1. green economy origins and context unep – green economy initiative
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1. Green EconomyOrigins and Context
UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE
Global crises provide an Opportunity to recon-
siderTraditional growth models
1. GEI Conceptual Issues
Shifting to Green Economy
UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE
Global momentum for transition to a green economy- G20 reaffirmed commitment to “move toward greener, more sustainable
growth”- UN CSD 2012 (Rio+20): “green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradica-tion”
Food Crisis
Financial Crisis
Fuel Crisis
4
New paradigm: planetary bound-aries
The inner green shading represents the proposed safe operating space for nine planetary systems.
The red wedges represent an estimate of the current position for each variable.
The boundaries in three systems (rate of biodiversity loss, climate change and human interference with the nitrogen cycle) have already been exceeded.
Blue water consumption = 4,000-6,000 cu km per year (danger zone)
Current consumptive water use = 2,600 cu km per year
Sources: http://www.nature.com/news/specials/planetaryboundaries/index.html;
What is good about the GEI?
3. GEI AnalysisUNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE
“A Green Economy can be defined as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecologi-
cal scarcities.”
What is a Green Economy?
UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE
Source: United Nations Human Development Index
Meets minimum criteria for sustainability
Meeting the dual goals of sustainability – High human development and low ecological impact
Source: WWF Living Planet Report 2006
Green Economy: A Challenge in Two Dimensions
2. Green Economy ReportKey Sectors and Initial
Findings
UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE
ModelingEnabling Conditions
AgricultureBuilding
CitiesEnergyFinanceForest
ManufacturingTourism
TransportWasteWater
UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE
• Selecting and driving transformation in key sectors - critical or highly material for greening the global economy
Green Economy: Approach and Focus
UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE
• On enabling conditions (finance, subsidies, taxes, regulations, and related reforms that achieve GE objective)
Enabling Condi-tions
FOCUSAPPROACH
taxes, regulations
subsidies
finance
Fisheries
UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE
Source: Froese and Pauly (2004)
Business as usual is not an option: State of fish stocks
Reversing harm-ful subsidies
Investments
Strengthening political con-sensus
Managing Transi-
tion
Fiscal policies
Type of subsidies
Impact Example Amount(US dollars in 2003)
Good Enhance the conservation of fish stocks over time
Funding fisheries management/ Using government spending to operate marine protected areas
$ 7.9 bn
Bad Lead to overcapacity and excessive catches
Fuel subsidies $ 16.2 bn
Ugly Can either conserve a fish-stock or deplete it further
Buyback (or decommissioning) to fishing vessel to reduce a fleet size
$ 3 bn
Types of subsidies – leave $ 8 bio ‘good’ subsidies: MPA’s, fleet buyback, skills training
Source: Sumeila et al (2006)
Example: Fisheries sector
UNEP – Green Economy Initiative
Fisheries
Fisheries
UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE
Source: Fogarty & Botsford, (2007) , Oceanography 20 (3); pp 112-123
73% of the US haddock catch are taken within 5 km of a fishery closed area, off the New England Coast.
Distribution of fishing effort around Georges Bank closed areas
Key finding: A green economy stimulates growth, exceeding BAU over time…
GDP growth (%)
…while reducing ecological scarcities and environmental risks
3. Green Economy Advisory Services
UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE
• Technical assistance to countries seeking to make a transition to a Green Economy
• Rapid response to countries with strong commitment to Green Economy
A Demand-led approach…
Supporting the development of strategies to green national economies building on national development priorities, forging extensive partnerships, and enhancing analytical capacities in countries.
…with important GE leaders acting as change agents…
Countries Role GE engagement
China BRICS Advisory services
Barbados Caribbean SIDS Advisory services
South Africa BRICS, Climate COP host Advisory services/Model
South Korea Co-chair Rio Bureau Advisory Services, GGGI
Mexico Chair G20 MOU, Knowledge Platform
UK EU National Policy on Green Economy
Switzerland President UNGA National Policy of Green Economy
Brazil Host Rio+20 TEEB studies, Green Economy Scoping
India BRIC Ministerial Dialogue, support of TEEB and Green Accounting
2010 – 2011 rollout countries • Africa: Regional project (Burkina Faso, Egypt,
Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa)• East Asia: Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines• Europe: Armenia, Moldova, Ukraine; Azerbaijan• Latin America and Caribbean: Barbados, Brazil,
Mexico – seeking to launch a regional initiative in the Caribbean
• West Asia: Jordan, League of Arab States
Action completed• Asia: East Asia Low-carbon Green Growth Report as an input to East Asia Forum• China: Green Economy Forum, Green Economy in Chongqing City – starting
sectoral studies under a 2nd phase China project, to feed into 2011-2015 plan• Rep. Korea: Review of Green Growth Plan
…leading to selective en-gagement across the globe
4. Prospects for Rio + 20
UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE
The State of the Conversation
• Expanded dialogue focusing on social equity and poverty issues
• Going beyond definitions and towards agreements that there are many pathways to achieve sustainable development
• Need for a framework for action and commitments emphasizing key enabling conditions needed for a transition to greener economies
What can we seek from Rio + 20?
• Reaffirmed commitment to Rio Principles
• Agreement that the status quo is not sustainable and that change is needed
• Targeted outcomes emphasizing tools and commitments needed for a green economy transition, focusing on opportunities, including job creation, investments and growth in income
Targeted Outcomes on Green Economy
– Knowledge sharing – knowledge platforms, best practices in greening economies, regional centers of excellence
– Country Support – ramping up advisory services, capacity building, technology transfer, skills training
– Financing mechanisms - new and additional for LDC readiness, and redirecting current flows
