The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) was in the margins of the UN General Assembly recognised as a mechanism needed to support fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

During the meeting, which was organised by UNEP together with UNDP and the Government of Germany, some new countries expressed an interest in receiving support from the PAGE programme.

Investments and policy moves needed for the shift to a Green Economy were explored by a high-level panel during the event. The panel included UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner, UNDP Assistant Administrator Magdy Martínez-Solimán, Edna Molewa, Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, South Africa; the Norwegian Minister Climate and Environment Tine Sundtoft and Klaus Rudischhauser, Deputy Director General at the European Commission’s DG Development and Cooperation.

“The big challenge is to achieve, as quickly as possible, the paradigm shift to an economic development that finally respects the ecological boundaries of our planet and at the same time eliminates poverty and hunger,” said Barbara Hendricks, the German Minister for Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety.

As well as PAGE, the Poverty-Environment initiative run by UNEP and UNDP was recognised as a tool for ensuring that policy making promotes macroeconomic reform and collaboration among different sectors.

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner also launched a synthesis report titled ‘Uncovering pathways towards an inclusive Green Economy: a summary for leaders,’ building on UNEP’s work on the topic so far.

For more details please write to chiara.moroni@unep.org