Questions of justice in the transition to a green economy have been raised by various social forces. Very few proposals, however, have been as focused and developed as the “just transition” strategy proposed by global labour unions. Yet, labour unions are remarkably absent from discussions of the transition towards a green economy. This is surprising as labour unions are arguably the largest organizations in the world fighting for basic rights and more just social relations. This paper tries to advance the potential contribution of labour unions in this arena by asking: what is the full scope of “just transition” today and how have labour unions developed and refined it over the years to render the move towards a green economy both environmentally and socially sustainable? The concept of just transition is hotly debated within labour unions and has different interpretations, and hence different strategies. The last section assesses these interpretations by means of a normative framework, which seeks to fuse political economy and political ecology. Empirically, the authors add to the growing literature on labour environmentalism, as well as transitions more generally.
This report was prepared for the G20 Development Working Group to inform the creation of a public-private G20 Dialogue Platform on Inclusive Green Investment to scale up commercially viable financial investments. The report provides a stocktaking exercise on existing innovative mechanisms to mobilize private capital for inclusive green growth investments in developing countries, and how to scale them up, including initiatives to engage institutional investors in these investments to identify best practices. The report distills key lessons learned and policy implications as the basis for strategies for attracting investment outside the G20 countries, consistent with making green growth more “inclusive”.
While the term ‘green economy’ has been widely used at the international level, very little information exists about what the concept looks like in practice. It remains to be explored what policies are required, and what the challenges of implementation at national level are.
This book contains case studies from eight small states that have committed publicly to greening their economies: Botswana, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mauritius, Nauru, Samoa and Seychelles. It provides insights into the success of various initiatives and highlights how small states themselves are making practical progress on a green economy approach.
The State of Green Economy Report 2015 was developed by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE) and the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence (Dubai Carbon) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It was launched under the framework of the World Green Economy Summit. The publication engaged the private sector, as well as the United Nations network.
Six thematic chapters touch on the progress and innovation in green economic development including smart cities and living, clean energy, sustainable lifestyle and consumer choices, responsible tourism, green industries, and environmental finance and investments.
