1. Green Economy Origins and Context

2. 1. Green EconomyOrigins and Context UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE

3. Global crises provide anOpportunity to reconsiderTraditional growth models Shifting to Green Economy Financial Crisis Food Crisis Fuel Crisis Global momentum for transition to a green economy • G20 reaffirmed commitment to “move toward greener, more sustainable growth” • UN CSD 2012 (Rio+20): “green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication” 1. GEI Conceptual Issues UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE

4. New paradigm: planetary boundaries The inner green shading represents the proposed safe operating space for nine planetary systems. The red wedges represent an estimate of the current position for each variable. The boundaries in three systems (rate of biodiversity loss, climate change and human interference with the nitrogen cycle) have already been exceeded. Blue water consumption = 4,000-6,000 cu km per year (danger zone) Current consumptive water use = 2,600 cu km per year 4 Sources: http://www.nature.com/news/specials/planetaryboundaries/index.html;

5. What is a Green Economy? What is good about the GEI? “A Green Economycan be defined as one that results in improvedhuman well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.” 3. GEI Analysis UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE

6. Green Economy: A Challenge in Two Dimensions Meeting the dual goals of sustainability – High human development and low ecological impact Source: WWF Living Planet Report 2006 Meets minimum criteria for sustainability Source: United Nations Human Development Index UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE

7. 2. Green Economy ReportKey Sectors and Initial Findings UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE

8. Modeling Enabling Conditions Agriculture Building Cities Energy Finance Forest Manufacturing Tourism Transport Waste Water

9. Green Economy: Approach and Focus Enabling Conditions APPROACH FOCUS • Selecting and driving transformation in key sectors - critical or highly material for greening the global economy • On enabling conditions (finance, subsidies, taxes, regulations, and related reforms that achieve GE objective) taxes, regulations finance subsidies UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE

10. Fisheries Business as usual is not an option: State of fish stocks Source: Froese and Pauly (2004) UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE

11. Fisheries Managing Transition Example: Fisheries sector Types of subsidies – leave $ 8 bio ‘good’ subsidies: MPA’s, fleet buyback, skills training Investments Reversing harmful subsidies Fiscal policies Strengthening political consensus Source: Sumeila et al (2006) UNEP – Green Economy Initiative

12. Fisheries Distribution of fishing effort around Georges Bank closed areas Source: Fogarty & Botsford, (2007) , Oceanography 20 (3); pp 112-123 73% of the US haddock catch are taken within 5 km of a fishery closed area, off the New England Coast. UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE

13. Key finding: A green economy stimulates growth, exceeding BAU over time… GDP growth (%)

14. …while reducing ecological scarcities and environmental risks

15. 3. Green Economy Advisory Services UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE

16. A Demand-led approach… • Technical assistance to countries seeking to make a transition to a Green Economy • Rapid response to countries with strong commitment to Green Economy Supporting the development of strategies to green national economies building on national development priorities, forging extensive partnerships, and enhancing analytical capacities in countries.

17. …with important GE leaders acting as change agents…

18. …leading to selective engagement across the globe • Action completed • Asia: East Asia Low-carbon Green Growth Report as an input to East Asia Forum • China: Green Economy Forum, Green Economy in Chongqing City – starting sectoral studies under a 2nd phase China project, to feed into 2011-2015 plan • Rep. Korea: Review of Green Growth Plan 2010 – 2011 rollout countries Africa: Regional project (Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa) East Asia: Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines Europe: Armenia, Moldova, Ukraine; Azerbaijan Latin America and Caribbean: Barbados, Brazil, Mexico – seeking to launch a regional initiative in the Caribbean West Asia: Jordan, League of Arab States

19. 4. Prospects for Rio + 20 UNEP – GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE

20. The State of the Conversation Expanded dialogue focusing on social equity and poverty issues Going beyond definitions and towards agreements that there are many pathways to achieve sustainable development Need for a framework for action and commitments emphasizing key enabling conditions needed for a transition to greener economies

21. What can we seek from Rio + 20? Reaffirmed commitment to Rio Principles Agreement that the status quo is not sustainable and that change is needed Targeted outcomes emphasizing tools and commitments needed for a green economy transition, focusing on opportunities, including job creation, investments and growth in income

22. Targeted Outcomes on Green Economy • Knowledge sharing – knowledge platforms, best practices in greening economies, regional centers of excellence • Country Support – ramping up advisory services, capacity building, technology transfer, skills training • Financing mechanisms - new and additional for LDC readiness, and redirecting current flows

23. Thank you! steven.stone@unep.org