Green Public Administration (GPA) is when considerations for sustainability, long-term orientation, climate change and the environment are incorporated into decision-making at all levels of government. A Conference on “Green Public Administration in the Context of Good Democratic Governance: Exchange of Good European Practice”, was organised by the European Committee on Democracy and Governance (CDDG) in cooperation with the Icelandic Presidency of the Committee of Ministers and took place on 26 April 2023 in Strasbourg.
Representatives of international, national, and local authorities exchanged their views and experiences on GPA and discussed opportunities and challenges of the green transition. Participants concluded that public administration was ideally placed to lead the way to promote and enforce the reduction of carbon emissions, protection of the environment, and better management of natural resources. Decisive action on the part of the public administration in turn will encourage individuals, organisations, and businesses to play their part.
Given the significance of green public administration for Good Democratic Governance, the Conference reaffirmed that there is a clear role for the CDDG to play in this area – by organising and promoting exchanges of views and experiences through conferences, peer reviews, preparation of reports and recommendations. Participants agreed that such exchanges are very important and inspirational, countries need to learn from each other and to replicate good practice.
The Reykjavik Summit should reflect the urgency of addressing the climate change, and its potential impact on Democracy, Human Rights and the Rule of Law, and should encourage the member States to act without delay.
Ragnhildur Arnljótsdóttir, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Iceland to the Council of Europe stressed that “we cannot continue with business as usual - and we will all have to do our part and every step, large or small, will count.”
Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General, Council of Europe highlighted that “Sustainability is a principle of good democratic governance, and public authorities need to bring people with them on the journey, so that all parties feel that their efforts will result in something better.”
Despina Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, underlined that “’Going green’ was not only a matter of policy, law or management. It is a paradigm shift.”
Mathieu Mori, Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe underlined that “one of the first steps to greening local governance is ensuring - through a favourable national context - that subnational authorities have the competences, the means and the freedom to act in this area.”
The results of the Conference will also feed into the CDDG Report on Green Public Administration.
Videos of the conference:
