UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Achim Steiner, met top Algerian officials during a two-day visit to Algeria that aimed at strengthening cooperation with the North African nation.
Mr. Steiner held talks with top government officials, including: Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra; Minister of National Planning and Environment Dalila Boudjemaa; Minister of Fisheries and Halieutic Resources Sid-Ahmed Ferroukhi; Minister of Urban Development, Abdelmadjid Tebboune; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Develoment Abdelouahab Nouri; and President of the Algerian Parliamentary Committee on the Environment.
Mr. Steiner also met with the UN Resident Coordinator in Algeria, Mrs. Cristina Amaral.
Mr. Steiner commended Algeria's efforts in environmental development, highlighting key activities and joint projects in areas related to renewable energy,the development of framework policies for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation and mobilizing financial markets to catalyze resource efficient technologies and the creation of green jobs.
"Cooperation between Algeria and UNEP has been in place for years, and today's visit looks to reinforce this bilateral engagement and develop programmes in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency and stimulating private sector engagement in the provision of clean energy goods and services," Mr. Steiner said at a press conference with Mr. Lamamra.
" We agreed to intensify UNEP's activities and cooperation with Algeria across a broad spectrum of issues ranging from green economy opportunities to waste management, sustainable urban development, energy efficiency and investment in natural capital, " he added.
Mr. Steiner also visited the former landfill site of Oued Smar in Algeria, which is being rehabilitated into a green space.
At a meeting with the Minister of Urban Development, Mr. Steiner underlined the need to adopt new technologies and carry out research in areas related to urban development and town planning.
Algeria is a member of Desertec Industrial Initiative, which aims to use Sahara solar and wind power to supply 15 per cent of Europe's electricity needs by 2050.
Algeria's National Action Plan for Environment and Sustainable Development is based on four major objectives: improving the health and quality of life of citizens; improving the productivity of natural capital; reducing economic losses and enhancing competitiveness and improving the global environment.
