As current chairman of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference Sylvia Bretschneider actively participated in the 4th Northern Dimension Parliamentary Forum in Reykjavik, Iceland, 10th – 11th May.
In the second session of the Parliamentary Forum “Green energy – opportunities and challenges”, Ms Bretschneider gave a statement in which she explained that there is a wide support for the “greening of the economy” at local, national, regional and global level. Even though, the transition to a greener economic paradigm is going on too slow. Ms Bretschneider stressed that the BSPC therefore launched a Working Group on Green Growth and Energy Efficiency in 2011 to find answers to the question on what can be done to increase the speed of progress towards a greener paradigm. She pointed out that the results of the Working Group were taken into the 22nd annual Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference and its Resolution in 2012. So, as follow-up, there is still a main focus on Green Growth and its effects in the Baltic Sea Region. One impact is for example the participation of many Baltic Sea States in transnational projects.
In the subsequent round table discussion, the BSPC chairman underlined: “Green Growth concerns everybody. It can be achieved through improved resource management, including reduced pollution and increased productivity, where long-term benefits replace short-term profits. New and green solutions must replace old and unsustainable habits.”
The picture shows the Speaker of Althingi Mr Einar K. Guðfinnsson and the BSPC Chair Ms Sylvia Bretschneider.