BIAC hosts International Green Economy Dialogue Conference
Paris, 14 November 2011 – BIAC welcomed close to
100 experts from business, governments, OECD, UNEP and key academics
to an International Business Green Economies Dialogue conference at
the OECD Headquarters. The Paris conference was organised as the
second part of a business-led series of discussions in North
America, Europe, Asia and South America, in the run up to the Rio+20
Earth Summit in June 2012. The first conference took place in
Washington in October, and two further conferences will be organized
during the first half of 2012, one in Japan and one in Brazil, with
the active participation of BIAC.
The objective of the Green Economy Dialogues is to promote a
productive approach to greener growth with due recognition for both
opportunities and challenges. It is also intended to increase
dialogue with governments in the run-up to Rio+20, and to share
business views. In addition, the project involves commissioning a
number of peer-reviewed, academic papers on various aspects of green
growth and green economy to inform the debate leading up to Rio +
20 and going forward after the event.
 The Paris conference drew on the work on green growth carried out by
the OECD and actively engaged representatives from different parts
of the Organisation in the discussions. Specific sessions focused on
green growth for development and job creation; policy instruments;
energy; and resource efficiency. Sessions were introduced by
presentations of key academics, followed by reactions from experts
from business, national governments and international organisations
as well as an interactive discussion with all participants around
the table.
Among others, it was highlighted that green growth policies should
consider how to maximize growth across the economy, which underlines
the need for credible and sustained public policies so that the
necessary investments come forward. While there is a wealth of
information on climate change, participants underlined that
resource efficiency deserves increased attention in the context of
greener growth. Integrated policy approaches to address interrelated
challenges will require specific attention in the Rio+20
discussions. Many governments highlighted the importance of
cooperation with the private sector, which underlines the importance
of flexible bottom-up approaches and partnerships as part of the way
forward. 
Additional materials can be found at the Green Economies Dialogue
website
www.green-dialogue.org. For further information, please contact
Hanni Rosenbaum at the BIAC Secretariat.
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