Green economy
The green economy is defined as an economy that results in reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. It aims for sustainable development without degrading the environment. It is closely related with ecological economics, but has a more politically applied focus.[1] The 2011 UNEP Green Economy Report argues "that to be green, an economy must not only be efficient, but also fair. Fairness implies recognising global and country level equity dimensions, particularly in assuring a just transition to an economy that is low-carbon, resource efficient, and socially inclusive."[2]
Definition[change | change source]
Karl Burkart defines a green economy as based on six main sectors:[3]
- Renewable energy i.e., Sustainable energy such as Solar energy and Wind energy.[4]
- Green buildings i.e., Eco-friendly constructions and practices.[5]
- Sustainable transport i.e., Electric vehicle, Hybrid vehicle[6]
- Water management i.e., Water coservation and recycling.[7]
- Waste management i.e., Reusing the waste and improving Carbon footprint.[8] For example, sustainable fashion.[9]
- Land management i.e., Sustainable development of land in terms of farming, forestation, housing etc.[10]
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) representing global business defines green economy as “an economy in which economic growth and environmental responsibility work together in a mutually reinforcing fashion while supporting progress on social development”.[11][12]
In 2012, the ICC published the Green Economy Roadmap.[13] It states that a shift towards a green economy requires the following:
- Open and competitive markets
- Metrics, accounting, and reporting
- Finance and investment
- Awareness
- Life cycle approach
- Resource efficiency and decoupling
- Employment
- Education and skills
- Governance and partnership
- Integrated policy and decision-making
Criticisms[change | change source]
A number of organisations and individuals have criticised aspects of the 'Green Economy'. The research organisation ETC Group argues that the corporate emphasis on a biobased economy "will spur even greater convergence of corporate power and unleash the most massive resource grab in more than 500 years."[14] Venezuelan professor Edgardo Lander says that the UNEP's report, Towards a Green Economy,[15] while well-intentioned "ignores the fact that the capacity of existing political systems to (regulate and restrict)... is seriously limited by the political and financial power of the corporations."[16] Ulrich Hoffmann, in a paper for UNCTAD also says that the focus on Green Economy and "green growth" in particular, "based on an evolutionary (and often reductionist) approach will not be sufficient to cope with the complexities of climate change". He added it "may rather give much false hope and excuses to do nothing really fundamental that can bring about a U-turn of global greenhouse gas emissions.[17]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ Lynn R. Kahle; Eda Gurel-Atay, eds. (2014). Communicating Sustainability for the Green Economy. New York: M.E. Sharpe. ISBN 978-0-7656-3680-5.
- ↑ UNEP, 2011, Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication, www.unep.org/greeneconomy
- ↑ "What is Green Economy? Here's a Simple Explanation". Sociology Group: Sociology and Other Social Sciences Blog. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
- ↑ "Renewable energy explained - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)". www.eia.gov. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
- ↑ "What is green building?". World Green Building Council. Archived from the original on 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
- ↑ "Concept of Sustainable Transport: Planning and Designing for Sustainable and Inclusive Transportation Systems" (PDF). UNESCAP. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ↑ US EPA, OW (2019-08-13). "Basic Information about Water Reuse". US EPA. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
- ↑ "What is Waste Management and Various Methods of Waste Disposal? - Conserve Energy Future". www.conserve-energy-future.com. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
- ↑ "The Rise of Refashion". codogirl.com. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
- ↑ "Sustainable land management (SLM) | Knowledge Hub". knowledge.unccd.int. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
- ↑ "International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), (2012). ICC Green Economy Roadmap. A guide for business, policymakers and society". Archived from the original on 2016-05-05. Retrieved 2015-05-16.
- ↑ "UNDESA, (2012). A guidebook to the Green Economy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2015-05-16.
- ↑ "Green Economy Roadmap" (PDF). International Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 5, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ↑ "New report: Who will control the green economy?". 2011-12-15. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
- ↑ "Green Economy - Green Economy Report". UNEP. 2011-11-16. Archived from the original on 2014-03-13. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
- ↑ E.Lander (2011), "The Green Economy: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"
- ↑ Hoffmann, Ulrich (2011). "Some reflections on climate change, green growth illusions and development space" (PDF). unctad.org. Geneva. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-04-05. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
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Further reading[change | change source]
- College Graduates Will Clean Up in the Green Economy, Huffington Post
- Building a Green Economy, The New York Times
Other websites[change | change source]
Media related to Green economy at Wikimedia Commons
