Green Economy: A Pathway to Sustainable Development

Thursday, 2 June 2011.

United Nation Headquarters

The Thematic Debate on Green Economy aimed to strengthen the understanding of green economy and of what the international community, each Member State and local communities can do to transition to green economy. 

A green economy seeks to correct the systemic market and institutional shortcomings of the prevailing development model and thereby make economies a more effective tool for achieving sustainable development. A green economy consists of a range of public policy approaches (e.g., expenditures, taxes, regulations, institutional frameworks) and private sector actions that fix markets and institutional failures. Which approaches and actions are most suitable will vary between nations, depending on their current stage of economic development, natural resource base, human and social capital and other conditions.

Where sustainable development is the destination, green economy offers a pathway.

“A green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication” is one of two major themes of the upcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) in June 2012.

Panel One: Opportunities and Challenges of Green Economy

Examples of the implementation of the green economy exist throughout the world, demonstrating positive contributions to sustainable development. At the same time, concerns have been raised that green economy could trigger trade protectionism and conditionalities on development aid. This panel discussed the characteristics of green economy, its potential for achieving sustainable development and the remaining questions regarding green economy. 

The key points discussed during Panel One were:

o   Diversified approach needed

o   Tax revenues must be used efficiently

o   Need for sharper definition of green economy (although everyone agrees it signifies a pathway to sustainable development)

o   Subsidies on food and energy

o   Local imperatives: local leaders must champion green economies

o   Technology transfers for eco-innovation

Panel Two: Transitioning toward Green Economy

This panel discussed these approaches, including proven policies and actions that institutions at the local, national and international levels can take.

The key points discussed on Panel 2 are:

·      Package of goals

o   Universal access to energy by 2030

o   Promotion of energy efficiency by 2030

o   Renewable resources accessible by 2030

·      Green economy cannot be protectionism

o   Green growth – maximizing environmental benefits and new opportunities

o   Create green jobs

o   “Greening” national accounts

For more information: http://www.un.org/en/ga/president/65/initiatives/ge.shtml

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Events

Members of UN NGO Sustainability attended the Sustainability Practice Network (SPN) Panel Discussion in New York City,NY on January 19, 2011. Baruch College/Robert Zicklin Center for Corporate Integrity and the Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute co-sponsored the event. The program focused on cities' ability to accelerate sustainable development, the factors which make cities and urban livelihoods sustainable and both the short and long-term challenges necessary to overcome in order to maintain sustainable practices and policies. 

Additionally, Roma Stibravy (President) attended the GEA Geothermal Energy Finance Forum 2011 on February 9, 2011 hosted by the Geothermal Energy Association. 

Articles of Interest

G.E. Plans to Build Largest Solar Panel Plant in U.S. 

General Electric announced that it plans to build the nation's largest photovoltaic panel factory. The new plant estimates to employ 400 workers and create 600 related jobs. The factory will also
start to manufacture thin-film photovoltaic panels which, although less efficient than conventional solar
panels, can produce at a lower costs, proving them attractive to developers and utilities building
large-scale power plants.

In general, G.E. has been aggressively expanding its energy portfolio, particularly through such acquisitions.

Source

Poking Holes in the Clean-and-Green Image of Natural Gas: Drillers' Methane Leaks Hurt Environment More than Coal, Studies Say

Natural gas--a key player in the effort to reduce "dirtier" fossil fuels and global warming--
may not be as clean over-all as its proponents claim. Studies deem the development of
unconventional sources of natural gas as impractical and likely to increase our planet's temperature more than
mining and burning coal. Director of climate programs with the Natural Resources Defense Council, David Hawkins stated: ''This is a huge and growing industry, and we just don't have the information
we need to make sure that this resource is being developed as cleanly as it can be”

Source

Articles of Interest

EU seeks F1 buzz for electric Grand Prix

The European Commission asked Formula One’s governing body to establish a racing championship
series for electric cars in hopes to increasing public awareness and excitement about new-technology
vehicles. Car and policy makers say they will need big consumer subsidies and public investments
in recharging infrastructure to gain mass-market acceptance when it comes to electric vehicles. F1’s “media muscle” would help gain this much needed enthusiasm.

