United Nations Environment Programme

A Green Economy in the Context of Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication: What are the Implications for Africa?

The report is meant to stimulate further discussion, aiming to contribute to articulating African views and perspectives on the theme of green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in 2012.

In September 2009 the United Nations Environment Management Group agreed to establish an Issue Management Group on Green Economy. This group was tasked to prepare a report to assess how the United Nations system could coherently support countries in transitioning to a green economy. The report is expected to facilitate a common understanding of the green economy approach and the measures required for the transition.

 Press release  - Presentation

Forests in a Green Economy: A Synthesis

Produced during the International Year of Forests, this synthesis addresses the value of forests and their role in transitioning to a green economy. The synthesis lays out compelling information for the forestry sector, governments, private sector and civil society to invest in forests to aid the realization of a more socially inclusive, low-carbon and resource efficient economy.

 Why a Green Economy Matters for Least Developed Countries

This joint report, issued by UNEP, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), points to the economic and human development opportunities of a green economy transition for the world’s least developed countries (LDCs).

 The Transition to a Green Economy: Benefits, Challenges and Risks from a Sustainable Development Perspective - A Report by Panel of Experts (UN-DESA, UNEP and UNCTAD)

The publication contains three papers. The first one, by José Antonio Ocampo, looks at the macroeconomic policy implications of the transition to the green economy. The second, by Aaron Cosbey, focuses on the interlinked issues of trade, investment and technology. The third, by Martin Khor, considers the risks that this concept generates for developing countries and the domestic and international policies necessary to promote the green economy in these countries according to the principles of sustainable development.

Driving a Green Economy Through Public Finance and Fiscal Policy Reform

A green economy (GE) can be defined as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. A GE is characterized by substantially increased investments in economic sectors that build on and enhance the Earth’s natural capital or reduce ecological scarcities and environmental risks. These sectors include renewable energy, low-carbon transport, energy-efficient buildings, clean technologies, improved waste management, improved freshwater provision, sustainable agriculture and forest management, and sustainable fisheries. These investments are driven or supported by national policy reforms and the development of international policy and market infrastructure.

Patents and clean energy: bridging the gap between evidence and policy

This pioneering study examines the role of patents in combating climate change and highlights trends in clean energy technology development.

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A Brief for Policymakers on the Green Economy and Millennium Development Goals

The UNEP report, A Brief for Policymakers on the Green Economy and Millennium Development Goals, examines how new investments in clean energy, sustainable transport and environmentally friendly agriculture can help countries achieve international goals to alleviate poverty. The report gives policymakers numerous examples of "green" strategies that are paying multiple dividends and generating new opportunities to ensure environmental sustainability.

Green Economy Report: A Preview

The Preview provides a snapshot of the different sectors that will be covered in the Green Economy Report, when it is published in 2011. The report demonstrates that greening the economy across a range of sectors can drive economy recovery and growth, and lead to future prosperity and job creation, while at the same time addressing social inequalities and environmental challenges.

Global Green New Deal Update

The following report (September 2009) summarizes in the introduction the key points of the March 2009 UNEP GGND policy brief and encourages participating governments to renew their pledge to a Global Green New Deal. The remaining part of the report highlights the progress in both green elements of fiscal stimulus packages, including the pace of disbursement, and domestic policy reforms in seven G20 countries: China, France, Germany, United States, Mexico, Republic of Korea, and South Africa. The final part of the report suggests much more can be done and urges governments to continue to work towards building a green economy and ends with an appendix of Green Stimulus Rankings per Capita as of August 2009.

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This report, (March 2009) prepared by UNEP proposes recommendations, objectives and suggestions for implementing a GGND as a response to the multiple crises the world is now facing. UNEP splits its proposals into three categories; targeted stimulus spending in 2009-2010, changes in domestic policies, and changes in international policy architecture. UNEP outlines a GGND with three objectives: revive the economy and create jobs, promote sustainable growth and reduce carbon dependency and environmental destruction. Section four and the annexes look at the different green economy sectors that could be used to stimulate economic recovery and reduce environmental impact through investment in five main areas.

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Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World

The following report, produced by Worldwatch Institute (September 2008), has compiled evidence of green jobs available currently and how a ‘green’ economy could create and transform jobs in the future. Split into three broad sections, the report covers a wide scope of issue such as what is counted as a ‘green’ job, the availability of green jobs now, concerns over quantity and quality, policies that should be established to regulate green jobs, economic stimulus through green jobs and measures to ensure a ‘Just Transition’. The report concludes with a list of the present flourishing green job sectors, though cautions that while the potential is there for further green job growth, the challenges are still formidable.

Rethinking the Economic Recovery: A Global Green New Deal

This report, (April 2009) was commissioned by UNEP from Edward Barbier of the University of Wyoming to act as the back bone to the upcoming ‘Green Economy Report.’ This paper is an exploration of the potential benefits of a Global Green New Deal (GGND) as a way of combating the recession and also securing long term economic recovery. The report argues that the preservation and protection of our environment is crucial to long term economic stability and the fight to alleviate poverty. Any policies aimed at economic recovery must also take into account the environmental challenges we are faced with, such as climate change, pollution and habitat loss. Split into four parts, this publication is to act as a blue-print or first step in developing a GGND.