What is green economy? Definition and meaning

As the world transforms with the evolution of technology, climate, politics and economics, there are interconnected practices which positively balance environmental and social goals for the good of nature, citizens, and businesses. Leading the way is the green economy, an economic model that prioritizes the success of human well-being and social equity, while reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcity. But what is the meaning of green economy? The definition of green economy is the practice of sustainable development through the support of public and private investment to create infrastructure that fosters social and environmental sustainability. The importance of green economy is that it encourages economies to become more sustainable and low-carbon, and ensures that natural assets continue to provide the resources and environmental services for our continued wellbeing.

Based on a people-and nature-centric model, the principles of green economy can be summarized as follows:

• Wellbeing: a people-centric model, the green economy seeks to allow everybody to increase their wellbeing, not just in economic terms, but also in terms of human, social, physical and cultural capital. It prioritizes access to knowledge and education, more environment-friendly production technologies and processes, and sustainable infrastructure, allowing people to prosper while treating nature and our natural resources sustainably.
• Justice and good governance: the green economy promotes good governance because it is founded upon accountable, transparent and resilient institutions. It promotes devolved decision-making and open dialog, keeping vested interests out of the decision-making process. By requiring broad public support, it encourages collaborative approaches to problem-solving.
• Poverty eradication: by opening up entirely new economic sectors that require new skills and training, the transition to the green economy offers substantial investment and job creation opportunities. The green economy is inclusive and non-discriminatory, promoting equal income distribution and opportunities while reducing disparities between - and among - people.
• Energy-efficiency: a green economy focuses on using resources efficiently, in a circular manner, so as to reduce waste to a bare minimum. It seeks to rebalance the consumer-driven model towards one that is more sustainable in terms of natural resource usage.
• Low-carbon development: the green economy is based on the use of renewable energy sources - like solar, wind, hydroelectric and hydrogen - that generate little or no amounts of CO₂ emissions. A low carbon economy is also one that encourages extensive electrification - with energy produced sustainably from renewable sources - in industry, mobility and other aspects of life. 

 

The green economy takes a long-term perspective, focusing on the ways in which resources are used to deliver value to society. It’s not just about low-carbon fuel sources; it’s also about how efficiency and sufficiency of resources can be fostered to create wealth, resilience and wellbeing for the citizens of today and tomorrow - all while respecting our planet’s ecological limits. From investments in wellbeing to sustainable practices, the characteristics of a green economy are inclusive and non-discriminatory. It’s a model that - while improving wellbeing - also guarantees a significant reduction in environmental risks and resource scarcity.

While achieving a green economy through such efforts as decarbonization is time consuming and requires capital spending, it is increasingly being seen by businesses themselves as creating green economy business opportunities. Innovation, after all, is the main source of all economic growth and the green economy is no different. McKinsey estimates that green economy business opportunities could generate between $9 trillion and $12 trillion in new revenue by 2030 in sectors including transport, power, and hydrogen. According to the OECD, some sectors will grow more than others, but within each sector, companies using resources more efficiently will have a competitive advantage.

Green economy examples, in terms of actions taken by people in their everyday lives, include:

• Choosing local, “zero-kilometer” agricultural produce made following organic methods (without the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, for example);
• Making use of sustainable mobility - like electric scooters and cars - instead of fossil-fuel powered alternatives;
• Electrifying cooking, by replacing gas stoves with electric ranges;
• Avoiding taking cars and scooters whenever possible and using public transport in their stead;
• Recycling lithium batteries, whose production requires environment-damaging extraction of cobalt and lithium;
• Making lifestyle choices that can help decrease energy use, like keeping air conditioners set at higher temperatures in summer.

 

The same can be said for businesses and industry. In this case, virtuous examples of green economy behavior include:

• Developing and implementing productive systems that use energy as efficiently as possible;
• Investing in and using low-carbon, renewable energy sources to power factories and machinery;
• Recycle as much as possible and use recycled packaging for product distribution;
• Simplifying the end-of-life management of the product cycle.

If green economy is defined as interconnected economic activities that promote global scale sustainable development, poverty eradication, environmental protection, and eco-efficiency and low-carbon development, the circular economy is a regenerative development strategy for economic growth that focuses on restoration, use of renewables, and elimination of toxic chemicals and waste through the superior design of materials, products, systems, and business models. They are bound by the common goal to reconcile environmental, economic and social goals.