Readout of the Eleventh Greening Government Initiative Meeting
GGI Countries Shared Approaches on the Economics of Greening Government Operations
Yesterday, representatives of 60 countries joined the eleventh meeting of the Greening Government Initiative (GGI). The meeting focused on how national governments can achieve the benefits and cost savings associated with moving toward net-zero emissions and find innovative ways to tap into existing funding sources.
While sustainability improvements can impose high upfront costs, research shows that such investments lead to considerable long term cost savings. Governments are more likely to secure funds for greening projects if they can also achieve the fiscal benefits associated with net-zero actions. This may involve using lifecycle cost analyses, novel financing mechanisms, and other approaches to shift toward more climate-friendly operations.
The meeting featured presentations from Kosovo, Ethiopia, and the World Bank. Agim Mazreku of Kosovo’s National Climate Change Council opened the session with a presentation highlighting Kosovo’s ambitious climate policy goals, such as developing the country’s first inclusive and voluntary nationally determined contributions (NDCs) despite not being a signatory of the Paris Agreement. H.E. Eng. Lelise Neme of Ethiopia’s Environmental Protection Authority followed with a presentation about the country’s Climate Resilient Green Economy, updated NDC, Green Legacy Initiative, and Advocacy on Environmental Pollution Initiative. Finally, Hunt La Cascia of the World Bank gave an overview of green reforms in country procurement systems, with examples from multiple countries of how to build a business case for sustainable procurement.
GGI will hold its twelfth meeting, which will focus on eco-friendly government information technology practices for greening government operations, in June 2024.
About the Greening Government Initiative
Launched by the Governments of the United States and Canada in April 2021, the Greening Government Initiative (GGI) is a first-of-its-kind initiative that enables countries to exchange information, promote innovation, and share best practices to support global efforts to green national government operations and meet Paris Agreement commitments on climate change. To date, 52 countries have joined the initiative. For more information about the Greening Government Initiative, visit https://www.sustainability.gov/ggi/.
About the U.S. Federal Sustainability Plan
In December 2021, President Biden charged the U.S. Government to lead by example by using its scale and procurement power to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Through Executive Order 14057, Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability, and President Biden’s Federal Sustainability Plan, Federal infrastructure will be transitioned to zero-emission vehicles and energy efficient buildings, all powered by carbon pollution-free electricity. The Office of the Federal Chief Sustainability Officer, which is a part of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, is leading the implementation of the executive action and plan. For more information about the Federal Sustainability Plan, visit https://www.sustainability.gov/plan.
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