On the last day of the Conference, delegates met in plenary session in the morning to discuss the theme greening the economy: mainstreaming the environment into economic development. Following the introductory remarks from session Chair Ruslan Bultrikov, Vice-Minister of Environmental Protection, Kazakhstan, participants listened to eight keynote addresses. Prime Minister Karim Massimov, Kazakhstan, met with Heads of delegations to the EfE Conference.

Delegates then convened in three parallel roundtables, all addressing the same issues, although bringing different perspectives: policies to achieve a green economy; resource efficiency to improve sustainability and competitiveness in local, regional and global markets; the role of research, innovation and investment in the transition towards a green economy; and the contributions of the EfE process to the development of the Rio+20 Green Economy outcomes.

In the afternoon plenary, chairs of the three thematic segments reported on the outcomes of the plenary and roundtable discussions of the past two days. Delegates adopted the Ministerial Declaration “Save water, grow green!” and the Astana Water Action. In the Ministerial Declaration, ministers agreed to take the lead in the transition to a green economy and to make a substantive contribution to the discussions on green economy within the context of sustainable development and poverty alleviation at Rio+20. Sibylle Vermont, Switzerland, presented delegations that committed to the Astana Water Action with a seed and a teabag, both of sage, as appreciation for their commitment and encouragement for future implementation.

Chair Ashim gaveled the meeting to a close at 5:25pm.