2013/03/15
Useful Information 1: Expectations and Recommendations prior to the Summit
The expectations for Rio+20 were high and form the base with which its success would later be evaluated. This section is a selection of publications by NGO actors and UN affiliated actors presenting their hopes and expectations for the conference with regard to the Green Economy. In addition, these actors present the principles, advantages and shortcomings or the Green Economy and the key issues surrounding this topic in the preparatory process.
United Nations
Publication “Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication – A Synthesis for Policy Makers” published by the UNEP, 2011.
Moving towards a green economy has the potential to achieve sustainable development and poverty eradication on a scale and at a speed not seen before. […] a reallocation of public and private investments – spurred through appropriate policy reforms and enabling conditions – is needed to build up or enhance natural capital such as forests, water, soil and fish stocks, which are particularly important for the rural poor. These “green” investments will also enhance new sectors and technologies that will be the main sources of economic development and growth of the future: renewable energy technologies, resource and energy efficient buildings and equipment, low-carbon public transport systems, infrastructure for fuel efficient and clean energy vehicles, and waste management and recycling facilities.
http://www.unep.org/greeneconomy/Portals/88/documents/ger/GER_synthesis_en.pdf
Publication “Green, fair and productive: How the 2012 Rio Conference can move the world towards a sustainable economy” by the Green Economy Coalition (GEC), 2011. Main Hopes and Demands: focus on accountability, be transformational, show that change is both necessary and possible, being inclusive
http://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/sites/greeneconomycoalition.org/files/GEC%20Rio%202012.pdf
Publication “The Road to Rio+20 – volume 1” published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2011.
This edition looks at the Green Economy: one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive. As a concept, however, it needs to be placed within a specific context, which Part 1 of this volume attempts to do, both explaining and informing. Part 2 offers a variety of commentary from the supportive to those full of doubt, pro- viding a measure of the task ahead to achieve the necessary consensus. In Part 3 we take a look at issues critical in the management of the transition, not the least of which, as some authors point out, is funding.
http://www.uncsd2012.org/content/documents/1150172%20Low%20RES.pdf
Publication “The Road to Rio+20 – volume 2” published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2011.
The present volume, rather than responding to the questions of ‘what?’ and ‘why?’, is primarily concerned with the question ‘how?’. It provides a series of real world references for governments, businesses and civil society; what we refer to in this volume as ‘pathways to a development-led green economy’. Questions of the validity of ‘green economy’ concept as a motor for development, contested in the previous series, are illustrated here by national and corporate experiences, and by insights from research.
http://unctad.org/en/docs/ditcted2011d6_en.pdf
Report “The Transition to a Green Economy: Benefits, Challenges and Risks from a Sustainable Development Perspective” published by the UN-DESA, UNEP and UNCTAD, 2010.
The conditions must be established that make it possible for countries, especially developing countries, to move towards a “green economy.” The main conditions and dimensions have been recognised in the negotiations that led to Rio 1992, and are well established in the Rio Principles and in Agenda 21. The treatment of the “green economy” in Rio Plus 20 should be consistent with the sustainable development concept, principles and framework, and care should be taken that it does not detract or distract from “sustainable development”. Thus the “value added” to the Green Economy as contrasted to sustainable development should be identified. Care has to be taken to ensure that the “green economy” term and concept is also understood to include the social, equity and development dimensions, including the need for international provision of finance and technology and accompanying global economic reforms and that the risks of the misuse of the term are adequately addressed.
1. Summary of Background Papers
2. The macroeconomics of the green economy
3. Trade, sustainable development and a green economy: Benefits, challenges and risks
4. Challenges of the green economy concept and policies in the context of sustainable development, poverty and equity
Publication “Principles for the Green Economy – A collection of principles for the green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication” published by the Stakeholder Forum, Bioregional and the Earth Charter Initiative, 2011.
Recognizing the challenges of this ‘new’ agenda, it is therefore critical that any global agreements that advance progress towards a green economy are governed by an over-arching set of principles that have common currency among governments and stakeholders alike. Arriving at an all-encompassing definition of a green economy may be both laborious and constraining, so the application of broader principles may ultimately prove more helpful. […] The following document aims to combine some of the most prominent existing principles relating to sustainable development and the green economy into a cohesive guiding tool. Fifteen principles have been identified that represent a consolidation of existing international agreements and more radical and forward-thinking proposals, cutting across The Stockholm Declaration, the Rio Declaration, The Johannesburg Declaration, The Earth Charter, The One Planet Living Principles, The Green Economy Coalition, the TUC ‘Just Transition’ principles, and The New Economics Foundation.
http://www.stakeholderforum.org/fileadmin/files/Principles%20green%20economy-%20corrected%20(1).pdf
Publication “The Business Case for a Green Economy” published by the UNEP, 2012.
