Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication
- A Synthesis for Policy Makers
United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP 2011
Available online PDF [52p.] at: http://bit.ly/e7Brja
UNEP’s key contributions to the
“……The report makes a compelling economic and social case for investing two per cent of global GDP in greening ten central sectors of the economy in order to shift development and unleash public and private capital flows onto a low-carbon, resource-efficient path.
Such a transition can catalyse economic activity of at least a comparable size to business as usual, but with a reduced risk of the crises and shocks increasingly inherent in the existing model.
New ideas are by their very nature disruptive, but far less disruptive than a world running low on drinking water and productive land, set against the backdrop of climate change, extreme weather events and rising natural resource scarcities.
A green economy does not favour one political perspective over another. It is relevant to all economies, be they state or more market-led. Neither is it a replacement for sustainable development. Rather, it is a way of realizing that development at the national, regional and global levels and in ways that resonate with and amplify the implementation of Agenda 21.
A transition to a green economy is already underway, a point underscored in the report and a growing wealth of companion studies by international organizations, countries, corporations and civil society. But the challenge is clearly to build on this momentum.
UNEP Executive Director
“…..UNEP defines a green economy as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive. In a green economy, growth in income and employment should be driven by public and private investments that reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services………..”
Content:
Introduction
From Crisis to
An Era of Capital Misallocation
What is a Green Economy?
How Far are we from a Green Economy?
How to Measure Progress towards a Green Economy
Towards a Green Economy
Key Findings
A Green Economy Recognizes the Value of, and Invests in, Natural Capital
A Green Economy is Central to Poverty Alleviation
A Green Economy Creates Jobs and Enhances Social Equity
A Green Economy Substitutes Renewable Energy and Low-carbon Technologies for Fossil Fuels
A Green Economy Promotes Enhanced Resource and Energy Efficiency
A Green Economy Delivers More Sustainable Urban Living and Low-carbon Mobility
A Green Economy Grows Faster than a Brown Economy over Time, while Maintaining and Restoring Natural Capital
Enabling Conditions
Establish Sound Regulatory Frameworks
Prioritize Government Investment and Spending in Areas that Stimulate the Greening of Economic Sectors
Limit Government Spending in Areas that Deplete Natural Capital
Employ Taxes and Market-based Instruments to Promote Green Investment and Innovation
Invest in
Strengthen International Governance
Financing the Green Economy Transition
Conclusions
Annexes
Annex I: Annual Green Economy Investment (by sector)
Annex II: The Threshold 21 (T21) Model
Annex III: Impacts of Allocating an Additional 2% of GDP towards Greening the Global Economy Relative to 2% in Business as usual.
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