BOGOTA – February 01, 2017 – The President of Colombia, H.E. Juan Manual Santos, today launched an expert Green Growth Task Force to develop a national policy framework that combats deforestation and other environmental challenges by promoting sustainable economic development, environmental conservation and social inclusion.
Over 400 participants attended the roll-out of the Task Force, which includes high-level advisors, opinion leaders and experts, and is sponsored by international organizations such as the World Bank, the French Development Agency, KfW, and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).
According to recent studies, Colombian economic growth has led to the depletion of natural resources, such as forests, water and minerals, and has also caused environmental pollution. Further, productivity in Colombia has been limited by the inefficient use of natural resources.
The Task Force, under the guidance of the Colombian Government’s National Planning Department (DNP), will conduct approximately 10 technical studies on these issues focusing specifically on water and soil productivity, energy efficiency, circular economy, bioeconomics, forestry economics and labor productivity.
“Economic growth must not deplete our natural resources,” said Simón Gaviria Muñoz, Director of the DNP. “We must work toward preserving Colombia’s natural capital while at the same time generating climate compatible growth.”
The DNP is seeking to position Colombia as a green growth reference in Latin America by 2030 through the development of a Long-term Green Growth policy or road map. This Green Growth Task Force will contribute to policies that should be implemented to boost green growth in Colombia in the next 15 years.
“Colombia is eager to demonstrate the benefits of green growth and attract job-creating investments that help meet long-term objectives associated to sustainable development and climate change mitigation,” said Carolina Jaramillo, GGGI Country Representative in Colombia. “We are very encouraged to be a part an in-depth process that will lead Colombia to greater low-carbon, more sustainable and inclusive development in the coming decades.”
In 2016, GGGI conducted a Green Growth Potential Assessment study in partnership with the DNP and the United Nations Environment Programme, to identify the scope of work and priority issues the Task Force will address in 2017.
GGGI will support the technical secretariat of the Task Force, providing guidance and supervision of the sectoral studies and ensuring that feedback is provided by line ministries and other relevant entities under each priority area to be addressed.
GGGI has been a strategic partner of the DNP since 2014, working to mainstream green growth into Colombia’s planning instruments.
About the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)
Based in Seoul, GGGI is an intergovernmental organization founded to support and promote green growth. The organization partners with countries to help them build economies that grow strongly, are more efficient and sustainable in the use of natural resources, less carbon intensive, and more resilient to climate change. GGGI works with countries around the world, building their capacity and working collaboratively on green growth policies that can impact the lives of millions. To learn more about GGGI, see https://gggi.org and visit us on Facebook and Twitter.