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, 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.
‘Green economy’ and ‘green growth’ policymaking is moving to the centre of many national development strategies. Green policies should enable countries to manage their natural resources more sustainably and efficiently, diversify into new green markets and secure the environmental foundations of development. But do they automatically increase social justice?
Green and just development requires two key ingredients: integrated policymaking and a holistic outcome framework combining environmental, social and economic objectives. Focusing on developing countries, this paper draws on learning from national case studies and international analyses. It concludes with ten critical considerations for shaping green and just national strategies and policies.
Growing financial, climate and social challenges in the Caribbean have sparked the search for new economic pathways that would better serve the region.
This paper summarises early explorations by the Green Economy Action Learning Group (GE ALG), an independent and Caribbean-driven initiative which aims to help governments and other stakeholders develop a practical Caribbean vision of an inclusive and resilient ‘green’ economy. It pulls together background papers from ALG members, revealing diverse regional, national, local and sector perspectives on green economy progress, needs and prospects.
An ‘action learning’ agenda is proposed as a way to evolve green economy pathways in three areas: SMMEs; ‘triple bottom line’ reporting across public and private sectors; and multi-stakeholder mechanisms for developing green economy policy.
'Inclusive green growth' is no longer just a buzz term. It is shaping donor priorities, influencing national development plans and attracting investment. Yet inclusive green growth policies commonly promoted by international institutions make little, if any, reference to informal economies - which are expanding in all parts of the world in response to changes in our formal economies - and which cater for the world's poor. What does Green Economy mean in the context of informal markets where the world's poorest and most vulnerable people produce and trade? Does 'greening' necessitate formalisation, or can it happen through people's own actions?
Many countries are exploring their prospects for green growth. It has become a hot topic, proving attractive to governments, companies, and civil society groups alike. The 2012 Rio+20 Summit concluded that green growth is best defined and tailored according to the individual country context. This report describes Zambia’s approach to develop a Zambian Inclusive Green Growth Strategy under its Sixth National Development Plan.
The Zambian definition for inclusive green growth, is ‘inclusive development that makes sustainable and equitable use of Zambia’s natural resources within ecological limits’. The report describes the changing international policy and financial context for inclusive green growth, reports on a workshop facilitated by IIED, and proposes initial steps to develop its operational Strategy.