Wed, Dec 14, 2011 -
In the first-ever inter-agency report on
the Green Economy, the Environment Management
Group (EMG), representing the work of UN
agencies, the Bretton Woods Institutions
and other intergovernmental bodies - many
of whom have a human and social development
mandate - outlines steps and policies for
pursuing a green economic transformation
that generates new sources of sustainable
and equitable economic growth that will
assist in a global economic recovery.
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The report outlines
steps and policies for pursuing a green
economic transformation that generates new
sources of sustainable and equitable economic
growth that will assist in a global economic
recovery
A "People-Centered"
approach emphasized
Further Resources
Download report: Working towards a Balanced
and Inclusive Green Economy
Download Green Economy Report: Full
New York, 14 December 2011 - Against a backdrop
of the multiple crises of the past four
years - financial, economic, food and energy
- the United Nations today launched a report
that offers UN agencies and its member states
guidance for coordinating the transition
to a Green Economy at the international
and country levels.
In the first-ever inter-agency
report on the Green Economy, the Environment
Management Group (EMG), representing the
work of UN agencies, the Bretton Woods Institutions
and other intergovernmental bodies - many
of whom have a human and social development
mandate - outlines steps and policies for
pursuing a green economic transformation
that generates new sources of sustainable
and equitable economic growth that will
assist in a global economic recovery.
Such action will require
investing in not only clean-technologies
and natural capital, but also in human and
social capital, including education, health
care, cultural development and social protection.
The new report, Working
towards a Balanced and Inclusive Green Economy,
reflects a growing recognition of the shortcomings
of business-as-usual practiced by both the
public and private sector institutions over
the last two decades and assesses how the
UN system can coherently support countries
in transitioning to a Green Economy.
It highlights the need
for more integrated approaches between different
international agencies and government departments,
as well as more targeted investments across
the environmental, economic and social domains.
It also emphasizes that
a Green Economy has to be a "people-centered
economy" as it requires a healthy,
educated and informed workforce and it must
improve the daily lives of billions of people,
including those living in poverty, those
who are unemployed, the working poor and
youth.
Urging both agencies
and governments to use the forthcoming UN
Conference on Sustainable Development (or
Rio+20 Summit) to turn their commitments
into reality, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
said:
"United Nations
entities are keenly aware of the resource
challenges that countries face in meeting
the needs of a growing and urbanizing world
population. The human and economic toll
of natural disasters and the volatility
of commodity prices reflect worrying trends
in global climate change, the growing scarcity
of some natural resources and the decline
of many ecosystems.
"This report highlights
how these challenges can and must be addressed
as part of integrated development models
that focus on poverty and human well-being."
The report promotes
a UN system-wide understanding of the Green
Economy approach to achieve sustainable
development and offers a range of instruments
that governments can use to impact investment
choices and consumer behavior. These include
mobilizing financial resources, full cost
pricing, regulatory instruments, sustainable
trade and green markets, innovation and
technology, and indicators for measuring
progress towards transition.
"There is ample
evidence today that business-as-usual is
simply not an option for the decades and
generations to come," said Achim Steiner,
UN Under-Secretary-General, Executive Director
of the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) and Chair of the Environment Management
Group.
"The report highlights
the fact that policies and policy mixes
need to be reoriented and implemented better.
The need for regulatory reform is evident,
ensuring that market signals are better
aligned with the sustainability imperative,"
added Mr. Steiner.
Public spending can be used to provide urgently
needed public goods and services and leverage
private investments and social and environmental
projects.
The report also calls
for public spending to target green infrastructure
and research and development that can spur
green technologies and innovation, as well
as better health care and education.
In addition, governments
need to align their laws, regulations, standards,
taxes, labeling and reporting requirements
to reinforce the incentives for the private
sector to direct their finance and investments
towards green, responsible business and
a Green Economy.
The absence of appropriate
regulation and pricing is causing a failure
to create high potential markets in carbon
trading, ecosystem services and environmental
goods and services, the report explains.
Many governments have
responded to the global economic crisis
with stimulus packages, which are paving
the way for longer term policy reform. Investments
in renewable energy and energy efficiency,
sustainable transport and agriculture, as
well as other areas, can contribute to the
global economic recovery, apart from generating
environmental and social benefits, adds
the report.
Such investments also
have the potential to create new growth
paths and avoid locking capital in carbon-intensive,
inefficient and polluting technologies.
In developing countries,
the World Bank estimates that the need for
investments in greening infrastructure,
such as buildings, energy and transport
sectors, could reach US$264-$563 billion
by 2030. An additional US$100 million might
be needed for climate adaptation.
