Abstract
In the actual context of climate change, world population growth and global economy adjustment, more sustainable production and consumption models have to be adopted to reduce the use of natural resources and greenhouse gas emissions and then to move towards low-carbon societies and green economy. In this way economic growth can be decoupled from the environment exploitation and degradation, in both developing and developed countries, as well as economic and social disparities can be mitigated.
The purpose of this contribution is to describe what green economy means and which are the economic, social and environmental principles sustaining it.
A definition of green economy is then provided based on the guidelines of some international institutions. The economic sectors that mainly characterize a green economy are outlined pointing out the main need of preserving and investing in the assets of key natural resources.
Some performance indicators are suggested to measure the progress towards such an economy model. Traditional measures, i.e. ecological footprint and human development index, are described. The new system of indicators proposed by OECD is also suggested to enhance the framework of analysis of two main components of green growth: human well-being and its sustainability over time.
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Notes
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, http://www.sustainableproduction.org/abou.what.php.
- 5.
“The power of population is so superior to the power of the earth to produce subsistence for man, that premature death must in some shape or other visit the human race. The vices of mankind are active and able ministers of depopulation. They are the precursors in the great army of destruction, and often finish the dreadful work themselves. But should they fail in this war of extermination, sickly seasons, epidemics, pestilence, and plague advance in terrific array, and sweep off their thousands and tens of thousands. Should success be still incomplete, gigantic inevitable famine stalks in the rear, and with one mighty blow levels the population with the food of the world” (Malthus 1996).
- 6.
See http://www.teebweb.org for TEEB, i.e. The Economics of Ecosystems Biodiversity, and http://bankofnaturalcapital.com/ for the Bank of Natural Capital.
- 7.
More precisely, green jobs are decent jobs (UNEP/ILO/IOE/ITUC 2008) that: (i) reduce consumption of energy and raw materials; (ii) limit greenhouse gas emissions; (iii) minimize waste and pollution; and (iv) protect and restore ecosystems.
- 8.
Sectors such as clean technologies, renewable energies, water services, green transportation, waste management, green buildings and sustainable agriculture and forests. More information are available on the website www.unep.org/ greeneconomy.
- 9.
GNI includes remittances and foreign assistance income, and then provides a more appropriate economic picture of many developing countries.
- 10.
It is worthful to remember as one of the first impetus on the topic was the wonderful speech of Robert F. Kennedy at the University of Kansas on March 18, 1968 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77IdKFqXbUY).
- 11.
The Commission was chaired by Joseph E. Stiglitz (Columbia University), Amartya Sen (Harvard University) was Chair Adviser, Jean-Paul Fitoussi (Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris and Observatoire Français des Conjonctures Economiques) was the Coordinator of the Commission. Members of the Commission are renowned experts from universities, governmental and intergovernmental organisations, in several countries (USA, France, United Kingdom, India) and fields like social capital, physical and mental well-being, and happiness. The Commission held its first plenary meeting on 22–23 April 2008 in Paris. Its final report has been made public on 14 September 2009. For more information visit the website: www.stiglitz-sen-fitoussi.fr/.
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Acknowledgments
The author’s acknowledgements are due to:
POR Puglia 2000–2006 for the grant CIP_PE109.
H2CU (Honors Center of Italian Universities) for supporting the International cooperation among the authors of the book.
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Albino, V. (2013). Green Economy. In: Taticchi, P., Carbone, P., Albino, V. (eds) Corporate Sustainability. CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37018-2_1
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