The Business Case for a Green Economy, complements and extends the 2011 [Towards A Green Economy] report. Written for a corporate audience, it illuminates and clarifies the business benefits to companies that pro-actively participate in – perhaps even lead – the transition. Numerous examples and compelling empirical data demonstrate how business strategies that reflect the attributes of a resource efficient and green economy can positively impact the financial metrics of companies of all sizes.
http://www.unep.org/greeneconomy/Portals/88/documents/partnerships/UNEP%20BCGE%20A4.pdf
Report “Adapting for a Green Economy: Companies, Communities And Climate
Change” published by the United Nations Global Compact, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Oxfam, and World Resources institute (WRI), 2011.
This report makes the business case for private sector adaptation to climate change in ways that build the resilience of vulnerable communities in developing countries. It then offers actions that companies and policymakers can pursue to catalyze and scale up private sector action on adaptation. It is ultimately the responsibility of the public sector to meet the critical climate change adaptation needs of the poor and vulnerable; thus private sector engagement cannot substitute for critically needed public investment and policies. However, private sector investment can serve as a pivotal part of a comprehensive government-led approach to addressing climate impacts.
Publication “Why a Green Economy Matters for the Least Developed Countries” published by The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and UN Office of The High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), 2011.
The world is preparing for the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), where one of the themes will be “green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication”. This publication examines the idea that Least Developed Countries (LDCs) possess the economic conditions, the natural and cultural assets, and the policy setting to embrace, if not lead, a green economy transition, which would in turn accelerate their development.
http://www.stakeholderforum.org/fileadmin/files/unep_green_economy_ldcs.pdf
NGO
Publication “Briefing Paper on Rio +20 – Key Issues” published by Third World Network, 2012. Green Economy on page 3.
The ‘Green Economy’ cannot be agreed without being defined; and it must defined in accordance with Rio principles and with the backing of new and additional resources
http://www.twnside.org.sg/title2/rio+20/briefing_papers/briefing_paper_01.pdf
Paper “Key Issues on Green Economy at Rio+20” published by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), 2012.
This paper focuses on the green economy and will review key issues related to this concept. Chapter 1 will review the preliminary discussion and introduce the Zero Draft of the outcome document for Rio+20 that is published by the secretariat. Chapter 2 considers consistency of and changes in national opinions by reviewing perceptions of the green economy expressed by the Group of Twenty (G20) during the preparatory process in chronological order. Based upon these two chapters, Chapter 3 discusses the key issues surrounding green economy to be discussed at Rio+20 in three categories […]. Lastly, in Chapter 4, the points for further discussion will be presented.
Publication “Beyond Rio+20: Governance for a Green Economy” published by the Pardee Center Boston University, 2011.
Our goal here is to lay out a big picture view for Rio+20 negotiators and to articulate bold visions of the global ambition that they should be addressing. Converting this into a set of practical policies and specific measures is a next step for the international community. We hope that this contribution from the Pardee Center Task Force can be of assistance in this endeavor.
1. Global Environmental Governance for a New Green Economy
2. Accountability in the Green
3. Development Governance and the Green Economy: A Matter of Life and Death?
4. Governance of International Trade for the Green Economy
5. Consuming Environments: Options and Choices for 21st Century Citizens
6. Managing the Challenges of Interlocking Resources
7. Climate and Energy
8. Transforming Global Forest Governance
9. Transitioning to a Green Economy: Citizens and Civil Society
10. Private Sector Governance for a Sustainable Economy: A Strategic Approach
Publication “Building an Inclusive Green Economy for All – Opportunities and Challenges for Overcoming Poverty and Inequality ” published by the Poverty-Environment Partnership (PEP), 2012.
This joint Poverty-Environment Partnership paper aims to stimulate a dialogue among developing country policymakers, development partners and other stakeholders on how best to support country-led efforts to build inclusive green economies. Through a shared commitment to putting into place the building blocks of a green economy for all, real and lasting progress can be made towards overcoming poverty and inequality and achieving sustainable human development.
