Minister Henry attends World Green Economy Summit 2019
Ministry of Education, October 25, 2019 – Dr. the Hon. Nicolette Henry, Minister of Education has returned from Dubai, United Arab Emirates where she attended and was a speaker at the World Green Economy Summit 2019 and the Global Ministerial Conference on Green Economy from October 20-21.
The summit, held under the theme ‘Innovative Technologies for a Sustainable Economy’ brought together many prominent speakers from across the globe, in addition to dignitaries and representatives from government organisations, academics, experts and the media.
The 6th World Green Economy Summit, WGES, was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
Minister Henry was one of a group of five (5) High-Level panellists, representing each region where she epitomised Latin America and the Caribbean.
Each panellist spoke on the regional trends and demands from the countries and regions in advancing the green economy. In this context, they addressed how they can build on the global outreach of the World Green Economy Organization through the series of regional high-level events aimed at mainstreaming the green economy notion in policies and practice.
Minister Henry’s intervention focused on human resource at the National-Level, Capacity Development and Green Skills for Green Action and Sustainable Development.
At the summit’s conclusion, Minister Henry was among a list of three ministers who were duly awarded for their contribution to the 2019 World Green Economy Summit.
According to the Emirate News Agency, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, DEWA, and Chairman of WGES honoured Fatma Zouhra Zerouati, Minister of Environment and Renewable Energy, Algeria; Dr. Nicolette Odella Henry, Minister of Education, Guyana; Jonathan Young, Chairperson, Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee, Parliament, New Zealand and Karol Galek, Chair of Commission on Technological Development and Innovation National Council, Slovak Republic. Moreover, WGEO Executive Training Certificates were also distributed.
The World Green Economy Summit (WGES) is one of the largest and most anticipated forums on the green economy, bringing together thousands of decision-makers from the public and private sectors from around the world.
Held in Dubai, the annual event serves as a strategic meeting point to establish dialogue, activate partnerships and exchange experiences.
Now in its sixth year, WGES invited policymakers, government officials, international business leaders and world-renowned experts to discuss strategies that can advance sustainability and promote green investments.
More than 9,500 companies have joined UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, voluntarily pledging to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies and to report on their implementation. This is up from 8,000 companies in 2018.
As the figures show, sustainability is garnering more attention than at any point in history. With the decline of natural resources and the rise in social responsibility, consumers are increasingly demanding ethically sourced and environmentally friendly goods. As governments enforce energy and resource efficiency policies, sustainable business practices will have a competitive advantage in the years to come, and with most consumers willing to pay more for sustainable products as several surveys have shown, a green economy is the only viable way forward.
The continued debate around the green economy is crucial to determining what kind of actions governments, businesses, and communities should take to achieve the SDGs by 2030. WGES used the forum to drive such dialogue amongst industry stakeholders, encouraged international partnerships and showcased innovative solutions that could be applied across different markets.
Led by a diverse line-up of high-profile speakers, WGES 2019 explored three key themes: Towards Sustainable Development, International Cooperation Towards a Green Economy System and Adoption of Green Innovative Solutions. The sixth edition took place at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre on October 20-21st, 2019.
WGES is organised by the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority and World Green Economy Organisation and is held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President Prime Minister of UAE and The Ruler of Dubai, in cooperation with Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The Summit also highlighted the importance of international cooperation in addressing global challenges and promoting sustainable development worldwide. The establishment of the Regional Cooperation Centre, RCC, for Middle East and North Africa, as well as hosting of Regional Ministerial Conferences by World Green Economy Organisation, WGEO, on Green Economy to enhance cooperation between the countries of the world is a testament of global efforts to march towards a sustainable future.