S. Ahmed discusses the pros and cons of a green economy

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) 2008 report, Green economy successes in developing countries, defines it as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.

According to the report, green economy is characterised by substantially increased investments in renewable energy, low-carbon transport, energy-efficient buildings, clean technologies, improved waste management, improved freshwater provision, and sustainable agriculture, forestry and fisheries. These investments are driven by, or supported by, national policy reforms and the development of international policy and market infrastructure.

Environmentalist Karl Burkat defines green economy as being one that is based on renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal, marine, including wave, biogas, and fuel cell); green buildings (green retrofits for energy and water efficiency, residential and commercial assessment; green produces and materials); clean transportation (alternative fuels, public transport); water management (water reclamation, greywater and rainwater systems, low-water landscaping, water purification and stormwater management); waste management (recycling, municipal solid waste salvage, brownfield land remediation and sustainable packaging);and land management (better agricultural practices, habitat conservation and restoration, urban forestry and parks, reforestation and afforestation).

But how does green economy fit intoPakistan’s scheme of environmental plans? According to an official of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, the concept offers multiple opportunities and can lead to development that is low on emission and is climate resilient.

"For a country like Pakistan, green economy remains a far-fetched notion,” he says. “With the per capita income being $1,207 in the 2010-11 fiscal, the country has been classified as poor according to a UN report. For the majority living under one dollar a day, green economy remains an unheard concept. While on paper the concept of sustainable development and poverty eradication sounds great, in reality it is otherwise.”

He further added that the EU has been trying to adopt all that is entailed in the green economy concept but the Third World countries lag behind. We do not have the required financial and economic stability or systems that are needed to work in this direction. In a country where the term 'environmental friendly' remains on the back burner, how do you expect GE to take root?

“GE is costly in the short term and aiming for it at the cost of pressing development issues might seem a bad idea but in the long run it will lead to sustainable economic growth and will cut down poverty," the official said.

The UNEP report, Towards a green economy: pathways to sustainable development and poverty eradication states that a green economy can help in various areas.

"Over the next decade, shifting to sustainable agriculture could increase global employment by as much as four per cent. Forest conservation and reforestation could boost formal employment in this sector by 20 per cent by 2050. Improved energy efficiency across all transport modes combined with modal shift would increase employment by about 10 per cent above business as usual by 2050. Expansion of renewables and investments in energy efficiency could generate employment that is 20 per cent higher than business as usual by 2050," it states.

However, critics say that GE can be used a tool to sideline developing countries. A report by Zero Waste Europe shows that the world extracts 50 per cent more raw materials today than it did in 1980; yet 80 per cent of this is consumed by the wealthiest 20 per cent.

"Land, fresh water, forests, fish, minerals, fossil fuels and the carbon space in our atmosphere are all seen as commodities which can be taken by people with money and power. This increases the threat of a ‘natural resource grab’ by wealthy states, multinational corporations and individuals—all at the expense of the poor. There is evidence that the high-consumption lifestyle of the wealthiest 20 per cent is forcing the world’s poorest 20 per cent into the margins," the report noted.

In this backdrop, it is important that the interest of the poor and marginalised countries is safeguarded. There should be a greater emphasis on transforming the global economic model so that sustainability is achieved along with greater equity. Also, it is crucial that the wealthy countries rethink their consumption and allow for sustainable consumption for all.