The 2021 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report concluded that climate change is widespread, rapid and intensifying. The report also highlighted the urgency of taking decisive steps towards the transition to a low carbon economy in order to be able to tackle and mitigate the impact of climate change. Clearly all sectors of society will have to play a role in the effort towards a green transformation, including the public administration.

In fact, the public administration is ideally positioned to lead this transition process as it has a dual role: as a consumer/user and as a policy- and decision-maker and infrastructure planner. Public administration in many member States increasingly play a leading role by providing the right policy incentives to enable the transition and by implementing internal changes to their own activities thus minimising their own carbon footprint and direct and indirect impacts on the environment.

Turning public administration green also means formulating a vision to be shared with and by the population and upholding a commitment to sacrifice short-term (economic) interests to ensure long-term sustainability. Education and dissemination of information to society at large and businesses is key.

On 23 September (16h00-17h00), the webinar will explore how public administration is leading the way in particular in the field of public procurement. What is the impact of green procurement and green budgeting? What role could digital technologies play in the green transformation? And how can residents and citizens participate?

The webinar will also show case best practices to make office buildings more environmentally sustainable, minimise the impacts of meetings and events, promote sustainable commuting and business travel etc.

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