While the UN agencies,
programmes, regional commissions and funds
contribute to different aspects of sustainable
development, including humanitarian, business
and trade aspects, most of these activities
reflect the national economic realities,
priorities and decisions of its member states.
The report notes numerous
UN-backed initiatives already underway,
such as:
Climate Smart Agriculture
by the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO)
Cleantech Investment by the International
Finance Corporation/World Bank
Recycling of Ships by the International
Maritime Organization (IMO)
Green ICT standards of the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Green Jobs by International Labour Organization
(ILO)
Green Economy Initiative by UNEP
Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production
by UNEP and the UN Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO)
Education for Sustainable Development by
UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO)
Cities and Climate Change by UN Human Settlements
Programme (UN-Habitat)
Green Economy e-Learning by UN Institute
for Training and Research (UNITAR)
Safe Access to Fuel and Alternative Energy
by the UN World Food Programme (WFP)
Greening the Health Sector by the World
Health Organization (WHO)
Green Technology Markets by World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO)
Energy Solutions by the UN World Tourism
Organization (UNWTO)
The report finds that
the UN entities, along with the Bretton
Woods Institutions and other intergovernmental
agencies, are well-positioned to support
the movement towards a balanced and inclusive
Green Economy at the national level where
they can provide a range of technical advice
and capacity support to governments.
Furthermore, following
the Rio 1992 UN Conference on Environment
and Development, the upcoming UN Conference
on Sustainable Development in June 2012
will be an important milestone along this
journey as countries seek green growth solutions
that will ensure sustainable development.
"The Rio+20 Summit
is an opportunity to adopt the Green Economy
approach as a practical solution to multiple
challenges facing a world in economic recovery,"
the report states, and calls on member states
to make collective commitments that will
facilitate a global transition.
Notes to the Editors:
Rio Earth Summit: In
1992 the UN Conference on Sustainable Development,
popularly known as the Rio Earth Summit,
was convened in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
to address the state of the environment
and sustainable development. In June 2012,
there will be the follow up meeting or Rio+20
in Brazil, where one of the main themes
governments are expected to address is Green
Economy "in the context of sustainable
development and poverty eradication".
The Environment Management
Group is a UN coordination body consisted
of the specialized agencies, programmes
and organs of the United Nations including
the secretariats of the Multilateral Environmental
Agreements. It furthers inter-agency cooperation
in support of the implementation of the
international environmental and human settlement
agenda. www.unemg.org
The UN Development Group
unites the 32 UN entities that play a role
in development. The group's common objective
is to deliver more coherent, effective and
efficient support to countries seeking to
attain internationally agreed development
goals, including the Millennium Development
Goals.
+ More
Why Greening the Mountain
Sector is a Priority
Glaciers in the four
biggest mountain ranges in the world (Andes,
Himalayas, Alps and Rockies) are melting
at unprecedented rates.
View of rapidly decreasing
glaciers in the Alps near Bern, Switzerland.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré
Geneva, 9 December 2011-
Glaciers in the four biggest mountain ranges
in the world (Andes, Himalayas, Alps and
Rockies) are melting at unprecedented rates.
New forms of collaboration between governments,
the private sector and local communities
are urgently needed to meet this challenge
and to promote the sustainable development
of mountain ecosystems...
World-renowned mountaineers,
the UN Environment Programme, the Swiss
Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
and mountain organisations and residents
from around the world are gathering for
The World Mountain Forum, which opens today
in Verbier, Switzerland
The event takes place
six months ahead of the United Nations Conference
on Sustainable Development (Rio +20), where
the Green Economy, in the context of sustainable
development and poverty eradication, will
be a central pillar.
Because of their importance
to poverty eradication, environmental sustainability
and economic growth, mountain ecosystems
have a special role in the transition to
a low carbon, resource-efficient Green Economy.
With the support of
the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation,
the World Mountain Forum in collaboration
with UNEP, the Fondation pour le Développement
Durable des Régions de Montagne (FDDM),
the BOTZA Association, the private sector
and the Commune de Bagnes, will also launch
a new public private partnership initiative
that will support sustainable mountain development
efforts around the world. Famous mountaineers,
like David Breashears, will be present.
He has summited Everest five times and has
devoted the last four years to recording
losses and changes to the Himalayan glaciers,
which are inaccessible to all but the most
skilled climbers.
Media are invited to
attend the World Mountain Forum which will
take place in Verbier from 9 to 11 December
2011.
A workshop on Friday
6 December will explore cutting- edge clean
technology solutions in the areas of renewable
energy, sustainable aquaculture, water desalinisation.
On Sunday 11 December the Forum will use
live streaming to connect conservation experts,
local governments, the private sector, UN
and government officials in the Himalaya,
Andes, Canadian Rockies and Alpine Arc to
discuss new approaches in mountain conservation.
