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.
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.
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 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.
This study offers a critical review of the strengths and weaknesses of various methodologies, and of the adequacy of models to help countries to assess their economies and develop green economy strategies. This report, however, does not identify the best approaches for formulating and evaluating green economy strategies; instead, it provides key information for the ministries tasked with planning and implementing responsibilities to evaluate the adequacy of various models in meeting their specific needs.