Green Growth, sustainable economic growth, climate change, environment

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Green Growth at a Glance

Recent Compilations

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	Amsterdam November 25-25 - It’s becoming apparent that the focus of the climate change debate has broadened. Companies are now also working out strategies that encourage economic growth and improve competitiveness. So what does the future of a carbon-constrained economy hold for European companies? This session will also look at how the EU landscape is set to compare with businesses operating in countries with less restrictive environmental rules. Click to see the full programme.
	Hong Kong December 12 2008 - Climate change need not mean a constraint on long term business profits. The Green Growth approach has lined out ways for policy makers to make economic growth sustainable and profitable. Businesses themselves also play a decisive role in adapting to a climate change reality. This one day training course will focus on business strategies for climate change. Participants will be taken through the fundamentals of climate change and how organisations can measure and manage their impact, using case studies and practical examples throughout. Click to read the course outline.
	Cebu, Philippines 18-20 September 2008 - The 3rd Policy Consultation Forum of the Seoul Initiative Network on Green Growth on Green Growth and Sustainable Consumption and Production for Climate Action was a great opportunity for regional representatives to get together and discuss the detila of Green Growth. Meeting outcomes, presentations and pictures from the conference are now available for your preusal. Click to read conference details and see the .
	The concept of cradle to cradle was invented by Dr. Michael Braungart. The German professor is using the C2C concept to help large corporations design closed loop material flows, through whic is becomes possible to minimize or eliminate waste and save valuable resources. Click to read the article about C2C.
	The President of the Republic of South Korea (ROK) has pledged his support for Low Carbon, Green Growth as the core of the Republic’s new vision. As addressed on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the republic of Korea, the president believes that green growth will enable Korea to take a lead in the direction of a low carbon society. Click to access the english version of the statement.
	Bangkok, April 17-18, 2008: As one of the five tracks to Green Growth UNESCAP is defining a set of eco-efficiency indicators (EEI) to assess the eco-efficiency of society and identify policy options that can improve the eco-efficiency of economic growth in the Asia and Pacific region. The Second Expert Group Meeting will take place in the UNCC in Bangkok. (Read more...)
	Japan, 21-23 April 2008: The impact of environmental change on jobs and incomes, sustainable economic growth and poverty were discussed at an ILO research conference in Niigata. The conference aims at exploring new concepts and approaches, at extracting lessons for policies and programmes, and at identifying priorities for action and at building partnerships for future work.
	Payment for Ecoystem Services Ecosystems provide us with numerous invaluable services ranging from the provision of tangible benefits such as timber, wood, water purification and fish breeding grounds, to less tangible but crucial services such as bio-diversity banks and forests for recreation and spiritual well-being. The public and private sectors are realizing the importance of a healthy environment for sustained profit and well-being.
	Bangkok Post, January 24, 2008: Countries in Asia and the Pacific urged to focus more on the concept of Green Growth: Thailand and other countries in the Asia Pacific region need to focus more on the concept of ''green growth'' by balancing economic growth with ecological sustainability, a seminar was told yesterday.
	Bangkok December 10 2007: UN ESCAP had the very special honour of receiving the Secretary General of the United Nations Mr. Ban Ki-moon. During speeches in the morning and afternoon, the Secretary General, ESCAP Executive Secretary Ms. Noeleen Heyzer, and Mr. Rae Kwon Chung, Director of ESDD in ESCAP talked to invited guests about Green Growth, inclusive development, and the most crucial challenges facing Asia-Pacific and the world. Read their speeches here.

More events and announcements

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Green Business publication

Five Track Approach

To strengthen and build the capacity of the policy and decision makers UNESCAP is focusing on the following five tracks as the most important policy measure and tools for applying green growth:

Countries in Pursuit of Green Growth
A number of countries in Asia-Pacific are initiating the pursuit of Green Growth. Policy makers identify various opportunities to apply the Green Growth strategy – environmentally sustainable economic growth approach for their development.

What is Green Growth?
Green Growth is a policy focus. It aims to combine economic growth with environmental sustainability. Through the encouragement of environmentally sustainable economic growth, Green Growth aspires to eradicate extreme poverty in the region without compromising the environment.

Where Green Growth?
Green Growth is a globally relevant approach to sustainable economic growth. It is even more essential for Asia and the Pacific, where economic growth is the focus of a plan for continuing social progress and reducing poverty. However, rising prices of oil and other viable natural resources require an unconventional approach to support the fast growing and export-driven economic activities in Asia Pacific. The Green Growth strategy is especially important in this region and it provides innovative solutions that are economically beneficial for all.

Why Green Growth?
Growth and development are essential tools in alleviating a lack of basic needs such as electricity, food, and sanitation. However, if a country focuses solely on economic growth it will be to the detriment of its environment. It is obvious to point out that you need an environment to have an economy; however such facts are often lost in the pursuit of economic gain. The Green Growth approach aims to put environmental issues at the forefront of policy decisions. This is why the Green Growth strategy is extremely pertinent.

How to Achieve Green Growth?
In order to achieve green growth it is crucial to change development approaches from ‘grow first, clean up later’ to a more responsible long-term attitude. Governments can promote this by encouraging economic growth with an emphasis on environmental consequences.

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