itself to be an organization that goes beyond articulation of the business case for green growth to concrete implementation in participating governments. We have today already seen reform processes launched under GGGI on three continents, and next year will see both a deepening and expansion. In the UAE, for instance, we are launching sectoral taskforces with GGGI to identify the right policies and growth approaches for our major industries. This work will build the expertise and credibility of the organization as it carries the green growth message to more countries.”

GGGI also held a Side Event at COP 17 in Durban on December 5, 2011. Some of the key agenda items that were discussed during the Side Event included emphasizing awareness of green growth approaches to tackle climate change without jeopardizing economic growth in developing countriesand sharing GGGI’s vision to become an international organization in 2012. Additionally, there was a discussion on green growth plans and experiences in GGGI’s partner countries. GGGI had the privilege of inviting senior officials from Brazil, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Republic of Korea to share their unique and powerful stories about the green growth initiatives that are being undertaken in their respective nations.

GGGI believes that developed and developing countries should explore green growth opportunities that could reform economic development and growth. Green growth could potentially provide new economic growth methods designed to help the global economy from financial crises and boost job creation in the future.

GGGI is dedicated to pioneering and disseminating a new paradigm of economic growth: green growth. The Institute is an international organization driven by emerging and developing countries. Headquartered in Seoul, GGGI opened its Abu Dhabi regional office in July 2011. GGGI has also received financial support and encouragement from Australia, Denmark, Japan, Germany and the UAE.

GGGI works in close partnership and cooperation with the UAE to promote a green growth approach in government and private sector planning. The GGGI Abu Dhabi Office also works closely with the National Climate Change Committee, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology and the International Renewable Energy Agency to strengthen existing economic and environmental initiatives, particularly around customized low-carbon growth models for oil-rich and non-Annex 1 countries.

Additionally, the GGGI Abu Dhabi Office is intended to serve as a regional hub in tackling issues such as climate change and economic development throughout the MENA region.

Contacts

UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Shaima Alaydarous, +97124931502

sh.alaydarous@mofa.gov.ae