China’s transition to a green economy has immense implications for sustainable development both domestically and worldwide. Yet China’s green economy policies, concepts and actors still remain poorly understood in the emerging international discourse on the green economy. This report serves as an introductory guide to China’s green economy thinking by i) tracing the evolution of China’s green economy thinking of the last 40 years (1970s – 2010s), ii) mapping key macro policies that shape China’s green economy prospects today, iii) identifying relevant sectoral policies and players in finance, environmental industry, energy, forestry, urbanisation and industrial production, and iv) examining stakeholder groups, unique traits and areas for further exploration.
This research focuses on identifying the main policy strategies that could potentially contribute to the advance of three Latin American economies, namely Brazil, Chile and Mexico towards a green growth model that is social and inclusive, given the actual patterns of development of those economies. With this aim, firstly the past and current policies in each country in terms of economic, social and environmental indicators is identified and described. A detailed analysis follows for Brazil, Chile and Mexico, in which the authors propose a series of green growth indicators and choose a definition and classification of green growth sectors. There is also the estimation of an empirical model to explain the determinants of green house gas emissions and deforestation in Latin American countries. This paper broadly identifies the sectors that contribute to its increase and describe the main green policies applied in each country. In turn there is identification of the sectors with higher potential for the future. Finally, policy recommendations and reflections for the future is presented.
The objective of this study is to analyze the main arguments in favor of a transition towards a green economy in Brazil, emphasizing the potential benefits at the three required levels: economic, social and environmental. The main point is to present the green economy as a possible path for economic development where social inclusion and environmental conservation act as engines (rather than obstacles) for higher levels of activity and welfare. This paper is divided in five sections. The first section introduces main aspects of the study. Second, the review of the literature is carried out and the indicators on the Brazilian experience are selected. Third section is dedicated to the elaboration of an input-output model estimating the employment and wages effects of the expansion of selected sectors. Fourth section analyses selected sections in terms of green growth while the fifth last section poses some final remarks.
In this perspective, the project “Enhancing South-South Cooperation – Building the Capacity of Developing Countries to Promote Green Economies” provides a forum to share the South’s various experiences and national-level initiatives for transitioning to resource efficient, low carbon and socially inclusive economies. The project also addresses the use of indicators for green economy policymaking, implementation and evaluation. Through this knowledge exchange platform, it aims to raise awareness of different concepts and, at the same time, inspire and support the participant countries of the ASEAN region in pursuing their pathways to sustainable development.
This paper reviewed systematically practices and progresses of international and domestic emission trading policy in China during the past two decades, and concluded that emission trading is broadly used in the air pollutants reduction in USA, and the global carbon reduction with better effects, the emission trading policy exploration in China could be roughly divided into three stages: Initial Development stage (1988-2000), Piloting exploration stage (2001-2006), Deepening Piloting stage (2007-). Also, nine characteristics of the current emission trading practice in China were concluded and six key issues influencing the advancement of emission trading piloting were identified and discussed. And lastly, the paper proposed the pilot roadmap for implementation of the emission trading, and pointed out that efforts in the near future should focus on the construction of “six systems”, that are key technical supporting system, fair and reasonable allocation system of the emission permit, emission trading market system, laws and regulations system, pollution source monitoring and management system, and law enforcement and supervision system.
This paper is primarily a critical analysis of the social sustainability assumptions of green growth. It examines the extent to which the overall approach and assumptions inherent in the green growth model allow it to adequately address key social sustainability underpinnings of sustainable development e.g. multi-dimensional poverty, inequality and social justice. In so doing, the potential for green growth to deliver in important ways for poor and marginalized individuals is also considered. The false dichotomy that may unintentionally be created between economic efficiency and social equity considerations is investigated in further depth. Employing a social justice lens informed by the existing socio-environmental and socio-ecological literature, explicit and inexplicit synergies, trade-offs and conflicts are explored. A largely theoretical review, it will also be complemented by analysis of one of the more well-known sustainable development public policy responses to-date: biofuels. Advancing a more multidimensional theoretical approach to the longstanding problem of sustainable development i.e.
Today’s development model promotes the exploitation of natural resources regardless of the consequences for the environment or the impact that the quality of the environment has on people’s lives and livelihoods. Without a shift in current consumption and production patterns, a sustainable model of development is out of reach. The 1992 Earth Summit acknowledged the need to marry growth and environmental sustainability, but more than 20 years later the world still lacks concrete goals, commitments, benchmarks of progress and frameworks to secure benefits across social, economic and environmental dimensions. The global South is emerging as a green growth laboratory, with innovation and creativity to tackle these concerns. This article analyses these efforts in the context of public policy, and shows that both positive and negative patterns in practice and policy are emerging, which should be considered as broader global green growth efforts are further consolidated and the post- 2015 development agenda is being defined.
This joint Poverty-Environment Partnership paper aims to stimulate a dialogue among developing country policymakers, development partners and other stakeholders on how best to support country-led efforts to build inclusive green economies. Through a shared commitment to putting into place the building blocks of a green economy for all, real and lasting progress can be made towards overcoming poverty and inequality and achieving sustainable human development.
This report outlines challenges and innovations arising around the world as communities and governments pursue an agenda of justice based on inclusive and sustainable use of natural resources and the environment. The paper highlights trends in strategies emerging across regions (Asia-Pacific, Arab States, Africa, and Latin America and Caribbean), including the integration of environmental principles in constitutions, as well as in national laws and regulations, and ensuring access to remedies through courts in environmental matters, such specialized tribunals. It also highlights how social mobilization and demands for social accountability for environmental justice utilize key legal empowerment strategies, such as paralegal support to raise legal awareness, monitor policies and programmes, promote engagement in legal and policy reform, as well as support public interest litigation.