News

Green Industry Platform Advisory Board announced

VIENNA, 21 November 2012 – The membership of the advisory board for the Green Industry Platform – a global, multi-stakeholder initiative launched by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) – was announced today during a high-level panel discussion on mainstreaming and scaling up sustainability practices in global manufacturing.

The board is composed of the Governments of Colombia, Jordan, Kenya, the Philippines and Poland; the following private sector companies: Broad Group, Microsoft Corporation, Novozymes A/S and Viyellatex Group; and the Environment Directorate-General of the European Commission, the Global Environment Facility, the Global Green Growth Institute, the International Chamber of Commerce and the Turkish Association for Energy Efficiency.

The announcement of the board members was made by Heinz Leuenberger, the Director of UNIDO’s Environmental Management Branch, as around 200 participants gathered for the Green Industry Platform panel discussion. The event was held during the 40th session of UNIDO’s Industrial Development Board. Participants included representatives of international organizations and other interested parties, as well as Member States of UNIDO.

The discussion was opened by the Director-General of UNIDO, Kandeh K. Yumkella, who outlined the political context in which the Green Industry Initiative was launched, and emphasized the cross-regional and high-level character of the Platform.

A lively debate on the shift from labour productivity toward resource productivity in models of economic growth was moderated by sustainability expert, Paul Hohnen, and featured panellists including Ecuador’s Minister of Industry and Productivity, Verónica Sión, and Poland’s Minister of Environment, Marcin Korolec. Further perspectives were provided by Monique Barbut, the former Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility, and Friedrich Hinterberger, the President and Founder of the Sustainable Europe Research Institute.

The event concluded with an appeal to the representatives of Member States and international organizations in attendance to join the Green Industry Platform and to approach UNIDO for advice on strategies to attain green growth.

More information on the Green Industry Platform can be found at:www.greenindustryplatform.org

Queries can be sent to: info@greenindustryplatform.org