This short piece by Najib Saab discusses the "polluter pays" principle. International environmental law today incorporates the principle that whoever causes pollution and waste of natural resources bears responsibility for the damages, and therefore must pay the price. Still, the application of this principle still poses a problem in international law as countries act on it within their own sovereign borders and thus, the implementation differs. Therefore, international law must impose a standard than can uphold this important principle.
Stockholm+50 is a crucial opportunity to commemorate the 1972 Stockholm Declaration and chart a common path for the next 50 years of environmental multilateralism. This time, however, indigenous people, particularly our youth, must be included in the conversation and our voices heard.
Research
Conflict can be an obstacle to climate action, impeding investments needed for adaptation and mitigation. Yet to date, there has been little cross-fertilization between climate finance and peacebuilding. Platforms for climate finance and peace and security could support exchange and innovation, help mainstream climate and peace priorities in funds’ country-level programs, and set goalposts for project development.
Tools and Initiatives
Since the launch of its Sustainable Finance Roadmap in 2020, Mexico's financial system has established a clear institutional framework to foster its sustainable finance agenda, sending a clear message to market participants on the road ahead.
We are told that moving towards a green economy is too expensive, while we see trillions of dollars spent to prop up business-as-usual.
The Green Growth Knowledge Partnership and Basque Centre for Climate Change found that for every nature-related SDG target analysed, the benefits of investing in natural capital outweigh the costs. This not only creates multiple benefits for people and planet, but is a net-positive financial investment.
Tools and Initiatives
Financial support for micro-enterprises is key to India's just transition to a low carbon, green and inclusive economy, Drawing from India's Country Strategy for Green Inclusive Micro Enterprises Financing, Stella George describes why and how systemic changes should accelerate financing for green and inclusive micro-enterprises.
We don’t have time for a one-by-one approach: digital tools can accelerate the much needed circular transition.
An interview with Ivonne Bojoh, Head of Digital and Interim COO at Circle Economy, written by Laxmi Haigh, Lead of Editorial at Circle Economy.
Data can power circular transitions by helping design tangible, practical steps forward and disseminating insights through digital tools, that in turn can rapidly scale circular solutions.
Research
The UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, launched on World Environment Day this year, has one goal: to prevent, halt and reverse ecosystem degradation worldwide. For the 3.2 billion people affected by degraded land, nature is not simply an instrument for growth, it is fundamental to their livelihood.
Environmental impacts have risen alongside our dependence on nature. While governments, businesses and financial institutions have made progress towards accounting for carbon emissions, most economic decisions still do not account for our impacts and dependencies on natural capital – from the soils we use for growing crops and forests sequestering carbon to land generating diverse and key ecosystem services for our well-being.