ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Policy makers and experts, who have gathered in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa as part of the Global Green Growth Week 2017, emphasized the need to unlock Africa's green growth potential.
The Global Green Growth Week 2017, underway in Ethiopia's capital under the theme "Unlocking Africa's Green Growth Potential," has brought together over 500 ministers, investors and decision makers, among others to catalyze creative solutions for transformational green growth in the African continent.
The four-day event, starting from Tuesday, particularly revolved around achieving nationally determined contributions to the Paris Agreement and making progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Participants of the event have discussed on various issues that include mobilizing green/climate finance to bankable projects in developing countries; sustainably managing resources to address water and food security challenges; and developing and adopting policies that drive environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive economic growth are agendas of the meeting.
Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia, emphasized Ethiopia's strong and long-standing support and advocacy for the green growth agenda in line with tackling the threats of climate change.
Mekonnen, who stressed Ethiopia's strong support and endorsing the issues of Global Green Growth as the mainstream policy, said that poverty is the major factor that entails adverse situations to the integrity and well-being of environment.
Mekonnen further called upon the international community to enhance their efforts in realizing green development in the African continent.
Abdalla Hamdok, Deputy Executive Secretary for ECA, also asserted that Africa needs transformational leadership inside and good partnership at the international level for the realization of the green economy approach.
Hamdok also urged the global community to re-calibrate their policies along the lines of the newly endorsed initiatives for green economy.
Gemedo Dalle, Ethiopian Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, also indicated the green growth idea as an avenue to promote economic growth and development while ensuring natural assets serve the wellbeing of mankind.
Organized by the Ethiopian Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in partnership with the Global Green Growth Institute, the Global Green Growth Week has proposed over 15 unique sessions and meetings to highlight success stories of global and African green growth interventions, policies and strategies.
Ethiopia's ambitious green economy strategy initiative, Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE), which was launched back in 2011 as part of the country's aspiration to realize a climate-resilient low carbon emission middle-income economy by 2025, was said to be an example for the global community.
The sessions also include Africa's green energy challenges and off-grid renewable energy solutions, green strategies and success stories in Africa.
