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Rio+20 – Green Growth, Resources & Resilience
Green Growth: ADB Perspectives
Mark KunzerRegional and Sustainable Development
Department17th July 2011
Outline
What is Green Growth?Key Challenges in the Asia and Pacific
RegionADB's strategic directions to
promote green growth
Some definitions
“sustainable development “ is development which “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Brundtland Report, 1987)
“green economy” is one that “results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing risks and ecological scarcities (UNEP, 2008)
“green growth” can be seen as “a way to pursue economic growth and development, while preventing environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and unsustainable resource use” (OECD, 2009)
”environmentally sustainable growth” is a generic term (as used in ADB’s Strategy 2020, 2008)
Some Features
potentially a more operational concept than broader “sustainable development”
consistent with “environmentally sustainable development”
first and foremost about economic growth albeit one that is decoupled from environmental degradation
climate change as a more central consideration, with heavy emphasis on low carbon economies
proponents argue it can de delivered at “little or no cost”, investment in environment can be profitable, and can support economic recovery and job creation
Key Challenges in the Asia and Pacific
RegionResource use & efficiency
*Key Materials: metal ores, industrial minerals, fossil fuels, construction minerals, and biomass
Source: CSIRO and UNEP Asia-Pacific Material Flow Database
Key Challenges in the Asia and Pacific
RegionConvergent issues
Outlook
UNEP’sResource Efficiency: Economics and Outlook for Asia and the Pacific report (REEO)Two novel models of economy and resource use in Asia PacificSimulate the years 2010 & 2050
Outlook
Scenarios Business as usual – marginal
improvements Resource efficiency scenario – large
scale efficiency changes Systems innovation – transitions to new
infrastructure and lifestyle changes
Business as usual
Resource efficiency
Systems innovation
Material use 2010-2030
2030-2050
Energy use 2010-2030
2030-2050
CO2 emissions 2010-2030
2030-2050
Waste 2010-2030
2030-2050
GDP 2010-2030
2030-2050
Unemployment 2010-2030
2030-2050
Source: UNEP (2011)
Outlook
Click icon to add chart
ADB’s Strategy 2020VisionAn Asia and Pacific Region free of poverty
MissionTo help our developing member countries reduce poverty and improve living conditions and quality of life
Strategic Agendas• Inclusive growth• Environmentally
sustainable growth• Regional integration
ADB's strategic directions to promote green growth
Sustainable Infrastructure
Promoting transitions to clean, low carbon and climate resilient infrastructure systems and services, through: •Clean Energy (EE, RE and energy for all)•Sustainable transport•Livable cities•Water supply, sanitation and IWRM
Improving Natural Resource Management
Threatened ecosystems– Unlocking the true value of natural capital must
be a priority in the region, which is home to many of the earth’s richest ecosystems.
Coral Triangle Borneo
Building sound environmental governance and management capabilities
– Green tax and budget reform is needed (e.g. carbon taxes, levies on non-renewable energy and virgin materials, landfill fees)
– Removing distorting subsidies should probably be at the top of the agenda.
Conclusions
Asia’s century?