Green economy: The challenges and opportunities for sustainable urban development 
9 May 2011
6pm - 7pm
Venue: Owen G Glenn Building – Fisher and Paykel Appliance Auditorium, 12 Grafton Road, Auckland
Host: School of Architecture and Planning, The University of Auckland
Cost: Free admission
A senior member of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, will deliver a public lecture at The University of Auckland on the challenges and opportunities of a green economy.
The University of Auckland became a Habitat Partner University (HPU) in June 2009. The initiative aims to strengthen ties between the UN and tertiary institutions around the world and build the teaching and research capacity of tertiary institutions in the field of sustainable urban development. As one of approximately 20 universities involved, The University of Auckland is fully engaged in developing the shape of the HPU programme.
Dr Gulelat Kebede heads UN-HABITAT's Training and Capacity Building Branch. During his month-long visit to New Zealand, Dr Kebede will participate in the opening of a multi-cultural art installation; lead seminars on urban sustainability, planning and development across the University; and meet representatives from the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education and Ministry for the Environment.
Dr Kebede’s public lecture, “Green Economy: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Urban Development”, will highlight the notion of “decoupling” economic growth from the rate of use of energy and materials in the context of cities. It will argue that increasing energy prices and competition for dwindling natural resources pose serious challenges to the western economic growth model, based on relatively cheap oil and natural resources. Dr Kebede says the climate change debate has awakened citizens and governments to these new challenges, but also heightened awareness of the opportunities to move to low carbon economic growth models. He says the concept of green economy thus gives sustainable development a new impetus and urgency, thanks to the realities of the urbanising 21st century. He raises the key questions and challenges faced by cities in developing countries who want to transit to green economy, while eradicating poverty. Dr Kebede will highlight urban growth pattern strategies which UN-HABITAT advocates to promote the principles and ideals of green economy.
For more information about:
- the University’s partnership with UN-HABITAT please visit: www.auckland.ac.nz/un-habitat
- the public lecture, please contact Claire Speedy on 373 7599 ext 87586
Speaker: Dr. Gulelat Kebede, PhD.
Dr. Kebede received his PhD in Economics from the Academy of Social Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria. He also holds a MSc in Environmental Economics from the University of London and a BA from Addis Ababa University. Since 1996 he has been working for UN-HABITAT at the headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. As chief of the Training and Capacity Building Branch (TCBB), Mr. Kebede has been responsible for the development of a number of training tools and curricula; developed and managed global capacity building programs and courses; provided technical support to projects and activities in all major regions of the world; designed and delivered training workshops at country, regional and international levels including teaching at universities and academic institutions; facilitated partnerships with over 60 national training and academic institutions and multi lateral agencies including ILO and the WB; and supported member states in developing national policies and strategies for capacity building for local governments, NGOs and CBOs.
