South-East Asian countries hold UN-backed meeting to discuss green growth strategies

Government officials from across South-East Asia have gathered today in western Thailand for a six-day United Nations seminar on how countries can implement low-carbon strategies that will also boost economic growth.

Participants at the seminar will discuss green growth, sustainable consumption and production, eco-efficiency, green taxes, budget reform and other environmental and economic issues, according to a press release issued by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

Officials will have the opportunity to view first-hand sustainable business practices, engage in mock negotiations and policy exercises and share country experiences about how to respond to current economic and climate crises.

“Our message of low-carbon green growth can only remain credible when we actually walk the talk by supporting green businesses, eco-tourism and low-carbon solutions in our own procurement decisions,” said Masakazu Ichimura, the chief of ESCAP’s environment and development section.

The seminar, which runs until Saturday, is taking place at an eco-resort in Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province that showcases rainwater harvesting, recycling, organic rice farming and biogas digesting.

Organized by ESCAP along with the United Kingdom, the China Standard Certification Centre and the Regional Help Desk on Sustainable Consumption and Production for Asia and the Pacific, it will be carbon-neutral by offsetting emissions from travel and accommodation with the organization Plant-A-Tree-Today.org.