CAPE TOWN, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The South African government will advance the agenda of inclusive growth, a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy not only in the country but also on the African continent, Minister of Environmental Affairs Nomvula Mokonyane said on Wednesday.
Mokonyane was speaking as she announced the government's plan to host the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) Conference, scheduled for January 10-11 next year in Cape Town.
The PAGE Conference supports countries and regions to put sustainability at the heart of economic policies and practices to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
"Hosting the PAGE Conference will advance the agenda of inclusive growth, and the adoption of a low-carbon and climate resilient economy, domestically and on the African continent," said Mokonyane.
She said the PAGE program aims to further strengthen the cooperation, coordination and capabilities required to implement South Africa's transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient and pro-employment development path.
The 3rd PAGE Ministerial Conference, under the theme Advancing Inclusive and Sustainable Economies, follows two successful conferences which were held in Dubai in 2014 and Berlin in 2017 respectively.
PAGE was launched in 2013 as a response to the call at Rio+20 to support those countries wishing to embark on greener and more inclusive growth trajectories.
The platform brings together five United Nations (UN) agencies -- UN Environment, International Labor Organization, UN Development Program, 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.
Mokonyane said the 3rd PAGE Ministerial Conference will provide an opportunity for member states to reinforce the commitment to transition to a green and sustainable economy, and to demonstrate implementation of the tools and strategies to accelerate, scale up and sustain the momentum on deepening green economy principles in socio-economic and environmental planning frameworks.
The minister said South Africa is working to adopt green economy strategies in line with its National Development Plan Vision 2030, which commits the country to an environmentally sustainable and equitable transition to a low-carbon economy.
The country, she said, is currently implementing programs to promote energy efficiency, green transport, sustainable housing and climate resilient agriculture.
