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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?