UN conference on sustainable growth in Cape Town: Environmental protection as driver for employment and development

Today, the third conference of the UN Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) started in Cape Town. Parliamentary State Secretary Rita Scharzelühr-Sutter attended the conference on behalf of the Federal Environment Ministry. High-ranking representatives from politics, industry, the public, science and UN organisations discussed how to further accelerate the transition to environmentally sound and just economic practices. In her speech at the opening of the conference, Ms Schwarzelühr-Sutter called on the international community to increase efforts for implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

She said: "We only have 12 more years to fulfil the goals that we set ourselves with the 2030 Agenda. Environmental protection has to promote employment and development to an even greater degree, especially in industrialising countries such as South Africa. Decision-makers and industry have to make the right investment decisions for the future today." 

In addition to UN Environment and the UN Development Programme, the ILO is also a PAGE partner. The Partnership demonstrates how to work towards sustainable economies across sectoral and national borders. At the fringes of the UN conference in Cape Town, Ms Schwarzelühr-Sutter and ILO Director-General Guy Ryder agreed on intensifying cooperation on green jobs and a just transition. 

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