National Consultation on Green Economy 18th - 19th May 2012

Report

The National Consultation aimed not only at reviewing the global discourse on green economy and ongoing negotiations on the outcome of the Rio+20 Summit but also examining the relevance of this concept to Pakistan. Moreover, the objective of the National Consultation was to review the potential roles and contributions of key stakeholders to promote Green economy in Pakistan.

Over 100 stakeholders participated to the consultation, among them members of parliament, high level officials of the federal and provincial governments, relevant federal statutory bodies, the private sector, policy and technical experts, the academic community, UN agencies and programmes, and civil society representatives. Some of the prominent speakers who held presentations and shared their views during interactive sessions, included: HE Mr. Alfredo Leoni (Ambassador of Brazil), HE, Mr Choog Joo Choi (Ambassador Republic of Korea), Dr. Tariq Banuri (Former Chief, DSD (UNDESA), HE Ambassador Shafqat Kakakhel, Mr. Farrukh Iqbal Khan (Pak Mission, New York), Mr. Sheng Fulai (Chief, Research and Partnership Unit, UNEP), Dr Hussein Abaza (Former Chief Economist, UNEP), Mr. Timo Pakkala (UN Resident Coordinator), Toshihiro Tanaka (Country Director UNDP), Mr. Jemal Ahmed (Country Director, ActionAid, Pakistan)Mr. Malik Amin Aslam (Former Minister of State), Dr Adil Najam (VC, LUMS), Ms Faryal Gohar (Activist) and Mr. Zafar Iqbal Qadir (Chairman, NDMA, Acting Secretary).

On the first day of the National Consultation, after having introduced the concept of Green Economy, its evolution and the current state of negotiations in the prospect of Rio +20 Summit, the delegates discussed the implications of Green Economy specifically for developing countries and for the region Asia/ South-Asia.

The second day focused on Green Economy and Pakistan, thematic wise tackling subjects as economic growth, food and nutritional security, energy, urban challenges and youth. These sessions were followed by an interactive dialogue about Green Economy with private sector representatives and a presentation of the institutional framework for Green Economy in Pakistan.

As an outcome, several recommendations addressing the implementation of a Green Economy both at national and international levels have been issued. Even though the participants could not agree on a common definition of Green Economy, the recommendations are quite substantial and precise on topics as for example economic prosperity, livelihoods, business, sustainable development policies, energy, rural economy. A summary and recommendations of the consultation were later shared and approved during an inter-ministerial meeting of Government of the Pakistan. Munawar Saeed Bhatti of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vice-President of the Bureau Rio+20 hopes that these are helpful to understand the Pakistani positions – taken by both the Government and the civil society - in Rio+20 Summit.

Concept Note

Agenda

Summary and Recommendations:

Press Release

Media coverage:

The consultations have been live-streamed by SD-TV and reported in several newspapers.

Roadmap to green economy should be based on national priorities 

Sustainable uplift & poverty reduction strategy stressed 

National consultation on green economy concludes 

It is time to revisit policies according to ‘green economy’ concept

Government urged to develop consensus on Green Economy

For a green economy: Experts stress on equal gender participation, renewable energy

Seminar for UN Summit: experts review steps for green economy

Dialogue on green economy: speakers call for broad-based counter-poverty strategy

Pakistan needs to re-orient its economy on green discourse: experts

Time has come to revisit policies and rethink discourse according to green economy concept

Our economy need the rub of the green

Earthly matters: the green economy factor print