Insights Blog

Countries across the world are pursuing green growth pathways, but how do we begin to understand the benefits of green growth? As an author for the report Green Growth in Practice: Lessons from Country Experiences I was part of a team that explored this question on how to identify, analyze and communicate the benefits of green growth. Our work complements a recent report from the World Bank which identifies the benefits of green growth in relation to energy efficiency and clean transportation across countries. The conclusions we came to were: 

Green growth benefits can only be understood fully by defining the mechanisms of economic and social development and how “green” issues fit in. 

Ron Benioff discusses the Green Growth Best Practice (GGBP) report "Green Growth in Practice: Lessons from Country Experiences", and the ways in which green growth can accelerate economic and social development.

Karthik Ganesan, Senior Research Associate at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), provides insights into the recently published study on 'Assessing Green Industrial Policy : The India experience'

Amanda McKee, Communications and Outreach Officer with the GGKP, discusses the GGKP's recent participation in the World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists.

Benjamin Simmons, Head of the GGKP, discusses the GGKP's new Annual Report which takes stock of the Platform's main accomplishments from its first two years of operation, and outlines key priorities in moving forward.

Traffic congestion, air pollution, accidents – the negative externalities from car transport are not just a popular field of economic research, but also a daily arduous reality for millions of commuters around the world. However, there is more: carbon emissions and climate change may be a less visible externality from road transport, but the economic and social costs will be substantial and borne at a global scale.

When dealing with such externalities, pricing instruments (such as carbon or fuel taxes) are the policy response favored by economists: if car users paid the full cost of driving, they would adjust their driving practices and thus reduce the negative environmental and social impacts.

UNEP's Inquiry into the Design of a Sustainable Financial System has produced a new paper and an open invitation to those with experience, expertise and interest to contribute to the Inquiry’s work and outcomes.

This week, the transition to a green economy and other critical environmental issues are taking centre stage at the inaugural session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). UNEA is forging new ground by emphasising that environmental concerns are at the core of governmental agendas.

What is UNEA?

Leading government officials are convening at the first meeting of UNEA in Nairobi, Kenya at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters .  UNEA is arguably the world’s most important platform for environmental policy-making, with over 1,200 participants, including environment ministers, government delegates and representatives of civil society in attendance.

UNEA aims to raise awareness of the role of environmental governance as an indispensable tool in sustainable development and the creation of a green economy. 

Najib Saab, Secretary General of the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED), GGKP's newest Knowledge Partner, discusses how green economy can help to navigate a sustainable transition in the Arab countries.

2014 is the year of the Small Islands Developing States – SIDS. Steven Stone, Chief, Economics and Trade Branch (UNEP) reflects upon the meaning of this particular class of countries, and the common challenges we all face.