G20 looks at green economy and disaster risk reduction
Sergio Abranches
G20′s Finance ministers and Central Bank governors met last week, February 25-26 in Mexico City to discuss global economic troubles. In their communiqué they have conceded a few words to the green economy, and to disaster risk management. Should we see it as a sign that there is hope they’ll someday get smarter?
The communiqué said that the world’s top economic officials recognize the importance of the green economy, and have asked the OECD, the World Bank and the United Nations to prepare a report that provides options for G20 countries on inserting green growth and sustainable development policies into structural reform agendas, tailored to specific country conditions and level of development.
They also said that they ”will continue to work on climate finance” and report to their Leaders in June.
Not much really, but at least the official economic discourse is progressively incorporating the notion that a transition to a green economy is a necessary and legitimate concern on the global economic agenda.The reference to the green economy is the 11th point of the 12 point communiqué.
“Recognizing the importance of “green growth” we ask the OECD, with the World Bank and the UN, to prepare a report that provides options for G20 countries on inserting green growth and sustainable development policies into structural reform agendas, tailored to specific country conditions and level of development. We will contribute to the preparation of the report by voluntarily informing on our actions to integrate green growth and sustainable development into structural reform agendas. We will continue to work on climate finance and report to our Leaders in June.”
The 12th point says that disaster risk management tools and strategies to better prevent disasters, protect populations and assets, and financially manage their economic impacts are valuable, and its use needs to be expanded.
“We recognize the value of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) tools and strategies to better prevent disasters, protect populations and assets, and financially manage their economic impacts. We also acknowledge the need to expand its use. To that end, we have asked the World Bank to prepare a compilation of country experiences and the OECD to recommend a framework that countries may use for the implementation of DRM strategies.”
Tags: Climate Change, disaster reduction, economy, G20, Global climate politics, global warming, green economy, sustainability