This paper evaluates the emerging green economy in South Africa, using ideas from the concept of sustainable rural livelihoods, which are intimately connected to ecological services many developing countries. It finds that African communities and governments are prioritising green economy for job creation, poverty alleviation and reducing inequalities, while addressing global environmental concerns. What remains problematic, however, is how these objectives are to be achieved. The paper argues that one of the key challenges in South Africa is the gap between policy and implementation of sustainable development, the Millennium Development Goals and other globally driven initiatives. The paper emphasises that green economy policy needs to consider poverty reduction and women’s empowerment in order to promote rural sustainable development.
This summary was prepared by Eldis.
The market for environmental services is substantial and growing. This policy brief argues that if well managed, liberalisation of trade in environmental services can provide substantial benefits to the private sector as well as the general public.
The paper clarifies that this would be achieved through enhanced market opportunities, improved health and environmental sustainability, particularly in developing countries.
Findings encompass:
Export restrictions are implemented nowadays with the aim of achieving a number of goals, such as food security, industrial development, environmental protection and natural resource conservation. Nevertheless, the current paper brings about a rethinking of the needs and policy objectives behind such measures.
The document presents the following findings:
- in most cases, export restrictions are implemented as one element of a larger resource management strategy
- most restrictions have been imposed by LDCs and developing countries, which account for a high proportion of natural resources produced worldwide
- rules under the WTO governing the use of export restrictions are less developed than those on the import side
- in some cases, export restrictions have served a role in reducing incentives to produce, and have sometimes exacerbated price spikes and volatility on the global markets that they sought to respond to
The authors indicate that countries may wish in the future to multilaterally negotiate better-adapted disciplines and policies, yet they underline these considerations:
This article considers how green growth might move from religion to reality. We make three straightforward arguments: first, that green growth will require a systems transformation; second, that a growth-inducing systems transformation must look beyond the energy sector; and third, that both green growth and energy systems transformation will require a range of policy interventions that go well beyond conventional prescriptions for emissions pricing and R&D subsidies.
Appealing to the broad-based growth catalysed by earlier transformations in energy, transport, and information technology, this article argues that the real green growth challenge lies in discovering the transformative potential of a low-emissions energy system for economic production and social innovation writ large.
Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time. Extending the use of environmentally sound technologies (ESTs) is a key component in mitigating and adapting to climate change. WIPO, along with industry partners, recently launched the pilot version of a new platform known as WIPO GREEN, which seeks to accelerate the adaptation, adoption and deployment of green technologies. WIPO GREEN is a sustainable technology exchange that promises to help facilitate the adaptation, adoption and deployment of climate-friendly technologies, particularly in developing countries and emerging economies.
Food exporters are increasingly being asked by retailers to measure and reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of their products, and new market requirements have emerged, mainly in the form of standards on ‘product carbon footprinting’ (PCFs). The current policy brief indicates that PCF standards have gained significant traction in the agri-food sector, and they can create new potential opportunities for exporters in the transition to a green economy.
The policy brief introduces the following findings: