A global South-South conference in Nairobi saw $450 million pledged for projects across the global South for clean energy projects to produce green economies, among other developments in the region.
The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) reports hundreds of high-level participants exchanged innovative ideas from the global South on solutions and technologies to tackle development challenges; with economical strategies to build sustainable energy structures for the South.
Many agreements were made at the Nairobi headquarters of the UNEP, including the building of organic fertilizer factories and clean energy projects in Kenya, solar power plants in Uganda and green businesses for women in Egypt.
The conference held under the theme “Building Inclusive Green Economies: Policy Drivers and Best Practices from South-South Cooperation” is the world’s biggest event for development solutions created in the South for the South.
“The theme is fitting in that Southern countries have both the opportunity and the obligation to pursue a ‘smarter’ development course than their predecessors,” said General Assembly President John Ashe.
The topics also ranged from youth volunteerism to China-Africa business in support of green growth.
“South-South Cooperation is playing a vital role in facilitating this global transition,” said UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.
“Not only are these local, national and regional efforts producing positive results, but they are overcoming barriers, building new partnerships, creating new finance mechanisms, generating knowledge, sharing information, providing training and capacity building, in areas and sectors that are critical for a global transition to a low carbon, resource efficient and inclusive economy,” he added.
As the exchange in resources, technology and knowledge in the South accounts for 47 percent of global trade. The development of such countries with vast resources could be one of the main engines of growth in years to come, as they become more developed through green energies.
The conferences high-level Leadership Round Table, which was attended by 21 CEOs and Dr Evans Kidero, Governor of Nairobi County, signed an agreement worth $21 million to build a hydropower plant in Tanzania.
“You set out to share best practice experiences to impact the plight of the poor and improve livelihoods. And you have delivered,” said Mr Zhou, director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation.
The conference particularly focused on green economy initiatives and looked to improve the Gross Domestic Product of the poor.
