Definitions of a Green Economy
There is as yet no agreed definition of what constitutes a green economy. Whilst it is recognised that to a great extent a green economy will be tailored to the national context, there are a number of ‘strands’ that can be identified. The UN Secretary General’s Report for the first Preparatory Meeting of the UNCSD identifies four strands:
“One strand approaches the question through the analysis of market failure and the internalization of externalities. Another takes a systemic view of the economic structure and its impact on relevant aspects of sustainable development. A third focuses on social goals (jobs, for example) and examines ancillary policies needed to reconcile social goals with the other objectives of economic policy. Finally, a fourth strand focuses on the macroeconomic framework and development strategy with the goal of identifying dynamic pathways towards sustainable development“