The Inclusive Green Economy and Rio+20

                                                    Aspásia Camargo

As far as the UN Conference on Sustainable Development is concerned there has been widespread controversy over the Green Economy which is the main theme of the Summit As a matter of fact, its definition became  gloomy and doubtful as if it was somewhat invented only the unrevealed purpose to protect the multinationals.

 Let’s keep in mind that since the begining of the 90’s the Green Movement has been proposing “the greening of the economy” as a way to oblige the “economy to talk to the environment” and vice versa. Ecological Economists (eco-eco) have been pushing it forward since then with the intention to foster the  incorporation of the natural capital in the logic and the costs of production. In other words, they rationally intend to value and price scarce resources as part of the means of production.

What is after all the Green economy and why are we organizing an United Nations summit to discuss its importance for sustainable development?  The most obvious explanation  is that we no longer can improve environmental protection only with the traditional reculatory and command and control instruments we have available to do it.  

We urge to adopt economic instruments  involving fiscal subsidies, credits and incentives. Let’s not forget the crucial role of environmental accountability in order to build up a new GDP based on the effect of economic growth on environment and Nature.

1.Natural capital is scarce and priceble

•    there is already full recognition of the growing strategic role of the scarce natural resources in the years to come. Resources are  becoming critical and  scarcity is expected to be a normal situation,  specially harmful  for the poor, vulnerable populations. But  it will also be a negative factor for the economy as a whole - industry and services particularly- since they will have to deal with decreasing available resources instead of having them abondantly, as it was the case during the Industrial Revolution in a broader sense.
•    
•    The highest expectations of emergent and still poor developing countries must also be taken into account since they did not yet have attained the recommended patterns of development –a privilege for only a small number of  richest countries.  
•    
•    It is undeniable responsibiity of the governments as well as of the private sector to be aware of these new conditions and to commit to assure the
•    continuing renovation, conservation and preservation of the  environmental resources.


2.    The services of Nature must have a recognized value

•    This is not only a matter of market pricing but also a challenge concerning the “true value of the good services” that Nature usually offers freely to the humans through the ecosystems that feed and recharge the sources of life.
•    
These services are not well known and are part of the so called “common goods”that must be protected. The  “price” to protect  them is not yet a matter of minimum consensus, but the idea of giving them a price in order to avoid them to be destroyed must be taken into account. One way is the action of the Green economy through  tax compensations as a good example of  establishing costs  in order to  preserve Nature


3. Ecoefficiency and inovation, waste recycling and low carbons         emmissions

•    It is for a long time agreed that the Green economy is the one which practices ecoefficiency; reduces, reuses and recycles waste; and works with new patterns of renewable energy and low carbon emmissions.

•    A permanent flow of inovative technology is an essencial part of the dynamics of the Green Economy but this also means that it is imperative to change the ongoing patterns, not only of production but also of consumption in porsuit of long-lasting, durable goods. To intervene and controle all phases of a product’s life cycle from craddle to ... is part of the new recommended practices as is also the case in relation to the so called  obsolescência programada


•    4 Green Infrastructure for public services increase  efficace
      reducing time and money

The Green Economy depends on a new Green Infrastructure working with new multiple, interlinked energetic renewable sources;  giving more mobility to services and people in our cities; and accounting for new Green buildings able to creat more valuable jobs. It is also able to offer better sanitation  conditions through a Brown Agenda, and to prevent vulnerable people from risk conditions increased by global warming. Green áreas, parks and public spaces will be part of this Green Agenda as well.

This new infrastructure must be considered as Green Economy- as it already is- being part of a new flow of investments that we can classify as a Green Developmentalism or as a Green New Deal.

5.Last but not least, the Green Economy must be inclusive and reduce inequalities and poverty, having as one of its central objectives to incorporate excluded people and countries in the dynamic flow of sustainable development. This will mean the creation of new jobs as they incorporate new middle classes coming out of poverty.

6.Taking into consideration that the large majority of the world population is extremely poor or live in low standards of well being  the Green Economy must propose all forms of organization through a “solidary economy”, cooperatives and all sorts of economic ,social, participatory networks which can open new bottom up opportunities for all. This small is beautiful rural, isolated community may be side by side with poor, peripheric, urban áreas. They may all take the benefit of a Green, equitable sustainable development.