30 April 2012: In a keynote speech to the “Investing Sustainably: Rio+20” event organized by the ethical investment research group EIRIS, European Environment Agency (EEA) President Jacqueline McGlade said sustainable development is “more relevant now than ever” and called for overcoming the immediate financial challenge in creating a green economy through investment in clean technology.

In her keynote speech at the event, McGlade called on governments to incentivize investment in a green economy and to reassess the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in achieving sustainable development objectives. She said the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) provides the opportunity for governments to adopt a green economy roadmap for sustainable development. She also highlighted three important goals of a green economy: maximize resource efficiency, reducing water use and fossil fuels use; ensure ecosystem resilience; and improve standards of living by providing jobs and opportunities to the global population.

The EIRIS event took place on 30 April 2012, in Copenhagen, Denmark, and focused on sustainability themes relevant to investors, sustainable investment strategies and what investors should be asking for at Rio+20. [EEA Press Release]