To lessen the effects of global warming and to remain below a 2 degree Celsius increase in this century, national and local government bodies need to proactively coordinate efforts and facilitate development paths that are in line with growth without adding pressures on the environment. A smooth transition to a green economy depends upon seven related conditions which are both necessary and sufficient to produce substantial changes, and which will enable governments to take on a more proactive role in reversing the course of carbon-based activities.
The foundations have recently been established for a Green Economy program for Amapá state, in the Brazilian Amazon. On March 27th-28th a seminar was held in Macapá, the state capital, to discuss how to reorient some of Amapa’s existing sectors towards greener, more inclusive approaches, and to explore new ‘green business’ opportunities. A very significant range of opportunities and needs soon became apparent, and a draft plan was prepared for prioritizing and tackling them.
By Guest Author - Alice Vincent - World Future Council – October, 2011
There are many Rio dinosaurs roaming the planet at the moment. By that, I mean actors across the political scene – from civil society, to civil servants, to academics and practitioners – who actively took part in the 1992 Rio Earth Summit over twenty years ago. Their institutional memory and experience is invaluable and their knowledge of the issues second-to-none.
By Hazel Henderson - Ethical Markets Media – July, 2011
GDP tracks national output using money flows, which its inventor Simon Kuznets warned was never intended to measure overall progress. GDP reporting in mass media became a "fetish". GDP focuses economic competition between nations, justifying interest rates on their sovereign bonds. GDP obsesses politicians seeking election and all business leaders. Media amplify GDP in their global echo chambers. Investors and security analysts follow GDP in benchmarking performance of securities and central bankers.
To enable businesses to function more sustainably, mechanisms to encourage long-term thinking should be introduced.
Are our structures of economic decision-making fit for purpose? That depends on what the purpose is, of course. If decisions need to be made for the long-term, and if they should take into account a balance of different interests and concerns, which they should, then the answer has surely got to be no.
Green bonds are issued by governments to generate money to support environmentally friendly business ventures. While still in their infancy in the US and Europe, they are set to grow as green investing becomes more mainstream.
EcoBudget is an environmental management system uniquely designed with and for local governments, developed by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. It allows municipalities to manage natural resources as efficiently as they manage financial resources. Traditionally ecosystem services, which we rely on for life, livelihoods and recreation, have not been systematically valued and budgeted for, it is crucial that local mayors find ways of integrating economic and ecological thinking for sustainability.
The term Gross National Happiness (GNH) was coined in 1972 by Bhutan's former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck of Bhutan when he famously declared that Gross National Happiness was more important than Gross National Product. This was intended to signal his commitment to building an economy that would serve Bhutan's unique culture based on Buddhist spiritual values.
