The Government of Barbados has come in for high praises for its pioneering work as a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), in the areas of Sustainable Development and Green Economy.
These accolades were given by the host United Nations institutions and participants of the first Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) Academy, at a two-day high-level policy forum of the inaugural PAGE Academy, at the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Turin, Italy, earlier this month.
Speaking during a high-level panel discussion at the event under the theme: Building A Green Economy: Where Do We Stand?, Minister of the Environment and Drainage, Dr. Denis Lowe, pointed out that as a SIDS country, Barbados identified the green economy as one of its national development priorities.
He explained that Barbados??? success thus far was due in large part to a clear vision from Government, coupled with the support of the private sector and labour on the green economy.??But, he noted that the biggest hurdle to the transition to a green economy was the changing of behaviours.
However, he said Barbados found success in overcoming that hurdle by putting its most important resource at the centre of the green economy – its people.??And, he advised other countries thinking of taking a similar path that there would be challenges ahead, but that they should press on with their green economy plans.
The Minister was joined by delegates from the Government of Mauritius, the European Commission, the international Trade Union Confederation, and the Mauritian private sector.
The event was organised by the ILO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and attracted over 100 participants from developed and developing countries, the private sector, donors and the international community.
julia.rawlins-bentham@barbados.gov.bb