Source

To Cut Smog, Navistar Blazes Risky Path of Its Own

The truck maker Navistar decided to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to refine an engine that already initially produces minimal NOx. The company also attacked the competing systems, suing federal air quality regulators claiming that the add-on technology was so flawed that it failed to meet the clean-air requirements. The author predicts Navistar's engine will prevail, because “the customer is looking for simplicity, not technology.”

Source 

EU Emissions Trading System: failing at the third attempt 

The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) failed to reduce emissions. Companies consistently receive generous allocations of permits to pollute, meaning they have no obligation to cut their carbon dioxide emissions.  The third phase of the ETS will continue the same basic pattern of subsidizing polluters and helping them to avoid meaningful action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

Source 

Articles of Interest

Can We Do Without the Mideast?

Over the past 30 years, US presidents have been urging oil independence whenever the Middle East
experiences turmoil; however, such independence--or at least an end to this dependence--could prove to be difficult, expensive and politically explosive. This author suggests four initial steps to achieve independence: 1) prop up gasoline prices to reduce consumption; 2) boost government subsidies and
taxes to build more high-speed rail lines; 3) encourage truck and bus fleets to switch to natural gas; And 4)
push the development of wind, solar and geothermal energy.

Source

Hopeful Message About the World’s Poorest

Over the last 30 years, Liberia saw great improvements in life expectancy and literacy rates and
a significant decline in mortality rates. Nevertheless, Liberia and other African countries continue to experience stagnant or negative economic growth, due to corrupt governments and inadequate foreign aid. Its economy continues to make Liberia a “story of failure" in the world's eyes.

Contrarily, Charles Kenny writes in his book Getting Better that even though many African economies show stagnant or negative growth, issues crucial to human survival-- such as health and education --are becoming more available and affordable. Kenny believes these issues provide hope in overall improvement for the world's poorest nations.

Source

Tucking Carbon into the Ground 

The U.S.'s dependence on fossil fuels seems permanent, at least in the immediate future. Thus, carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is essential to a national energy policy. The process pushes carbon dioxide into different kinds of rocks with the objective of letting carbon dioxide displace the usually salt water there. Since salt water posses no economic value, this process would not displace drinkable water. Some progress and various parts of the legal framework for carbon sequestration have already taken place.

Source

Trading Pumps for Plugs: We Aren’t There Yet

With gas prices rising, many are considering purchasing electric cars. Luckily, the right combination of technology and policy is now in place to ensure that plug-in cars are almost certainly here to stay. The price of oil, however, is still not considered high enough to persuade a majority of Americans to switch to electric. A reason may be that even though electric cars save long-term costs, most people tend to buy based on immediate upfront costs, rather than long-term operating ones.

Source

Climate Finance Panel with French Minister for Ecology and Sustainable Development and 'Bloomberg New Energy Finance' Summit 2011

Roma Stibravy attended the Climate Finance Panel with French Minister for Ecology and Sustainable Development on Monday, 11 April 2011. The New York University School of Law hosted the panel which occurred from 12:00 to 2:00 P.M. at the Pollack Colloquium Room, 245 Sullivan Street, New York 10012.

The panel consisted of the following people:

• Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, French Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing
•  Profesor Richard Stewart, University Professor and Faculty Director, Guarini Center for Environmental and Land Use Law
• Nigel Purvis, President, Climate Advisers and Scholar, Brooking Institute  
• Robert Orr, assistant UN Secretary General for Policy Planning 
• Robert Bell

Roma Stibravy also attended the 'Bloomberg New Energy Finance' Summit 2011, which occurred on April 4-7, 2011 in New York.
 

Most notable discussions occurred on April 7th (4thday), the Roundtable Day Energy Access & Climate Change
Topics included:   

• World Economic Forum Introduction: Investments in Developing Countries
• Cancun, The AGF and the UNFCC 
• 2012, International Year of Sustainable Energy For All 
• View From The Ministries With Link to Clean Energy Ministerial 
• Panel Discussion: The Asset Owner Perspective